INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

Question, what do those of you with larger flocks do about water in the winter? I know there are several threads on the main forum on the subject, but they are all very small waterers. I would really like to find something that will hold at least a couple days worth of water. What do you guys use? Also, do you put the water inside/outside or both in the winter? I have had mine in both, but need to make a choice since I will have to run an extension cord out there and can't run two of them.

I like the rubber feed pans for horses, if the water freezed in it, you can just stomp on them and knock the ice iout. I don't use anything fancy, but I'm also home all day to make sure they always have water.

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

Well, pooh. It hasn't been the best show on the circuit, but at least it was close by. So I guess the Blue Grass show next weekend is my last for the season unless I decide to travel to Knoxville in December. I missed the deadline for entries for the Ohio National; not too disappointed, looking forward to being a visitor and just looking and shopping. I have a list of what I'm looking for.

Judy, I'm hoping to just go and look around also. to many animals to be gone more then a day, but hoping to be able to show there one day !!

 

[FarkerFarms]

Yes, that is the problem. I am just gone too long during the day! I would also like to keep chores easy in case I need a petsitter for some reason. With horses and dogs it is already hard to find someone who is capable of juggling the madness! Adding a difficult chicken regime to the fray is not ideal!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

WOW--67 chickens? How many did you start with and how long ago was that?

I had chickens about 5 years ago. They all got killed by coyotes. I then started raising them again 3 years ago. I had 16 then. I quickly expanded my flock within a few months I was up to 40. I had a few die here and there from preadotors. then in the spring some dogs attacked my flock or 47 (they attacked twice) I was down to 5 chickens. i am now back up to 67. I will probably always have right around 70. In spring I will probably have more come spring when I am growing out showing and breeding stock. then narrow back down to where I want to be. I have so many odds and ends right now it isnt even funny.

 

[danand]

Farker- boy I hear that!! My DH txd me this morning and has to go for an interview out of state Nov 1st. So asked if I could go. And the problem is pet sitting for even 1 -1.5 days!! Between horses, dogs, chickens and fish it gets tricky!!

 

[FarkerFarms]

Farker- boy I hear that!! My DH txd me this morning and has to go for an interview out of state Nov 1st. So asked if I could go. And the problem is pet sitting for even 1 -1.5 days!! Between horses, dogs, chickens and fish it gets tricky!!

Man! Maybe you should petsit for me and I can petsit for you (too bad we are about 3 hours apart!)! It is such a problem isn't it? Plus horses are SOOOOO delicate that I really want someone that will recognize if something is wrong! It is so hard to find someone that knows and is COMFORTABLE working with a variety of animals. Plus if things are too complex I risk them "forgetting" to feed or water someone.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I bought 2 and 1/2 gallons of unpaterized apple cider. Anf they told me that I could make Vinegar out of it. ANybody know how? google isnt helping out much.

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

Yes, that is the problem. I am just gone too long during the day! I would also like to keep chores easy in case I need a petsitter for some reason. With horses and dogs it is already hard to find someone who is capable of juggling the madness! Adding a difficult chicken regime to the fray is not ideal!

How bout heated dog bowls???

 

[pginsber]

Man! Maybe you should petsit for me and I can petsit for you (too bad we are about 3 hours apart!)! It is such a problem isn't it? Plus horses are SOOOOO delicate that I really want someone that will recognize if something is wrong! It is so hard to find someone that knows and is COMFORTABLE working with a variety of animals. Plus if things are too complex I risk them "forgetting" to feed or water someone.

Petsitter is CERTAINLY the limiting factor for us, too.
We had 'normal' pet store variety pets and still found the petsitter situation daunting. When we added 7 chickens, and 3 newly hatched chicks I was beside myself to leave for vacation for a week.
We have a good pet sitter, but I don't believe she knows anything about horses. We should definitely compile a PETSITTER resource list!

 

[Old Salt 1945]

My thanks to everyone who has shared about their poop boards! You have really helped me in deciding what to do. This coop- building is more complicated than it looks on the surface. Or, more likely, I'm just making it that way!

My-brother-the-carpenter has not shown up for work on the coop for a week. When he shows, he works at the pace of molasses in January. I have my chickens all lined up and waiting, and he has barely started the job. Wow, am I frustrated!

Everone's new chickens sound beautiful! Can't wait to see all the pictures! Wow, CCCCCCHICKINS! - you really went shopping! Bet you had fun!

Is anyone going to the National in Ohio, November 9-10?

Probably the best way to inspire him is to jump in with him as "gopher". When working on something alone and having no deadline or boss pushing, it helps to have a helper that discourages loafing. When I work on something by myself, I can easily find reasons to put something off until next time. When I have a helper, I tend to not want to appear lazy.

Try it. It might work, but not if you are the first one to quit.

John