Thanks for watching folks & don't forget to click the subscribe button if you enjoyed the video. 🐔🐔 Share the clip around with family & friends if you think they'll enjoy it too. 👍 Cheers all & have a top one. 😊
Man, those chickens got a paradise there! Enough clippings and grass to root around in, some fruit, some shade from the tree. Fresh water.. Brilliant. I hope to build a run just as nice this spring (in NL). The chooks themselves also look very nice and healthy. Kudos.
Think they have it fairly good here compared to some :/ I don't think our gardens would be as productive as they are if we didn't have the girls & worms.. Just cant beat the compost/castings either produce.. Hope you have fun planing & building your run.. Any ideas on what type of house you will be building for them ? Cheers, Rob..
Rob Bob Well, I'm not going to be able to keep to many chickens because I'm in a residential area, so I figure the housing is going to be about one cubic meter, probably insulated against the cold winters in the Netherlands. I'm going to raise it from the ground so I can store some supplies underneath. I really would like my chickens to be able to roam freely in my garden, but I'm told that they will obliterate the veggies in my raised beds, so I guess I'll have to make a nice large run for them. Not sure what breed I'm going to get though. Probably Barnevelders since they seem to be good egg producers. I got a huge composting scheme going on (kind of a hobby that got out of control) including the worms, so they'll be able to feast on those every once in a while, including all the garden and kitchen scraps. Gonna make these the most happy chickens in Holland. =) Thanks for the reply man. You're one of the few TH-cam gardeners who actually reply a lot to your viewers. That's much appreciated. I should have subbed a long time ago and now I will. =)
Sounds like you have the best fed chickens. It is nice to see the extra care for them. Gives them something to do in there yard when they can get there own food fresh of the vine. The watering system Is great. Keeps it clean and fresh. Thanks for sharing. Have a good one.
Don't think we would have a garden without them now Doreen :) Great to chat to while working around the patch & make very short work of any excess greens we have ;) Thanks & all the best, Rob :)
Great looking build! I always wondered though with the beaks how they drink from a nipple, I thought that was for things that could form a suction. It is great that I learn something new each and every day! Hope to get my own chickens sometime soon...
RobBob! Thanks for sharing this idea. We have a lot of chickens and I upscaled to a large 55 gallons or 208 liters that hold over three full bags of feed. The feed lasts much longer since they're no longer scratching feed all over the round. What a great idea!
Kevin Wright Nice one Kevin. Have seen a few of the larger bin type feeders for larger flocks. Takes our 3 girls nearly a month to finish off a bag here. Cheers mate.
Was really easy to set up Brandon & the best thing is it could be expanded to include a few more watering stations if need be.. Cheers Brandon & have a great one, Rob.
very helpful! i like the large container for the food it's clean and no spills. I'm going to try both the bin feeder and the water nipples. Thanks alot for showing us!
Hi Rob, inspired by your videos on the chicken nipple waterer, we did the same in our chicken house, and wow, what an incredible saving of time and energy. Now we will fill the feeder and the water tank once a week, instead of twice a day!! Although, it's not actually a discovery, we are so happy with it, we made a video on it with a link to your video. Chicken house water nipple system Thanks and take care.
Hi again Catalina :-) Your system looks great.. They do make life a whole lot easier & keep the water much cleaner for the birds.. Have a great one, Rob :-)
Hi Rob. I love the bulk chicken feeder idea with the awning! When I was still on a farm I tried the chicken nipple idea - unfortunately with poor results (leaks everywhere). I thought I'd have a look at this and the prior one to see what went amiss with my setup. I'm in an apartment now, but using the time as I try to rebuild finances to do some research for the day when I hopefully have my own space with a yard for birds. I'm also checking out apartment-sized food setups, so I appreciate all your videos on aquaponics setups, etc. too. Thanks for sharing them.
Hi Michelle. Hope you get some space to have some Chooks again soon. Hoping to have a pen set up here again very soon. :) There are a few different waterers around so it may be just a case of playing with a few to see what works bet in your situation. Cheers & all the best.
Just found your videos on the waterers - I picked up the nipples from Ebay months ago, and a couple of food safe barrels. I don't know why I haven't pulled the trigger on getting them made - warm weather is right around the corner (I'm in central Texas), so I need to hop to it! Thanks for the great info: I love your set up, and what sweet girls you have!
Hi there :) I think they are the best way we've found to keep water up to the girls.. No mess or fuss.. Have had a few issues with algae build up in the barrel the nipples are fed from but nothing a good clean & some apple cider vinegar can't fix ;) Thanks & hope the clips give you a few ideas.. All the best to you & yours, Rob..
It looks great Rob. It gives me some good ideas for when I put my water nipples into action. As luck would have it I have a convinient water barrel that catches water off the chicken coop so that should do nicely as a top up tank :)
hey buddy I was wondering if you can grow other things for chicken to maybe help keep food price down and put more in the diet and would it make the eggs taste better thank you and like watching your videos
+supermarkbriggs Who knows. I don't worry as I get loads of folks telling me the clips have helped give them pointers on their own builds 👍 Cheers Super Mark & have a great one mate.
