post your chicken coop pictures here!

[ShrekDawg]

Nipples area a sanitary convenience for us not the chickens... If they have open water they will choose that almost all the time, the same way they will choose that one mud puddle after a rain over any watering device you have even an open bowl of clean water next to the mud puddle, to them the mud puddle water is simply more appealing... The same way that they will swarm to a handful of feed tossed on the ground when there is a full container of the same feed sitting next to them...
When push comes to shove they will keep themselves hydrated just fine out of the nipples, and as long as you don't see them lined up fighting to drink at the nipples they are doing fine and getting enough water...

I have roughly 100 birds and even on a 100° day it's rare to see more than a handful using the nipples at a time meaning the rest are happily hydrated...

Thanks, that makes a lot sense. I guess as long as they are using them I should continue with them? It really is sooo much easier. And that's true too, they seem to swarm new things too so it could just be oh new convenient water sure I'll drink rather than actually being thirsty?

But that's good to know they will stay hydrated on their own. And you're right, they usually do manage just fine. But I guess I just wasn't sure because they were panting when I went out there

 

[beautifulpirate]

Thanks, that makes a lot sense. I guess as long as they are using them I should continue with them? It really is sooo much easier. And that's true too, they seem to swarm new things too so it could just be oh new convenient water sure I'll drink rather than actually being thirsty?

But that's good to know they will stay hydrated on their own. And you're right, they usually do manage just fine. But I guess I just wasn't sure because they were panting when I went out there

Panting is basically how they relieve themselves of excess heat since they can't sweat like we do. Its not necessarily a sign of thirst. Although lots of cool water will help them to cool down, its not at all a lack of hydration element.

 

[Sylvester017]

LOL! It's not the bear, it's the fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote, and that's just a few of the 4 legged ones, here you best put something over the top of your run to keep out hawks, eagles and owls as well.

Sounds like my DD's property that butts up against a nature preserve. Besides the predators you mentioned she's had mountain lion (puma/cougar), black bear, rattlesnakes, possum, rats, mice, rabbits, deer, lynx/bobcat, gopher, stray dogs, various raptors -- but no feral cats. Chickens, domestic pet bunnies, small dog breeds, and pet cats don't stand a chance in her neighborhood. The larger critters catch the ferals and small pets as food. Was eye-to-eye with a coyote at her place and a raccoon dumped the garbage trash all over the backyard, and a bobcat went happily trotting down the middle of the neighborhood lane with someone's pet rabbit in it's jaws! When I house-sit her place I don't go out after dark!

 

[Sylvester017]

Those look sweet. I'm starting on a project to expand the run area so even more space for the moochers to get in. I'll be looking into these! Thanks for sharing Sylvester!

There are galvanized treadle feeders from Solway, Grandpas, and some other independent manufacturer on eBay and/or Amazon and of course the one we got from ChickenCondos.com. I think Grandpas galvanized feeder has a lift-up lid so I didn't even consider it even though it is metal. A decent 20-lb capacity treadle feeder should be roughly $100 each. I didn't want the wooden treadle feeders because of the lift-up lid balancing over the chicken's head and because it's wood - I prefer metal where a rat can't chew through from the outside and where inclement weather won't mildew or warp a wood feed box. There is a lightweight wood treadle foot on our galvanized ChickenCondos feeders but the feed holder itself is completely enclosed metal. Some galvanized feeders are manufactured to look like treadle feeders but aren't so look carefully that it is a true "treadle" feeder.

 

[Sylvester017]

