Poop board convert *warning-graphic/gross poop pictures*

[Silseb]

How close should the board be underneath the roost?

 

[Xovan]

From what I have read the magic number is 10 inches.

 

[Lapeerian]

Thank you so much for the replies. As I am 6'4" I might have to rethink the height. It just seems like so much wasted space up there, and heat loss in the winter. The run is 36' x 26' of 8' chain link fence. I also plan to run some of the wire mesh around the bottom. What about the the heated pipe tape wrapped around the water. Do they still make that? we had it in our house when i was a kid a long time ago!

Sorry I do not want to hijack this wonderfully helpful thread. I will stop with the off topic questions now.

Rob

I am in Central New York North of Utica

come join us on the NY chicken lovers!!! thread, we have some locals near you!

 

[tomecarsley]

Lovin the PDZ thing, had never heard of it. Concern is about if PDZ is ok for composting..... Yes it is, with a neutral ph of 7.5. And also cost effective at $9.99 at my local Ga. TSC for 25lbs. Learned something new that will be great to keep the smell down with humid, hot season not so far off. Thanks.

 

[Janski]

5. Can someone point me where to look for ideas to keep water from freezing in sub zero temps.

Well....#5: I solved this one this winter (can't keep running out every 3 hours with hot water).... HEATED BASE
http://www.tractorsupply.com/farm-innovators-heated-base-for-poultry-water-feeder-2167298
Worth. Every. Nickel!!

 

[Thespoiledchicken]

Lovin the PDZ thing, had never heard of it. Concern is about if PDZ is ok for composting..... Yes it is, with a neutral ph of 7.5. And also cost effective at $9.99 at my local Ga. TSC for 25lbs. Learned something new that will be great to keep the smell down with humid, hot season not so far off. Thanks.

 

[T-Amy]

5. Can someone point me where to look for ideas to keep water from freezing in sub zero temps.

Well....#5: I solved this one this winter (can't keep running out every 3 hours with hot water).... HEATED BASE
http://www.tractorsupply.com/farm-innovators-heated-base-for-poultry-water-feeder-2167298
Worth. Every. Nickel!!

We have a 250 watt red bulb suspended above the rubber bowls- gives a tiny bit of heat to the girls when they drink. I do worry about the fire hazard so found this idea in one of my Chicken magazines (can't recall if it was Grit or Mother Earth News). Check this out- you can buy the heat tape at Lowe's or TSC & while the tape isn't cheap, it uses a LOT less energy than heated water bases- about 20X less energy. We are going to do this when we find some time to get it. I also found a few sources for nipples so holler if you need those, too. Here's the waterer instructions...

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Heat_tape_chicken_waterer/

 

[Xovan]

That is exactly what was in my head. Thanks for the link. It will cut down on my trial and error.

 

[ChicKat]

Trish!!

Just read this whole thread 72-pages (o.k. well skimmed some posts). WOW....you have started a movement. Your ideas and your coop are fabulous!! Thank you.

 

[hehahn]

I love the PDZ idea. I'll have to check that out. Trying to figure out where I can put that in our greenhouse-now-converted-to-chicken-coop.

Also, for all y'all up north who don't have a heated chicken waterer, or for the occasional cold snap below freezing (can you tell I'm from Houston where a freeze in winter is a big deal!), you can try adding a wee bit of honey to the water. I got that from a marathon runner friend. Just a little changes the temp at which water freezes..