Black Acres: The chickens that saved me

[bgmathteach]

Love the cooler idea! I’m going to look up how to make them.

Link to the cooler adapter I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4QWRDT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Video for how to use:

Note that if you use small round coolers like I did, you will want a thicker washer (Home Depot, plumbing dept.) than they provide so it seals tight (due to curvature of cooler), and I would suggest using a bit of silicon sealant, too. These worked extremely well, I made 3 of them! (Just don't forget to drill small vent holes in the lid.)

If you have a small flock and don't need a lot of nipples, this one works very well, also, and is easy - peasey. I did use one of these as a back-up waterer with one of my groups. I used this on a 2 qt. cooler that fit nicely in my chicken tractor. If you use this, make sure that you get a small cooler with a flip-top lid for drinking...so it vents, or plan on drilling a small vent hole, so water will flow.)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TXK71J5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Happy hen lover]

I used a 2 gallon cooler (with nipple adaptors & nipples) this summer and LOVED it. I would freeze a block of ice & put it in in the morning & add another one when I got home from work so they had cool/cold water throughout the day - worked very well! (I did also use some rubber dishes, because I have ducks, and would put ice in those as well, but they were always warm - and filthy from the ducks - in the afternoon when I would rinse & refill.)

I love the cooler idea and all the accessories too! . I too had to follow up with JB weld after nipples were installed since my PVC is round also .

 

[Ponypoor]

I have not. I’ll go dig through the med cabinet and see if I can find some!

Are u feeling better? For me it's the weather, I spent a delightfully horrible winter the foothills of mountains - they had they crazy Chinook winds a couple times a week - it would be -20c at 6am and by noon +20c - between my arthritis and migraines I was very happy to get back home hahahaha. It was awesome to experience the Chinook and scenery awesome, but for migraines not so much

 

[blackacres]

Are u feeling better? For me it's the weather, I spent a delightfully horrible winter the foothills of mountains - they had they crazy Chinook winds a couple times a week - it would be -20c at 6am and by noon +20c - between my arthritis and migraines I was very happy to get back home hahahaha. It was awesome to experience the Chinook and scenery awesome, but for migraines not so much

I am! Thanks so much for checking. I think it was weather induced as we had a major shift in temps and pressure. Once the cold snap hit last night, I got some relief.

 

[blackacres]

The flocks first snow day coupled with -10F wind chill.

This morning started with the normal routine except I had to spend 10 minutes bundling up before walking out into the cold, blowing snow.

I head out to the coop carrying fresh waterers in each hand. I proceed into the food storage area and the chooks hear me getting food ready. That is their cue to jump down from the roosts. I hear them all happy clucking and hopping down one by one. I head around to the run door, ready to be greeted by 13 happy chickens as I deliver fresh feed and water. I place the feed pans and water down and I know they’re all piled behind the pop door anxious to be let out. I open the door and Hillary Fluff is first in line. She lifts one leg to step out, squacks and abruptly to stay inside. Nosey Rosy does the exact same thing. I’m now giggling. Next up is Boots the big, bad Brahma. Y’all. This rooster poked his head out the door, felt the wind and cold, looked me dead in the eyes and crowed at me!!! They we’re having NONE of it.

So I go through the run to the “littles” side to repeat the morning routine with them. They did the same darn thing!

I went back out two hours later to check on them. No food had been eaten. Waters froze solid. I relented to the conditions and their protest to come out into the run and placed fresh water and feed inside the coops. Repeated the process of checking on them and taking out fresh, unfrozen water every two hours. On what would be my last trip before locking them up for the night, I also took them scrambled eggs and warm oats.

These chickens are sassy. I’m sure glad they stayed warm all day while I was outside every two hours catering to them. Good thing I love the little bird brains! Man, it is out there!

Here are the bigs, all fluffed up at bed time tonight.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

I found this bumper sticker:
View attachment 2941317

 

[cluckcluckhens]

That is a cool sign. This is actually my two Roosters.

 

[Ponypoor]

The flocks first snow day coupled with -10F wind chill.

This morning started with the normal routine except I had to spend 10 minutes bundling up before walking out into the cold, blowing snow.

I head out to the coop carrying fresh waterers in each hand. I proceed into the food storage area and the chooks hear me getting food ready. That is their cue to jump down from the roosts. I hear them all happy clucking and hopping down one by one. I head around to the run door, ready to be greeted by 13 happy chickens as I deliver fresh feed and water. I place the feed pans and water down and I know they’re all piled behind the pop door anxious to be let out. I open the door and Hillary Fluff is first in line. She lifts one leg to step out, squacks and abruptly to stay inside. Nosey Rosy does the exact same thing. I’m now giggling. Next up is Boots the big, bad Brahma. Y’all. This rooster poked his head out the door, felt the wind and cold, looked me dead in the eyes and crowed at me!!! They we’re having NONE of it.

So I go through the run to the “littles” side to repeat the morning routine with them. They did the same darn thing!

I went back out two hours later to check on them. No food had been eaten. Waters froze solid. I relented to the conditions and their protest to come out into the run and placed fresh water and feed inside the coops. Repeated the process of checking on them and taking out fresh, unfrozen water every two hours. On what would be my last trip before locking them up for the night, I also took them scrambled eggs and warm oats.

These chickens are sassy. I’m sure glad they stayed warm all day while I was outside every two hours catering to them. Good thing I love the little bird brains! Man, it is out there!

Here are the bigs, all fluffed up at bed time tonight.
View attachment 2947387

Hahaha yep same thing here this morning! They all looked at me like I was crazy for even suggesting they go outside where it's snowing and -10c with a windchill of -18 hahaha..

Nope it's more fun and warmer in the barn, and of course it's Sunday - hay day! The day I throw all the week's hay down from the loft for the week and of course everyone's favourite playground!

Nothing says I love you human like grabbing twine full of cecal poop while piling hay !!!!!

 

[Ponypoor]

Forgot to protect my face outside and my previously frost bitten cheeks are tingling, likely damaged again the chickens were smarter than me, they didn't step outside once!

( Sorry about italics, I hit something and now everything is in italics!!! Please make it stop!)

 

[blackacres]

June laid her first egg today!

To celebrate, I brought her and Johnny in for a celebratory treat meal worms.

Johnny was being a bit of a show off.