Rolling Acres - This and That

[Latestarter]

Make a heated 5 gallon chicken waterer with horizontal nipples. It's easy, cheap, and works! Depending on chicken numbers it will last a week or more. You can hang it from a rafter or set it on cinder blocks. Mine worked down to 20 below zero over a week long stretch. In the morning at those temps there would be a little ice ball on the nipple but I melted it off with finger and thumb and depressed the plunger to make sure water flowed and it stayed thawed and operational all day. The chickens don't drink at night anyway. Bucket and lid you can probably get from the local walmart bakery for free. The heater cost I think $39. The broken bricks at the bottom to act as a heat sink were just lying about the place, so free. Rocks would have done as good. The horizontal nipples are pretty cheap as well; 10 for $14.00.

https://www.amazon.com/Horizontal-M...ocphy=9028359&hvtargid=pla-441262673698&psc=1 Put 4-5 of them around the bottom of the bucket ~2-3" up.

<--- Don't use the ones with a "cup" to catch the water as the water it catches will freeze. The nipple will no longer work, and it could break the nipple.

 

[RollingAcres]

Thank you @greybeard @Bruce @Latestarter !

I currently have this type of setup for the chickens. And I currently have to fill it every 4-5 days for the 6 of them.

I will get a bigger tank for the cows. The current one we have is a rubber one, so I will get the same kind just bigger size.

 

[Baymule]

Will their water freeze, if so, get the water heaters as already suggested. Your cows and chickens could do without food before doing without water. Do you think your neighbor could look in on them while you are gone? Do all your preparations, but have the neighbor do a check on them, just in case.

 

[RollingAcres]

I might ask another neighbor down the road to check on them, instead of asking my neighbor across the street. I'm sure he(neighbor across the street) wouldn't mind keeping an eye out on the critters for us if we ask. I just feel bad that I have to bother others during Christmas time.

 

[Bruce]

Will their water freeze, if so, get the water heaters as already suggested.

The thing she pictured is heated. There is (generally) an incandescent bulb under the inverted pie pan thing. Heaters in the water source are more effective and (at least in the case of what I linked just below) temperature regulated, on when the water temp gets down to 30 something, off when it gets to 40 something so it isn't on all the time like the light bulb type. Though those can be plugged into a thermocube.

I bought this https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-Ultimate-Stock-Deicer/dp/B002QXN1H8 to put in the 5 gallon drink "cooler" that fed the pipe with nipples. No need for bricks or other supports. I don't use the floating ring.

I just feel bad that I have to bother others during Christmas time.

They only need to check maybe once in the middle of your trip. If any of your girls are laying at that time, they can keep the eggs. Besides, if they help you at Christmas time, it gives them a reason to not feel badly if they need to ask you to reciprocate in the future.

 

[Rammy]

I have the Tuff Stuff 110 gallon water trough. I like it better than the Rubbermaid one because the Rubbermaid tends to leak out around the drain plug.
If the Tuff Stuff one is the one you have noe, getting the bigger one is going to help you with keeping your livestock in plenty of water. Hope you have a great vacation!

 

[Mini Horses]

Here's a helpful build for much of the winter it will work or help. Even with a heater, reduces need for "on time". While this is shown for an oblong, ANY tank can be protected by modification.

https://www.motherearthnews.com/hom...ep-livestock-water-from-freezing-zm0z15fmzsor

 

[RollingAcres]

We received about 2" of snow on Friday. Most have melted by now. Here's Skyler checking out the snow.

Yesterday was windy and cold. So we stayed inside and baked some brown sugar cookies.

 

[Baymule]

Baking cookies with kids has to be one of the best things about having kids. Many happy memories of baking cookies with my kids, now with grand kids. Eat half the dough and bake what's left.

 

[RollingAcres]

Baking cookies with kids has to be one of the best things about having kids. Many happy memories of baking cookies with my kids, now with grand kids. Eat half the dough and bake what's left.

Definitely! I really enjoy baking with my boy.