Major stress then no eggs

[mbodamer]

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking - something like the set-up in post #5 of this thread. I am just not sure how far apart to put the nipples and how many I need for about 25 laying hens. Thanks.

I dont know the scientific spacing needed. But I have 12 (well now 11) hens and I have 5 feet of pipe under the coop with I think 8 nipples just eyeballed and placed on it. I never see more then 2 drinking at once and it seems (just like with nesting boxes) they all seem to gravitate towards the one against the right side by the wall. That one seems to get the most action.

Part of my daily routine now is taking a stick (since its a 4 foot reach under the coop) and I touch each nipple to see it drip. My tank heater actually died so the only heat I have in the system currently is this https://www.lowes.com/pd/EasyHeat-ADKS-60-ft-300-Watt-Roof-Heat-Cable/3115535 which I have wrapped around all the pipes on the inside of my shed. So the pipe that you see exposed under the coop with the nipples remains the same. We have gotten a few nights of 20's and I have had no issue with it freezing. I think the constantly flowing water with the system equalizing pressure between the barrels is the most important part.

when I touch the pipes with the roof heat cable wrapped on them they dont even seem warm to me so i'm not sure that is even doing anything.

So I think if you have 10' of pipe with nipples every 8-10 inches you would have plenty. again I don't really see them all lined up drinking at once.

I was worried about my automatic feeder too. If you see in the picture the galvanized steel box is just a dog food feeder that I cut a hole in my wall and the chickens reach in from the other side. The feeder is only 1.5-2 feet wide. And I never have a problem with them competing for feed.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Oh that explains a lot. I thought they slowed down during winter but did not stop laying. Last year I went from about 12 a day to about 5-6 so I was expecting the same this time. Good to learn and now know that its normal for it to stop in winter.

Also here is part of my setup. The barrels are above the actual coop in the rafters. I have a small pond pump that transfers water from barrel 2 to barrel 1. Then gravity causes barrel 1 to equalize and push water through the looped system refilling barrel 2. So I have a constant circulation of water. To avoid freezing I have that heated cable that you put on your roof to melt snow wrapped all around the pipes (except in the chicken run where the nipples are). I also have tank heater in barrel 2 so warm water is pumped into barrel 1 and then it gravity forces the water down through the system and cold water reenters barrel 2 to get heated and transferred back to barrel 1.View attachment 1959506 View attachment 1959507

Do you watch the vet Matt something from vet ranch on utube...he has the same set up for his chickens at his house..took him forever to get it set up.great job!

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I dont know the scientific spacing needed. But I have 12 (well now 11) hens and I have 5 feet of pipe under the coop with I think 8 nipples just eyeballed and placed on it. I never see more then 2 drinking at once and it seems (just like with nesting boxes) they all seem to gravitate towards the one against the right side by the wall. That one seems to get the most action. I thought I was the only one with weird chickens who only use the end nest boxes! Geez, my hubby will be glad to know, although, then he’ll say “next time I’m only making two”.

Part of my daily routine now is taking a stick (since its a 4 foot reach under the coop) and I touch each nipple to see it drip. My tank heater actually died so the only heat I have in the system currently is this https://www.lowes.com/pd/EasyHeat-ADKS-60-ft-300-Watt-Roof-Heat-Cable/3115535 which I have wrapped around all the pipes on the inside of my shed. So the pipe that you see exposed under the coop with the nipples remains the same. We have gotten a few nights of 20's and I have had no issue with it freezing. I think the constantly flowing water with the system equalizing pressure between the barrels is the most important part.

when I touch the pipes with the roof heat cable wrapped on them they dont even seem warm to me so i'm not sure that is even doing anything.

So I think if you have 10' of pipe with nipples every 8-10 inches you would have plenty. again I don't really see them all lined up drinking at once.

I was worried about my automatic feeder too. If you see in the picture the galvanized steel box is just a dog food feeder that I cut a hole in my wall and the chickens reach in from the other side. The feeder is only 1.5-2 feet wide. And I never have a problem with them competing for feed.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Sorry about the loss of your chicken, glad the others are doing ok...