The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[hoosiercheetah]

Must be frustrating being next to them but not being able to .... well .... you know

 

[Henlus]

This is a very good idea. One can fine use for excess eggs.

 

[armorfirelady]

@armorfirelady

How is your situation currently? I was wondering if the deep litter in the chicken hoop was soaked through too. I'm thinking it's time to build a little hill next summer to put the hoop on. Wonder if that could be done w/ a load or 2 of wood chips from the tree trimmer? The main problem I see w/doing it that way is that it would be very easy to dig under for a predator to get into the hoop at night so that probably wouldn't be the best foundation....

O well...just thinking out loud here.

Much better. The outdoor sump pump is keeping the melting snow low. Hens were out and about yesterday. I was able to dig out a path for them to get to the extra shelter I made. I just dumped the DL I was using in the garage on the snow for them to walk on.

My hoop coop sits on landscape bricks. I used to have chicken wire around the perimeter but I pulled it up a year or so ago. I have never had a predator trying to dig under the coop. When there is no snow the electric netting is up so I guess that is a deterant. And during the winter the ground is frozen solid.

And I think because I had dumped so many leaves in the coop the last few weeks it helped keep the coop floor dry even tho it had a moat around it. I havent tried to turn it over but its on my to do list for when the weather warms up again in a few days.

Seriously.... I got out the dog bowls again with the little chick waterers on them and they are working like a charm.


Put grit into a heated dog bowl deep enough to to form a stable base and raise the waterer up to the rim level; put water in the grit to conduct heat. Place one of these 2 kinds of waterers on the bed of grit depending on which sizes you have.

I just have a glass bowl in the heated dog bowl and its keeping it unfrozen. The metal waterer is just on the ground now and when the sun warms it up they can use it to drink from it.

THEY DID REFUND YOUR MONEY ON THAT DIDN'T THEY? (They sell those at Tractor Supply if you wanted to try another one and have a TSC local.)

Yes they did. Yesterday, the same day I put in for a refund/replacement

 

[vpatt]

It is snowing like crazy. I was able to get two of the chickens out of the coop to dry shelter. Now I don't know if I can get them back inside later.....I should have left them alone.

 

[hellbender]

Greetings old friends. I'm back, for at least a while.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Good to see you, Ron.

 

[armorfirelady]

Greetings old friends. I'm back, for at least a while.

WELCOME BACK

 

[ronott1]

Greetings old friends. I'm back, for at least a while.

Welcome Back!

 

[Leahs Mom]

@ronott1
Enjoyed reading your interview! Glad they chose you

 

[ronott1]

@ronott1
Enjoyed reading your interview! Glad they chose you

Thanks!