I love the set up you have for your chickens! They get so much love and they look beautiful! I do have to say I am batting the idea of an aquaponics system here in Canada :) it would pose some though challenges with the harsh winter and all :) but that should not stop me :)
Have you seen frozenfowler's system up in Alaska ? Might pay you to pop on by & check out a few of his clips.. th-cam.com/users/frozenfowler He might be able to help you out with some cold weather aquaponic ideas :) Cheers Stephen & have a great one, Rob..
I've just been through a nightmarish episode with a neighbor who has chickens. Her poor birds were neglected and mistreated and watching your ladies has been so therapeutic. I feel like I may want to dip my toes into backyard chickens at some point. In the future. Thanks for the videos of your healthy, happy, active and bright girls. My great great grandmother used to roast the egg shells and add that back to their feed. She was born in southern Germany in the 1880s. Thought you may find it interesting how far back that bit of chicken care went back. As a complete aside - your fruit flies are downright TERRIFYING.
Hi there :) Just spent the morning washing out, modifying & moving the water barrel for the feeder :) Cleaned the lines with some white vinegar as well while I was at it.. The girls don't look that fantastic at the moment, they have decided to have a moult & look very un kept at the moment.. The new feathers are starting to come in again so they should be good for winter now :) Is funny how the old tricks are being "rediscovered" again ;) I chuckle quite often when I see old bits of wisdom being used in social media as if it was just discovered by the poster ;) :D We can almost see the capsicums & tomatoes shake when the fruit flies land on them ;) Cheers & have a great one, Rob..
Thanks Ms Tokies :) The girls appear to really like the feeder & am pleased that all the water they are getting is fresh & clean :) Cheers & all the best, Rob..
Personally, I think your homemade mount is quite ingenious. Well done Rob Bob. Hope your chickens *get to* suffer from that mango disease for a while. ;-)
:O Got down there & took another dozen or so off the other day Jared.. Don't mind sharing the kale & other greens but there are only so many mangoes I'm willing to part with ;) All the best to you & yours Mate, Rob..
The French Family Farm Buckets work great with the nipple & cup feeder from what I've seen.. They are a lot cheaper easier to build as well ;) Cheers & have a great one, Rob :)
Rob Bob Well, I guess I just figured you put the chicken pen around the mango tree, so whose fault is it ;-) Our best wishes for you and yours as well.
Neil Ainsworth Hey Neil. We haven't wormed these birds at all since they were chicks. Have never seen any evidence of worms in their droppings so don't see the point. Have added a bit of diatomaceous earth to their feed but that's more for looking after weevils but have read that some people think it helps with worms as well. Not sure how true that is as I've seen a few natural health people question it's effectiveness for that purpose. Not sure if that helps any mate. Cheers.
after watching this again I believe I will get a large tub for rain collection and fix up a water like this. I just wonder how could I rig up a floatation device for if the rain water ran out it would fill from the rural water supply? thnx for sharing again :)
You could install a float valve near the base of the tank/tub so if the water drops to a certain level the water supply will kick in.. That way there would always be a little bit of water in there to supply the drippers.. Hope that helps some.. Rob..
They are great workes to have Rob, eat the veggie scraps, have great personalities & give us eggs & fertiliser.. Can't complain about that I think.. Cheers sir & hope you get a chance to keep some soon.. Rob.
Rob Bob I took care of my brother's chickens for a few weeks while he was moving. I left them in my garden (when it was done) and they did a great job picking out bugs. I let them turn the compost pile and the entire thing was gone in a week. It was awesome.
should have saved that illness for April first ;) lol the set up looks good, I like the idea of the tomato's growing up and over the area for shade on hot days for the birds :) thanks for sharing. oh it was nice for that one to demonstrate that the outdoor water works :) lol
:D They can be very helpful when they want to be ;) I was hoping that they would get a taste for the sweet potatoes like I have seen other chooks.. Am looking at ways to trick them into eating it ;) Not only would it make the feed bill a bit cheaper but I think it would be better for them than grain.. Cheers & all the best, Rob..
Rob Bob My chicks eat sweet potatoes. I discovered they liked them when I gave them the left overs after dinner. I can't say they like them raw though. I just microwave them and cut them open and serve.
That's a nice update Rob Bob! I'm sorry I'm so behind at watching videos...gurr! :-) I really like how your have your nipples let up with the bucket/float system Great idea. I'd love to find some buckets around here like that....it just seems that I never see them for sale or anywhere on CraigsList here. I'll keep looking! ha Good video.
Do you have recycling centres at all Wayne ? I know some folks that approach factories or stores directly to see what they have as well.. That drum held kosher cheese bacteria & we got it from a place that collects industrial waste & sells it on to save it going into land fill.. I have an inbox with about 120 clips to watch so your not the only one :/.. Cheers sir, Rob..
Thanks Doyle. I need to set up another one now we have a few chook here on the farm. 👍 I might try a few different feeder ends to see which ones the different birds prefer. Have a top one.
