Cold is coming/here

[cluck5]

Yes Karlamaria, this is what we did this weekend, it was so fast! And works great. But now I am wondering if it's so great after looking at the heated dog dish with the shorter paint bucket, that would be a breeze to clean and fill. Instead of the threaded lamp fixture in our cookie tin heater, we just used one of those plugs that has a threaded socket adapter on it. That made it even faster to make! I love to see all the different ideas, it is so helpful, especially because I am new to chickens.

 

[Rhoise]

Yes, I think that's a great idea, I know my 5 gallon metal font will be a pain in the ### to fill, I just thought the chickens would poop and make a mess in the pail, maybe my chickens are messier than yours! I can certainly see the merit of your set up, easy to clean, easy to fill.

I put mine up at the hens back level(on a big brick I have), they get a bit of sand in it when they dust bathe in the run, but swoosh, slosh, dump, and refill, all clean, too easy!! I bought 2 extra inserts also so i can bring them back to the house and clean in the sink. Just pop in a new insert!! My fount is a "big giant" 3 gallon plastic one, i thought of the cookie tin idea too but cost was close to the same after buying lamp kit at $9, and didn't want to lug 3 gallons across yard in ice and snow so decided to try this method(endorsed by an OT too!)

 

[BeulahBreezes]

We are going to make the cookie tin heater.......just need to find a 10 inch cookie tin...only finding smaller tins in the stores right now. ~Beulah

 

[Rhoise]

We are going to make the cookie tin heater.......just need to find a 10 inch cookie tin...only finding smaller tins in the stores right now. ~Beulah

check thrift stores, and the grocerys sorry to say are already carrying cookies for Christmas!! uggh but it'll cost you cookies, hence why i bought paint vrs icecream pails!! LOL
oh ask neighbors too! I wish you were closer, i got a ton in my garage!

 

[cluck5]

Rhoise: Super idea. I know I will be thinking how smart you are while I lug my 5 gallon font to the house to clean and fill and back out again in -35 weather in the dark! I just may steal your idea!!

 

[karlamaria]

Yes Karla maria, this is what we did this weekend, it was so fast! And works great. But now I am wondering if it's so great after looking at the heated dog dish with the shorter paint bucket, that would be a breeze to clean and fill. Instead of the threaded lamp fixture in our cookie tin heater, we just used one of those plugs that has a threaded socket adapter on it. That made it even faster to make! I love to see all the different ideas, it is so helpful, especially because I am new to chickens.

last year We used a giant 5 gallon metal waterer. every morning , we went out and tip the water out the door and set back down. this gets rid of dirt or litter if there is any and no lugging out water every morning. the chickens get a weeks worth of water this way. you can also make a 5 gallon waterer with lid so all you have to do is water once a week this way to. unless you have more then 15 birds lol. this year we plan on using the great waterers we purchased this summer. 2 gallon waterers that we will be exchanged each morning. just like now, we fill one every morning and take it out and hang it, and take the other one and bring in and set aside for the next morning. works great for us and takes 2 minutes.we will just set it down now on the tin can heater.

 

[cluck5]

Karlamaria: The waterers you purchased are they plastic or metal, just curious. If they are plastic, can they still go on the cookie tin heater? Its such a learning curve with the chickens, we keep finding new and better ways to do things through experience.

 

[karlamaria]

Karlamaria:  The waterers you purchased are they plastic or metal, just curious.  If they are plastic, can they still go on the cookie tin heater?  Its such a learning curve with the chickens, we keep finding new and better ways to do things through experience. 

there plastic, I believe they can go on the tin can heater. I see on that link I posted the person had them on a tin can heater. We have not had to use it yet, seems we are in the 50sand 60s lol and we should be in the 20s and below. Weird weather!

 

[karlamaria]

Yes, I think that's a great idea, I know my 5 gallon metal font will be a pain in the ### to fill, I just thought the chickens would poop and make a mess in the pail, maybe my chickens are messier than yours!  I can certainly see the merit of your set up, easy to clean, easy to fill.

last year we just tipped the font and it stayed clean . Every other day we took it into the house in e dark, and filled it up the next morning and set it out again at sunrise. It's really not a pain, just tip it if it's dirty,take it in at night if it's empty.