The Front Porch Swing

[bruceha2000]

@Bruce... I wonder if there is something different in the design of those nipples. I was reading and most nipples say 1 nipple to every 3 chickens. This one says 1 nipple to 17 chickens. I wonder if there is something different about them making them more expensive.

Both are ridiculous numbers IMHO. 1 could handle 100 chickens if they didn't mind all waiting in line and 1 can certainly handle more than 3. If I had 6 chickens and 2 nipples in a bucket, I wouldn't go out and redo the whole bucket to put in a 3rd nipple if I got another bird or 2. 3 fit nicely in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket with space for the chickens to get to them so I imagine that is why 3 are commonly used.

I am using the saddle nipples that pop into 3/4" PVC pipe. I have 5 in the water pipe built into the nest box in the coop. I made it for the 12 girls I had and given the size of the coop, I could easily have 24 in there so planning for expansion of the flock. The coop is open all day so the girls have water whenever they want. Worked great winter of 2012/13 but 3 of the 5 nipples "decided" to just drain out the night before Thanksgiving last year. I have NO idea why and didn't want to take the nest box apart to figure it out. The very bottom of the plastic part of the nipples is at the bottom of the insulated bottom of the box (so the circulating warm water doesn't freeze and neither do the nipples). So I made a quick and dirty 2 nipple pipe outside the coop (it is in a barn) under the box that holds the 5 gallon water container. 2 nipples, 12 birds, NO PROBLEM with capacity. The problem is the unprotected nipples freeze around 15F so I had to put the plastic 1 gallon waterer out under a heat lamp all winter.

Now I have to find time to take the nest box apart so I can see what is up with the nipples and replace them if necessary. I'll reconnect the water tube first because I just KNOW that if I do that I will see that they are still leaking profusely but if I don't, they will be JUST FINE

Wow.... you done this before....

....

deb

Only once and that was EASY! 1 newel with a turnout and a rail that ended at a wall, then a rail up the side wall to the landing that just needed 2 return ends. Of course code has changed so those balusters are actually not as close together as they would have to be if I did it now and apparently you can't have the "open" configuration any more, have to get an "S" shaped piece to connect the lower rail to the upper. Google is my friend! Couldn't have even contemplated this one 20 years ago.

I did have an "aha" moment today. I had made my "test" balusters the right height so when the rail is "added", the top of the rail is 38" off the step BUT I have not jet put the treads and risers on so I have 3/4" less distance to make up at the top. Might just be enough to have a fairly smooth transition. Can't check it just yet, Rebekah is having a nap (skated for the first time in almost a year now that here knee has recovered) and I need her to help hold pieces together while I "stand and stare"

I let him be important, give him special tasks, ask for favors and make sure he knows how much help he is. With his little brother I make sure he knows he needs a little extra help and that his help is so important. He's really a great big brother. He actually came home from his mom's tonight with a new blanket for his sister. She said he used his birthday money to pay for it. It does my heart good that he loves his siblings so much. He'd been asking for a sister time and time again.. he got two brothers (one with me, one with his mom) and then finally a sister. His mom is unable to have more kids and we don't want any more, so he got lucky

Sounds like you have it all in hand. Lucky kids!

A person has to WANT to believe in God to feel that faith. I do believe in God but it wasn't enough for them and as I've found out, it isn't enough for loads of people. But it's enough for me. I am happy, content, pleased as pie with my relationship with him.

Honestly, I wish some people would just understand that and let it go.

It is a sad fact of life for some. Their religion is the ONLY one and EVERYONE has to follow it or go to hell when they die. A friends grew up in the Church of Christ in Virginia. Was attending same up here in Vermont but really didn't like the church so started attending at the Baptist church. EVERY time her mother would call she would get the "Go back to COC or you will go to hell!" thing. Like the Baptists are a bunch of left wing atheists or something. It stopped only when the mother died.

And of course, just because I have a million things to worry about, Jane the Evil finally found a way to get even with me - she refused to go into the coop tonight and is roosting on the branch in the run. Only supposed to be 35 degrees tonight, so I hope she knows what she's doing. Still debating on whether to get her and put her in or not. She seems to have adopted one corner of that branch as hers. If what I've read is correct, she won't leave it once she falls asleep no matter how cold she gets.

Nite all! Keep Linda in your prayers, please, as I will hold you all in mine.

35F is NOTHING. Presuming the run is predator proof, Jane could live out there until next winter. Those all natural organic down coats are quite warm!

Fun trip so far.

Winter is supposed to be over!

The highland lassies are here, or at least one of them is. The other one was very agitated from a run in with the bull over breakfast then being loaded in the trailer and taken on a long bumpy ride. Her owner pulled the trailer in our pasture, not close to the paddock that we wanted them in for a few days, then opened the door and forced them out.

Geez, since you bought the trailer, I don't know why he didn't just unhook, collect the money, drive off and let you release the girls on your timetable. I'm sure they would have been a lot calmer if you just opened the door and put out some water and grain a few yards away. Heck, you could have hooked the trailer to the tractor and taken them where you intended to release them. It does seem likely that the loose one will hunt down her friend. I hope the wind is blowing the right way.

Bruce

 

[Beekissed]

Bruce, running those water lines under the nest boxes is genius! I never would have thought of that but I love, love, love it! Doing a little minor tweaking of the coop this year and just ordered more nipples....will have to think about all the possibilities for winter watering now. Thanks!

