Hi Everybody,
You can get the plans at the following Google Docs link: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B6GLk2sdmwM4Rks5My1mWG1OMHM/edit
You can find the fittings by searching under "PVC furniture fittings". An outfit called Formufit seems to have the best deals, but you can find them on ebay...
This bird is a survivor. We got ours from a neighbor's coop that wasn't properly secured and was having predator problems. The chicken decided to bail out of that situation, jump the fence, and join our flock. We gave her back several times, but she always escaped again and got in our yard...
Hi Dawn,
You can get the plans at the following Google Doc link: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B6GLk2sdmwM4Rks5My1mWG1OMHM/edit
Good (c)luck on your (h)endeavor and let me know if you have any questions.
Rick
2014 Update: We have had record low temps here this year. The 50 watt heater works to about 15 F, but below that and the nipple tends to freeze up. This has happened twice, both times overnight. Once I thaw out the nipple with my fingers, it keeps working as long as the chickens are up and...
We have had some cold nights down to 10 F here this year (2014). I have had the nipple freeze up twice when the temps had dipped below 15 F, even though the water above the nipple and the rest of the waterer have not frozen up. Once I warm up the nipple with my fingers, it stays operational -...
Ok folks, this waterer is certified ice free down to 10 degrees F using a 50 watt heater. If it gets any colder than that this year I will let you know. I intend to switch to a 100 watt heater at some point just to take all guess work out of it because I did have one nipple freeze up that has...
Anybody can get a copy of the plans at the following link: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B6GLk2sdmwM4Rks5My1mWG1OMHM/edit
PM me if you have any questions and good (c)luck!
Ok, my australorp is definitely broody again - so I can now give a full summary:
BREED/HATCHED WKS 2 1st EGG #EGGS 1st 52WKS AVG WT (OZ.) BROODY(#&DAYS) % PROD REMARKS
Red Sex Link 6/24/12 21 332 2.61 - Jumbo 0/0...
Here's the full year stats on my second Red Sex Link: 351 eggs in 365 days for 96% + productivity. No broody periods, no softies, no weird eggs whatsoever; just nice brown eggs averaging extra large, but with quite a few jumbos and a few super jumbos in there. My last hen is the Australorpe...
Yeah, I'm certainly not expecting that, but really I do not know what to expect since I can't seem to find any data beyond 80-100 weeks. That's why I am keeping records and posting it here. I hope others do the same. Again, I am most interested in the data I get after my hens do their first...
Since we got our chicks towards the end of June, they started laying late November, early December last year - so I did use lights. I am letting them molt this year - so no lights, but they haven't started yet. My second (prize) Red Sex Link has three days to go and so far has layed 350 eggs...
We got them at mypetchicken.com. They seem to be very healthy so far, although we did get one RIR that was mis-sexed, which we gave away. Our last hen, an Australorp, is at 70%, mostly due to two long broody periods.
I have only 4 hens, so I can tell each by the egg size and color, but mostly by the shape. I know the egg laying will start to taper off, but that is what I am most interested in documenting. I will keep records of size and productivity between each hen's molting periods. By the way, my other...
Hi everybody,
I don't know if there is another thread like this out there all ready, but if there is, I apologize as I could not find it.
I am keeping meticulous records on the eggs my girls are laying (how often and how big) and I am going to post them here as there seems to be a lack of...
A loop design is actually a great idea - it would allow use of an aquarium type pump and heater to keep things ice free. I hope I won't have to go that far where I live.
Susie Coston 'National Shelter Director' for a non-profit called Farm Sanctuary. This is a vegan based non-profit whose main aim seems to be to rescue farm and other animals from becoming, um, well, food. As such, she is the self-appointed expert and we, the great unwashed, a bunch of idiots...
I did a modification to my chicken tractor waterer. I think it is now freeze proof, but those in Montana may need a larger wattage aquarium heater or multiple heaters!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/water-cross-waterer-for-small-coop-or-tractor
DESIGN CHANGE WARNING: The temps have dipped into the high teens here in Virginia...and the nipples as well as the water in the Brite Tap froze! The water above the heater did not freeze, proving the fact that warm water rises, but the T-shaped design and location of the Brite Tap (below the...
Ok, cold weather finally found us here in Virginia. Last three days it hasn't been much over freezing, with lows in the low 20's. The 50 watt heater is doing fine - NO freezing at anywhere in the waterer. Sorry, this is about as cold as it gets here - but remember this is only a 50 watt heater...
Again, research does not support your argument - please read the attached link. Most of us with backyard chickens do not have roosters anyway, and are not breeding show birds or any birds for that matter.