Any idea where someone might find the barrel you used for the chicken water system? I'm in Florida and all the barrels just have a threaded bung instead of a lid that is removable. I also like that it is UV stable as we get lots of sun here. Thanks for the videos, very helpful
Hey there.. Have you tried recycling stations or centres? We picked these up at a recycling centre.. Food manufactures might be a good place to contact as well.. Hope that helps some..
I haven't heard of using apple cider vinegar with chickens, co could you explain the purpose. I like your videos as they are simple to make, but solve issues in a different way.
Hey Paul. Sorry I missed your post. AC vinegar with the mother still present in the bottle is said to be a general purpose tonic as it helps to promote good digestion. I have heard others make different claims but that's the main reason I'd be using it. Sorry again for missing your post. I get a few that slip through the cracks from time to time. Cheers.
Awesome :) Have to figure out how to do a small version for our chook shed. What do you feed them cider vinegar for? Do you have to clean the water out after a couple of days after giving it to them or will it just evaporate if it isn't ingested? Thanks for the info!
We add the vinegar as a general tonic as ACV is full of minerals Melanie.. Others make claims about the medicinal value of it but I don't know of any comprehensive study that has proved these claims.. I figure the minerals in it are a good enough reason to add it & if the other benefits turn out to be true then that's a bonus as well ;) I have only added it into this barrel once so far as it has only been set up for 2 or so weeks.. Will probably dose the barrel every month or so I think.. With the drum we were adding it every second or third time we filled it up.. We were doing it every filling for a while but got slack :/ Hope that helps some :) Rob..
Melanie Warren In this system I would probably add about a cup once a month.. With the 20L drum we were adding 100-150ml at a time but not on every refilling.. Hope that helps :)
I haven't noticed any problems with it yet Valerie.. The metal is all stainless steel so should hold up fairly well.. I will be adding the ACV in at a rate of 1 cup per month into that 50L/13gal (US) drum.. I don't add in as much as others.. Am adding it for its nutritional value as it is rich in minerals.. Hope that helps some & have a good one.. Rob..
Hey Rob. This is a really good idea. I am considering replacing my chicken water setup. I realize you no longer have chickens, but, if I may ask... How did this setup work? Were the chickens happy with it? Have a great day. Again, I think your videos are tops.
+Jerry Poeschel Hi Jerry. The system worked great & I have part of it set aside to go into the pen when it gets rebuilt 👍 Thnaks mate & all the best. Rob.
That is one mother of a mango tree!! What's the circumference?? It looks fat as!! Chooks are looking good, did you find the Australorp's a bit aggressive at 1st? I have heard people can have trouble introducing them to other established chickens. Stay cool.......
The canopy is about 4-5M in diameter Andrew & only about 2/3rd the size it was before getting a huge pruning a few years ago.. These are a New Hampshire cross & they were fairly meek when they first turned up.. One of them is in a constant power play with Greedy but luckily it isn't a viscous one... Mainly see it when food is added to the pen & they both try to stand over the top of it ;) Cheers sir & think you need to stay cooler than us ;) Rob.
B said they eat better than us some days :/ Still, they deserve it for all the work they put in for us methinks :) Cheers Elyse & hope you managed to keep warm during the big freeze.. All the best for 2014 too :) Rob..
The oldest ones (ISA Browns) here are coming onto 5 years old & still laying so not yet ;) The browns were raised as pets by the girls so think they will just end up being fertiliser in the end.. If we were allowed to we would have meat chooks here but due to zoning laws we can't :( Cheers..
Rob Bob You can't raise your own chickens for meat? That is stupid. Which of your neighbors is being protected by you eating your chickens because they stopped laying instead of eating them because they are full grown?
acoow We can eat them but have a local council imposed cap on how many chickens we can have at one time on residential blocks.. Our block is just under being able to have a decent number unfortunately.. The egg layers are more productive protein wise than meat birds.. Cheers :)
There is shell grit in the feed we buy as well as in the grit feeder that hangs next to the grain feeder so they have a fair bit in their diet.. I have read that egg shells are digested & assimilated much better than any form of calcium.. Even one of the best forms of calcium for us as well according to something my father read me the other day.. Cheers & have a great one.. Rob..
I don't know if you have seen a product called (No-Peck). That is what it is called over here in the states. It works on the chickens skin when they have a bald spot. The other chickens will peck a blood spot or a quill sprout terribly. It is non toxic and just is so bitter they will not even peck at all. I had a rooster that was tireless. He just could not take a hint from the hens. I put that stuff on the back of there necks and he could not grab hold with out getting a good dose. I don't see a rooster but maybe she is running to get away and has the sitting syndrome. They run funny and are a bit slow and look all bound up. Her running looks a little funny. I am glad to see she has started to lay because she should be getting back to normal. I miss my chickens! Best Of Luck From South Florida.
Thanks for the information.. They were definitely after a grub & not chasing to have a go at her & I think it was half a grasshopper ;) When she was crook they let her be & didn't have a go at her which is good.. Have had that happen with other chooks years ago & had to segregate the girl in question until the feathers came back in.. The others in that flock were really aggressive unlike these girls :) Thanks again for that & have a great one, Rob..
hello,, I introduce Erwin from Indonesia. I really like to see your videos on you tube,, and everything was interesting to me. let me learn on my practice at home and if you do not mind, I beg guidelines. thank you...
