Hello from Dubuque, IA

[R3bauer]

I'll bet you're tired of chicken dust.... I moved the brooder to my woodshop in the barn, instead of the garage. I must have an inch of dander on everything.

Not quite an inch but a lot yes!

 

[rjohns39]

I just finished my hatching schedule for this year, which is light compared to last year... Bet there will be another inch when I'm done. I have two 8X8 brooders with sweeter heaters and nipple waterers, 4' tall (huge mistake). But hatching hollands, RIWs, Turkeys and maybe ducks, plus want to run a trial on CXs (40 Cobb 500 and 40 Ross 708) head to head to see who does best on my grass. And I think I'll do a few BBW turkeys this year as heritage didn't sell well last year.

 

[R3bauer]

Ok. How are the nipple waterers? Im considering getting them for the coop. Do they leak at all? Are they easy to train to? You sound like your hands are full!

 

[rjohns39]

They do leak from time to time. My favorite comes from QC supply and have a little cup underneath. Day old chicks learn them quickly, turkeys take a bit more time or need a chicken mentor. Ducks need a deep bowl for washing their bills, but drink from them fine.
This is my favorite after trying dozens of other options... https://www.qcsupply.com/422209-game-bird-drinker-activator-kit.html I'm intrigued by the cup waterers, but have never tried them... Recently offered help to a BYCer who was having trouble with her birds using it and the same tactics used for what I have worked... Take the day old chick and peck the stem and wait for them to drink, once they've drank from it, they'll go back and repeat. Again, turkeys not so much unless they have chicks to teach them. I put week old chicks with my day old poults and have a very high survival rate as a result.

 

[R3bauer]

Cool. My girls are 7 weeks is that to late to train them to thr nipple waterer?

 

[rjohns39]

as long as they let you hold them, no... Add the nipple system but don't take out the other just yet. Take one or two and peck the activator with their beak and make sure they drink from the dripping water. They'll catch on quick and will teach the others. Then you can take out the other water source and monitor to make sure all are drinking from the nipples. If you get an odd ball, do remedial training.

 

[R3bauer]

Good to know! Thank a million.

 

[rjohns39]

Best of luck... BTW chickens HATE change. But often it is better for them in the long run.

 

[R3bauer]

So made a lot of progress on the coop with the help of my youngest son. I had to call it due to being in the sun too long. Finishing up tomorrow.

 

[R3bauer]

Got thd coop built out today. Just got to move the chickens and the various things that go with them out there today.