Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[FirewifeJess]

I am trying to get input on the best watering system for our girls; it seems the small ones I am using for now - chicks only 6 weeks old -
are always dirty, shavings in the water, poop in the water, etc.
Do the nipple watering systems really work better? what are the drawbacks to this system? Any help or comments would be appreciated.
thanks,

Yes yes yes yes yes! They are 1000000000000 x better than any traditional waterer I've tried...and Ive tried most of them. Buckets of water, bins of water, bowls of water, trough waterers up on blocks...doesn't matter, chickens are disgusting and rinse their faces in the water and 10 minutes after you get a fresh 3 gallons for your flock the trough will be full of dirt (and other germies). I have my 4 days old, my 6,7,8 week olds, and my big girls all on nipple waterers and they always get clean water! The big girls share a 2 gallon bucket with 3 nipples on it, the the tiny outdoor girls share the exact same bucket on the other side of the run, put down lower for them to reach, and the babies in my kitchen brooder have a 2L bottle half full and a nipple on the screw cap. They learned how to drink from it instantly, as soon as I removed their other water source from the first day. HTH!

Quote: I would have already offered to send home some Eprinex for your current girls if someone else wasn't borrowing it. I hope you find some!

 

[CarolynF]

I am trying to get input on the best watering system for our girls; it seems the small ones I am using for now - chicks only 6 weeks old -
are always dirty, shavings in the water, poop in the water, etc.
Do the nipple watering systems really work better? what are the drawbacks to this system? Any help or comments would be appreciated.
thanks,

My chicks and I just love the nipples in the bottom of this plastic pail!
IMHO, the nipple waterers are top notch. The ones I have outdoors will freeze when the temps are in the 20s, but I don't mind putting water out for the girls on the few days that happens.

It took about 20 seconds for my 3 week old chicks to figure out the nipples!
The pail is from a walmart bakery so I know it's food grade. The nipples came from QC Supply (online).

 

[FirewifeJess]

Carolyn, your nipple waterer is great! I think I'd like another pail for water, maybe I'll check out some bakeries and see if I can get one free instead of the $10 I paid for my nice bucket at Coastal.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:

Remember this list can be missing some companies. There is also debates going on about what companies are telling the truth.
After this list is a link to the companies that have taken it one step farther the list of ones that took the safe seed pledge.
Quote:
Here they are, and please let us know of any companies we may have missed and we will add them to this list. Names are in alphabetical order, try to search for a company in your bioregion when possible. Also, it never hurts to ask any company if they sell any Seminis seeds or seeds from Seminis’ partners. (Sites with asterisks* have the additional approval and endorsement by Farmwars.info and verification by recognized leaders in the battle)

​

US:
*Adaptive Seeds
All Good Things Organic (SW)
*Amishland Seeds
Annapolis Valley Heritage Seed Company
Annie’s Heirloom Seeds
*The Ark Institute
Backyard Beans and Grains Project
*Baker Creek Seed Co. (MW)
Beauty Beyond Belief (BBB Seeds)
*Botanical Interests
Bountiful Gardens
Diane’s Flower Seeds (she has veggies now, too)
*Family Farmer’s Seed Co-op
*Fedco Seed Co.
Garden City Seeds
Gourmet Seed
*Grow Organic
Heirlooms Evermore Seeds
*Heirloom Seeds
Heirloom Solutions
High Mowing Seeds
*Horizon Herbs
Hudson Valley Seed Library
Humbleseeds
Ed Hume Seeds <<

Nice to see a local brand that's easy to find in the stores!!!! Just thought I'd highlight it in case it didn't jump out at y'all.

Companies that have taken the safe seed pledge...................
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx?pageId=261

 

[Greg Richardson]

For those that show...................................


Washington Poultry Exhibitors Spring Show
Washington Poultry Exhibitors

This American Poultry Association (APA)-sanctioned show is the oldest non-fair show in the Northwest. Classes include regular classes for purebred poultry and specialty classes for backyard birds.
The show is a special exhibition at the Puyallup, Wash., MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR, June 1-2, 2013, at the Western Washington Fairgrounds.

Interested in entering your birds? There will be a $3 entry fee per bird, or $5 per trio or double coop. No exhibitor fee. For entry information, contact Larry Urban, 360-273-7705, or Barb Tuss, 541-673-2997, barbtuss at gmail dot com.


Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/fair/washington-poultry-exhibitors-spring-show.aspx?utm_content=MENF+03.25.13&utm_campaign=2013+FAIR&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email#ixzz2OZFj64Qo

 

[RainMom]

thanks for posting the simplified list Greg! I'm so far behind on everythign, I have zero time to research lately.
I blame the hen house project! (we are really thinking this project thru- wanna get it right the first time!)

 

[RainMom]

I am trying to get input on the best watering system for our girls; it seems the small ones I am using for now - chicks only 6 weeks old -
are always dirty, shavings in the water, poop in the water, etc.
Do the nipple watering systems really work better? what are the drawbacks to this system? Any help or comments would be appreciated.
thanks,

absolutely, get the chicken nipples and get them in there ASAP. Little chicks take right to them- they are naturally curious and will peck at the shiny nipple. Best thing ever!
Bonus- you can put out enough water to leave for a weekend or more without having to worry that they will dump over water, or mess it up.

Some of my bigger hens are clueless about the saddle-style waterer we made, but we are going to work on teaching them once they are moved. I have some ideas- like putting preferred food near the nipples so they 'accidentally" find the water.

 

[BGMatt]

So I already asked in Brahma thread but I think asking here would make sense too, does anyone know who ended up William Shearer's line of Light Brahmas when he passed on? Or are those lost to us? Also are John and Bev Tenneson still around with Elysian Meadows and their Dark Brahmas?

 

[SadieSue]

okay, so here's the last of the chicken house work we did today, before it got too dark to work:

we put this rail on the front of the slated poop board.
It's a 4" piece of smooth pine, that was already varnished with a clear shellac.
This way the poop doesn't roll all the way onto the floor, right?



except we decided to give it an upgrade: watch how hubby is holding this rail:

we made it so it flips down- it's hinged with a pair of spring-loaded cabinet hinges, so when we want to change the sand on top, we flip the rail down and ~voila~


here's how the window looks now that we finished it- I'm still not sure if we want to use some of the boards we cut out to trim it or not?


just a floor covering and we're ready for the chickens to take up residence in the old west chicken saloon!
(need some wagon wheels on the sides!)

Very, very cool. Well thought out poop board, next boxes and charming exterior. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product!

 

[Slinglings]

So my male kitten attacked one of the chicks. I was right there and he got wacked to make him let go. Pierced through the left wing which bled a bit, and tore the skin almost an inch open on it's sternum/belly. I closed that with two disolvable stitches. I think it will be ok. It was stressing and shaking so I had to give it back to mama. It hid under her for a few minutes then was back out and about with it's sibling like nothing happened. I caught it again and it was acting normal.

watch it for infection. piercing cat bites are notorious for causing infection. My son's palm was pierced by our cat Zoe's fang when he was four and he had a pretty serious infection that became blood born. Bleeding is actually good for wounds like this, to clean them out.