Hi Andy.. We have seen 2 eastern browns in the pen a few years ago but they keep to themselves & don't bother the chooks.. Really want to keep the rodents under control so as to not to attract to many into the yard.. Have seen a few small green tree snake & a carpet python though :) Cheers sir :)
I love your vids. Watched your original video on the waterer and ordered a ten pack of nipples from China. Got them yesterday and put together a watering system for the youngsters in brooding box. They really went to town! I was getting sick and tired of changing out their water three times a day because they would constantly walk around the waterer and poop in it. What a mess it was. Here is a short video of our Chicks and the new nipples. I used a 11/32 drill bit. The nipples threads are 10mm x 1.0. I used a Sterlite Box with lid. th-cam.com/video/cbL9VTtp72E/w-d-xo.html
Hey Justin, Never tried cured eggs.. If we very accumulate an excess I want to give pickled eggs a shot.. Am off to look up salt cured eggs now. Cheers, Rob..
Can you pm me your mailing address? I would like to send you a couple of my sourdough starters. Would love to get reaction from someone down under. One is from Alaska and the other from Utah. If you have never had sourdough bread you are in for a real treat.
Hi there Bill.. I made sour dough for about a year here until the flies decided to "blow" our starter & ruin it :( Never started it back up but know I should.. Would love to be able to try some but know that customs would confiscate them :/ We have very tight bio security laws here unfortunately.. Thanks very much for the kind offer, Rob..
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Thanks for watching folks & don't forget to click the subscribe button if you enjoyed the video. 🐔🐔
Share the clip around with family & friends if you think they'll enjoy it too. 👍
Cheers all & have a top one. 😊
Man, those chickens got a paradise there! Enough clippings and grass to root around in, some fruit, some shade from the tree. Fresh water.. Brilliant. I hope to build a run just as nice this spring (in NL). The chooks themselves also look very nice and healthy. Kudos.
Think they have it fairly good here compared to some :/ I don't think our gardens would be as productive as they are if we didn't have the girls & worms.. Just cant beat the compost/castings either produce.. Hope you have fun planing & building your run.. Any ideas on what type of house you will be building for them ?
Cheers,
Rob..
Rob Bob
Well, I'm not going to be able to keep to many chickens because I'm in a residential area, so I figure the housing is going to be about one cubic meter, probably insulated against the cold winters in the Netherlands. I'm going to raise it from the ground so I can store some supplies underneath. I really would like my chickens to be able to roam freely in my garden, but I'm told that they will obliterate the veggies in my raised beds, so I guess I'll have to make a nice large run for them. Not sure what breed I'm going to get though. Probably Barnevelders since they seem to be good egg producers. I got a huge composting scheme going on (kind of a hobby that got out of control) including the worms, so they'll be able to feast on those every once in a while, including all the garden and kitchen scraps. Gonna make these the most happy chickens in Holland. =)
Thanks for the reply man. You're one of the few TH-cam gardeners who actually reply a lot to your viewers. That's much appreciated. I should have subbed a long time ago and now I will. =)
I LOVE this post! So nice to just hang out with someone so very nice.
+webbsway
Hi there & thanks.
Have a great one.
Rob.
Sounds like you have the best fed chickens. It is nice to see the extra care for them. Gives them something to do in there yard when they can get there own food fresh of the vine. The watering system Is great. Keeps it clean and fresh. Thanks for sharing. Have a good one.
Don't think we would have a garden without them now Doreen :) Great to chat to while working around the patch & make very short work of any excess greens we have ;)
Thanks & all the best,
Rob :)
I wish I could have some to eat some of the bugs..
Great looking build! I always wondered though with the beaks how they drink from a nipple, I thought that was for things that could form a suction. It is great that I learn something new each and every day! Hope to get my own chickens sometime soon...
They are great to keep Luke & everyone has their own unique personality we've found..
Also great composters as well ;)
Cheers,
Rob.
RobBob! Thanks for sharing this idea. We have a lot of chickens and I upscaled to a large 55 gallons or 208 liters that hold over three full bags of feed. The feed lasts much longer since they're no longer scratching feed all over the round. What a great idea!
Kevin Wright Nice one Kevin. Have seen a few of the larger bin type feeders for larger flocks. Takes our 3 girls nearly a month to finish off a bag here.
Cheers mate.
Wow, very nice water setup!!! Your chickens look beautiful and happy!
Was really easy to set up Brandon & the best thing is it could be expanded to include a few more watering stations if need be..
Cheers Brandon & have a great one,
Rob.
thanks for the Update Rob, The chickens are always an entertainment here too!
Glad you liked it David :)
Cheers sir..
very helpful! i like the large container for the food it's clean and no spills. I'm going to try both the bin feeder and the water nipples. Thanks alot for showing us!
Diane Vega Hope the builds went well Diane.
Cheers.
Hi Rob, inspired by your videos on the chicken nipple waterer, we did the same in our chicken house, and wow, what an incredible saving of time and energy. Now we will fill the feeder and the water tank once a week, instead of twice a day!! Although, it's not actually a discovery, we are so happy with it, we made a video on it with a link to your video. Chicken house water nipple system
Thanks and take care.
