Lowest maintenance feeding/water

[cmom]

Do you have this right at your house?

Yes. Several years ago I went to a seminar put on by the state. They have guidelines and one is that for me to sell my eggs, they have to be refrigerated at a no higher temperature than 45ºF.

 

[cmom]

My birds are tested yearly by the state.

 

[Carson213]

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/tri-pod-waterer-8-gal?msclkid=b1bff5b2497916753322aae00ef94d23&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(ROI) Shopping - General Feeding & Handling&utm_term=4584001426103529&utm_content=Feeding & Handling

This one looks pretty nice. Do you have one of these? Another question...probably a dumb one...currently, I have the waterers in the coop mainly because that’s the way it was in the old coop. However, the old coop was plumbed for water and had a float system inside of an old barrel that was cut down low so that the chickens could drink out of it. It was a bit messy and it sat right next to the opening to the run...and the opening was open 24/7. Periodically, a predator would eat a chicken but my grandpa kept the predator population pretty low. The new coop is in the same exact location but when I built it I tried to engineer out some of the problems of the old coop. I added an automatic door to the run on a photocell and have tried a few different waterers in attempt to not have a filthy water supply that also causes the underlying floor to rot. However, regardless of the waterer(two of them had metal nipples and one was the kind you fill up and then invert) it seems like the surrounding bedding is getting damp. Right now with hot weather, it hasn’t been too big of a deal but during the rest of the year, I don’t think it would ever truly dry out. So, my question is...would it be better to just have the waterers outside the coop? I can adjust the timing on the auto door if needed. Would there be any problem if the chickens didn’t have access to water during the night? Would it be fine to still keep the feeders inside? My only concern would be if there was a malfunction with the door and I wasn’t home...or I just leave it open...

 

[RW1984]

I got a 30 gallon trash can and some 90 degree elbow joints (3inch) and cut holes for them to slide into the bottom of the trash can. I then used cement glue to hold them in place and after it dried I used the spray rubber to seal it so rain didn’t go in any cracks missed by the glue.
After it all dried I can dump 100-150lbs of feed in there. Gravity does the rest as they eat from the bottom.
I do go out and check it a few times a week and scoop some out to throw on the ground for them.

 

[cmom]

This one looks pretty nice. Do you have one of these? Another question...probably a dumb one...currently, I have the waterers in the coop mainly because that’s the way it was in the old coop. However, the old coop was plumbed for water and had a float system inside of an old barrel that was cut down low so that the chickens could drink out of it. It was a bit messy and it sat right next to the opening to the run...and the opening was open 24/7. Periodically, a predator would eat a chicken but my grandpa kept the predator population pretty low. The new coop is in the same exact location but when I built it I tried to engineer out some of the problems of the old coop. I added an automatic door to the run on a photocell and have tried a few different waterers in attempt to not have a filthy water supply that also causes the underlying floor to rot. However, regardless of the waterer(two of them had metal nipples and one was the kind you fill up and then invert) it seems like the surrounding bedding is getting damp. Right now with hot weather, it hasn’t been too big of a deal but during the rest of the year, I don’t think it would ever truly dry out. So, my question is...would it be better to just have the waterers outside the coop? I can adjust the timing on the auto door if needed. Would there be any problem if the chickens didn’t have access to water during the night? Would it be fine to still keep the feeders inside? My only concern would be if there was a malfunction with the door and I wasn’t home...or I just leave it open...

I have auto waterers. I originally put them in the coops until I had a malfunction and flooded a coop, then I moved them outside next to the pop doors. I don't shut my pop doors but I have electric wires around my coops and pens, concrete under the gates and good heavy duty netting covering all of the pens.

 

[Carson213]

I have auto waterers. I originally put them in the coops until I had a malfunction and flooded a coop, then I moved them outside next to the pop doors. I don't shut my pop doors but I have electric wires around my coops and pens, concrete under the gates and good heavy duty netting covering all of the pens.
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glad I’m not the only one to flood the coop! I just got a couple of barrels...one for outside to collect rain and one to feed into the inside barrel with a float. i am going to try that and maybe put down the rubber matting we have used in horse stalls...under the waterer. another thought was to put metal wire mesh under the waterer in the floor to allow air passage, poop to fall and water to fall.

 

[Carson213]

My birds are tested yearly by the state.

What’s the cost on that?

 

[Carson213]

great ideas. i was thinking of building a hopper to hold 4 bushels of feed that drops into their feeder. i can buy high quality feed locally in bulk for about .21 cents per bushel.

whoops...meant $12 per bushel!!

 

[cmom]

The main plumbing is inside the coops still, but I put it through the walls to connect the waterers outside.

 

[cmom]

What’s the cost on that?

There is no costs. I do it because I show my birds at poultry shows and it is required to show.