 

[perchie.girl]

The highland lassies are here, or at least one of them is. The other one was very agitated from a run in with the bull over breakfast then being loaded in the trailer and taken on a long bumpy ride. Her owner pulled the trailer in our pasture, not close to the paddock that we wanted them in for a few days, then opened the door and forced them out. She may be about to calve for the first time and is really skittish. She took off at a run and cleared the fence. He could have let them come out on their own because I bought the trailer too. He only charged us for the one and we can pay him for the other when we get her back. A neighbor saw her come up on the road then turn and go back into the field next to ours so hubby is out walking the woods with a bucket of grain. I guess I won't sleep much tonight if she hasn't come back by bedtime. Of course it is raining and cold again. Just the best weather for searching for a lost cow!

I am soo sorry rrmamma. Sounds like He is a wingnut. I hope you find your girl before she has her baby, I was reading up on them last night and they are very good survivors. Do they have substantial horns yet?

I dont know anything about cattle but I do know about herd animals. Shes got a tripple whammy going.... Soon to give birth, Altercation with the bull, Muscled into the trailer.. But being herd animals they want to be with their own kind.

What I do know is Cattle are suprisingly quick and agile. We had a neighbor that couldnt keep their dairy cow in the paddock. Everytime we had to take the horses out to find her she would be a good mile from home. So they put a logging chain on her neck fastened to a big four by four Kind of like the t on the end of a watch fob. So WHEN she jumped out of the corral the four by four would hook onto the fence and tie her to the spot.

IF you have friends with horses they could probably track her better without upsetting her. Its amazing what you can see from seven feet up on the back of a horse. tracking wisee..

I hope you find her soon and get her safely to her new home.

edited to add: Unless she has been "herded" with horses before dont expect that to work at all. Easiest to try to coax her with food.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Both are ridiculous numbers IMHO. 1 could handle 100 chickens if they didn't mind all waiting in line and 1 can certainly handle more than 3. If I had 6 chickens and 2 nipples in a bucket, I wouldn't go out and redo the whole bucket to put in a 3rd nipple if I got another bird or 2. 3 fit nicely in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket with space for the chickens to get to them so I imagine that is why 3 are commonly used.

Bruce

Yeah ... my big founts are supposed to "handle" something like 175 birds each. And my birds are so good at waiting their turn and sharing.

I have about 110 birds in the main coop, and I have 3 founts, spaced out. On days when it is freezing, I put out a hanging 3 or 5 gallon waterer or two with a heat lamp pointing at it (them). That's not ideal, but we have found a heat lamp works better for us than any kind of heating element does.

I prefer more than one source per coop for all feed & water, so in the smaller coop with just 3 birds, I have 2 founts. To be fair, that coop had a lot more birds in it when I set up the automatic system.

 

[Triple Willow]

I use to work on a farm that had cows that were Brahma, Angus crosses. Those crazy witches were so entertaining. hehe Boy they were quick and could jump! ...not to mention rather hostile a whole lot of the time. I had one grab me by the foot one day and try to pull me off a trailer because I had her newborn calf. hahhaha Ahh the good old days - when I was young enough and in good enough shape to stay out of the way of crazy cattle.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I think you were thinking of Belted Galoways. That is a breed on our want list.

YES! That is it! I didn't even remember the name in the middle of the night!!

Old age is the pits!!

 

[OHhappychicks]

Fun trip so far.

OH No!! Stay safe

 

[OHhappychicks]

The highland lassies are here, or at least one of them is. The other one was very agitated from a run in with the bull over breakfast then being loaded in the trailer and taken on a long bumpy ride. Her owner pulled the trailer in our pasture, not close to the paddock that we wanted them in for a few days, then opened the door and forced them out. She may be about to calve for the first time and is really skittish. She took off at a run and cleared the fence. He could have let them come out on their own because I bought the trailer too. He only charged us for the one and we can pay him for the other when we get her back. A neighbor saw her come up on the road then turn and go back into the field next to ours so hubby is out walking the woods with a bucket of grain. I guess I won't sleep much tonight if she hasn't come back by bedtime. Of course it is raining and cold again. Just the best weather for searching for a lost cow!

 

[Tomtommom]

You girls have been busy!! I think I'm caught up and want to say a warm welcome to the new guest(s).

Welcome to the Porch!

Blooie, I'm so glad they found a good solution for Linda.

You tell her that we are praying for her and love her by proxy!

I saw a familiar baby pic....welcome Tomtomsmom!

That baby walkin' yet?

She's strong and big enough to be!

She just tried to sneak out the window with her boyfriend... teenagers!

In all seriousness, she should be coming off the light today

I managed to feed her pumped milk all day yesterday, except for one feeding. Output looking much healthier, mustardy (anyone who has had a baby knows what I mean).

We're watching the weather closely, stormband should get here around dinner time. School is letting out early, just in case.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Miss Bee I think the problem with the new bully has been solved. I observed them all together Sat and Sun. The only confrontation was last night and I think she (the bully) was confused about where to go to sleep as there are now 2 coops to choose from and her other friends were choosing the new coop, not the one they have been in forever. My friend gave me his coop as well as his chickens. We thought they would be happy with at least one familiar thing in the move. She got upset and pecked one of mine on the head and I whooped her. She ran off and came back and went into her coop. But she was dismayed that she slept alone...the others stayed in my coop. It was really funny.