Hi again Catalina :-)
Your system looks great.. They do make life a whole lot easier & keep the water much cleaner for the birds..
Have a great one,
Rob :-)
Hi Rob. I love the bulk chicken feeder idea with the awning! When I was still on a farm I tried the chicken nipple idea - unfortunately with poor results (leaks everywhere). I thought I'd have a look at this and the prior one to see what went amiss with my setup. I'm in an apartment now, but using the time as I try to rebuild finances to do some research for the day when I hopefully have my own space with a yard for birds.
I'm also checking out apartment-sized food setups, so I appreciate all your videos on aquaponics setups, etc. too. Thanks for sharing them.
Hi Michelle. Hope you get some space to have some Chooks again soon. Hoping to have a pen set up here again very soon. :)
There are a few different waterers around so it may be just a case of playing with a few to see what works bet in your situation.
Cheers & all the best.
Nice setup, Rob. the poultry looks happy.
I think they have it fairly good here Jay..
Cheers sir & have a great one,
RB
Cool idea with the tank and float valve.
Sorted a problem for me.
Thanks for sharing.
+tiredsean
Glad it helped you out some.
Have a great one.
Rob.
-Neat arrangement Rob, looks neat and efficient, thanks for posting, have a good one,
Frank
Makes life easier having it all hooked up Frank into one tank..
Cheers mate,
Rob..
The bracket isn't dodgy it's brilliant!
Does the job & due to the comments people have made about it I think it will stay ;)
Cheers mate & have a great one :)
Rob.
Just found your videos on the waterers - I picked up the nipples from Ebay months ago, and a couple of food safe barrels. I don't know why I haven't pulled the trigger on getting them made - warm weather is right around the corner (I'm in central Texas), so I need to hop to it! Thanks for the great info: I love your set up, and what sweet girls you have!
Hi there :)
I think they are the best way we've found to keep water up to the girls.. No mess or fuss.. Have had a few issues with algae build up in the barrel the nipples are fed from but nothing a good clean & some apple cider vinegar can't fix ;)
Thanks & hope the clips give you a few ideas..
All the best to you & yours,
Rob..
Nice visit with the chooks! Hopefully, the humans get to share some of the mangoes with the bats, possums, fruit flies, and chooks. Cheers!
:D Have a few dozen off in trays ripening up Patrick so will more than our fair share methinks ;)
Cheers sir & hope things are warming up :)
Rob.
It looks great Rob. It gives me some good ideas for when I put my water nipples into action. As luck would have it I have a convinient water barrel that catches water off the chicken coop so that should do nicely as a top up tank :)
Sounds like your half way there John :) Would work well with your set up as you could run the pipe from pen to pen..
Cheers sir & have a great one..
You and your vids are really awesome !
Thank you for sharing your tricks.
Thanks & no problem.. As long as they give folks some ideas to try or modify I'll be happy :-)
Cheers & all the best,
Rob..
Hi Rob, Very well done Thanks.
Cheers Barry..
Hope all's well with you & ours mate,
Rob..
Chookies looking good there Rob Bob yeah been warm here too last few and in for a stinker of a week in the 40C+
Friends said they had a hot one in the 40's over in Perth today with at least one more expected :/
Cheers & stay cool sir,
Rob..
Nice one, has solved my problem, and going to go the whole chook & automate it too! Cheers!
Thanks for the look into your chook pen. Do like the water drippers.
They make life a lot easier for the chooks & the daughters Brett ;)
Cheers mate & have a good one..
Love your enthusiasm! Lucky chickens for sure. :)
+flwolf2000
Thanks Flwolf. I think we're the lucky ones ;-)
Cheers & all the best.
hey buddy I was wondering if you can grow other things for chicken to maybe help keep food price down and put more in the diet and would it make the eggs taste better thank you and like watching your videos
Your fence bracket: dodgy maybe, but engineers call it 'elegant', that is simple, cheap, and gets the job done
Thanks & your right, It works well & will last.. Might just keep it now ;)
Cheers & have a great one..
Rob..
Your videos are awesome!!!!!!!!! I'm going to use a few of your methods for my urban homestead. thanks :)
+EYE SNAPZ
Hi there & thanks.
Hope they give you a few ideas you can use yourself.
Cheers & all the best,
Rob.
This world is full of mysteries. I wonder why there are some who disliked this video. For what reason?
+supermarkbriggs
Who knows. I don't worry as I get loads of folks telling me the clips have helped give them pointers on their own builds 👍
Cheers Super Mark & have a great one mate.
I love the set up you have for your chickens! They get so much love and they look beautiful! I do have to say I am batting the idea of an aquaponics system here in Canada :) it would pose some though challenges with the harsh winter and all :) but that should not stop me :)
Have you seen frozenfowler's system up in Alaska ? Might pay you to pop on by & check out a few of his clips.. th-cam.com/users/frozenfowler
He might be able to help you out with some cold weather aquaponic ideas :)
Cheers Stephen & have a great one,
Rob..
