Snowy chicken experiment

[ShiftyShickens]

the reasoning behind "meals" as it were, is that chicken "inspections" happen before final feedings every night where i not only count all the chickens but also do a butt to crop inspection on every bird before said bird enters the lock-down area where food is provided for a half hour to an hour before it's removed ( since they roost anyways and cant see it after i turn the lantern off ), each inspection only takes about 30 seconds, which includes check the butt, feel the crop, look at the feet, listen to breathing and done. again... my chickens LOVE the snow and consume a decent amount each day( unless they are just kicking it around, but is unlikely since it's within a short bin ) the scratch that's provided is a mix of cracked corn, mealworms( small quantity ), grit, and feed. that being said, the scratch is to give them something to peck at but not enough to fill them up when the crop is emptied after morning feeding sessions are finished. due to some responses i feel to need to reiterate the fact that they do get fresh LIQUID water every morning before i leave for work.

to tigger19687

funny. fresh fallen snow is delivered to eliminate any particulate matter from being present as i mentioned before but who knows maybe their tiny chicken eyes can see what i cannot. oh and your chickens aren't stupid!

to Folly's place

agreed, fresh clean water every morning before work with a bin of snow to supplement them while i'm gone and the water freezes over. the only other source is heated water and that's not an option. do you have any suggestions on how to maintain liquid H2O in sub-freezing temps throughout at least a ten hour cycle without electricity? i've been looking for the answer but have been inconclusive and would like some input.

 

[Folly's place]

Water without electricity? I have no idea! Someone on this site talked about fresh horse manure in a pit around the water dish, but that sounds iffy to me too. Is there a solar application? Insulation around the waterer that the birds wouldn't peck off and eat?
I have an erratic work schedule, and couldn't cope without electricity out there!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I also have a light on a timer (more electricity!) that is on from 4am to 8am every day in winter, and so my feeders are out there all the time. I'm NOT going out at 4am!
Mary

 

[PirateGirl]

There are several threads that explore the idea of water without electricity. Some ideas have greater longevity than others. Ones I can think of off the top of my head include using the heat generated by compost/manure, filling a tire with bubble wrap or insulating material and seating a bucket within the tire (won't melt the water but will keep it liquid longer into the day), floating a bottle with salt water within a larger water vessel (disturbs the surface, decreases the volume of water you are trying to keep thawed, impacts the temp).

 

[lazy gardener]

A lot depends on how cold is cold? If we're talking a sunny day when the temperature gets up to 20*, that's a whole different ball game than an overcast, perhaps windy day when the temp does not even get up to 0*F. If the temp here gets up into mid teens, and the sun shines with any regularity, the temperature in the coop will get up to 35*, and the sunroom may get up to 30 - 35*. The sun room is a mickey mouse affair made up of a truss system supported by an old metal swing set, and one wall of a single bay of the run. the trusses cantilever out over the swing set to provide a covered area that is 8' measured from East to West. A 7' long south wall, 12' long East wall, and 12' long North wall of this run are covered with plastic. The trussed roof is covered with green house tarp, so it gets good solar gain, but there are plenty of areas open to allow lots of heat escape. Entire West side is open.

I've no doubt that if one were to make a better enclosure, using glass instead of construction grade plastic which is milky in color, you could get a LOT of solar gain. I would look at building a shed style structure either out of glass with wood framing, or even building a simple cattle panel hoop affair which would be open on the south. this would give lots of solar gain, and give the flock a good place to hang out during the day, for scratching through the DL, dust bathing. The solar gain would go a long way towards keeping water liquid through all but the single digit days.

 

[Folly's place]

The Habitat Restore is a wonderful place to find doors, windows, hardware, and all kind of useful stuff for your coop! My coop door is an exterior double pane glass affair that cost $8.00!
Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

Mine is similar, steel door with dead bolt, full size thermopane glass. I got it free at my town mall aka town dump.

Discussing the idea of a solar water heater with hubby, I'm toying with the idea of making a solar air heater, and possibly pumping the heat into the run, using cinder blocks as thermal mass. This may not happen this year, but it's an idea that's rolling around in the pea brain for a future project. I could even make a similar heater to pump heat into the coop.

 

[Splendid Medley]

Yeti needs to make an insulated water contraption . My coffee was outside on the railing for an hour and a half and was coffee inside was still warm (teens to 20's today).

I use the standard 1-gal Harris Farms (the red and white one) plastic twist top waterer. I fill with warm in the am, and warm in the pm, full to the brim. It takes a while to freeze in the run which is sunny (when there is sun) and side wrapped in clear plastic. I'm also thinking of sewing a koozie for it, but in 5 degrees I doubt that will matter.

Anytime now Yeti....

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I don't know, folks. I find this to be rather interesting.