Adding new birds to an existing flock...

[Chelsa'sChicks]

They aren't free ranging yet. I've been afraid to let them out. But I've gotten some pretty good advice on here about it and I think when I redo the coop in a couple weeks I'm going to start letting them free range a few hours while I'm out in the yard. I get a 50lb bag of 22% layer minipellets for 15.00 and then the cracked corn and meal worm treats. But I guess I'm wasting a whole bag of feed a month because "they eat" two. Definitely going to make some changes in the next few weeks.

My daughter collected 7 eggs this morning. Went back to the coop at 5pm to out the feed up and there were two more eggs. 9 total today. I guess since daylight hours are steadily increasing the gonads in these birds are in overdrive!

You will see a big difference in your budget when they free range and your yolks!

 

[Rebecca Thomas]

Coop Update:
So I did my spring cleaning today (raking out entire pen and coop, disinfecting, etc). The good news is I found no rodents and no evidence of rodents. The bad news is I found feed...spilled all in the hay...all in the soil...all over the ground. Tons of it.

So for now, until I rebuild in a few weeks, I put chicken wire over the top of the open top feeder and hung both the food and water from a 2x4. The ladies got a bath and fresh everything and I put them back in the pen. Came back 20 minutes later and stood around in there to see what they would do. They were using their heads in the lip of the feeder to fling food everywhere! There's a huge pile of food on the ground. Who knew chickens were so messy? Lol.

Now I known for sure I'm going to have to:

A. Design a closed feeder system and/or
B. Put my food up at night.

 

[tigger19687]

Do the bucket or pvc feeder. I had to put a small 'lip' on the pvc feeder to stop the flinging. The bucket one works perfect and no spilling.
But with both you have to watch for dust collecting on the bottom.
I feed crumbles for now.

 

[Rebecca Thomas]

Do the bucket or pvc feeder. I had to put a small 'lip' on the pvc feeder to stop the flinging. The bucket one works perfect and no spilling.
But with both you have to watch for dust collecting on the bottom.
I feed crumbles for now.

I am gonna try that! I'm also going to try the waterer with the little nipples that hangs upside down. Any experience with those?

 

[aart]

I'm also going to try the waterer with the little nipples that hangs upside down. Any experience with those?

Vertical nipples can be leaky, and if you live in freezing country the Horizontal nipples are definitely a must.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

Am a huge HN fan...have them in several different configurations:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/author/aart.175197/

Maybe I already posted this here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder.67218/

 

[tigger19687]

I have 2 waterers. 1 for Winter, heated dog bowl, 2 the white and red one for warm seasons.

 

[Rebecca Thomas]

Vertical nipples can be leaky, and if you live in freezing country the Horizontal nipples are definitely a must.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

Am a huge HN fan...have them in several different configurations:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/author/aart.175197/

Maybe I already posted this here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder.67218/

Yes I am going to try to construct your feeder, but I'm not super handy. Ill get My husband on this project as well.

 

[Rebecca Thomas]

I have 2 waterers. 1 for Winter, heated dog bowl, 2 the white and red one for warm seasons.

That's a good idea!

 

[Mrs. K]

When I am here, I take feed and water down daily. Makes me get a walk. But this would be a great solution if we were going to be gone for a few days.

 

[AccidentalChickenLady]

I am gonna try that! I'm also going to try the waterer with the little nipples that hangs upside down. Any experience with those?

I do use the vertical nipple waterer (this one: http://www.farmandhomesupply.com/li...MI1d3Ex4G12QIVF6rsCh1uHwR7EAQYAyABEgK2y_D_BwE), with an electric bucket heater inside, though we've been having some rust issues. I may swap it out for an aquarium heater - that's a brilliant suggestion, @aart!

If the temperature is above freezing, the nipples usually work fine. On the coldest mornings here in Colorado they do freeze, so I'll usually go out to the coop with a mug or small bowl of HOT water and submerge the nipples in the water to thaw them out. We get enough sunshine each day that they usually stay thawed until dark. I also add a bowl of warm water in the coop on super-cold days (the older girls don't like to leave the coop in the snow), though that of course is frozen too by the time I get home.