water/feeder in coop or run???

[Nocila]

we are doing a concrete floor in the new coop...do you just leave it concrete or are you adding anything on top of it? I have read alot about the flooring and doing things that only require cleaning it out 1or 2 times a year...that seems like it would be really really messy.

We put straw on the floor, though we should probably do shavings, and we clear out the straw once a week. We figure that, once or twice a year, we can spray the coop out to get rid of any poop that remains when we take out the straw.

 

[jetdog]

do you know if it can be used with a rain barrel? and have you ever tried the watering cups? someone said that the nipples are better if I had trained my chicken from babies to use them.

They can be used with a rain barrel, I chose the bucket because in the winter I put a stock tank heater in with a long run using a barrel it would freeze solid not sure where you live and even have to worry about freezing, I have never tried the cups again for freezing reasons, my girls were around 10 months when I switched them over and they were using them with in 2 minutes just tap them and they see the silver nipple and start pecking at it,you need a tiny hole in the top of the bucket so it doesn't form a vacuum, I got them from"all bout chickens".

 

[Aban]

They can be used with a rain barrel, I chose the bucket because in the winter I put a stock tank heater in with a long run using a barrel it would freeze solid not sure where you live and even have to worry about freezing, I have never tried the cups again for freezing reasons, my girls were around 10 months when I switched them over and they were using them with in 2 minutes just tap them and they see the silver nipple and start pecking at it,you need a tiny hole in the top of the bucket so it doesn't form a vacuum, I got them from"all bout chickens".

we live in florida...we rarely have to worry about freezing. only have really cold days about 3-4 times a year (normally) snowed a bit this year. we brought the chickens in the house cause we had never experienced snow and wasnt real sure what to do with them. they didnt seem to mind though

 

[SusanPC]

I love Ridgerunner's reply. There are lots of reasons to do it one way or another and there is no right or wrong. Put your chickens' food and water wherever it works for you.

I leave the chickens' food and water outside in the run 24 hours a day. I use a standard 2 gallon metal water-er and pvc tube-style feeders. I don't close my pop door anymore, but when I did, I would let them out early in the a.m. for access to food and water.

 

[oma4630]

Where can I find the nipples to make a watering bucket for my chicks?

 

[Aban]

We put straw on the floor, though we should probably do shavings, and we clear out the straw once a week. We figure that, once or twice a year, we can spray the coop out to get rid of any poop that remains when we take out the straw.

bout how much do yall use?

 

[Nocila]

I think we use about 2-3 flakes of straw a week, just enough to cover the bottom. Straw around here costs about $7 a bale, so it's not that expensive to replace the straw on the ground each week.

 

[Aban]

I think we use about 2-3 flakes of straw a week, just enough to cover the bottom. Straw around here costs about $7 a bale, so it's not that expensive to replace the straw on the ground each week.

right on thank you, but what is a "flake of staw" i have never heard that one before

 

[boyswillbeboys]

I think we use about 2-3 flakes of straw a week, just enough to cover the bottom. Straw around here costs about $7 a bale, so it's not that expensive to replace the straw on the ground each week.

we paid $2 for a square bale in the fall. I used about 1 a month over the winter, less now, because they are outside most of the day (broilers have gone through 1.5 in 5 weeks though.)

In the summer I water outside, feed is inside, and bring water in over the winter, though it makes a mess, I want to have a table for the water this winter, which will hopefully help with the mess. I figure 1/8 of each container ends up on the floor/ground

 

[boyswillbeboys]

right on thank you, but what is a "flake of staw" i have never heard that one before

I could be wrong, but when I pull apart a bale of straw it kind of 'flakes' into sections, about an inch thick, I'd like to hear the official meaning though (I call them bundles, 'Newbie here')