cielo-building-projects

Small Pallet Chicken Tractor

I like it for several reasons.

1) It was free! I used free pallets and materials I had already on hand.

2) It's sturdy. This thing is bomb proof!

3) It's safe.

(Mine isn't predator proof as I used chicken wire and staples however it could easily be made so with hardware wire. I plan to make it longer and will predator proof it at that time.)

4) It was easy to build and very quick.

5) I like that the slats provide safety, and shade.

6) I think it looks rustic and cool.

"Aquello de la gallina y el huevo" is Spanish for "It's a chicken and egg situation". A colloquialism that is equivalent to English's "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" 

I like using pallets to build as they are sturdy, free and readily availible. I think of them as big wooden legos!

Bucket Bird Feeder

I love these feeders because I think they look better and cost a fraction of the ones you buy already made.

To make one is simple. You'll need:

• A plastic 5 gallon bucket
• A plastic 5 gallon bucket lid
• A plastic or galvanized 3 gallon/4-5 quart feed/oil pan* 
• 2 washers to fit bolt
• 1 bolt and nut
• A drill and 1"-1.5" bit
• Wrench to tighten bolt

I paid around $6 for the pan, $6 for bucket+lid & hardware $1.50. So for about $15 I you can have a durable attractive feeder.

*The oil/feed pan can be found at hardware, automotive part & feed stores. Call around to get a good price. One place I checked wanted to charge $12! Be careful of pans at feed stores as sometimes they can be deep but not wide enough. I like the pans I found that angle out so the top is a little wider than the bottom. You want to have >1" of pan surrounding the bucket.

Optional, purchase a large plastic funnel and attach inside to channel feed towards holes.

To Make:

1. Drill 4-8 holes around bottom of bucket as low as possible. Use larger bit for feeding pellets.
2. Drill hole in center of pan & center bottom of bucket.
3. Put a washer on the bolt & insert through bottom of pan into hole in bucket. 
4. Put washer on bolt end inside bucket & tighten nut.
5. You are done, I told you it was easy.