NY chicken lover!!!!

[boskelli1571]

I have a small 16" and the chain has come off too many times. I've really messed up the chain this time I think and will be buying a new one. I've only used it about three or four times. I must be doing something wrong.

I had terrible trouble with a saw that was a 'nut adjuster'. I now have one that has a hand tightener on it. It's a Stihl and for the extra money it's worth its weight in gold. I only use Stihl chains too - much better made and last longer.
I have 2 Poulan saws also - they still work, but using the Ethanol fuel has warped the fuel caps so they are B****** to get on/off. If anyone wants to buy one cheap and can fix the cap let me know!

 

[lisa523]

Cute Coops

Your coops are raised ? but they have a wood floor ? or dirt floor ..
Im just trying to figure out the pictures

They have a wood floor. I just have bedding down on the floor and it shows my droppings boards on the right.

 

[lisa523]

Moisture free is hard. I have the water inside on a heated base because i already had frozen water. Thakfully i had the bases in, just had to plug them in. I change my dropping boards every 2 days. I pit bag balm on their combs every other day, it helps. Havent had one with frost bite yet.

All I have left to do is put the rest of my tarps up to help block wind

 

[boskelli1571]

Moisture free is hard. I have the water inside on a heated base because i already had frozen water. Thakfully i had the bases in, just had to plug them in. I change my dropping boards every 2 days. I pit bag balm on their combs every other day, it helps. Havent had one with frost bite yet.

All I have left to do is put the rest of my tarps up to help block wind

I used to have the water in the coop, but they always manged to spill it on the floor! I now have heated water outside in the barn area, much better for me. As long as you don't have problems go with it!

 

[tao chick]

I used to have the water in the coop, but they always manged to spill it on the floor! I now have  heated water outside in the barn area, much better for me. As long as you don't have problems go with it!

It's late in the season to make major changes, but I did get a couple heated waterers and might scrap the nipple watering system. I'm pretty frustrated with the virus the chickens are battling. They all act perfectly normal except an occasional sneeze. I'm debating calling the vet. Then in the spring I can rejigger the whole coop. Tear everything out. Scrub. Paint. Rebuild the water area so that there's a gutter under to drain water away from the chickens. I just have to get them through this winter. Then I will have learned what I need to know to improve the whole property.
Edited to add: did more reading this morning. I'm still not sure what's going on with my chickens. Maybe it's not a virus? I'll get back out to the coop today and see if I'm missing something. It's raining and I have the coop opened up as much as I can. I was beginning to wonder if the dampness in the coop is from below the concrete and wicking into the bedding.

 

[rancher hicks]

I stored it outside in the coop it was frozen before I used it ..I think freezing it killed it ..
.it may have been froze when I turned it on
Longs it is stored above freezing it should be okay.
if it is already on ...it is fine out in the freezing cold weather .
Does this make sense ?

I haven't plugged these in. There were in the garage. Too, If I keep my nipple waterer out of the wind it stays unfroze. If not it freezes even with the heater plugged in.

 

[rancher hicks]

I used to have the water in the coop, but they always manged to spill it on the floor! I now have heated water outside in the barn area, much better for me. As long as you don't have problems go with it!

This is why I don't keep water in the coop. They seem fine without it. They run for it when I let them out in the am.

I recommend at least a sheltered area. A half hoop works great for that. With these coops even, little snow builds up in the front. I'm sure where you are the snows blows in from one direction most of the time. Here it comes in from the east. They have just a small overhang, not even as wide as the hoop.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

My feed and water are in the coop . I also have a very large coop with hanging feeder and water on a platform.

 

[Glasshen]

Got 6 eggs yesterday and 7 today! The lights are helping. It's been about 3 weeks that they have been having the lights wake them up early. Yay!

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Rancher........ The only problem I have with the heated water bowls is : the Roos wattles get dipped when they drink and they get frostbite. I haven't figured out how to prevent their wattles from getting wet