MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

Hmmm I am having a big re-think of my water provision. It would be so easy to squirt water from the hose into a bowl in summer.

I have a rain barrel with a hose outlet that is long enough to reach into the Chicken Palace to minimize how much water carrying I have to do.

 

[MaryJanet]

Hmmm I am having a big re-think of my water provision. It would be so easy to squirt water from the hose into a bowl in summer.

I'd like to stay away from the plastics too.

I love the ceramic jars and so do the hens. They keep the water cool for longer, but also warm for longer. Ceramic bowls might cool down faster.

So a combo of ceramic jar and nearby bowl might be a winner.

 

[Ribh]

Hmmm I am having a big re-think of my water provision. It would be so easy to squirt water from the hose into a bowl in summer.

Pretty much what I do. I shove the hose in turned slow while I let the girls out & it is full by the time I get back to it!

 

[MaryJanet]

I have a rain barrel with a hose outlet that is long enough to reach into the Chicken Palace to minimize how much water carrying I have to do.

Rain water isn't an option for the hens because it carries too much bird poop. But there will be a hose in the funrun soon, which will make it a little easier to refresh the water in the run. Around the backyard is another matter.

 

[Ribh]

I'd like to stay away from the plastics too.

I love the ceramic jars and so do the hens. They keep the water cool for longer, but also warm for longer. Ceramic bowls might cool down faster.

So a combo of ceramic jar and nearby bowl might be a winner.

I love your ceramic jars. They are one of my *one of these days* projects.

 

[RoyalChick]

I love your ceramic jars. They are one of my *one of these days* projects.

i love them too but they would be a summer only option for me.

 

[Ribh]

i love them too but they would be a summer only option for me.

Yes, but I could deploy them all year round. When I'm a little more settled maybe...

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, but I could deploy them all year round. When I'm a little more settled maybe...

I think that is a great goal to shoot for. They are very attractive and I love the cooling aspect. When it gets hot here I resort to ice.

 

[MaryJanet]

I think that is a great goal to shoot for. They are very attractive and I love the cooling aspect. When it gets hot here I resort to ice.

In the climate here, I add ice to the ceramic jars maybe 3-4 times. But we've had two mild summers in a row and I imagine it would go up roughly 12 in a summer with more than one heat wave.

 

[Shadrach]

I get it. It's to feel like you've tucked them in.

I like that bit, maybe best. Count them, make sure everyone looks comfortable and say goodnight to each chicken then close up for the night.
I don't do the full routine at the allotments but I count them and say goodnight, usually having had a peek through the nest box lid to see where everyone is.