Stupid Questions here

[eggsited chickens]

I'm new to this, and my husband is too busy to help me out. I am wondering how people raise their feeders, drinkers, and lamp...what they use to get it off the ground. My 7 yr old is going to be taking care of these chickens, so I want it to be easy for him to get the water and feeder out of the coop without spilling things all over. I can't even get the water in the coop without spilling water all over. So if anyone can give me suggestions...

Another thing, our outside coop isn't finished yet, and i'm wondering what people put over top to keep the birds in and the preditors out.

Thanks for all your help

Brenda

 

[nhnanna]

Quote:
My outside run is a dog pen with chicken wire across the top to keep prediters out.
I put the waterers on a brick or block of wood when they are small to keep the shavings out of the water. I use a milk gallon for filling the water.
I also use small dog crates sometimes when they are small and I use the water bottles that clip to the cages. I get mine at Walmart in the pet section. I believe they are used for like mice or small animals.

 

[gabrielle1976]

IM fairly new to but I wanted to ask if you were going to leave hte chicks in a 7 year olds care completly?
Dont get me wrong my 4 year old son does at least half of the care on our chicks he loves it but even at 7 or 9 ect I would never give a kid complete care of an animal without supervision espcally little chicks as they can get sick with mild symptoms then die VERY quickly.

 

[SimplyForties]

I have my waterer sitting on a small board in an area cleared of shavings. I have my shaving covered by puppy pads, which go under the waterer and over the board. Depending on the size of the waterer, it may be difficult for a child to move it easily. I have a one gallon waterer in my brooder, which is fairly deep. I can't imagine a child being able to lift it in and out of there.

Good luck!

 

[Equus5O]

My 7 year old helps out with the girls, too. But I do the water. They're just too heavy for him to carry over to the run. He'd end up drenched and there wouldn't be any water in the containers.

It's his job in the morning to bring the feeder out to the run and to let the girls out. He alleges that he'll be the chief egg collector, too. We'll see what happens when the time comes. In the evening, he usually has most of the girls into the coop before I even get out there. He needs help herding the Silkies.

My waterers are up on blocks right now, but they still get dirt and shavings in the trays. This weekend my husband will be putting up cross pieces over the top of the run to support the deer netting, so my hair doesn't get stuck in it

. When those are up, I'll hang the outside waterer, and I have a fat tension rod for inside the coop so I can that one.

 

[eggsited chickens]

Quote:
absolutly not! I am definatly helping him. He will be the one to collect the eggs when they come and make sure they are all ready for bed. But for now i"m doing most of it. He does put feed in the feeder and tries to carry it back to the coop. Since he's in school I do all the checking too.

 

[shaggy]

gonna try to get my daughter to be my egg collector

will encourage her to get the eggs and make egg'n'cheesy's for breakfast

(buttered toast - with a fried egg and cheese - sandwich - she likes mustard on hers)

 

[logansmommy7]

We have chicken wire sides to the run and and covered it with deer netting (pretty cheap at Lowes). We were afraid of hawks getting them during the day. So far, so good. They, of course, are locked up in the coop at night. We are new at it too, so the fact that they are still alive after a week and a half is a miracle. Good luck!

 

[Milliemay]

Hey there! I am new to all of this also. I just want to say good job for getting your son involved, and don't under-estimate the power of a 7 year old! My boys, ages 11,7,6,and 3 all help take care of our critters. I check everyone after chores are done, but leave each job assigned up to each boy. They can do it and they love to have the responsibilty. Of course you will look after the health, but he can certainly be in charge of certain parts of the care. He will also gain the knowledge of knowing if something isn't right, or if a chick is ill by every day care.

I have been using piece of wood also, as someone else already sugggested. Today I have to rig up a temporary spot for in between the brooder and coop, they keep roosting higher and trying to fly! I see I am not the only one with the coop in progress while the peeps are growing! Good luck.

 

[ticker9400]

Hi,
Newbie also, I have my feeder hanging with heavy string from the joists in my coop and the waterer is a 5 gallon plastic one that I leave just inside the coop door and when I need to fill it I just bring the hose up and fill with out any lifting involved and I clean it in the run so it isnt far to move around when it is empty.. hope that helps
good cluck