this post was submitted on 29 May 2024
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Backyard Chickens (and Other Birds)

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[Were you a mod of backyard chickens on Reddit? Message me if you're interested in modding here.]

This is a community for people who keep chickens in their back yard. This includes pets, layers, and meaties at levels that are sub-industrial. Family farms and homesteads are included.

EDIT

The Fediverse is small. There probably aren't enough people here to make up a community for every type of bird that someone might keep so for now, everyone is welcome. Bring us your ducks and geese, turkeys and quail, Guineas and Peacocks, emus and parrots. The community will be focused on chickens but until there are enough of each bird community for their own community they will find care and comfort here.

/EDIT

There may be discussions of animal processing. This is part of chicken keeping. If you don't like it leave and block the community.

You may also be interested in:

Homestead

Parrots

Cockatiel

RULES:

  1. All Lemmy.ca rules apply here.

  2. Everyone (see rules 4 and 98) is welcome.

  3. If you've seen a question 100 times answer it the 101st time or ignore it. Even better, write a complete, detailed answer and suggest that the mod(s) pin it to the community.

  4. There will be ZERO tolerance for shaming, brigading, harassment, or other nonsense of those who keep and process chickens. You will be permanently banned the first time.

  5. No, it's not a calcium deficiency. Wrinkled eggs are the result of insufficient or insufficiently viscous albumen. Tiny eggs and missing shells are misfires. They happen.

  6. If you post a picture that includes a dead animal or blood mark it NSFW. We're not going to tolerate the militant anti-hunting and anti-farming bullshit here but we're also not going to tolerate people rubbing their hunting and harvesting in people's faces. See rule 98. If you post blood, gore, or dead animals and don't mark it NSFW it will be removed and you might be banned.

[Did you actually think there were 98 rules?]

  1. If you present something as fact and are asked to provide proof or a source provide proof or a source. Proof must be from a reliable source. If you fail to provide proof or a source your post or comment may be removed.

  2. Don't be a dick. Yes, this is a catch-all rule.

  3. The mod(s) have the final say.

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Suggestions for improving my watering setup? (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 months ago by spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world to c/backyardchickens@lemmy.ca
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Current setup: We have four beautiful hens. We have a small (https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.ecwid.com/images/17432132/1357042818.jpg) metal container right now in our chicken run. It's set up on a small wooden platform that I built, and it sits on top of a water heater that turns on/off via a timer during the cold months (similar to this but different brand/model https://www.picclickimg.com/40EAAOSwewpmTaBO/Chicken-Water-Heater-Heated-Chicken-Waterer.webp). It works, but it's not a great solution.

Problems:

  • It is maybe 1.5 years old max, and it already starting to rust along the bottom where they drink from.
  • 3 gallons is ok, but we don't have running water out near the chicken run, and so we need to bring this back and forth to the house to fill it up. It's fine in warm months (can fill from the hose), but it sucks in the winter since I need to bring it inside and fill it in the tub in our basement.
  • Even 4-5 inches off the ground, they kick a lot of dirt, feathers, and probably chicken shit in here. I spray it out clean with each re-fill.
  • The heater barely works to thaw out the bottom so they can drink. It works, but often I find I still need to go out with some warm water to break up the ice a bit.

What I'd like:

  • Bigger container
  • Doesn't rust
  • Rain water collection?

I'm open to any suggestions on products or DIY projects to help improve this for our chickens. Below is a picture of our chicken run so y'all can see what I have to work with.

https://imgur.com/a/D0SmkYn

So, cool chicken-havers of Lemmy... Do you have any suggestions on how I can up my game here? Especially any recommendations on how I can do something to collect rainwater for this. Any guides that may have worked well for you. I'm open to any information.

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