yes plastic waterers break in winter. i had that prob here this winter. if u have electric and get lighbulbs and a light socket and a cookie tin big enough it will help to keep them warmer if the waterers sit on them. i think next year i will get the rubber pans u can fold it backwards and pop the ice out of them. hay keeps warmer due to hollowness to hold the heat but it is very messy in winter all the poo stays on top and eggs and feet get nasy i use only pine now all year with no probs just pile it in thicker in winter. i use rubbermade tubs for brooders but i hatch all year here.
Advice needed from you Chicken experts
Silkie what size rubbermade tubs do you use? My Paul had suggested those and I said I didn't think those would work.
I guess I'll have to find metal water fountains for them then if plastic will break.
Now heat outside is something I'm concerned with. Their house is wired for electric BUT we often have power outages in winter. What other heat sources are safe around them. I have both kerosene and propane heaters that I use with the plants I've been raising in there.
Would you have pictures of your homemade pipe feeders?
I can store water in jugs in the greenhouse and carry it in to them daily. We sometimes hit -20 in winter. More normal is -5
MollyD
i have small , med lrg and x-tra lrge with wheels on it. i put them in bigger ones as they grow or if i have a lrg hatch. my smallest is 60qrt and my next to biggest is 65 gal but the biggest is probably 95 gal if i remember right mabe a little bigger. i use them as a double for transport cages we cut the lids and put wire on them. so they can't excape, doggies can't get in and work great to take to shows and lid's lock for added security and easy to clean.
plastic will crack if it freezes here but i change them frequently so it is not so bad i haven't lost that many actually. mine don't have a heat source so i allow more birds in the flock in winter to retain better heat source from natural body heat and i add scratch or black oil sunflower seeds as treats for them to add fat on in winter. in spring i part with extras i don't want to keep to cut down on feed costs. mabe someone else could help u better there.
i have a pic of one on photobucket but u can't see it the greatest. will try to take pics of one for ya soon when it is not raining here out of coop so u can see it better at different angles. we r makeing metal ones too similar to a rabbit style one to mount to doors at back level also but don't have them done yet.
ur weather is just like ours then. i raise my flock at a friends outside of town now due to my bad neighbers. so we bring frozen waterers home run hot water to melt ice and 20 min later they have fresh again. i will never again leave open waterers in 2 degree weather. i had a silkie hen sit and bath in one and got frostbite so bad i had to amputate her feet. months later she is doing great almost fully healed now and she is trying to walk some. will never make that mistake again i'd rather just make trips for fresh water as many times as i need too.
congrats Molly! you took the plunge! now get busy, it will be May before you know it...
btw, i am interested in reading about the JG leg problems, if you could send me in that direction, a link maybe?
i can give you an idea ho wto build inexpensive heaters for your waterers so that you can use plastic and they won't freeze... saw it on the guinea fowl board...
tf
Silkie I look forward to seeing those pictures.
Tf I found a Yahoo group for JG and it's through that group http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/JerseyGiants/ and through the moderator that I learned about this. I stayed on the group just long enough to learn it was very inactive. Once I decided not to grow the JG I unsubscribed.
MollyD
Ideal just emailed me. My order will ship 5/5. They're offering a product called Grogel for the chicks. Is this worth adding to my order?
Thanks!
MollyD
they want to charge you for it???
$3.95 for it. Wasn't really sure what it was suppose to do for them so I held off answering them. I mean if sugar does the same thing why spend that money.
MollyD
Because they think we're stupid and/or gullible?
Or they just don't care what we think anymore. Remember when you went to the store and if you asked the clerk a question about the product he/she was selling they knew everything about it? Most clerks now will shrug and tell you to ask the manager. The manager will make it up as he/she goes along without checking the facts.
MollyD
You got that right. It makes me not want to shop there. And they wonder why they don't have as much business as they used to.
They also no longer believe the customer is always right! That's gone the way of the dinosaur!!
MollyD
isn't that the green stuff ur to give to chicks after they arrive after ship to help with stress ect? if so i don't ever use it. i use gatorade, sugar water or electrolytes. i've never bought it to use before.
Yes it seems to be silkie. I didn't want to buy it if sugar would do the same thing. Didn't know if there was any advantage to it.
btw I've read here about giving them vitamins. What kind and where do you buy it?
Thanks!
MollyD
i get it at the feed store in a pkt for like $5 and it says vitamins and electrolytes. i'll look see if i can find it i have one here somewhere but it may be a generic not sure. it lasts forever though it's a powdered concentrate.
I'll check those places out. Thanks Silkie. This is something I should have on hand before they arrive so I might as well get it now.
MollyD
we have a tractor supply company here and i believe they carry it also. i keep some stuff on hand for emergancies as usually when i need something it's on a sunday when everything is closed.
We've got Central Tractor and Country Max. I'll check both of those out.
Do you know how long the starter feed can be stored before it's not as good? My babies are suppose to be shipped 5/5 so I thought I could start getting all their stuff together.
MollyD