What's One Accessory That's Made Chicken Life Better?

[jeepone]

We have two lights in our coop (its large, 10x16). One is on a pull chain to use when we need/want light to do something in the coop. The second is on a timer. It comes on around dusk and off after the coop door closes. We adjust the time as the sun adjusts throughout the year. We have Guineas who do not like to enter a dark buildimg so this gets them in (most of the time) before the door closes.

 

[Jaime918]

I'm still trying to "clutter" my run so they'll use the other half but so far, these are some of the things I do.


My battery operated fans have been a huge help!

Misters are their favorite when it's over 100.

I keep jugs of water in the fridge as I don't have much freezer space to freeze a whole lot.

I have solar fairy lights in both coops that are pretty dim but give them a smidge of light(they freak in pitch black).

solar motion lights mounted to the front on both coops that also put off plenty of light in the coop if I have to open the doors and walk in after dark, plus one facing off the house at their coops.

Mine like to play on bales of hay and they use it as a wind block.

Refuse to use their swing(not surprised)

Oddly, I bought a squeaky dog toy and tossed it out for giggles, I occasionally catch one jumping on it to make it squeak.

We are also lacking in bugs here aside from all these darned ants, so I occasionally grab some crickets for them to chase, they LOVE it.

Some are pickier than others but all mine have agreed they love frozen blueberries and watermelon.

This is just a start for me, I'm still very much learning as I go. All mine range from 4 1/2 months, 2 1/2 months, 3 weeks, and I added 2 older girls Wednesday, 2 year old Dominique and a 3 year old silkied serama.

 

[nashua]

#1- Heated waterers. Makes it much easier to provide water in the winter.
#2- No spill waterers and feeders.

As for lights, some do but I don't. I let my birds follow the natural cycle with shorter days in the winter. I don't want to treat them like factory farmers. For winter eggs, I preserve the extras in the spring using the water-glassing technique.

Your post is reassuring. I am trying water glassing for the first time per you tube directions: 1 oz. by weight pickling lime to 1 oz distilled water.

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

Chicken harnesses are so amazing and fun to have. I need a new one because my old one was ripped apart by my dog
My chickens love cold fruits and fans and occasionally they like to jump in the sprinkler.

 

[TooCheep]

Your post is reassuring. I am trying water glassing for the first time per you tube directions: 1 oz. by weight pickling lime to 1 oz distilled water.

I've been doing water glassing for 3-4 years now and am a big proponent of it. Not sure if it is a typo, but it is supposed to be 1oz lime to 1qt water (not necessarily distilled). You might be interested in the following thread with an extensive discussion of water glassing.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/water-glassing-egg-preservation-experiment.1428588/

The first video in that thread is the best one that I've found on the topic.

 

[Tami2]

I have a fully enclosed run and wasn't planning on closing their doors. Should I be closing at night? Is it just for predators, or is it to keep heat in the winter mayber?

Both.

We have a 26' enclosed fenced run with the coop inside. To protect them from predators both on the ground & the sky. We are planning on adding a second fence around that's electric. Doing all we can to keep them safe. We have everything from Bears, bobcats, coyotes, coons, foxes, hawks, owls etc... You name it, we live in a rural area with tons of predators.

Once they are full grown. My plan is to allow them to free range the entire property, but ONLY if I am out there with them. I may be paranoid, but I will do everything in my power to protect them.

 

[townchicks]

A fishing net to catch runaways. My chickens are now trained to come back to the run for treats, but my neighbor borrows it now and then, one of his is always going walkabout. I keep it right in the run, for emergency evacuations. Some of my girls don't voluntarily let me pick them up.

 

[Lil TexHens]

Grabber tool for View attachment 3148005

I hope you’re just joking?! This won’t work for picking up snakes. Get real snake tongs. I relocate rat snakes to another area on my property because they take care of rodents.
Ouronehome 60" Extra Heavy Duty Snake Tongs Foldable Reptile Grabber Catcher Wide Jaw Handling Tool with Auto Lock and Non-Slip Grip Handle https://a.co/d/3ZFTTxy

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I have a fully enclosed run and wasn't planning on closing their doors. Should I be closing at night? Is it just for predators, or is it to keep heat in the winter mayber?

I use my autodoor opener into the henhouse for the cold new england winter. I removed it this spring when the temps allowed. Giving them the ability to leave the henhouse to the run when they see fit.

 

[Tami2]

I use my autodoor opener into the henhouse for the cold new england winter. I removed it this spring when the temps allowed. Giving them the ability to leave the henhouse to the run when they see fit.

So, you don't lock them in the coop at night in the warmer weather?