NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cydney83]

Quote:
Yes and I love them...works on the pigeon water also if I may add! I would add more if I could find what I need.. Very strong winds here!

 

[Cass]

Now for why I really weighed in. Has anyone else seen the "cookie tin" water heaters? Has anyone else made one and used it?

Neighbor put a light bulb inside a mason jar under a cinder block and kept his water ice free all winter. I would assume that the cookie tin heater would work even better....no cinder block to heat up first. I'm lazy. I am just going to buy heated dog bowls for my coops. (have one, need 2 more. Sigh)

 

[featherz]

heated dog bowls work great. Got a bunch on clearance for $5 at walmart a while back and I'm all set for another winter!! =) IIRC they use a lot less electricity than a light bulb too.

 

[Lynzi777]

Just when I thought my night couldn't get any worse - I'm ready to throw my PC for work, out the window! I look outside and see how dark it's getting and think to myself GREAT! Its pouring out AGAIN! I have to go close up the coops and try to get those silkies up the ramp and into their coop! Well to my surprise they finally did it themselves!!

All I had to do was put the "door" up and run back inside! LOL And I thought they'd be dumb forever. That made my night

Now if I can just quit this job without feeling guilty.....

 

[rancher hicks]

I had a broody hatch out 4 chicks yesterday. She was sitting on 9 eggs. This is the third time a broody left the next with youngings running about. Do most of you secure your broodies for a few days, or just let nature take it's course?

Short version. I've read advice to take the first few chicks and hold them in a brooder til she hatches the rest of the eggs, then give them back. I just moved two chicks from one broody to put under another hatching chicks. Took the six eggs from the one and put them under the one whose chicks I took. She is now sitting on seven. One of her own (she hatched two of three) and the six that hadn't hatched yet. I'll give her another day or two. If no eggs hatch I'll toss 'em. I'm not sure if I'll give her back her chicks or not. I have to move her to a place by herself.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Now for why I really weighed in. Has anyone else seen the "cookie tin" water heaters? Has anyone else made one and used it?

My dh made one last year for the girls coop. It worked wonderfully well and the water stayed liquid all winter long. It was easy and inexpensive. He is going to make one for the terrorist coop as well.

I hope everyone is doing okay with this weather. I had to take 2 detours to get home tonight because of downed lines. Lots of debris on the roads. Small pond outback but so far so good. My cheeps were all in their coops so all I had to do was close doors.

I will not be downsizing for the winter. I have finally reached my max and will keep the status quo for the heat and eggs. Come spring I will decide which of my oldest hens need to be culled and hatch out some new ones from my terrorist group. Im curious to see what black sexlinks look like and how well they lay compared to red sexlinks. I also want to see what the boys offspring look like. They are so close to the standards that I think I will get some nice chicks from them and the girls I like the best. Means marking eggs. We will just eat the roos unless I get one that is exceptional. Word is getting out and I have many demands for eggs now. Good thing they are laying like gangbusters!

 

[rancher hicks]

heated dog bowls work great. Got a bunch on clearance for $5 at walmart a while back and I'm all set for another winter!! =) IIRC they use a lot less electricity than a light bulb too.

The cookie tin heaters use a 40 watt bulb so that's not to bad. Only thing is I'd feel better if I secure the waterer by hanging it just on the heater. The birds knock them over.

I'll probably carry water each morning and afternoon. At the least in the morning. I'll need to run cords and at least four or five heaters.

 

[rancher hicks]

My dh made one last year for the girls coop. It worked wonderfully well and the water stayed liquid all winter long. It was easy and inexpensive. He is going to make one for the terrorist coop as well.

I hope everyone is doing okay with this weather. I had to take 2 detours to get home tonight because of downed lines. Lots of debris on the roads. Small pond outback but so far so good. My cheeps were all in their coops so all I had to do was close doors.

I will not be downsizing for the winter. I have finally reached my max and will keep the status quo for the heat and eggs. Come spring I will decide which of my oldest hens need to be culled and hatch out some new ones from my terrorist group. Im curious to see what black sexlinks look like and how well they lay compared to red sexlinks. I also want to see what the boys offspring look like. They are so close to the standards that I think I will get some nice chicks from them and the girls I like the best. Means marking eggs. We will just eat the roos unless I get one that is exceptional. Word is getting out and I have many demands for eggs now. Good thing they are laying like gangbusters!

did I mention that I don't know why people downsize for winter? I just can't see starting back up in the spring. IMO by the time the new hens start to lay you'd have to downsize and start all over again.

I'm glad your girls are doing well and sales are up. I never get enough to feed them for the month but it keeps the feed bill down. Don't forget to give out the literature. I know it brings in business.

 

[Adoravachick]

I love people who get me.

I tried to be serious.....but I just could help myself. LOL I knew where you were going with it.

 

[Adoravachick]

What a crummy rainy day! Owell, I guess we need it. I could really use it too after all the transplanting/planting I've been doing these past two days. DH let the bigs out of their coop this morning and I'm actually surprised at how quickly they ran out. I'm kinda glad they did because the lavender orps are looking a little dirty and I was just about to come on here and ask what I should do about. They seem to have all this dirt all over their backs and I cannot see giving them a bath, maybe wash them down with a wet washcloth?? IDK I'm keeping the littles in their coop today as I do NOT feel like giving 3 silkies baths tomorrow. Speaking of the silkies one must be laying because they are clucking like crazy out there. I'm getting more eggs from them than I am the orps. They are winning by a long stretch! I had 2-3 days of them laying these yolks and now their back on track.

Adora - any luck with the missing chickens?!?

Babywipes work very well, as to magic erasers, wet those bad boys (the erasers) and go to town. Slick as a whistle in no time. I'm glad your girls are laying.

No, they haven't come home, I find myself looking out the windows every little while. I just wish that they would come home so I can take care of them, I promise, extra mealworms! My daughter doesn't know yet, she's been distracted the the new silkies so she hasn't notice. I am certainly not saying a word until it comes up.

My chick that was hatching yesterday morning didn't make it out of the egg, it shrink wrapped and suffocated to death. It was a splash...
8 more to go, hoping for the best, the Lavender eggs are rockin' n rollin'.