The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[ChicKat]

I know there's no way of keeping that all thawed.

There is a 'heat tape' used by people in cold climates, but it requires being plugged in. I guess the principle is that it keeps plastic pipe (or any pipe) at about 40-degrees, so not hot enough to melt, but warm enough to prevent freezing. Of course that would require good electric outlet access.
Could you modularize it? I had thought of starting pipe with a 5-gallon bucket. Maybe not fully automatic to match your vision -- but maybe having to only fill multiple 5-gallon bucket(s) with a garden hose, easier than multiple waterers? Just Brain storming here.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Heat tape is for the rich folk around here. I'd actually like to get it on a lot of my house pipes. And I'll be d@mned if my birds get it before I do. Lol. Really it was an idea but for the amount of pipe I don't think i can justify the price. I can go back to toting water buckets and breaking ice in the winter. Hard work comes easier then expendable cash for me.
By next spring I'd like to have about 30 breeding pens of different sizes and probably 15 or so different brooder boxes and grow out pens.
I'm looking to end up with everything hooked to either one or two water sources.
Thinking keep the youngest chicks on a seperate source so I can add anything to their water.
I usually give them electrolytes etc for a few weeks.
Of course come winter everyone won't need separated so I'll look into what my plans may be come closer to then.

 

[Redhead Rae]

There is a 'heat tape' used by people in cold climates, but it requires being plugged in. I guess the principle is that it keeps plastic pipe (or any pipe) at about 40-degrees, so not hot enough to melt, but warm enough to prevent freezing. Of course that would require good electric outlet access.
Could you modularize it? I had thought of starting pipe with a 5-gallon bucket. Maybe not fully automatic to match your vision -- but maybe having to only fill multiple 5-gallon bucket(s) with a garden hose, easier than multiple waterers? Just Brain storming here.

The problem would be keeping the nipples that warm. You can heat the pipe all you like but the metal of the nipples would still freeze.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

For me, with parrots, we never used water lines due to possible bacteria developing and not being able to keep the lines clean inside.So I never considered using them for chickens.
I'm sure someone has a system to keep them clean, but I dont know.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Thinking keep the youngest chicks on a seperate source so I can add anything to their water.
I usually give them electrolytes etc for a few weeks.
Of course come winter everyone won't need separated so I'll look into what my plans may be come closer to then.

I've been adding Apple Cider Vinegar ,bit of honey and small slices of garlic in the chicks' water.Does anyone else use that?

 

[Redhead Rae]

I've been adding Apple Cider Vinegar ,bit of honey and small slices of garlic in the chicks' water.Does anyone else use that?

Magic water! I've done it a couple times. I prefer to dose chicks with straight nutridrench instead. Much less stinky.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Magic water! I've done it a couple times. I prefer to dose chicks with straight nutridrench instead. Much less stinky.

I'll check that out.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

It has Propylene Glycol in it. I don't know if that's good for them.

 

[Redhead Rae]

It has Propylene Glycol in it.Don'twthat's good for them.
View attachment 2189379

I’m generally very natural minded. Non-gmo, organic, no antibiotics, homeopathy, etc. I’ve never seen ANYTHING work on a weak chick like a couple drops of this stuff. I had chicks that couldn’t try to stand up without flipping over on their backs go to normal in 5 min after a dose of this stuff. I only give 1-3 doses to each chick I hatch before they go out to the incubator. It is a very small amount and my post hatch death rate has gone down (when I’m not having incubator problems).

 

[Justso]

Hey Moonshiner, can you tell us the total number of types, standard and non-standard, of leghorns you have going right now?