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Bobs do like a natural hide-out!

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_Randall_

_Randall_

Songster
10 Years
Nov 3, 2009
1,085
14
151
Grenada, Ms
I crammed a bunch of pine limbs in one end of the pen, and they love it! I found that if there's one that's getting harrassed and pecked, this gives them a place to go "rehab". Had a couple that had lost lots of neck and back feathers from pecking.......and most minus their tail feathers, and they have since all feathered back out and look good. They love to weave up into the thickest part of the pile, as well as love to fly up into the limbs to roost. Thought I'd share.......

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Thanks. Yeah, I kinda like my feeder, too
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I got tired of reaching in every day and grabbing the poop-covered metal slide-top chick feeders (the ones with the 22 ob-round slots), and filling them. Was at the feed store at lunch a couple of weeks ago, and picked up the little fruit jar chick feeder ($3.49), and was wondering what PVC fitting would come close to fitting where the jar screws on. Got it home, and had a 3" to 2" reducer fitting that fit right down inside the neck (once I got rid of the little ridges inside the neck that the threads on the fruit jar catch on to). These can be ground out with a Dremel tool, or mashed flat with pliers. I just drilled through the neck 4 places big enough for a small sheet metal screw to go through, seated the reducer fitting in the neck, and drilled some tiny pilot holes in the PVC so the screws would go on in nicely. Went and got a 4" to 3" reducer from the hardware store, and stuck in the 2" x 3" reducer, and ran it on up with 4" thin wall (sewer and drain) PVC. Already had that on hand, too. I also bored two 3/4" holes in it at different heights for "sight windows" so I could watch the feed level. Covered these up with some heavy clear vinyl and Super Glue. Put a thin-wall "Y" on top so it's easy for my scoop when filling. Cap the "Y" in both places to keep dampness and critters out. Nothing got glued together.........PVC stuff fits snugly enough without gluing. I did pop-rivet a thin piece of sheet metal strip to the bottom of the little feeder that would be long enough to extend out where I could put a screw at each end of it so it would be anchored, and wouldn't move.

I love it. Only have to fill once a week now. The stack is about 46" from the feeder bottom to the top of the "Y", and holds 1/2 of a 5-gallon bucket of feed......(ever how many lbs. that is?) And the best part.......The way it's designed, the birds have just enough room to walk up and eat, yet can't get up on top to have a poopin' contest
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That is soo cooolll... I am designing my Jumbo cage for next year and I will be using alot of your ideas.. Love the whole setup...
 
Yes...pine boughs will make a great addition to the quail tractor I am working on. The feeder idea is cool too. I only have 4 now so the mason jar is working, but with more, not having to fill it all the time would be nice. The only thing different I would do is add a spill-over tray under the feeder. I have a white jumbo that LOVES to scatter feed out of the feeder and watch it spill through the wire. I have a plastic tray under the mason jar set up and I have reduced the waste considerably. Snowball is a spazz...even for a quail!
 
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Well, I kinda considered that after about the 4th day, because I did see a little bit on the ground, but in a week's time, it's nothing considerable, seeings that I don't have to fool with feeding them daily. I figured that any tray or "crumb catcher" under there would just be just another poop-collector.........and there ya go........just something else to have to fool with
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So far, they haven't managed to poop in the feeder. I think not being able to jump on top of it kinda deters the thought...heck, I don't know
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Soooo, I may do something later on, but gonna watch the waste issue for a while and see. Again, it's not that significant for 48 birds.
 

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