The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Lacy Blues]

Very very nice set up LM. You will be adding lots of shavings/leaves to that cement floor right?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yep. Just don't have them yet. Tomorrow.

 

[lazy gardener]

And, i assume you'll have something around the perimeter of that fencing to keep them from kicking those shavings out? Wonderful pics. Love seeing a man hard at work doing his wife's bidding!!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yep. Edging too.

This afternoon I'm going to dig out some of the wood chips from the run on the hen shed that are composting so there will be some dirt and larger wood chips in there too. Unless I get lazy and decide not to do that. It really is a hassle as I have to dig and fill the wheel barrow over and over to do it. Often what I'd like to do and what I really do aren't aren't the same things.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Often what I'd like to do and what I really do aren't aren't the same things.

Ah, the human condition. So contrary. Isn't there a chapter in Romans about that? :-D

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Okay, I've formulated my short and long term plans for fermented feed. I just have to wash out a bucket and pull the trigger.

I could sure use some more airtight buckets for storing dry feed.

Now I just have to decide which method of keeping water warm I want to use. I'm torn between the heated dog water bowl and the light bulb in the cinder block. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Indeed there is.... Me and Paul....I guess I'm in "good company".

Okay, I've formulated my short and long term plans for fermented feed. I just have to wash out a bucket and pull the trigger.

I could sure use some more airtight buckets for storing dry feed.

Now I just have to decide which method of keeping water warm I want to use. I'm torn between the heated dog water bowl and the light bulb in the cinder block. Decisions, decisions.

Yay!!!!

Hey - try going to your local grocery stores to the BAKERY or the area that sells seafood...like crab salads, etc. Both those depts often have the plastic buckets in 3, 2, 1 gallon. And often just give them away if you're there when they have them.

That's how I get all mine so far.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@hoosiercheetah

PS:
If you are good a wiring, and have some heavy, suitable wiring to work with, I think I'd try the cinder block thing.

I have some bricks and blocks around here that I've built up where I have pyrex bread pans sitting in them with the rim/handles of the bread pan sitting on the brick edges to raise it up off the floor. (I'll get a photo later.) That would be an ideal setup to use and put a heat source under it since it can be completely lined with bricks/block.

Only thing w/my setup is that it would always have light on under there showing through the glass. But if you take the in at night and turn the light off, it would work beautifully.... (I have LOTs of bricks and patio blocks around here in the "storehouse".

Now that I'm going to have more indoor room, I might just consider doing that myself if I can find some good way to wire it that it's safe.....

(I just didn't have enough room indoors to make that work in the hen shed.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

@hoosiercheetah

PS:
If you are good a wiring, and have some heavy, suitable wiring to work with, I think I'd try the cinder block thing.

That's the way I'm leaning, because it's the cheapest. And I'm way good on wiring. ;-)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yep...and I could still use it w/my restricted opening pie pans because most of the ones I have also have handles on each side that could catch on the bricks. I have enough of those that it would be block under it too...

Problem is that I need more than one feeder....