Washingtonians

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
Yeah I was just hoping there was something that might work like my ice cream scoop. There's a chemical inside it, and the scoop is made of nickel I think??? so it melts through ice cream immediately, no muscle needed. I was hoping there was something I could drop in the waterer that would regulate the temp like that.

I think that what you probably have is the normal Aluminum ice cream scoop. And because AU is such a good heat sink what happens it that theheat from ones hand is absorbed into the scoop which causes itto cut through easy.
I will tell ya that I would sure not want to take a chance with a chemical filled serving devce!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Yeah I was just hoping there was something that might work like my ice cream scoop. There's a chemical inside it, and the scoop is made of nickel I think??? so it melts through ice cream immediately, no muscle needed. I was hoping there was something I could drop in the waterer that would regulate the temp like that.

I think that what you probably have is the normal Aluminum ice cream scoop. And because AU is such a good heat sink what happens it that theheat from ones hand is absorbed into the scoop which causes itto cut through easy.
I will tell ya that I would sure not want to take a chance with a chemical filled serving devce!

Agreed. I was just hoping there was something...I may have to rethink where I keep food and water because my only power source is IN the coop and I keep both out in the run. Would be nice to have the lighting and the waterer in the same place so I don't have to rewire anything.

 

[Hinotori]

Sorry about your chick Ron.

We lost one to what I'm presuming was hawk a couple days ago. We've had a lot around lately. I found the brahma mom in the pen all alone in a back corner calling and two of her 8 chicks hiding under and with the silkies. There were 6 missing chicks. I picked up mom and walked her around the area because she was calling, and out popped 5 chicks from under the pallets that the wood sits on. So she has 7 left still.

That silkie cockerel is very good at watching and giving early alarm before anyone else sees it. Apparently he's psychic because I can't figure out how he can see well enough, but he does. He's very serious about his job and won't let his girls get very far from him or he herds them back into a bunch with a few pecks. They don't go very far from their run when they free range. Always within 10-15 feet and the second he alarms the girls run for it. He doesn't head after them until he's sure they are close to it then he herds them into their house.

Wish that my flock rooster paid as much attention, but I think there are just to many girls for him to handle. He'll have help soon, the ameraucana cockerel is finally starting to notice the girls every now and then at almost 24 weeks old. The hatchery brahma cockerel is only 15 weeks old and still peeps. He's started putting on weight this last week so maybe in a few months he'll notice girls. He's such a little thing still, 5 pounds 10 ounces. I hope he keeps growing. We do want him to be a nice big rooster. The brahma hens we've had have been very good at foraging and sky watching.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Ron would itbe possible to put twine criss cross over the run??? I can get lots of hay twine and we could have a knot tying class to put it together. I could come help ya the weekend after Salem show. Just let me know!!

 

[itsren]

Are there any waterer heaters that don't require electricity?

I haven't seen anything like that... yet.

I have been a Google-ing fool trying to figure out how I'm going to winterize. I think I may have found a way to add warmth to my coop without electricity. With my coop being so small, I just don't think I want any form of electrical heat in there. I pulled this off this website: http://www.greenandhealthy.info/emergencyheat.html
Quote:
I think I might make a quilted sleeve for a couple of bricks to put inside the coop on the coldest nights. I wouldn't dare heat a brick on an inside oven though - I know some types of bricks can explode if they are heated when they have moisture in them. I'd probably heat the bricks over the fire pit.

 

[itsren]

And here's the instructions for passive heating of bricks... taken from this website: http://www.ehow.com/how_7186773_heat-bricks-small-greenhouses.html
Passive Heating

• Cover the bricks with black plastic. A garbage bag will work.
• Set the bricks in the greenhouse where they will be in direct sunlight all day.
• Move the bricks to the center of the greenhouse on the floor, so they can radiate heat to the plants

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
I think I might make a quilted sleeve for a couple of bricks to put inside the coop on the coldest nights. I wouldn't dare heat a brick on an inside oven though - I know some types of bricks can explode if they are heated when they have moisture in them. I'd probably heat the bricks over the fire pit.

Is there a reason you're worried about your girls this winter? They're fully feathered and have a very sheltered coop without drafts. I really think they'll be perfectly fine snuggling up together without alternate heat. I know I don't plan on doing any heat at all, no matter how cold it gets, because my coop isn't drafty.

 

[FirewifeJess]

And here's the instructions for passive heating of bricks... taken from this website: http://www.ehow.com/how_7186773_heat-bricks-small-greenhouses.html
Passive Heating

• Cover the bricks with black plastic. A garbage bag will work.
• Set the bricks in the greenhouse where they will be in direct sunlight all day.
• Move the bricks to the center of the greenhouse on the floor, so they can radiate heat to the plants

That's cool!

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:

That's cool!

No, that would be hot

I may have to do that with some cement pavers for the chickens. The back of the house gets hot, even on the coldest days. The back door can burn you with how hot it gets with the glass door trapping heat. The chickens LOVE to nap against the house on sunny days in winter.

 

[itsren]

Is there a reason you're worried about your girls this winter? They're fully feathered and have a very sheltered coop without drafts. I really think they'll be perfectly fine snuggling up together without alternate heat. I know I don't plan on doing any heat at all, no matter how cold it gets, because my coop isn't drafty.

Drama sleeps alone on the floor.

She no longer gets up on the roost.