Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

I too am getting eebie jeebies reading about these audits and such. 'Fond' memories--not-- of the IRS stealing our Savings account last year. Imagine our surprise when they wanted to audit us and the amount they needed was a few dollars off from what we had in our Savings account. We fought, we lost.

Okay guys...I'm too lazy to dig in this thread for the drinking cup or water nipple links...Ralphie...did you try some of these? Or is it @Cluckies that has this winter water down to a science? @erlibrd ? I think you and Cluckies have similar set ups?

Jerry, you really have troubles with those masked bandits! I don't know why...and I shouldn't maybe talk too loud...but we do not have the issues that I've anticipated. DH thinned the herd one year. But maybe they like resorts and town more than our little neck of the woods ...maybe? We have our share of the aerial preds though. Yuck.

I have a bucket in the run with 5 horizontal nipples, I put a birdbath heater in it during the freezing season(s) so I'll need to do that soon. I also have a cookie tin heater to set a one gallon plastic waterer on inside the coop and it's up on cement blocks so as not to heat up the wood shavings although it doesn't get too hot. That is inside because some days are SOOO cold the ladies don't want to go out, or if it's that cold I keep the pop door closed. That hasn't been often these last 2 years. LMK if you want to see pictures.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I am going out to the shop now to paint the new poop board.

 

[duluthralphie]

I tried using water cups over the winter, a complete failure. I even put the cups in a barrel inside a barrel with a heat lamp shining on them and a heater in the tank. It was not worth the hassle. It failed and cost a fortune to keep heated.

I ended up going back to a waterer on a heated tin.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Okay so it's sounding like the horizontal nipples with some sort of heating element for the bucket. I'm thinking this will help with the Welsummer Roos wattles dragging in water too. Maybe I should try this.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thanks all for the input!

 

[MNChickMom]

I too appreciate all the input. Looks like Amazon will get some business today. Presently, my chickens can guzzle 5 gallons of water in two days so I think I will go with the horizontal nipples and small submersible heater in a 5 gallon pail. If anyone sees a glaring problem let me know. BTW my coop is insulated but with the pop door open and fan running it will most likely still get down in the pry water out of a traditional waterer temp or worse yet deal with frozen water lines temperatures.

 

[KlopKlop]

Okay so it's sounding like the horizontal  nipples with some sort of heating element for the bucket.  I'm thinking this will help with the Welsummer Roos wattles dragging in water too.  Maybe I should try this. 

You may try wrapping the bucket with refletix to help prevent freezing. Probably would need to cover it to keep them from pecking the refletix

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I think it might help a little too Kloppers. Aart says she uses an Aquarium heater and it stays 65 in the winter. I saw she had reflectix around her bucket too. I have reflectix on the walls in my coop and so far they birds haven't bothered it. I don't know whether to do it or not. As the birds have historically not wanted to switch over for me. should get out my old bucket with the vertical nipples and see if they'll at least try...this new younger flock may surprise me.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Okay here's a 3.5 gallon bucket with 4 horizontals for $17...all ready to go and the lid has a small opening (with cap) for refilling or allowing for a cord to run through for the warmer....

http://www.coopsnmore.com/3_5_gallon_chicken_4_poultry_nipple_drinker_p/1950.htm

 

[SleepyOwl]

Okay here's a 3.5 gallon bucket with 4 horizontals for $17...all ready to go and the lid has a small opening (with cap) for refilling or allowing for a cord to run through for the warmer....

http://www.coopsnmore.com/3_5_gallon_chicken_4_poultry_nipple_drinker_p/1950.htm

Thanks for that. I have been trying to decide what to do this year. I usually use heated dog bowls, but it's too hard on my poor roosters.