The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

 
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Thanks for this! Interesting but I don't think I would take the time a make the mess to grind it up and use the muffin tins. Probably just do the same as I do to make Pupsicles for the dogs. Cut up organs into delectable bite sized pieces. Freeze on covered cookie sheet. Put in bag. Should work just fine for the birds.

Made the dogs think the sun shines out of my ... Treat bag!

That's exactly what I do..chop it up small, freeze on a parchment paper on a cookie sheet, then put the frozen pieces in a plastic bag.  Then thaw enough for just one feeding.  Works well... ( I just wanted folks to see the new Grit blog.)

I am looking for the right sized plastic container to sit in the heated dog bowl to just allow enough out for them to drink. I printed out KI4Got explanation she posted where she used radiator plugs. I have the plugs.......I tried one on empty yogurt container but I drilled the holes,wrong........I just have to wait till I empty something. I had a pb jar but let the dogs lick it cleaned and they chewed it so lid doesn't fit tight now :/

  I think you're talking about the one that mlowen made...If you do that, the container you use has to be air tight or it won't work.  Otherwise all the water will go out of it all over the floor.

When she did that waterer, that was when I got my "ahha" moment about drilling a glass jar as I knew I could make it air-tight with the canning jar lid.

She said that the radiator plug thingies didn't work well and ended up changing that up.  You can see her description here:  https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631861/diy-thread-lets-see-your-inventions/1040#post_12038164

Ahhhhh I am so bad with remembering who said what...........

I figured since I am doing trial and error on containers that normally go in the recycle bin it won't cost me anything but my patience........I have a half gallon milk jug I am going to try,......if I find its cap. The cats tend to find them fun to play with. :/ and I was trying it with the radiator plug. Just drilling holes to control it. I just need to figure out how high/low to drill them to stop the flow. Sort of like my waterer I use during warmer months

 

[Leahs Mom]

Where to put the hole depends on the "bowl" (water container) that you're going to set it in. You just have to get it a bit below the top of the bowl/water container.

The water will go out to the level of the hole and stop there by being sealed airtight from above and the water in the bowl.

 

[armorfirelady]

Where to put the hole depends on the "bowl" (water container) that you're going to set it in.  You just have to get it a bit below the top of the bowl/water container. 

The water will go out to the level of the hole and stop there by being sealed airtight from above and the water in the bowl.

Ahhhh,so only one hole is needed not 2? I put 2 in my last container and it didn't work out well

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Right now I am having an abundance of double yolk eggs. I have decreased the amount of protein in their feed by offering more corn. On average for the past week their protein level has been very close to 15% or so instead of the 21% they had been getting. Any ideas for getting my chickens to lay single yolk eggs so I can set them in hopes of getting chicks?

I've always wanted double yolks. So I wouldn't know... Waiting is the only thing I can think of.

 

[mlowen]

My water "system" is working very well for me. I have two one-gallon iced tea jugs with a 3/8 inch hole drilled about an inch & a half up from its bottom in a black rubber 8 quart pan. In the morning, I screw the plug into the hole and fill with warm water. I take the frozen jug out of the pan, stomp out the ice, put the new, warm jug in the pan and un-screw the plug. I have even found a little bit of liquid water still in there when I get eggs and check on them after work/dark, unless it was in the single digits all day.

 

[Leahs Mom]

ml!!!!! Good to see you!!!!

 

[delisha]

Right now I am having an abundance of double yolk eggs. I have decreased the amount of protein in their feed by offering more corn. On average for the past week their protein level has been very close to 15% or so instead of the 21% they had been getting. Any ideas for getting my chickens to lay single yolk eggs so I can set them in hopes of getting chicks?

hopefully they will stop in a few weeks when hormone levels get to normal..changing the diet will help some specially if you have them on layer.

ml!!!!! Good to see you!!!!

x2

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

Ahhhhh I am so bad with remembering who said what...........

I figured since I am doing trial and error on containers that normally go in the recycle bin it won't cost me anything but my patience........I have a half gallon milk jug I am going to try,......if I find its cap. The cats tend to find them fun to play with.

and I was trying it with the radiator plug. Just drilling holes to control it. I just need to figure out how high/low to drill them to stop the flow. Sort of like my waterer I use during warmer months

I am using a folger's can in my heated dog bowl. I cut a hole at the level I wanted the water to rise in the bowl. I placed the coffee can inside the bowl, filled the can with water using a pitcher and then quickly snap the coffee lid back on before the water level rises above the hole.

 

[lalaland]

mlowen nice to see you! ws your flock doing this winter?

 

[mlowen]

mlowen nice to see you! ws your flock doing this winter?

All 5 birds seem healthy & "happy." I have 4 laying, for sure (I get 3 or 4 eggs a day.) The fifth, a Barred Rock, should be laying, soon. Or maybe she & her sister are taking turns each day. lol. It has gotten to below 0 a day or two & in the single digits-teens for days at a time. I'm afraid my leghorns' combs are a little frost bitten, but I'm just going to keep an eye on them for now.

I'm putting up more plastic around the run, to cut down the wind & blown-in snow and see if the solar gain will help a little.

I read this thread every day (sometimes several times) I just don't have much to say...brand new chicken farmer & all, ya know. I am just soaking up the wisdom. I'll chirp up when I think I actually have something to contribute.