Our coop and pre-winter cleaning

[chickencheeper]

This is our diy hobbit house chicken coop after pre-winter cleaning and winter modifications.

 

[Suprise-Chicks]

Looks great! Well done.

 

[cheekiechickie]

WOW! That is a very awesome coop and run!

 

[Folly's place]

Nice!!! Mary

 

[chickencheeper]

Just posted the full pictures and how to build it:https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/our-diy-hobbit-house-chicken-coop.1207697/

 

[aart]

Those cups, and the tiny hole that fills them, will not likely stay thawed.
Better to go with horizontal nipples.
Is your aq heater on the bottom of bucket so it stays covered with water?
Also good to have heater plugged into a thermocube so it only runs when it's between 30-45F.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[chickencheeper]

Those cups, and the tiny hole that fills them, will not likely stay thawed.
Better to go with horizontal nipples.
Is your aq heater on the bottom of bucket so it stays covered with water?
Also good to have heater plugged into a thermocube so it only runs when it's between 30-45F.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

The aq heater is temporary, we plan on using rainwater collection during the winter with a very simple watering device so it doesn’t freeze(if it does the chickens should be able to peck off the top layer)

 

[aart]

rainwater collection during the winter

....in Massachusetts?!?! That would be snow, yes?

a very simple watering device so it doesn’t freeze(if it does the chickens should be able to peck off the top layer)

Fascinated to see how that works..hope you post the details.

 

[chickencheeper]

....in Massachusetts?!?! That would be snow, yes?

Fascinated to see how that works..hope you post the details.

Yep, snow will be the “rain” during winter, it will stay in the funnel, but then melt. Here’s the waterer idea-
https://pin.it/rIrJoEy
Except that the rain water container(55 gal drum) will be outside against the back of the coop and the cup would be inside

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens are very unlikely to peck through ice. They will drink around it, but not get through a sheet of ice. How warm is it in Massachusetts, anyway? Mary