Get Ready for Winter

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Today i started on a solar water heater for the chicken waterer with a poop back up generator. I got this idea from things i read on BYC. This will be my first attempt.
Here are the pieces of wood i got at Lowes for free, cut to size and painted. I call them skids. View attachment 1189995
I also have some storm widow inserts i bought at the Restore for $5 each.

Ok...this I'm curious about...

Please post step by step progress for me.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Hi Cap, figured I'd stop by and lurk for a while.

That is great! It has been lonely around here.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Today i got three sides made for the heater, and parts cut and painted for one end! I can hardly wait to test it out!

This is one of the storm windows i bought, before framing.

And after framing. I made three the same and screwed them together.

 

[CapricornFarm]

So here is what i accomplished on my build today!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Hopefully tomorrow i will get the platform for the waterer built, and the 2 ends. Excited about the possibility of unfrozen water for the chickens all winter without changing two or three times a day!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I am so into this heater my mind is churning! I have researched composting manure and it wants to be around 130 degrees to work best! Wow, that is hot! What a great back up heat generator. I need to add a certain percentage of carbon, i am thinking leaves might work well, but there is going to be a certain amount of shavings in the poo i collect probably. I have not yet discovered if rabbit or goat poo will work. I know they can be used in the garden right away so maybe not. Ugh! I need to know more about composting! I do know you need to keep it moist and turn it periodically, plus it needs air. I may have to use chicken poo. Wish i had some horse or cow poo!

 

[rjohns39]

I am so into this heater my mind is churning! I have researched composting manure and it wants to be around 130 degrees to work best! Wow, that is hot! What a great back up heat generator. I need to add a certain percentage of carbon, i am thinking leaves might work well, but there is going to be a certain amount of shavings in the poo i collect probably. I have not yet discovered if rabbit or goat poo will work. I know they can be used in the garden right away so maybe not. Ugh! I need to know more about composting! I do know you need to keep it moist and turn it periodically, plus it needs air. I may have to use chicken poo. Wish i had some horse or cow poo!

Rabbit and goat will work fine. Toss in some cracked corn and your girls will keep turning it and keep it aerated.

 

[aart]

I am so into this heater my mind is churning! I have researched composting manure and it wants to be around 130 degrees to work best! Wow, that is hot! What a great back up heat generator. I need to add a certain percentage of carbon, i am thinking leaves might work well, but there is going to be a certain amount of shavings in the poo i collect probably. I have not yet discovered if rabbit or goat poo will work. I know they can be used in the garden right away so maybe not. Ugh! I need to know more about composting! I do know you need to keep it moist and turn it periodically, plus it needs air. I may have to use chicken poo. Wish i had some horse or cow poo!

You read @R2elk's technique here right, this is what you are going to use?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/winterizing-the-waterer.1207209/page-4#post-19169384

No turning needed, but regular addition of manure is needed and chicken poop has worked for him.

 

[tigger19687]

Ready for Winter ?? Do we ever put that stuff away? No hahahha
Mostly ready, more like 75% then 50 % that I had to pick from.

No real garden here just tomatoes and they are long gone with 1st heavy frost a few weeks ago. Pulled and tossed into the compost 'Heap". Cut down all the Purple cone flowers and Bergamont. Patio containers with Strawberries put into the garden area for Winter. That is about it for me. I don't go hog wild with garden because I rent

Hens should be good to go if I get snow. heater bowl in but I need to run the extension cord out there.
Koi pond is good, heater in already and wood across so I can put wooden sheets over to keep most of the snow out. I do still have to shut off the waterfall but will wait till temps are a steady 36 degrees.

"stuff shed" was cleaned out last week, put electric mower in basement (so light weight and smell since it is electric). Patio umbrellas, hoses, small shed junk in basement.
Just need to bring up the snow blower (also electric) and put on locktight on screws as a precaution.

My carport is what is holding me back. Hired a guy who ended up being as ass and not knowing what to do, Fired him yesterday before the roof could be put on

Other then that, the house is good. Not much to really do there anyway...

Praying for a not so snowy Winter

 

[CapricornFarm]

It took me forever last night to figure out how i want the solar water heater to develop. I decided to spray paint the waterer black to pull in more heat. And i am going to use a plastic bin for the manure with holes drilled into it about 1" from the bottom so i don't get too much water in there. The bin will have Styrofoam insulation underneath and on the sides so maximum heat will be directed upwards.
There will be a pop door for the chickens to get in and access the water. It may even act as a warming chamber if they are cold. I hope it doesn't get too crowded in there!
And i was thinking of even putting a small raised area with grass growing in there since it is going to be warm! Good thing the windows were fairly large!
I will post later today with pictures of progress!