Violet's only companion died today - and it's freezing

[yogamebird]

I have never considered the humidity/frostbit risk! Henrietta and Violet weathered the first winter with a heated waterer (but no other heat) in their coop - then this past winter Violet and Tilly spent the coldest days in the garage. This watering setup we are considering will have most of the water outside the coop with a tube with nipples on it feeding into the coop - so minimal water to evaporate. But of course we'll have to figure out the freezing problem. Nice that we don't have to think about it for a while after the Winter from Hell!

 

[LipsChicks]

There are a lot of ideas and info on Pinterest about nipple waterers. It would be easy to put just the nipples inside and leave the bucket outside. You really don't need water in the coop. They'll come out to drink when they're thirsty. I kept a waterer on a heated base in the coop over the winter because there were days when they wouldn't go out because of the stormy weather. Now, the waterers are outside.

 

[yogamebird]

When we're out of town, we don't want to trust our animal sitters with making sure the chickens are put in their coop at night. The coop is fairly large and has an airy downstairs. We were hoping to have a completely self contained system that would allow then to stay in their coop - and be fed and watered - while we are away. And of course we're never away for long.

Thanks for the Pinterest suggestion! I think we will plan to put the bucket outside and have the hose attached to the nipples go inside. We'll check it out. Pictures coming!! Thanks for staying in touch LipsChicks!

 

[Acornewell]

Have you guys started to get warmer weather? And when will you be getting new baby birds!?!

How are the girls getting along?

 

[yogamebird]

Yes!! the weather is finally getting warmer - thank you for asking. The nights are still cold, but the girls are OK.

They seem to be getting long really well! Tilly is standing up for herself!

Our next challenge is getting them to use the nipple waterers. We tried for hours yesterday. We touched their beaks to the nipples AS Lipschick recommended,) we stuck pieces of cheese to the nipple holders with peanut butter (which they expertly swiped off without pushing the nipple) but no luck! I understand there is a thread about this - I'll head over there. If anyone on this thread has any ideas, I'm all ears! (or eyes as it were...)

 

[LipsChicks]

Take away their other water. They aren't stupid-they just want mamma to keep things the same. They'll be thirsty about 10 minutes then they'll drink-trust me.

 

[yogamebird]

OK! We're installing it in the coop now! I ordered a red laser pen which should arrive at Staples today. Somebody posted about using that to attract them to the nipples. I'll give that method a try and report back!!

 

[yogamebird]

yesssss the girls are using the nipple waterer!! Lipschicks, we did what you told us to do - let them get thirsty, then my husband captured Violet and I grabbed her little head and stuck her beak up the the nipple and I could almost see her lightbulb moment!! This is going to make our live SO much easier!! and theirs too. No gross water. Hooray!

 

[LipsChicks]

I had some real young chicks last month the they took to the nipples right away. With my regular flock, I used a traditional drinker throughout the winter. They hadn't used the nipples for six months. I put water in the nipple pail when the weather got better and they went right to it! They remembered!!

 

[yogamebird]

So funny!! I was just thinking about what I was going to do this winter and what we went through to train them to use the nipples and wondering how they would re-acclimate! That's reassuring!