The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Leigh you super computer whiz you,, how do you get the quote pics smaller like that? You're amazing you!

MB

LOL - To make quoted photos smaller:

Left Click on photo
Click "Unlink"
Click on photo again
Drag and drop one of the little boxes found at each corner until the picture is the size you want

Once you've done it a few times, it takes about 2 seconds - and I like the way it keeps forum posts compact and tidy... not that I'm that "tidy" anywhere else, but whatever... right?

 

[Leahs Mom]

http://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovato...trolled/dp/B0006U2HD2/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_text_y

Another super-neat product. Thanks for sharing!! I encourage Everyone to share neat stuff like this that you have come across or DIY projects for your coop! The good stuff will most certainly be shared on the blog!
Be sure to check at your local Menards, Lowes, hardware, TSC, or farm store for these. Sometimes they're less expensive but even if not, you don't have to pay shipping, of course!

 

[delisha]

This egg is from a pullet and the bulls eye is not that visible. It is a brand new growth of cells and her first layed egg. If you set your gathered eggs on the counter for 24 hours and than open and look, you can see a better view. Both of these eggs are from pullets.

 

[JeffOeuf]

Whoops. Just looking again and it says the small one is only 5" long so that wouldn't be long enough to get across both of them. maybe a larger one.

Right now I'm using the birdbath heater which works great until the temps are in the teens. Then the necks get frozen. It only takes a couple min. to unfreeze the necks by using the heat in my hands right up on them but it would be wonderful if these things could warm the water AND keep the necks from freezing too.

It seems that the dampness on the springs in the mechanism is what gets frosted up - and not really that bad - so I thought one of these might fix that!

I wish I had made mine like yours -- I think, time will tell. Instead of putting two holes in the bucket, I just put one, then teed with 1/2" PVC, so my mechanisms are more removed from the water and the heat source. In the link I put in for Amazon they list every size Kat's makes. On yours I wonder if the 2 x 5 centered long ways between the two waterers would work. There's quite a bit of heat that comes off the back side of the thing, and it would be just inches away from the neck. The prices on all the small ones are just a couple dollars apart. I decided to start with the smallest to see if it would get the job done knowing that I might have to go bigger.

Just saw that one of the is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 and 60 watts. You could put that one just above the necks and 60 watts would be pretty efficient.

 

[Bulldogma]

LOL, Delisha... I was just about to post this:

 

[delisha]

you are good, and using red probably helped!!

 

[Melabella]

I've had 5 eggs so far, and they were all fertilized. Duke getting the job done.

On the other hand, he attacked me yesterday when I pet one of the girls sitting in the nest boxes. I went out to check if I got another egg as I saw the girls going up and down the plank to the coop. I didn't even realize he was in there with them, I guess he viewed me stroking her back as mating with her? I ran to the side door, and as he came out, I pushed him off the plank and walked boldly up to him. He kept running from me, and never came near me the rest of the day. Time to get the stick and carry it with me I guess. DH let them out this morning, and he said Duke charged him. Going to go back over the GB thread, and try to find some of Bee's suggestions. I remember her addressing this.

Until then, lay it on me you experienced chicken keepers of Roosters. Give me some Natural Rooster wrangling advice! I have enjoyed actually having him, and love the benifits of his sounds while they free range, but with all the young ones around here all the time, starting with my 11 year old beauty DD, I will not have it.

BAD BOY DUKE!

 

[Sally8]

That was very hard for me. I looked and relooked later. I couldn't guess. Nice challenge. (So far mine aren't playing these head games with me! Your chickens must be very smart.)

 

[Sally8]

I've had 5 eggs so far, and they were all fertilized. Duke getting the job done. On the other hand, he attacked me yesterday when I pet one of the girls sitting in the nest boxes. I went out to check if I got another egg as I saw the girls going up and down the plank to the coop. I didn't even realize he was in there with them, I guess he viewed me stroking her back as mating with her? I ran to the side door, and as he came out, I pushed him off the plank and walked boldly up to him. He kept running from me, and never came near me the rest of the day. Time to get the stick and carry it with me I guess. DH let them out this morning, and he said Duke charged him. Going to go back over the GB thread, and try to find some of Bee's suggestions. I remember her addressing this. Until then, lay it on me you experienced chicken keepers of Roosters. Give me some Natural Rooster wrangling advice! I have enjoyed actually having him, and love the benifits of his sounds while they free range, but with all the young ones around here all the time, starting with my 11 year old beauty DD, I will not have it. BAD BOY DUKE!

Sorry, the only 2 that we had troubles with, we ate. I have little grandchildren and won't worry about them. Further down the road I might try to deal with it too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Yes...I may just have to try one of those. What are your outside temperatures since you put yours on? Do you have any idea of how hot they heat - not how hot they make the water, but how hot the little heater is to the touch.

LOL, Delisha... I was just about to post this:

I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!!!

So...how in the heck did you see that??? I think I need a pair of glasses!