INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Kiniska]

I had not even thought about them dipping wattles into the water. Now I have to rethink my heated water bowl.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

CRSelvey ~ Congrats on the bantam egg! I'm still waiting on Bonbon's. Maybe she'll lay chocolate ones.

Oooo--chocolate eggs...maybe they'll be filled with caramel?

 

[pginsber]

We are between 4 houses, but I hate the nights I can hear the spine chilling cries of a pack in the fields around all the houses. We have 5 foot small weave fence everywhere, even over the gates, but I still worry. Alpacas don't defend themselves. I want a guard LLama. lol. Our dogs go out in the fenced yard, and I think the pee smell of five dogs, and whatever guys are drinking beer at our house would keep them away, (yes I said that), but it is still an un-nerving sound. Our chickens are up tight, so I don't worry for them as much.

 

[pginsber]

Thanks Bryan (goodb) and Sally. Never thought of wolves! I think we better consider an electric fence for the perimeter of the property at least. I'll have to research that, never had one before.

Welcome! Those are some nosy little critters that let their curiousities get them into trouble.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had not even thought about them dipping wattles into the water. Now I have to rethink my heated water bowl.

I haven't ever provided open waterers so I really don't know it's an issue from experience. It just made sense to me.

There are probably plenty of folks that have open bowl waterers that may be able to comment on their experiences in winter.

I do like to be careful with open bowls of water from another perspective as well. I have always been concerned that a chicken would step in a bowl by mistake and get frostbite on the toes/feet. I did have one friend that had that happen. I know that a chicken wouldn't just step in a bowl of water on purpose. But when they are in the "closer quarters" that often happens in winter where they all want to congregate inside, sometimes the tussles and shenanagins cause them to end up in places quite by mistake! If it's very cold out, it doesn't take long for wet feet and toes to freeze as my friend found out.

If I remember correctly, my friend happened to be there and witness her one little chicken step in the water bowl and removed her to a warm place right away but it was so cold out that day that her feet froze almost instantly. It took quite a long time of nursing after this accident and the chicken had to learn to walk again after losing several toes, etc.

So...that's another reason I try to keep the water surface as small as possible.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I am more concerned about the WATTLES dragging through the water and freezing (rather than combs). The waterer I used last year was great as the opening for water was very small and pretty much prevented that. Problem was that the necks on them froze even when the water was kept quite warm with a fish tank heater.

This year's waterer has more surface but still very restricted. I guess I'll see how "Mister" does with it as he has some good sized wattles on him.

I read somewhere on google that keeping the wattles covered with a water resistant solution would help min. the frost bite. I think one site said to coat in vaseline, another said to spray down with pam twice a day.


I lost one leghorn chick to the cold last night. They picked a corner away from the heat light to huddle. I'm at a loss as to how to fix that. Moving the light still leaves a corner with no light for them to huddle in. I thought about adding another light but then they have no where to go to get away from the light if by change they get too warm.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sigh. Really strange that they didn't stay under the light. I wonder if changing it out to a red light might make a difference...just so it's not so bright?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I do know about the treatment for wattles and combs but...my lazy self says that's there is no way I'm going to be putting oil on all those wattles every day!

Seriously, though, I would do it if I HAD to but I'd sure like to prevent the problem in the first place.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Would a typical plastic 1 gallon water like this one fit down inside one of those blue heated dog bowls? I hang their water in the coop usually because they are spillers. I though the higher sides on the heated bowl would keep the water from spilling out.

This is what aart did with her waterer like that. Basically the same thing as I did - remove the heating element from the bottom of the bowl, cover it with cookie tin lid or pie pan, the INVERT on the bottom of the bowl which now becomes a platform for the heater - just up-side-down.


Quote: aart From: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631861/diy-thread-lets-see-your-inventions/1420#post_12321791

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Sigh. Really strange that they didn't stay under the light. I wonder if changing it out to a red light might make a difference...just so it's not so bright?

I can try that as I have some more red bulbs. It was my preference not to use them as when I look out I see red light from the coop windows and something in me cringes like I was looking at a fire.

I do know about the treatment for wattles and combs but...my lazy self says that's there is no way I'm going to be putting oil on all those wattles every day!

Seriously, though, I would do it if I HAD to but I'd sure like to prevent the problem in the first place.

I have to admit once at night would be the best mine would get and it would be the pam spray. It would also fall on my DH as the roosters all sit with their tails to the coop door and I don't like getting back in the roosting area to face them. But sneaking out there at 10:30 and spraying them in theory sounds so easy.