Chicken update

Chickens are due to arrive tomorrow.

So, time to test the watering system.

I'm very glad I did, because it failed. The little water cups worked perfectly but the glue holding the bottom end cap on wasn't strong enough to support the weight of water. Off came the end and gone was the water.

We could have found a stronger way to fix the bottom on, but a fix is also a chance for an upgrade. It now has at least 3 times the water holding capacity, and two cups, so less chance of bullying. 

It's made of two sections of larger diameter pipe, with two 90 degree turns making a u-bend at the bottom. The cups were inserted by drilling holes at the corner, so that they were as low as possible, but still on a vertical section of pipe. The cable ties and shaped block of wood stop the pipes twisting or becoming non-vertical. The top cable tie also forms the method of attachment - it drops into a small hook on the back wall (just visible at the top). This hook is not designed to take any weight, only to stop tipping over - the bottom sits on the floor of the cage.

And here are the cups with water added.

The tongues are float values. They cut the supply once the cups are 2/3 full. Perfect.

Let's hope the chickens approve.

Is this future chicken food?

I found this frogspawn in a puddle on a track and felt it would do better in our small artifical pond. But am I just growing small mobile chicken snacks?