***** All gardener dream of having a chicken or two on their garden because they provide fresh fertilizer.
Rob Bob thank you for the link ! I look forward to checking it out!
A L TAN you are right and eggs! :)
I've just been through a nightmarish episode with a neighbor who has chickens. Her poor birds were neglected and mistreated and watching your ladies has been so therapeutic. I feel like I may want to dip my toes into backyard chickens at some point. In the future. Thanks for the videos of your healthy, happy, active and bright girls.
My great great grandmother used to roast the egg shells and add that back to their feed. She was born in southern Germany in the 1880s. Thought you may find it interesting how far back that bit of chicken care went back.
As a complete aside - your fruit flies are downright TERRIFYING.
Hi there :)
Just spent the morning washing out, modifying & moving the water barrel for the feeder :) Cleaned the lines with some white vinegar as well while I was at it..
The girls don't look that fantastic at the moment, they have decided to have a moult & look very un kept at the moment.. The new feathers are starting to come in again so they should be good for winter now :)
Is funny how the old tricks are being "rediscovered" again ;) I chuckle quite often when I see old bits of wisdom being used in social media as if it was just discovered by the poster ;)
:D We can almost see the capsicums & tomatoes shake when the fruit flies land on them ;)
Cheers & have a great one,
Rob..
this turn out really good.. good job
Thanks Ms Tokies :) The girls appear to really like the feeder & am pleased that all the water they are getting is fresh & clean :)
Cheers & all the best,
Rob..
Personally, I think your homemade mount is quite ingenious. Well done Rob Bob. Hope your chickens *get to* suffer from that mango disease for a while. ;-)
I have been thinking about using a waterer like that on my meat chickens pins. Only I want to use a 5 gallon bucket to store my water in. Nice set up.
:O Got down there & took another dozen or so off the other day Jared.. Don't mind sharing the kale & other greens but there are only so many mangoes I'm willing to part with ;)
All the best to you & yours Mate,
Rob..
The French Family Farm
Buckets work great with the nipple & cup feeder from what I've seen.. They are a lot cheaper easier to build as well ;)
Cheers & have a great one,
Rob :)
Rob Bob Well, I guess I just figured you put the chicken pen around the mango tree, so whose fault is it ;-) Our best wishes for you and yours as well.
J&J Acres
:/ Ummmmmm, Wellllll...... :/
Didn't think of it like that until now sir ;)
:D
I made a nipple watering system & it works great thank's for the info. How do you worm your chooks?
Neil Ainsworth Hey Neil.
We haven't wormed these birds at all since they were chicks. Have never seen any evidence of worms in their droppings so don't see the point. Have added a bit of diatomaceous earth to their feed but that's more for looking after weevils but have read that some people think it helps with worms as well. Not sure how true that is as I've seen a few natural health people question it's effectiveness for that purpose.
Not sure if that helps any mate.
Cheers.
after watching this again I believe I will get a large tub for rain collection and fix up a water like this. I just wonder how could I rig up a floatation device for if the rain water ran out it would fill from the rural water supply? thnx for sharing again :)
You could install a float valve near the base of the tank/tub so if the water drops to a certain level the water supply will kick in.. That way there would always be a little bit of water in there to supply the drippers..
Hope that helps some..
Rob..
Got to like the water system saves lots of work. Dave;-)
Does make life a lot easier on the youngest that's for sure Dave ;)
All the best sir..
Rob.
That really is a nice system. I don't know what I'd do without zip ties, either.
They are holding up half the hoop house & aquaponics here Paula :D
Thanks & have a great one..
Awesome, thanks Rob it does! Appreciate it :-)
Looking good. I've been thinking about getting a few chickens.
They are great workes to have Rob, eat the veggie scraps, have great personalities & give us eggs & fertiliser.. Can't complain about that I think..
Cheers sir & hope you get a chance to keep some soon..
Rob.
Rob Bob I took care of my brother's chickens for a few weeks while he was moving. I left them in my garden (when it was done) and they did a great job picking out bugs. I let them turn the compost pile and the entire thing was gone in a week. It was awesome.
Bigelow Brook Farm (Web4Deb)
Don't dare let them out here by them selves... Our youngest plays shepherd & keeps them out of the veggie beds :D ;)
should have saved that illness for April first ;) lol the set up looks good, I like the idea of the tomato's growing up and over the area for shade on hot days for the birds :) thanks for sharing. oh it was nice for that one to demonstrate that the outdoor water works :) lol
:D They can be very helpful when they want to be ;)
I was hoping that they would get a taste for the sweet potatoes like I have seen other chooks.. Am looking at ways to trick them into eating it ;) Not only would it make the feed bill a bit cheaper but I think it would be better for them than grain..
Cheers & all the best,
Rob..
Rob Bob My chicks eat sweet potatoes. I discovered they liked them when I gave them the left overs after dinner. I can't say they like them raw though. I just microwave them and cut them open and serve.
Great video! Thanks!
Sammy Sutton Cheers Sammy.
