Recent content by ChickenFatHead

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    Homemade Feeders/Waterer

    I've had pretty good success with the above design. Someone mentioned to watch out for rats trying to eat through the lid and I'm keeping a close eye out. I may lace the lid with cayenne pepper as a deterrent if necessary. This will hold a 40lbs bag of feed and is accessible from outside the...
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    Review by 'ChickenFatHead' in article 'A basic Q&A Turkey Primer'

    Thank you for supplying such a great article on Turkey basics. Turkeys won't work for me and I know this now because of your article!
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    Chicken run heatsink

    Thanks for the input. I was just curious if it would work. I live in Southern California and the heat is just getting started. I'll remember the electrolytes.
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    Chicken run heatsink

    My run is shaded
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    Chicken run heatsink

    I was thinking, would it make sense to stick a large metal finned structure underground attached to a metal pole that is then attached to a large metal plate above ground? The metal fins underground would contact the cooler soil and conduct heat away from a chicken sitting on it. Basically a...
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    Chickens roosting apart

    From what I've read, chickens typically roost together. However, my chickens seem to roost apart all of the time. This was typical behavior for my first batch of 3 chickens then when I added 4 more a year later the younger group started by roosting together but now they are scattered all over...
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    Californians **Beware!!! