The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:

Karen suggested using something like a piece of fencing that has opening about 2x3. Just enough to get their head in but that's it. I have the fence just trying to figure out how to secure it to the bowl so it doesn't get knocked off. I was thinking a bungee cord but it would have to go underneath the bowl then be uneven.

I am still trying to figure out how to make a container to hold the flock block lol

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/725335/heated-dog-bowl-on-pine-shavings
they recommended to put this on concrete block and not shavings but maybe a good idea?

 

[Leahs Mom]

@ChickensAreSweet Right now I have one I'm using like this and it's up on a block. Very similar to the one you posted.:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/25620#post_12539416

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Today I saw a whole bunch of eggs that were old and rotten. My Faverolles hide eggs all over the place.

 

[armorfirelady]

AFL - I actually like your setup with the jug better than the "cage" idea. Just posted for "food for thought".

I use the milk jug for water. In their food dish I just have a smaller dish than normal because last time the temps fell it froze. I put water in the heated dog bowl then set a smaller bowl in it. It has not frozen again (tomorrow will be the real test) but I don't think they walk thru it as much with it being in the dog crate. Close quarters seem to prevent that. The way I have the bowls up against one long side of crate they can only go in one at a time or eat at the opening of the crate. And I have it on a cinder block so its high. they have to stretch their necks to get head over lip the down to the little bowl.

So far has worked well. I hate to put the FF right into the bowl because then its a pain to clean and f they eat it all then the little left over crumbs are like glue on the sides

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

@ChickensAreSweet Right now I have one I'm using like this and it's up on a block. Very similar to the one you posted.:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/25620#post_12539416

Very cool!

 

[lindz8504]

So my inside coop temperature is 10F. I chose not to put a heat lamp in the coop, but now I am a little nervous. My hubby keeps telling me we should have put a heat lamp in there. I know that many of you have temperatures much lower.... Please tell me that my chickens are going to be fine.... I added 2 extra bags of leaves, covered some lower vents, fed some warm oatmeal right before roosting, as well as a little extra scratch. My coop is 5x8, with 2 small triangle vents on each end ( I covered the lower ones) and then one vent on the back side that is open all the time, and a window on the front that is currently closed. I didn't feel any drafts when I climbed in there to check.

 

[fenwickchic]

It's easy for me to move it into the kiddo's pen for awhile and easy to store too! Love the handle and all.

@armorfirelady

So glad you mentioned peat moss. I didn't know peat moss could be used. I might be able to find some of it dry. I've been using sand and wood ash, but I've had to dry out the sand in trays in the oven. I think I can find dry peat moss! I'm going to look for a wreath container and will buy as soon as I can. Thanks!

 

[armorfirelady]

-3F here and just checked on the girls toasty warm bodies & feet. And I still had window open 6 inches. I closed it up since winds suppose to get worse. Snow still making its wat in the coop from somewhere so tomorrow I will put up tarp on south side where it's coming in. Couple girls had ice crystals on their back & I figured out where its coming from. Roof vent over the roost!! Everything else has plastic over it. So I stuffed some straw between the roof vent and plastic I put up yesterday. Should rectify the problem yet let air escape. Might throw some burlap up there tomorrow. Heck might use that where snow coming in to.

Hope everyone else's hens staying warm and frost free. Girls comb still look fine & it was def warmer in coop then outside with extra hay I threw in. They ate the feed pan full of scratch so I filled it up again & will keep it full till blizzard passes. They say earliest is Wednesday. Brrrr thank goodness for my wood stove

 

[chicalot]

I think these are the ones that tc was referring to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-and-informational-thread/15120#post_10193260

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-and-informational-thread/15130#post_10195206 on the right in this photo

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-and-informational-thread/19640#post_12498783

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Medium-Stacking-Bin/25857298

Love the pink bins. They would be perfect for my big girls (white rocks). They have a hard time with my nest boxes and so clumsy.

 

[chicalot]

So my inside coop temperature is 10F.  I chose not to put a heat lamp in the coop, but now I am a little nervous.  My hubby keeps telling me we should have put a heat lamp in there.  I know that many of you have temperatures much lower.... Please tell me that my chickens are going to be fine.... I added 2 extra bags of leaves, covered some lower vents, fed some warm oatmeal right before roosting, as well as a little extra scratch.  My coop is 5x8, with 2 small triangle vents on each end ( I covered the lower ones)  and then one vent on the back side that is open all the time, and a window on the front that is currently closed. I didn't feel any drafts when I climbed in there to check. 

If they're not shivering and looking stressed they should be okay. My girls got wet and my coop is uninsulated metal. Sounds like you have them bedded down pretty good. I wasn't prepared for this arctic blast. Thought so but nope. Worries me silly having that lamp out there.