Our coop and pre-winter cleaning

[chickencheeper]

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

Today it’s in the 40’s, though it can sometimes(very few) reach below 0

 

[Folly's place]

My unheated stock tanks FREEZE SOLID in winter, and then usually break. Ours are empty and turned over unless either heated, or used intensively, and ice removed daily. It freezes around the sides and the top. Mary

 

[aart]

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

Not sure that will work with a rain barrel...barrel needs to be sealed tight(except for where tray/cup is attached or water will all drain right out.

"The bottle sits in a plastic tray, and due to the effect of a vacuum building in the bottle as the water drains out, the water level magically stays just below the rim of the tray, and tops up automatically as the hens drink."

Oh.... unless you are going to use the chicken cups with trigger valves.

 

[TalkALittle]

Today it’s in the 40’s, though it can sometimes(very few) reach below 0

Well, I'm in Massachusetts and while it only sometimes gets below 0°F, it is often below 32°F. Snow stays snow at those temps. You will likely need a stock tank heater to keep that barrel from freezing. The cup and outlet port will be the first to freeze.

And I agree you will not be able to have an open collection barrel as there will be no vacuum. And trigger valve nipples/cups will surely freeze up.

 

[nenebynature]

View attachment 1184358 View attachment 1184356 This is our diy hobbit house chicken coop after pre-winter cleaning and winter modifications.View attachment 1184355View attachment 1184357View attachment 1184359 View attachment 1184360View attachment 1184361 View attachment 1184362View attachment 1184363 View attachment 1184364View attachment 1184365 View attachment 1184366View attachment 1184368 View attachment 1184369

This is freaking incredible!!!!

 

[tigger19687]

OMG that is soooo cutte !!!
Where in MA are you ?

I was looking into rainbarrel for water but I kind of ran out of time.