I agree, those look sweet!! But I wonder if they just added the treadle part? Because on the website it has a chicken decal on the front but yours says chowhound? And I remember hearing that brand a while ago so Googled it again and it seems the original does not have the treadle and the dog simply nudges it open? Cause the original was for dogs i think. So would a chicken be too light to push it? Because the original is like $30- $40 depending on store for the 25 pound one and 50 pound is like $50-$60? I think they're website it's $115? I'm not saying it's a bad investment, i might look into it too, but I wonder if you couldn't just buy the feeder and add the treadle yourself? Or make a wooden one? I know you had said you didn't want to assemble it though. We tried a bucket feeder and mine didn't like sticking their heads in but I also didn't take away the other feeders. But I don't blame them, it seems so unnatural especially for a prey animal to put your head inside a pipe and lose your view. It's quite possible that our Chow Hound emblem on our chicken treadle feeder could be from a dog feeder mfr. You see, ChickenCondos.com is a subsidiary of K-9 Kennels so it is possible. However, the dog feeder operates differently in that the dog pushes his head into the feeder. Ours is made for chickens to stand on the treadle foot and then the feeder opens inward. Maybe Chow Hound was built/modified by ChickenCondos to have a chicken treadle foot, I don't know. I just know it has been heaven not having the wild birds mooch our expensive organic Scratch & Peck feed mixed with the wild bird seed that our chickens like so much. Thanks! I'm sorry, I should have clarified. We actuallymade it in I think the end of February and they picked it up that day, the Australorps were a little skeptical, so they have been using it for a while now and normally use it with no problems but today it was in the 70s and they didn't seem like they drank much. Of course, I could have just missed it but usually I see it. I did give them strawberries and kale this morning though. But they were panting around 4. I should have brought water out sooner. I don't know what their problem is. But I brought some bowls out and they drank fine. I then went to Tractor Supply and picked up a 1 gallon plastic waterer and evem though it was now like 6 and pretty cool, I still mixed up some Sav A Chick for them. They drank that willingly and I am glad the base is red cause otherwise they might not have drunken orange water lol

Anyways, one day a month or so ago it was very bitterly cold and I brought them an open waterer then too filled with warm water. I normally never bring warm water, that was the first time, but I felt bad. They LOVED it.

And one time one EE drank out of a gross mud and poo filled puddle in the run. What I can't stand to watch is after a rain when the muddy potted plant dishes are filled with filthy gritty water and the chickens drink it like it's clean water - silly chickens! We have to empty all the potted plant water after a rain to keep the chickens from drinking out of them.

And in fact, often the EEs fly up on top of the waterer and drink from the lid? My personal opinion after having one nutty Ameraucana -- my friend's EEs and my Amer are our strangest chickens but also the sweetest!

I don't know, is this normal?

I haven't spoiled them with open water much but when I do they go crazy. Maybe nipples just aren't natural to them? Or maybe I don't have it up enough? Nipples probably aren't natural but if it's the only water source they'll use them. Better than having them drink wild bird poo in open waterers.

I am worried though as it is not even summer yet and if they aren't going to drink much water maybe I should switch to open waterers again. But they get dirty SO fast. Or maybe I am just over thinking it and spoiling them? Maybe I should try giving fruit. Or get a deep container so they can deep drink as I heard someone say once. I don't know. Sometimes hens drink a lot of water and sometimes hardly ever. My girls rush to the nipple valve waterer immediately after laying their egg for the day. They need to replenish a lot of lost liquid because of the egg they lay. Then I might not see them drink again until dusk before they roost. Just have the water cooled during sunny days since they should lay 10% better drinking cold water. I have a little Silkie that likes to drink a melting ice cube dripping from my fingers.

 

[cabinchicky]

LOL! It's not the bear, it's the fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote, and that's just a few of the 4 legged ones, here you best put something over the top of your run to keep out hawks, eagles and owls as well.

Run is done in welded fence, sides, top and dig barrier. No worries here. The kids go in the coops at dark. Nothing getting in there, doors locked too.

 

[TJordan]

We've finally collected all the wood needed for the coop. Let's hope the rain stays away. Yesterday was wet.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Yes ur rain came up this way thank you we needed it it has been so dusty and dry there has been fires reported already this year

 

[chickiechick12]

My husband and I have been working on this coop for a year. It's finally (for now) done!! I love it and I have the happiest chickens! We currently have 10 but there is more space on the roost and plenty of run space. They never fight or peck each other. So far we have about $700 into this coop, including paint. I have underground power to the coop for a water heater and a heat lamp inside for the negative 0 days in the winter. In the summer I have 2 lights, 1 on the coop and 1 in the run. I wish the coop itself was a bit bigger but otherwise, totally love it!

 

[ShrekDawg]

The quote isnt working but i hadn't rekaized they owned a K9 website too, that's probably why.

And yes, it grosses me out when they drnk out of puddles and things! The worst was when I kept shooing her away and trying to scare her away and she kept coming back lol and normally the EEs are the flightiest but she was determined to drink from that puddle

And OMG glad it is not just mine! Yes mine are the strangest chickens haha a little flightly, especially one in particular, but sweet.

That makes sense. We luckily haven't had any problems with wild birds or pests but I do prefer the nipple waterers

I never realized that they don't necessarily drink a lot or could drink when I'm watching, that makes sense. I usually see mine drinking throughout the day though but i also have 8