That's a nice update Rob Bob! I'm sorry I'm so behind at watching videos...gurr! :-) I really like how your have your nipples let up with the bucket/float system Great idea. I'd love to find some buckets around here like that....it just seems that I never see them for sale or anywhere on CraigsList here. I'll keep looking! ha Good video.
Do you have recycling centres at all Wayne ? I know some folks that approach factories or stores directly to see what they have as well.. That drum held kosher cheese bacteria & we got it from a place that collects industrial waste & sells it on to save it going into land fill..
I have an inbox with about 120 clips to watch so your not the only one :/..
Cheers sir,
Rob..
Yes, I've been trying to find a factory that has these but so far, no luck where I live. Ok, now I feel better! ;-)
I realize this is an old video, but that's a nice set-up.
Thanks Doyle. I need to set up another one now we have a few chook here on the farm. 👍 I might try a few different feeder ends to see which ones the different birds prefer.
Have a top one.
Any idea where someone might find the barrel you used for the chicken water system? I'm in Florida and all the barrels just have a threaded bung instead of a lid that is removable. I also like that it is UV stable as we get lots of sun here. Thanks for the videos, very helpful
Hey there.. Have you tried recycling stations or centres? We picked these up at a recycling centre.. Food manufactures might be a good place to contact as well..
Hope that helps some..
Rob...you gotta get the crocodile dundee hat man! Roo leather and croc teeth band!
:D Leather makes me itch :/
Cheers & have a great one,
Rob :)
I haven't heard of using apple cider vinegar with chickens, co could you explain the purpose. I like your videos as they are simple to make, but solve issues in a different way.
Hey Paul. Sorry I missed your post.
AC vinegar with the mother still present in the bottle is said to be a general purpose tonic as it helps to promote good digestion. I have heard others make different claims but that's the main reason I'd be using it.
Sorry again for missing your post. I get a few that slip through the cracks from time to time.
Cheers.
Very nice !! Like the set up ;)
Thanks.. The girls haven't complained yet so they must be happy ;)
Cheers & all the best,
Rob..
Awesome :) Have to figure out how to do a small version for our chook shed. What do you feed them cider vinegar for? Do you have to clean the water out after a couple of days after giving it to them or will it just evaporate if it isn't ingested? Thanks for the info!
We add the vinegar as a general tonic as ACV is full of minerals Melanie.. Others make claims about the medicinal value of it but I don't know of any comprehensive study that has proved these claims.. I figure the minerals in it are a good enough reason to add it & if the other benefits turn out to be true then that's a bonus as well ;) I have only added it into this barrel once so far as it has only been set up for 2 or so weeks.. Will probably dose the barrel every month or so I think..
With the drum we were adding it every second or third time we filled it up.. We were doing it every filling for a while but got slack :/
Hope that helps some :)
Rob..
Thanks heaps rob! If you don't mind me asking, what ratio of ACV to water?
Melanie Warren In this system I would probably add about a cup once a month.. With the 20L drum we were adding 100-150ml at a time but not on every refilling..
Hope that helps :)
Another great vid - thanks.....!
Glad you like it..
Cheers Joe..
Rob.
Hi Rob. Just wondering if the apple Cider vinegar affects the metal bits in the nipple drippers? What quantity do you put in?
I haven't noticed any problems with it yet Valerie.. The metal is all stainless steel so should hold up fairly well.. I will be adding the ACV in at a rate of 1 cup per month into that 50L/13gal (US) drum.. I don't add in as much as others.. Am adding it for its nutritional value as it is rich in minerals..
Hope that helps some & have a good one..
Rob..
I love it I am currently making one now :D cheers got this idea
Hope the build goes well..
Cheers :)
Rob..
It went absolutely brilliantly thx for the video mate ;) Love them!
Hey Rob. This is a really good idea. I am considering replacing my chicken water setup. I realize you no longer have chickens, but, if I may ask... How did this setup work? Were the chickens happy with it?
Have a great day. Again, I think your videos are tops.
+Jerry Poeschel
Hi Jerry.
The system worked great & I have part of it set aside to go into the pen when it gets rebuilt 👍
Thnaks mate & all the best.
Rob.
That is one mother of a mango tree!!
What's the circumference?? It looks fat as!!
Chooks are looking good, did you find the Australorp's a bit aggressive at 1st?
I have heard people can have trouble introducing them to other established chickens.
Stay cool.......
The canopy is about 4-5M in diameter Andrew & only about 2/3rd the size it was before getting a huge pruning a few years ago..
These are a New Hampshire cross & they were fairly meek when they first turned up.. One of them is in a constant power play with Greedy but luckily it isn't a viscous one... Mainly see it when food is added to the pen & they both try to stand over the top of it ;)
Cheers sir & think you need to stay cooler than us ;)
Rob.
Good deal
Cheers :)
Have a great one,
Rob..
great idea thnx for sharing
Hope it gives you a few ideas,
Cheers :)
hi Rob good show if u use garlic husks in the layer box the chickens dong get bugs on them
Kathy Hirsch Thanks for the tip Kathy. Will try & remember to save them up for the nesting box.
Cheers.
Your girls are pretty lucky if you ask me :)
B said they eat better than us some days :/
Still, they deserve it for all the work they put in for us methinks :)
Cheers Elyse & hope you managed to keep warm during the big freeze..
