Water, feed, and roost tweaks? Would like some tips.

[Baumshell28]

Oh man. So maybe I'll have to figure something else out. I would have to agree sorry it happened! That's no fun at all. And likewise thank you for the information! I'm glad they work good under other circumstances they seem like a win for the most part!

Definitely a “win” for the most part in Louisiana...we have at least 8 months of Summer here and it’s definitely not abnormal to dress in shorts & tank tops during our “winters”, lol! Although I’m going thru a new experience with the freezing of the cups, I wouldn’t trade them for the world during the rest of the year!

 

[SusannasMom]

Yes indeed. Also, another quick question. Im painting the inside white just to brighten it up. Would staining or painting the perches be of any use for cleaning and longevity of the roosts? Or is it just more of for looks that only serve me for aesthetics?

May we see the current condition of the coop?

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Oh OK thanks for that tip! Is it hard to get chickens to know how to use them? As you probably know everyone has this and that to say about their methods which is good so that I can make my own decisions. Would a bordered off section under the water with a square of vinyl with a 2×4 border be good? And also have you ever dealt with the cups? That refill when low by themselves?

Yeah, I think that would work if you want a drip catcher. Maybe put some sand in there so any stray poops don't glob onto the vinyl.

I haven't used the nipple-waterers yet myself, but heard good things about them. Chickens peck at new things, and pretty quickly learn peck=water. From what I've heard.

I won't be able to help much with the frozen water potential...we rarely get hard freezes here. Larger volume would take longer to freeze? I have heard putting a sealed container of salt water inside the fresh water helps it take longer to freeze. I may try that tonight with this crazy weather.

 

[RoosterML]

#1 your ladder is way to steep.
Drop your roost bar to where I show the red line. You won’t need the ladder anymore. Lower the roost the better you will be with potential injuries. Also if you make the top of your nesting boxes flat you could run a roost all along that wall and instal your poop tray ontop of the boxes basically using the same area twice.

 

[RoosterML]

That's what I was thinking as well. I'd like to find someone with the cups in a northern or cold climate to see how they fair. Who knows maybe I'll just have to improvise until further notice ‍

Forget about the cups and get horizontal nipples and a stock tank deicer 250watt
all in a hanging 5 gallon water bucket and you’ll thank me next winter

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

Definitely a “win” for the most part in Louisiana...we have at least 8 months of Summer here and it’s definitely not abnormal to dress in shorts & tank tops during our “winters”, lol! Although I’m going thru a new experience with the freezing of the cups, I wouldn’t trade them for the world during the rest of the year!

I may just have to go with the cups. Even if it does freeze the water in the reservoir won't with supplemental heat inside of it. So taking out the frozen water in the cups won't be to dramatic of a task. Just have to keep up on it.

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

#1 your ladder is way to steep.
Drop your roost bar to where I show the red line. You won’t need the ladder anymore. Lower to roost better you will be with potential injuries.View attachment 2532797

Yea I know I had that way to high now I will be fixing this weekend when it warms up to the 40's (finally) and the ladder will be scrapped all together. It will most likely be used as a "toy" for out in the run.

 

[RoosterML]

I may just have to go with the cups. Even if it does freeze the water in the reservoir won't with supplemental heat inside of it. So taking out the frozen water in the cups won't be to dramatic of a task. Just have to keep up on it.

You’re gonna regret that. I have had open waters, cups, bowls, vertical nipples. Hands down winter time horizontal nipples are the best.

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

May we see the current condition of the coop?

The picture that was in the original posting is the current condition. I don't have my birds yet so this is why I'm asking all these questions before hand that have to do with my coop. 27 days and I'll be finally a chicken parent (again) I'm going to work on it this weekend to tweak the roost and ladder

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

You’re gonna regret that. I have had open waters, cups, bowls, vertical nipples. Hands down winter time horizontal nipples are the best.

Hmm. I see, do you have a link to where I can purchase some? I appreciate you urging me to make good decisions with this water system. Whatever takes so that my birds will have access to water even I'm the most freezing Temps