post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Sylvester017]

I dont worry about such things. Humans can go several days without fluids, so can chickens. Obviously, if they are allowed to drink when they want it is better for them. I check my feed and water every day so worst case is part of a day. If i start having troible with draining i can always throw in an old drinker, eh?

DH & I are worriers - if we're gone for the whole day into night we rest easier knowing there are multiple feeders and waterers until we get home. Not so much a worry in the cool months but our SoCal summers are brutally hot/humid plus we'll throw ice cubes in the insulated jugs and the water stays cool for a few days. The nipple valve waterers are 100% better than the open container waterers we had before. The wild birds pooped in them and the chickens would stand in them like a spa -- they all thought they were "Palmolive Madge."

 

[Sylvester017]

If you have different sized birds you most definitely have to have nipples at different heights... In my barrel you can see two rows of nipples at different heights from the front to accomidate my peafowls and larger roosters, while on the sides there are cinder block steps to accommodate the smaller chickens, guinea fowl and bantams...

SPEAKING OF CINDER BLOCK STEPS:

 

[gpeters3]

I cant say if a chicken can die in 24 hours without water because i havnt actually researched it but experience and seat of the pants thinks maybe not. Ive been sick and busy and worn out and fogot to check feed and water, thinking i already did and let them go over a day without water with no 'aparent' issues. I can believe that dehydration can interfere with egg laying, that just simply makes sense.

My feeling is that the pvc setup will add some security to maintaining water at all times and could be supplimented with open drinkers if i see the need but they can fight and run around banging into the drinkers and drain them too. The chicks when very small kept me hopping because of this.

My system will have plenty of water so that one nipple leaking should not be an issue and since i check them every day i can replace any leakers. One fact that gives me confidence is that with a cap on the filler port this system will stay absolutely clean and with no dibris to clog nipples, there should be few, if any, leaks. If i could design a heated pressure auto fill system without rebuilding my barn i woild do it but, as it is this would be too much work and too expensive and would probably interfere with the nice relationship i have with my flock since i would not need to be around them so much. Im pretty happy with my setup so far. It is the result of my natural mechanical aptitude, experience and the fine contributions of this forum. Thanks again to all who contribute.

 

[ShanandGem]

A forest full of chicken tractors! I have three and have convinced husband I need a fourth for my Mother's Day gift. I absolutely, positively cannot free range so this is the best way to get them access to all that grass and bugs. I also have a 10x10 coop that's an old metal storage shed. I'll put my hens in there for the winter, and use it to grow out babies who are too little for the tractors.

 

[TJordan]

What breeds do you have that you think might be "broody" types?  I didn't think 'Lorps were broody types - at least not like the bantam Cochins or Silkies.  You must have more than just 'Lorps in your flock?  I have a Breda and a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana and neither have ever gone broody but my two Silkies are forever trying to go broody.  We have to make sure to gather eggs quickly or the Silkies will be sitting on everybody's eggs!

Only australorps and white legs mature right now. I've had the blks for 3 years and have had at least 2 hens go broody every year.

 

[Sylvester017]

Only australorps and white legs mature right now. I've had the blks for 3 years and have had at least 2 hens go broody every year.

My White Leg never went broody the 3 years I had her. Our Buff Leg went broody at one year. They're both re-homed now. They were too mean to our gentle birds. Have had the Silkies for 5 years and each one goes broody 2 to 3x every year. And if there is an egg not collected from a nestbox, we'll always find one or both Silkies sitting on it. The poor things can't help it - it's what they do best!

 

[Penny Hen]

Hi Penny Hen

The Blue bird in the picture IS a Blue Breda and we've had her over a year now. Excellent temperament and flockmate and one of our funniest "pestiest" prettiest human-friendly girls. She is respectful toward the two oldest Silkies and is not retaliatory if challenged or chest-bumped by one of the littles. Bredas have really impressed us not only for their pet quality and kindness to flockmates, but she has been our most excellent white egg-layer only surpassed by a White Leghorn we used to have. Of course the Breda eggs are not as large as White Leg eggs but certainly large enough for our needs! The Breda in her first year of lay hardly misses a day! She's quite a Chow Hound but with the amount of egg output she gives it's understandable she needs to replace nutrients to her body. She seems to have a preference for dry feed (Scratch & Peck organic) to the wet produce we also provide. All the breeds love hand-fed treats as if it's more special than eating the same treat out of a dish!




P.S. I FORGOT TO ASK HOW LONG YOU'VE HAD YOUR BREDAS? BREDA ARE ONE OF THE LOVELIEST PEOPLE-FRIENDLY/FLOCK-FRIENDLY CHICKEN BREEDS WE'VE EVER HAD!

I don't yet. They have been on my wish list. Everytime it would seem I had a line on some eggs or even a couple of cockerels that were about 3 hours away, something happened and things fell through. The older I get the less I find myself willing to put up with drama with my animals. Right now I have two American Buff ganders that are taxing my limits of tolerance. So I have looked at these guys closely for about 2 years. I had my incubator fry a batch of eggs so I am reworking it over before trying any more shipped eggs. If I can get a good hatch of my Olive Eggers then I might be willing to risk some Breda eggs.

 

[TerryH]

Starting to look like something now...

 

[NanaNeen]

It can be put in the compost or spread on bare soil- both are fine.If it is mixed with fresh poop it is better put in compost fresh chicken poop can burn plants.

thank you!

 

[Teila]

Who knew when I put the sign over the viewing door on the new coop that it would make for such a photo opportunity .. OK, she is not currently broody but I just had to share