The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

ok here's a question for ya... I want to do a self-waterer for the brooders, but need to hang it so it doesn't get buried in the shavings.

any suggestions what I can use that's easily available? i'm thinking of using this type of water spigot not the normal nipple type.


the brooder height is my issue mostly, inside height above the shavings is maybe 14-16"

Karen,
I used those exclusively for quite some time on a bucket. You can see my review on the NCK forum under waterers. I really like them BUT...

I wouldn't use them for new chicks. They would be somewhat difficult for them to use. Mine was always available to the chicks but they were broody raised and they would imitate her. I don't think, however, that they'd be able to use them well until somewhere around 4 weeks old.

How 'bout a canning jar waterer but use a pint jar screwed in instead of the taller quart jar? Would that fit?

I always kept one of those available for the chicks even though I had the little cup waterer set up for the adults.

There IS a different type cup waterer that is similar that stays filled with water. The ones you are showing don't stay filled with water. They have to beak those quite aggressively. I actually purchased some of the other ones but I can't give a review because I can't use them in winter...even though the bucket is heated, the water in the little receptical freezes.

So..I was going to try them out this spring and see if I like them.

They look like this (but I haven't tried mine yet).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROYAL-ROOST...d=100023&prg=1187&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=261227451257&

EDITED TO ADD: I absolutely LOVED using those cups (for the older birds) that you post first. Easy to just turn over and they stay clean. Don't have to keep cleaning out the whole waterer for the shavings, etc.

 

[Leahs Mom]

This boy was 7 weeks old

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/02/poultry-cup-drinkers-waterers-winter.html

 

[lalaland]

Lala...do your eggs stay outside awhile after they are layed? I have a theory as I always watch my eggs for fertility. The "ring" started looking a little less clear after the eggs had been in some extreme cold. I WONDER if they get to a certain temperature if the ring starts to kind of "break up" or get distorted so it's not as clear. This is just a question I have and throwing it out as a theory,

well, every egg I've set over the last few weeks, i'm getting about 1 out of 20 that's fertile... I think the cold is killing them before the bullseye has a chance to form.

huh! maybe it is the cold on the egg, and not the cold on the rooster, if you follow what I mean. maybe rooster fertility going down in the cold is the old tale, and the science is the cold kills the blastocyst or whatever in the egg! THe eggs I am getting are definitely cold, often air temp in the coop is hovering around 0

Since I don't have a rooster my only thoughts on un fertilized eggs for those who have a rooster is the cold has an effect on it. On another thread here where OTs are they have been talking about how fertilized eggs has gone down with the bitter cold.

I went to a reuse store today to pick up old hardware for an old door I purchased from there that I stripped and stained. As we were walking around I noticed a roll of something tucked in a corner. Hardware cloth !!! They had 2 rolls that are 3x5 & sold them to me for $2.50 each!!!!!!! Regular price at TSC is $12.50 each. I hung on to them tight as we finished walking around. Coop will be getting wrapped in some and the rest I can use for my step herb planters

AFL, that is a real score! nice!

 

[hellbender]

Okay...is gma the Scot? She definitely reminds me of my grandma!

Really? LOL

No, she's Native American.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Yes, really. Her facial features, nose, etc. remind me of my grandma! But...I don't know what color hair she had. It was always totally white as long as I remember and the b/w photos I couldn't tell what color as a young person.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Originally Posted by chick rookie

I m sure if starlings are afraid of snakes or not... I use large rubber snakes on the edges of my 28 ft above ground pool to keep the birds ( bird poop) of the rails..it works no sparrow,blue jays etc land there and poop there...they seem to help in my garden also.

On the baby topic... I have 4 kids and a stepson ..so 5 children. I always breastfed for at least 3 to 6 months, solid food which a keep a mini food processor for.. my babies eat pretty much what we eat or at least parts of our meal.. used says a ton your baby doesn't care if their clothes came from good will or yardsales I always get every child a few new outfits for visits grandma's etc..i don't cloth diaper but use whatever brand i have coupons for or luvs...( assumeing baby isn't allergic my 5 month old can't wear pampers)..i only have ever gotten gear new that safety could be a concern carseats, cribs etc. infants and toddlers while i love my 3 under 3...are pooping staining machine and poop happens if i have a .50 pair of pants on one of them and we are out for the day and their was a horrible poop mess etc i can just throw them out with out carrying around the soiled things for hrs (smelling up my car) then scrubbing.. i used to be that mom you have to eat what I make.. the stepson hates steak so giving him a hamburger cost 50 cents instead of the $4 dollars worth of steak he would eat.. i give small concessions sometimes if it makes fiscal sense..Toys my toddlers don't care if someone has played with them before they get new for christmas and birthdays..

I never thought about rubber snakes!!! now I remember my grandmother used to have them on top of all her hen houses and just different places!!!! thank you for bringing that memory back!!!! WOW

rubber snakes, I wonder if that would attract hawks.

I was wondering about hawks too.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT A HAWK FEARS?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I was wondering about hawks too.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT A HAWK FEARS?

a larger owl and other hawks, dogs trained by RedRidge
But some hawks will fight with a midsize or small owl.

 

[chick rookie]

target practice on starlings is legal, since it's a non-native species. same with pigeons and house sparrows... all European species.

yes DH is getting his son's BB gun...

 

[Leahs Mom]

I think I'm going to get a pet owl and tether it on a large perch outside in the yard.

It will be tormented by so many chickens in so close of reach but I don't care. I'm going to torment an owl to torment a hawk.