The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[ki4got]

Quote: it's not a matter of easy or fun, it's a matter of feeding the beast that's getting me there. LOL

 

[chicalot]

Armorfirelady.. you mentioned looking for a timer for dusk til dawn. I have one that has tabs you open or close based on how many hours you want it on. I have it on a fish tank set to come on at 7 and off at 7. I bought it at walmart several years ago I think in the lighting section. It kind of looks like an oven timer with a dial and tabs. Im not sure how well it would work with the thermocube. It plugs right in to the wall. Ill try to remember to check it for a brand name

 

[ki4got]

this reminds me... please please please, everyone. MAKE SURE your extension cords are heavy enough for the amount of current you'll be plugging into them.

volts x amps = watts

so take your total wattage, divided by volts (120 is standard us electric supply) = the amps the cord needs to be rated for.

so if your electric tank heater is 1500 watts, then you need a cord that'll handle 12.5 amps. (1500 / 120 = 12.5)

so give yourself some wiggle room and make sure the cord can handle more than enough... most cords are printed right on the side what their capacity is, or it'll be labeled on the tags when buying a new one. otherwise an insufficient/overloaded cord can overheat and become a fire hazard.

 

[Rnbwbrite1207]

Anyone looking for timers, now is the best time! Check out the Christmas lights section at any store. I got mine at Hobby Lobby. 7.99 minus forty percent coupon (available online). They had a bunch of different kinds, Photo sensitive, remote control and programmable.

 

[armorfirelady]

this reminds me...  please please please, everyone. MAKE SURE  your extension cords are heavy enough for the amount of current you'll be plugging into them.

volts x amps = watts

so take your total wattage, divided by volts (120 is standard us electric supply) = the amps the cord needs to be rated for.

so if your electric tank heater is 1500 watts, then you need a cord that'll handle 12.5 amps. (1500 / 120 = 12.5)

so give yourself some wiggle room and make sure the cord can handle more than enough...  most cords are printed right on the side what their capacity is, or it'll be labeled on the tags when buying a new one. otherwise an insufficient/overloaded cord can overheat and become a fire hazard.

And make sure it's an outside one also. I got a heavy dusty weather proof one. It's made for freezing temps also.

http://t.homedepot.com/p/Husky-14-3-Medium-Duty-Extension-Cord-HD-801-439/100672772/
This is the one I got. Plus an outdoor 3 plug extension and then put its end in an outlet cover. Then I put those baby proof outlet covers in the empty outlets with a piece of electrical tape over them.

Overkill? No I don't think so. Chickens make a lot of dust, kick up litter, and it is outside I don't want moisture in the outlets. I then wrap electrical tape around where the extension cord plugged into the extension outlet. A few extra minutes of prevention hopefully ensures that there are no fire hazards.

And if you use timers make sure they are outdoor ones also

 

[chicalot]

I won't be doing electric for the chickens unless I find a cheap dog bowl to put out.. otherwise it'll be boot heel to ice block this winter.. what fun.. I would have to string my heavy duty cord across the drive.

I have to pick out a wormer today. I've suspected it for a while but now have evidence of overload. I did a lot of things in this thread.. cayenne.. U-ACV, pumpkin, garlic. But I think I have to get chemical about it. I'm gonna pick up safeguard I think. I got all these chickens as firsts this year so I don't know what their guts have been through.. some I know was bad like the WR living on bread crumbs

Meet some of my flock...
Hanging out in my sons "zombie garden"

How do you keep the chickens off the porch?

 

[ki4got]

Quote: home depot has some good references... this chart I keep on hand to know which cords to use, since most are dirty and unreadable. LOL (from being out in the mud so much)

 

[ki4got]

as far as de-icers are concerned, TSC has a nice lower wattage one that can be used safely in plastic containers. this is what I use for all my chicken tubs (aka cement mixing pans from Lowe's LOL)

the horse tanks get the screw-in plug de-icers otherwise they play with the cords.

it's only 250 watts but works just fine to keep a smaller container de-iced, though that may depend on your location too... for us it does just fine here in sw virginia

 

[armorfirelady]

Great chart ki4got. I use the heated dog bowls. I plan on moving shelf for feeding,outside this weekend since the temps are suppose to be in the 60s. I really want to try to see if it works. A little snow in their water certainly won't hurt & they usually clear their grains up when I feed them. If anything some snow in the bowls will keep it cleaner.

I found a pond decider at the feed store last year on sale and it says its good from 1-100 gallons. It worked great on my pond last year. Since the fish got eaten I won't need it this year.

I did put a couple hay bales on the west side of the coop today. Outside the coop so as to not take up floor space. If they hold up all winter they will be used to grow veggies in next year. I found a great artice that says you can start then earlier in hay or straw bales so I am going to try it,

I changed out their wood ash/ peat moss dust bath today. They were lined up to use it. Red wouldn't fit but she got covered as the other 2 dust bathed. It amazes me how they love that stuff. Their 2nd favorite spot is where I dumped the old stuff on the coop floor. I also put in a bag of leaves and pine needles. Their DL is breaking down so nice this year with all the space in the coop.

See that sunshine on the girls? That's coming in the plexiglass window I put in on the south side of the coop. Thanks so much Delisha for the idea. If I get the billboard tarp in the spring I am going to look for clear heavy duty plastic and make that whole end a big window. To bad I couldn't find a giant piece of plexiglass lol. But maybe I can find enough big pieces to piece meal a giant window in

 

[aaggjg]

On a different note, you guy aw ere talking about molting. I noticed yesterday Lucy had the white/grayish color to her head. Today there was more. Apparently she is molting her tiny feathers around her head lol. And I finally answered my own question about whether they lose the feathers on their feet. A look today showed the same whitish gray color as the new pin feathers peek thru. I'm curious to see if she gets more feathers on her shanks.
.

It almost looks like a bare spot......poor girl looks like she shrunk in half with her missing feathers.

Funny that you mention the feet!! I was just noticing how Nugget's feet look like huge flippers/ paddles!! Her feet feathers have all grown in but she still looks 1/2 her size while her coat is growing back!! I don't think a picture will do them justice.