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

[aart]

Periodically I throw in a splash of plain bleach and some water. Give it a good shake and rinse. I'd hate to say how long I've used some of mine but always kept sanitary! It's getting harder to get the ones with the screw on caps instead of the pop on. Times they are a changing.

I've never cleaned this, no need, IMO.
I actually hacked the neck so a screw on cap would work,
at least well enough that if it tipped over it won't spill much.

 

[NanaK]

I've never cleaned this, no need, IMO.
I actually hacked the neck so a screw on cap would work,
at least well enough that if it tipped over it won't spill much.

They are great to mix up some vit/elec mix too. That is why I sometime wash them.

 

[3KillerBs]

We never make Kool-Aid and very rarely make iced tea so the gallon pitcher sees more use hauling Save-A-Chick to the flock.

 

[aart]

They are great to mix up some vit/elec mix too. That is why I sometime wash them.

Ah, I mix that stuff in a gravity waterer.

 

[affacat]

Automatic chicken door is the number one unless you're up at the crack of dawn. They love getting out of their coop right when they wake. Other than that I don't know if chickens care much about amenities beyond following anyone with a shovel.

 

[raingarden]

A pump-up garden sprayer that shoots a little stream of water. It's great for herding fowl around from 20-30 feet away or to shoo them out of the garden . They'll do anything to avoid getting a few drops of water on their tail.

 

[Henfla]

You like it & it works, brilliant! Where did you get it, can you post the link?
Thank you!

I got it from a farm store here in Norway

 

[raingarden]

I use the one gallon size with a wand from Ace Hardware, but there's plenty of choices.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

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?

My runs are fully enclosed due to constant predators, so the only time I close their little doors is when bad weather approaches, such as heavy rain, snow, below freezing, etc.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

It is funny, but it is when I am out with my girls (and boys) that I think why didn't I mention... milk jugs!

A gallon milk jug is an easy way to carry water to the coop all year long, even in cold weather, it does not slosh or spill. A gallon or less is easy to carry.

I use the Arizona tea (herbal no caffeine is delicious) gallon iced tea jugs, they hold up well. Easier to manage than dragging 200 feet of hose out, plus I can mix 1 teaspoon of ACV per gallon, or the oregano or garlic, jugs make winter watering easy, too, etc. I've tried various waterers but I love these as they stay clean. My waterers stay inside the coop near the feed, & I elevate the waterers on landscaping pavers I already had on the property when I moved here. Elevating them about 5-6 inches is the perfect height for the chickens & keeps them clean, no wood chips floating. I bleach the waterers clean every Sunday. In the cold winter I have heated waterers when needed.