40 years on.

[Frottoir]

After 40 years of keeping layers, I now have come to realize that in order for me to attract more customers to my certified organic produce farm, I need to constantly have eggs for sale. In the past my flock has ranged from a dozen to 75 birds. Now I have increased that to 150-200. I have a great coop with a bin feeder, concrete floor. well sealed house and yard. electricity and water, etc. Water has always been the most labor intensive aspect of it all. Constant filling of founts and dealing with freezing temps (zone 6, SW Ohio). I am now in the process of designing and implementing a plumbed, heat taped, nipple drinking system so I can maybe leave the farm for a couple days at a time.

 

[rbigokie]

I am working with just 14 hens , I have 63 chicks in brooder now and looks like most are hens, trying to get a 100 hens total give or take. Will start more eggs after these are ready for pen. I hope it brings you more customers.

 

[Bald Bee Man]

After 40 years of keeping layers, I now have come to realize that in order for me to attract more customers to my certified organic produce farm, I need to constantly have eggs for sale. In the past my flock has ranged from a dozen to 75 birds. Now I have increased that to 150-200. I have a great coop with a bin feeder, concrete floor. well sealed house and yard. electricity and water, etc. Water has always been the most labor intensive aspect of it all. Constant filling of founts and dealing with freezing temps (zone 6, SW Ohio). I am now in the process of designing and implementing a plumbed, heat taped, nipple drinking system so I can maybe leave the farm for a couple days at a time.

You might find my post interesting
This link bottom of page 3

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/large-potable-water-tank-use.1335007/page-3#post-21825244

 

[TwoShepherds]

Hello and welcome! Sounds like you have a lovely farm and set up.

 

[aart]

I need to constantly have eggs for sale.

Need younger bird rather than more birds
Do you rotate your stock annually?

I am now in the process of designing and implementing a plumbed, heat taped, nipple drinking system

Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Hope you share your build here.

And Welcome to BYC! @Frottoir .

 

[Frottoir]

You might find my post interesting
This link bottom of page 3

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/large-potable-water-tank-use.1335007/page-3#post-21825244

Need younger bird rather than more birds
Do you rotate your stock annually?


Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Hope you share your build here.

And Welcome to BYC! @Frottoir .

Need younger bird rather than more birds
Do you rotate your stock annually?


Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Hope you share your build here.

And Welcome to BYC! @Frottoir .

Glad to be here! I hope I can give as well as I take. I rotate biannually, then I sell or give away older hens, which means I need to replace old hens of one color with new ones of another color so catchers can take the right birds. With an underground water supply coming up in my coop floor, I don't need to deal with tanks or tubs, etc. My main question here is about water pressure to properly feed inline nipples. It looks like I need to be able to adjust pressure to dial in the right flow supply. Which regulator works best? Water column or inline mechanical?

 

[Mosey2003]

Using a different color for every batch is really clever! I never would have thought of that.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
What do the big commercial operations do for winter water? It's all automatic, but how? Are their poultry houses heated to above freezing, at least?
Mary

 

[aart]

It looks like I need to be able to adjust pressure to dial in the right flow supply. Which regulator works best? Water column or inline mechanical?

Have no idea, browse the commercial poultry websites for equipment, should find some specs there.

 

[Bald Bee Man]

Glad to be here! I hope I can give as well as I take. I rotate biannually, then I sell or give away older hens, which means I need to replace old hens of one color with new ones of another color so catchers can take the right birds. With an underground water supply coming up in my coop floor, I don't need to deal with tanks or tubs, etc. My main question here is about water pressure to properly feed inline nipples. It looks like I need to be able to adjust pressure to dial in the right flow supply. Which regulator works best? Water column or inline mechanical?

Since you have water inside the coop now how do you keep the standpipe and or spicket from freezing?