All the best for 2014 too :)
Rob..
How long do you keep the birds before they go in the stew pot?
The oldest ones (ISA Browns) here are coming onto 5 years old & still laying so not yet ;) The browns were raised as pets by the girls so think they will just end up being fertiliser in the end.. If we were allowed to we would have meat chooks here but due to zoning laws we can't :(
Cheers..
What is a meat chook?
acoow
Sorry... Chook is slang for chicken here.. Meat chicken or bird :)
Rob Bob
You can't raise your own chickens for meat? That is stupid. Which of your neighbors is being protected by you eating your chickens because they stopped laying instead of eating them because they are full grown?
acoow We can eat them but have a local council imposed cap on how many chickens we can have at one time on residential blocks.. Our block is just under being able to have a decent number unfortunately..
The egg layers are more productive protein wise than meat birds..
Cheers :)
how about crushed seashells for calcium?
There is shell grit in the feed we buy as well as in the grit feeder that hangs next to the grain feeder so they have a fair bit in their diet.. I have read that egg shells are digested & assimilated much better than any form of calcium.. Even one of the best forms of calcium for us as well according to something my father read me the other day..
Cheers & have a great one..
Rob..
I don't know if you have seen a product called (No-Peck). That is what it is called over here in the states. It works on the chickens skin when they have a bald spot. The other chickens will peck a blood spot or a quill sprout terribly. It is non toxic and just is so bitter they will not even peck at all. I had a rooster that was tireless. He just could not take a hint from the hens. I put that stuff on the back of there necks and he could not grab hold with out getting a good dose. I don't see a rooster but maybe she is running to get away and has the sitting syndrome. They run funny and are a bit slow and look all bound up. Her running looks a little funny. I am glad to see she has started to lay because she should be getting back to normal. I miss my chickens! Best Of Luck From South Florida.
Thanks for the information..
They were definitely after a grub & not chasing to have a go at her & I think it was half a grasshopper ;) When she was crook they let her be & didn't have a go at her which is good..
Have had that happen with other chooks years ago & had to segregate the girl in question until the feathers came back in.. The others in that flock were really aggressive unlike these girls :)
Thanks again for that & have a great one,
Rob..
hello,, I introduce Erwin from Indonesia. I really like to see your videos on you tube,, and everything was interesting to me. let me learn on my practice at home and if you do not mind, I beg guidelines. thank you...
+Erwin Syahputra
Hi Erwin.
I hope the clips help give you a few useful ideas.
Have a great week mate.
Mango face disease, Good One, LOL
:D It's a fairly common disease here in summer ;)
Have a great one Susan..
Rob.
Do you find the girls attrract snakes?
Hi Andy..
We have seen 2 eastern browns in the pen a few years ago but they keep to themselves & don't bother the chooks.. Really want to keep the rodents under control so as to not to attract to many into the yard.. Have seen a few small green tree snake & a carpet python though :)
Cheers sir :)
Rob Bob Thanks Rob. I know that sounded a bit random, but I get a few because I'm near a creek. I'd hate to be paying for expensive snake tucker. LOL.
I love your vids. Watched your original video on the waterer and ordered a ten pack of nipples from China. Got them yesterday and put together a watering system for the youngsters in brooding box. They really went to town! I was getting sick and tired of changing out their water three times a day because they would constantly walk around the waterer and poop in it. What a mess it was. Here is a short video of our Chicks and the new nipples. I used a 11/32 drill bit. The nipples threads are 10mm x 1.0. I used a Sterlite Box with lid. th-cam.com/video/cbL9VTtp72E/w-d-xo.html
Nice build Bill.. Chicks look like they took to it fast enough..
Will you be making up another one for the big pen ?
Cheers
Where do you live
Hey Kenny..
We live at Ipswich in SE Queensland Australia.. Where are you from ?
Cheers ,
Rob..
Big mango tree
Is a great tree.. Picked the second round of fruit the other day..
Cheers & have a great one..
Rob..
Село
Subtitel indonesia sir,, pleace..
I also suffer from mango face.
:D We have been as well the past few days ;)
Cheers,
Rob..
you should salt cure some egg yolks
Hey Justin, Never tried cured eggs..
If we very accumulate an excess I want to give pickled eggs a shot.. Am off to look up salt cured eggs now.
Cheers,
Rob..
Rob Bob it's pretty cool I just finished mine the other day, they were hanging in the back of the fridge for a few months...
Can you pm me your mailing address? I would like to send you a couple of my sourdough starters. Would love to get reaction from someone down under. One is from Alaska and the other from Utah. If you have never had sourdough bread you are in for a real treat.
Hi there Bill.. I made sour dough for about a year here until the flies decided to "blow" our starter & ruin it :( Never started it back up but know I should..
Would love to be able to try some but know that customs would confiscate them :/ We have very tight bio security laws here unfortunately..
Thanks very much for the kind offer,
Rob..
Ah shucks. Too bad. My new watering system for the chickens is going to be quite a contraption. Soon as the new coop is finished I'll post a video.