56 Gallon waterer to prevent freezing in the winter

[bevis]

Anyone have any thoughts about feeding them 20% medicated food for a week or so ?
They are all adult laying hens.

 

[bevis]

Mosquito larvae are tasty chicken protein treats. Ducks love them even more.

If you suspect coccidiosis then treat appropriately with corrid. The medication in medicated feed is a deterrent to the protozoa not a treatment or cure.

You can spread a thin layer of shavings on the poop boards, and then spirnkle with PDZ. That way you have two things to absorb the poops and will use less PDZ.

thanks for the advise on corrid. But i dont know how to prove coccidiosis other than just treat for it. I was not aware that adult chickens got it until i started reading up on it.

I go out to the house every day nd clean the poop boards with a reptile sand scoop and throw the poop over the hill by the RR tracks. I bet the foliage love that.

 

[bevis]

I shut down the 56 gallon waterer last night after they went to roost and hung 4 waterers with 10ml of corid in each one. Im also going to go to TSC and get some food grade DE and add it to their food and try and cover the cocci thing and worms at the same time.

 

[aart]

I shut down the 56 gallon waterer last night after they went to roost and hung 4 waterers with 10ml of corid in each one. Im also going to go to TSC and get some food grade DE and add it to their food and try and cover the cocci thing and worms at the same time.

DE is not going to get rid of worms.
Are you sure they actually have worms?

 

[bevis]

DE is not going to get rid of worms.
Are you sure they actually have worms?

I am NOT sure they have worms. The bloody stools that i have seen along with diarrhea would most likely indicate cocci. I read a lot of stuff that claims DE will eradicate worms in your chickens. Is that just folk lore ?

 

[bevis]

Well, I guess this pretty much sums it up..

 

[Krugerrand]

I have this one. It does keep the water from freezing but the metal gets mineral deposits on it making the water gets cloudy and forms floating white deposits.

Thanks for joining us!

 

[KTPGUNS]

Maybe an aquarium type heater?

No to aquarium heaters in that kinda set up. Just go on Amazon and there's a ton for exactly what you're doing. Aquarium heaters are not designed for what you're doing. Just asking for failure. I live in NH and I run a 250 watt donut looking heater in my 55 gallon barrel and recirculating pump plugged into a thermostat plug (heatit). If not your lines will freeze

 

[KTPGUNS]

I've just put in some large polyethylene containers for feed and water. I too am sick of refilling every day and trudging back and forth carrying stuff. The black container holds a whole 20kg sack of pellets and the water container is 50 litres. I just bought cup and feeder kits on Amazon and installed them.

I figure if we get a hard freeze this winter (last year we had -15°C and a lot of snow), then I'll insulate with bubble wrap and it's in a sheltered spot rather than exposed so that should be fine. Chucking hot water over the cup valves might be needed.

I didn't put in a drain as I never envisaged emptying and cleaning it out very often, given that it has a tight lid and it won't get contaminated by dirty beaks due to the cup valves. Well that's the theory, we shall see. Its only been there a few days so far.

I like your ingenuity, OP. But it looks like a lot of effort and wood sawing!

I made two feeders and two waterers and it cost me £66 in total. I did have one container already that I repurposed from being a storage feed bin.

Happy to send links if anyone wants, though it's for UK Amazon.

Nipple waters are hands down the way to go in winter over the cups. I wish that wasn't the case, cuz the girls like the cups more.