fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Good news, the big bowl of water was not frozen, though I suspect it might freeze tonight. The waterers had thick ice covering the cups.

I did not see Joel, but found him hiding in the back. When he came out to join the others to feed Samuel walked over and Joel retreated to the back again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry to hear that Joel is separating himself, I'd watch to make sure he is getting to eat/drink. Sometimes roosters can coexist very well but other times it just doesn't work out, hopefully they will find a balance.

Water is always a pain in cold weather. I use the rubber livestock bowls so at least I can get the ice out of them pretty easy, you can stomp on them
For my Quail, I keep spare water bottles so I can just change those out when they freeze. I brought the bottles inside in a bucket to thaw out by the fire this morning, usually if it's sunny, I place them in the sun and they thaw just fine, but not in this weather.

 

[NanaK]

Brrrr! I really dislike this kind of cold.

I normally use the plastic 5 gallon chicken fountains. When it gets this cold I switch to the rubber livestock bowls. We made 2x4 frames for the bowls to sit in so the birds can't flip them over. Don't want wet birds in this cold.

I close the coop door at night and sit feeders in a tall metal can to help prevent mice. I do this daily. So when it freezes, I empty the water bowls too.

Next morning I take 2 jugs of water (room temp) out to fill bowls, put out feeders, open pop door. Then back inside for hot coffee! Later I go back to top the bowls off and do any other chores.

I use gallon vinegar jugs for carrying water and fill them each night. They sit in my laundry room by the back door. Ready to go.

I have had the bowls freeze solid over night. It is extremely rare for it to happen in the daytime if I fill them in the morning.

If I forget to empty the bowls at night, they are easy to twist like an ice tray. You really can stomp them too! They are pretty cheap and last years. I do recommend wedging them in or a wood frame or something so the birds can't flip them.

Freezing weather is a pain. Thankfully for us we only get a few short episodes like this per winter. I saw 60-70 in the 10 day forecast.

With the drama playing out with Joel and Samuel, I would also suggest 2 water bowls and 2 feed stations. Want to make sure both can eat and drink. Hopefully they will work things out.

 

[fuzzi]

I have to leave for work before 6am, so this morning I filled my Dutch Oven (soup pot) with faucet-hot water and carried it out to the coop while it was still dark. The water in the metal dog dish was frozen, about an inch thick. After knocking it out I put the dish back into the coop and filled it with hot water. Hopefully it gave them access to drinking water.

I'll be home about 5:00pm, will see.

When he was Boss Roo Joel didn't treat Samuel like this, he was polite and allowed Samuel to eat and drink, and mingle. Shame on Samuel!

 

[fuzzi]

Brrrr! I really dislike this kind of cold.

I normally use the plastic 5 gallon chicken fountains. When it gets this cold I switch to the rubber livestock bowls. We made 2x4 frames for the bowls to sit in so the birds can't flip them over. Don't want wet birds in this cold.

I close the coop door at night and sit feeders in a tall metal can to help prevent mice. I do this daily. So when it freezes, I empty the water bowls too.

Next morning I take 2 jugs of water (room temp) out to fill bowls, put out feeders, open pop door. Then back inside for hot coffee! Later I go back to top the bowls off and do any other chores.

I use gallon vinegar jugs for carrying water and fill them each night. They sit in my laundry room by the back door. Ready to go.

I have had the bowls freeze solid over night. It is extremely rare for it to happen in the daytime if I fill them in the morning.

If I forget to empty the bowls at night, they are easy to twist like an ice tray. You really can stomp them too! They are pretty cheap and last years. I do recommend wedging them in or a wood frame or something so the birds can't flip them.

Freezing weather is a pain. Thankfully for us we only get a few short episodes like this per winter. I saw 60-70 in the 10 day forecast.

With the drama playing out with Joel and Samuel, I would also suggest 2 water bowls and 2 feed stations. Want to make sure both can eat and drink. Hopefully they will work things out.

I was thinking about one of those black rubber bowls. I may check out the agri store tomorrow.

I do have another 5 gallon feeding station I could set up. Yesterday I threw some feed towards Joel in the back, but Samuel walked over and Joel retreated.

I have extra aquarium heaters, was testing a couple of them in 3 gallon buckets inside the house last night. One got the water up to 75° though the water was about 50° coming out of the faucet. I don't know how well they'd work in freezing weather, though.

I have decided to take a day off on Friday to make some adjustments at home, er, coop.

 

[fuzzi]

Note: they were all on the roost together last night, so Samuel isn't preventing Joel from snuggling with the hens. They were all squished up against one another when I checked on them about 9pm.

 

[fuzzi]

Brrrr! I really dislike this kind of cold.

I normally use the plastic 5 gallon chicken fountains. When it gets this cold I switch to the rubber livestock bowls. We made 2x4 frames for the bowls to sit in so the birds can't flip them over. Don't want wet birds in this cold.

I close the coop door at night and sit feeders in a tall metal can to help prevent mice. I do this daily. So when it freezes, I empty the water bowls too.

Next morning I take 2 jugs of water (room temp) out to fill bowls, put out feeders, open pop door. Then back inside for hot coffee! Later I go back to top the bowls off and do any other chores.

I use gallon vinegar jugs for carrying water and fill them each night. They sit in my laundry room by the back door. Ready to go.

I have had the bowls freeze solid over night. It is extremely rare for it to happen in the daytime if I fill them in the morning.

If I forget to empty the bowls at night, they are easy to twist like an ice tray. You really can stomp them too! They are pretty cheap and last years. I do recommend wedging them in or a wood frame or something so the birds can't flip them.

Freezing weather is a pain. Thankfully for us we only get a few short episodes like this per winter. I saw 60-70 in the 10 day forecast.

With the drama playing out with Joel and Samuel, I would also suggest 2 water bowls and 2 feed stations. Want to make sure both can eat and drink. Hopefully they will work things out.

AgriSupply has 1 and 3 gallon pans available. The 3 gallon fits inside a 15" tire, but I am not sure they could flip it if it's full, they're bantams.

Might be worth investing in one

 

[fuzzi]

When I went outside with grapes, about 5pm, they all rushed me as usual, except Joel. He was in the back.

So while I distracted Samuel and the girls with feed tossed in front of them I threw some at Joel. He ate. His favorite, Hannah, and two of the Dominiques, joined him.

There was plenty of food so they didn't have to go in the back to eat.

Now they're all on the roost together, good.

Look at all dem fluffy butts!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

When he was Boss Roo Joel didn't treat Samuel like this, he was polite and allowed Samuel to eat and drink, and mingle. Shame on Samuel!

Chicken drama! "As the Egg Turns"

It can be hard to watch them sort it out, but I'd do my best not to intervene much. Let it play out unless they are physically fighting.
Samuel is establishing his dominance right now. Once he matures more, he may relax a bit.

I've used those livestock bowls for years, I use the 1 gallon ones.

 

[fuzzi]

I went to AgriSupply and purchased a 1 gallon and a three gallon pan. The description of the three gallon pan said it could be placed inside a 15" tire. I went to my mechanic's shop, and he happened to have a 15" tire that was going to recycling. When I told him what I was going to use it for he suggested I fill the tire with foam insulation.

Two cans were about $20

I used both cans of spray foam, and they were enough to coat the entire inside of the tire...it will have to do. I set it aside to dry thoroughly, it will take about 8 hours.

Next, the second feeder...