Great idea adding the fence between the plants and water! I put a pond in my coop and the chickens ate all my plants 🤦♀️ I definitely recommend adding a screen an inch or two under water, or some rocks/steps for them to climb out if they fall in. Chickens drown really easily and like to fly/fall into stock tanks for some reason. *edited for clarity
Would add a concrete block or something similar, would not use wire of any kind. Wire would work great at first but would need to be replaced annually or more often unless it was stainless steel.
Reminds me of how i used to have a cat water setup with a beta fish and a pothos ivy...wasn't planned, but both the cat and beta fish enjoyed it and lived long healthy lives.
I understand the concept, i built mini ponds back in the day, but mini ponds need more maintenance than big ponds, im using your second option with a Diy easy clean attachment, i also hate watering chickens with a passion 😂. I have a video up on my diy attachment for the animal waterer, i clean it in less than 30 seconds.
I can list what I know but specifics aren’t necessary, I just used the plants I found locally growing wild. You want half of the container filled with plants. And some type of little fish to eat mosquito larvae. What I have for plants: Bulrush, Water primrose , Water plantain, Water iris, Azolla, Duckweed, Water hyacinth, Water lily, Eel grass Fish: mosquito fish Cheers
Looks great! Just wondering if some predators, such as snakes, will be able to get through the fencing as the wire grid size is much larger then chicken wire? Thanks for sharing.
This looks amazing! Do you get winter? here in Canada, I'm wondering what would happen when this freeze is over. would you have to replace the plants every year?
We have very mild winters here, if you source your plants locally they should come back in the spring, if you can keep the pond from freezing solid that would definitely help. But you will need a winter solution for water for sure or a way to keep the water from freezing. Best of luck.
Hell yes Eric! I’m loving it!!! Don’t comment hardly ever but have been a follower for a bit since Billy spoke about ya! ❤ from Kristy in Missouri zone 6b 😃🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks. As long as the pond ecosystem stays in tact it will go on. You’d probably need to thin out the plants occasionally, if it gets real cold in winter then you’d need a solution for the water freezing.
It depends how cold your winter is, you might need an alternative for the winter months especially if the water freezes. In a mild winter it depends on the size of the container and the number of chickens whether the manure load will overwhelm the container.
This is cool, but will probably yield mosquitos. They do make a couple of types of red plastic waterers that are proportional to chickens and get much less dirty
@@EricSeider will do, would be good to see how your set-up fairs over time too. Good ideas-experimentation-better ideas. Im in Australia and rely on chooks for eggs, we eat a lot of eggs here. I have a dam with sedges around it - i am going to use some for this.
@lachlanscanlan5621 so far so good, water clarity is still good. Occasional algae build up but the plants are filling in. I think an ideal setup would be not allowing the chickens to perch on the rim so they don’t poop in the water but the pond ecosystem takes care of it eventually. You could utilize the manure load by adding shrimps and other crustaceans.
Maybe adding some large chicken wire over the top where the chickens drink from then adding some fish to help clean the bowl could be a great addition to ensuring a sanitary basin? That way the fish aren't getting pecked at or getting snatched by raccoons
Mosquito fish are tiny so it would have to be one skilled raccoon. Water snails and other crustaceans clean most of the debris more than fish generally.
Yeah that would be an issue, the pond ecosystem would go dormant as well. You could have an alternative method for the winter if it wasn’t a lot of extra work.
As long as all the plants and organisms in the pond are local and it doesn’t freeze solid it should all bounce back in the spring. You could partially bury it and put a plastic cover over the top like a mini greenhouse to help it from freezing.
@VaderisOne ideal if they have a few hours of direct sun or partial shade. But as long as the plants are growing it should work. It’s really about the nutrient load in the water you’re asking the plants to process. The chickens manure into the water so the plants need to process more nutrients. For your goat trough if they’re not making a mess in the water you won’t need the plants to do as much work.
Great idea adding the fence between the plants and water! I put a pond in my coop and the chickens ate all my plants 🤦♀️
I definitely recommend adding a screen an inch or two under water, or some rocks/steps for them to climb out if they fall in. Chickens drown really easily and like to fly/fall into stock tanks for some reason.
*edited for clarity
All good tips thanks! Yes my chickens are brilliant at getting themselves in situations they can’t get out of.
Would add a concrete block or something similar, would not use wire of any kind. Wire would work great at first but would need to be replaced annually or more often unless it was stainless steel.
All so I think puting a brink or cement block in the chicken end, that way if one falls in on accident it will be able to get out
Probably a good idea, although it’s not deep enough where they couldn’t flap their way out.
Reminds me of how i used to have a cat water setup with a beta fish and a pothos ivy...wasn't planned, but both the cat and beta fish enjoyed it and lived long healthy lives.
Nice integration
Why have I never thought of this?! 😅 What a great idea! Keep us posted on how it’s working!
Thanks. I’ll definitely give an update but so far it’s working well.
That is a great idea, duckweed would work real good in that as well
Thanks! Duckweed is great, the azolla tends to outgrow it.
I'm just building new areas for my chickens. Guess how I will be watering them? Great idea!
Awesome!
I understand the concept, i built mini ponds back in the day, but mini ponds need more maintenance than big ponds, im using your second option with a Diy easy clean attachment, i also hate watering chickens with a passion 😂. I have a video up on my diy attachment for the animal waterer, i clean it in less than 30 seconds.
Ingenious! I can't wait to duplicate!
