What did you do with your flock today?

[ForFlocksSake]

One more question before I order 50 of them. How many chickens per nipple? I don't remember seeing that on the pages I look at.

I have 5 sharing 3 nipples. Never see them fighting over it even though they all tend to congregate around the bucket together. When I add the other 4 I’m going to put a second bucket with 3 nipples.

Just want to add also- you mentioned using pvc pipe to install the nipples. These particular ones come with screw back which you wouldn’t be able to do in a pvc pipe. However, I had others that didn’t have screw backs so I don’t think they’re completely necessary to use. I just wanted the extra security in the bucket.

 

[Nomadicus]

I have 5 sharing 3 nipples. Never see them fighting over it even though they all tend to congregate around the bucket together. When I add the other 4 I’m going to put a second bucket with 3 nipples.

Just want to add also- you mentioned using pvc pipe to install the nipples. These particular ones come with screw back which you wouldn’t be able to do in a pvc pipe. However, I had others that didn’t have screw backs so I don’t think they’re completely necessary to use. I just wanted the extra security in the bucket.

The ones I'm looking at have threads like 1/8" pipe and screw into a PVC T the has female threads on the T part and has slip fit glue connections for the 1/2" schedule 40 water line. I hope the T's I bought earlier for vertical nipples will work with the ones from Amazon. Not a deal breaker if they won't. to be certain that I get a coop plumbed I'm going to order the T's at the same time. If they are like mine then I can buy locally from a farm supply maybe for less. I have a pressure reduction valve that is adjustable for whatever is needed. I don't want to have to clean the green out of buckets. Much rather be sitting in the shade with a pair of hens in my lap complaining about the roosters they have to put up with.

 

[Nomadicus]

When my wife turned into the driveway this afternoon one of the free ranging young RIR roosters met her almost out by the road. He ran along beside the van until she parked. When people visit here they always meet the welcoming committee. I tell people to watch where they step. After all it is a Chicken Ranch.

 

[Shetland lover]

Gladys is currently asserting her authority over the feed dishes. She decides who is allowed to eat with her and if you are not in favour, you get the 'dregs'! I have 3 dishes out at lunchtime between 6 birds, several feet apart and somehow, she seems to dominate all of them at once!
I give them free choice dry feed all day but they get a 'special' lunch of mixed dry/sprouted/fermented grains and chopped fruit/vegetables every day. 3 - 4 days a week, they get an additional protein source mixed in.

Yesterday, it was the boys turn to be ostracized from the lunchtime scrum. Gladys managed to drive Stan out of the run completely and had a terrified Ferdy trapped in the covered dust bath.
I decided to put out an extra dish for the boys near the kitchen door and was witness to a beautiful moment.

Young Stan tidbitting his dad, Ferdy, with scrambled egg!

 

[Nomadicus]

It's 2 in the morning and I'm in a crossfire of roosters trying to out crow each other. I'm not sure what to do with them other than get them a coop of their own in the back 40.

 

[Shetland lover]

It's 2 in the morning and I'm in a crossfire of roosters trying to out crow each other. I'm not sure what to do with them other than get them a coop of their own in the back 40.

Probably not a practical solution for your set-up but I have a black-out cloth over Stan's coop. He was crowing at odd hours and setting his dad off in competition. I figured out it was a neighbour's outdoor lights causing the problem and the black-out cloth solved the issue. I've also used soundproofing on both coops to mute the morning crow (My nearest neighbours are a mere 10 metres from the coops. Luckily they love our boys!).

 

[Shetland lover]

The peregrine falcon took a house sparrow while I was feeding and cleaning the chickies just now. Even though everyone was in the covered run, the boys took their jobs seriously and herded everyone under a bush I have in there and stood guard either side. I love my boys!❤

 

[Nomadicus]

The most important thing I'll be doing shortly is taking all the babes in the brooder to a warm bath to soften up their pasty butts and then use the blow dryer on them. Water is not treated with ASV. We didn't give them the electrolytes and they still have the worst case of pasty butt I have ever seen.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Mine have a preference for drinking out of muddy puddles, the dirtier the better. In fact, Stan once availed himself of fresh dog pee. Did he realise the error of his ways? Did he hell. He went back twice more while I was getting the hose to rinse it away

Chicken appetites do make me scratch my head sometimes

 

[ChicksnMore]

The most important thing I'll be doing shortly is taking all the babes in the brooder to a warm bath to soften up their pasty butts and then use the blow dryer on them. Water is not treated with ASV. We didn't give them the electrolytes and they still have the worst case of pasty butt I have ever seen.

Hope that passes soon