Can you give a list of all plant and animal life used, very specific please
I can list what I know but specifics aren’t necessary, I just used the plants I found locally growing wild. You want half of the container filled with plants. And some type of little fish to eat mosquito larvae.
What I have for plants:
Bulrush, Water primrose , Water plantain, Water iris, Azolla, Duckweed, Water hyacinth, Water lily, Eel grass
Fish: mosquito fish
Cheers
@@EricSeider ok, well I will ask local pet shop what type of fish and I guess go find local plant place and ask them
Looks great! Just wondering if some predators, such as snakes, will be able to get through the fencing as the wire grid size is much larger then chicken wire? Thanks for sharing.
Snakes aren’t an issue for me but you could use 1/2” welded wire.
This looks amazing! Do you get winter? here in Canada, I'm wondering what would happen when this freeze is over. would you have to replace the plants every year?
We have very mild winters here, if you source your plants locally they should come back in the spring, if you can keep the pond from freezing solid that would definitely help. But you will need a winter solution for water for sure or a way to keep the water from freezing. Best of luck.
Hell yes Eric! I’m loving it!!! Don’t comment hardly ever but have been a follower for a bit since Billy spoke about ya! ❤ from Kristy in Missouri zone 6b 😃🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Awesome, thanks. Glad to have you.
Nice. Take a look at this one ( automatic self maintained water system for chickens) let me know thanks
Freaking great setup!
Cheers, thanks.
Wow such a simple magical idea. How long does it stay potable for? Indefinitely with no maintenance?
Thanks. As long as the pond ecosystem stays in tact it will go on. You’d probably need to thin out the plants occasionally, if it gets real cold in winter then you’d need a solution for the water freezing.
Thank you for introducing me to Azzola. Now I have a new project. I knew about duckweed but not Azolla.
There’s so much potential in incorporating aquaculture, azolla is one of my favorites.
What about in the winter, no plants to clean the water?
It depends how cold your winter is, you might need an alternative for the winter months especially if the water freezes. In a mild winter it depends on the size of the container and the number of chickens whether the manure load will overwhelm the container.
This is cool, but will probably yield mosquitos. They do make a couple of types of red plastic waterers that are proportional to chickens and get much less dirty
No mosquitoes if you have fish.
Can confirm. Good habitat for dragonfly larvae, so it will attract adult dragonflies which will decrease mosquitoes.
Cool solution! Great addition of plants for the girls to eat too.
Thanks! It’s working out well so far.
Maybe put watering cups on chicken side?
The pond is their water.
Like this idea very much! Looks like the next chicken pen project!
Awesome, best of luck. For some reason your comment was held for review, weird.
i was looking for an idea like this but otherwise those are the prettiest darn chickens on the internet
Thanks, I think it’s the compost that keeps them looking good. Let me know how the water system works for you.
@@EricSeider will do, would be good to see how your set-up fairs over time too. Good ideas-experimentation-better ideas. Im in Australia and rely on chooks for eggs, we eat a lot of eggs here. I have a dam with sedges around it - i am going to use some for this.
@lachlanscanlan5621 so far so good, water clarity is still good. Occasional algae build up but the plants are filling in. I think an ideal setup would be not allowing the chickens to perch on the rim so they don’t poop in the water but the pond ecosystem takes care of it eventually. You could utilize the manure load by adding shrimps and other crustaceans.
Maybe adding some large chicken wire over the top where the chickens drink from then adding some fish to help clean the bowl could be a great addition to ensuring a sanitary basin? That way the fish aren't getting pecked at or getting snatched by raccoons
Mosquito fish are tiny so it would have to be one skilled raccoon. Water snails and other crustaceans clean most of the debris more than fish generally.
The problem I have with that it would freeze in the winter here
Yeah that would be an issue, the pond ecosystem would go dormant as well. You could have an alternative method for the winter if it wasn’t a lot of extra work.
Great! Please keep us updated
I did in an update in my latest garden update video , but it’s still working great!
Good to see ya again! Love this idea.
Good to be back, thanks.
Great idea
Very promising. Thanks for your sharing.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.
Great idea! Thank you!
Thanks!
Absolutely brilliant!
Thanks
What about during winter time
We don’t have real winter in Sacramento, but you’d need to keep it from freezing or have another method for winter.
Eric, any thoughts for overwintering this setup? I live in NYS Zone 5(ish) I love this setup for the summer!
As long as all the plants and organisms in the pond are local and it doesn’t freeze solid it should all bounce back in the spring. You could partially bury it and put a plastic cover over the top like a mini greenhouse to help it from freezing.
I wonder if that would work for my goats watering
I don’t see why not as long as they can’t eat the plants.
@@EricSeider how much sun do you think the plants will need, the trough for the goats is in heavy shaded area
@VaderisOne ideal if they have a few hours of direct sun or partial shade. But as long as the plants are growing it should work. It’s really about the nutrient load in the water you’re asking the plants to process. The chickens manure into the water so the plants need to process more nutrients. For your goat trough if they’re not making a mess in the water you won’t need the plants to do as much work.
Any updates?
So far so good, I did a quick update on the last garden tour video. Water clear, plants healthy , no issues to report.
Good idea!!!
Thanks
Great idea!
Thanks!
Great thank you!
You’re welcome.
watch out for wet pox
Awesome
Thanks
Love it !
Cheers, thanks!
Very cool
Thanks!
Interesting
Cheers
Interesting idea i wonder if any have drown yet
Not so far.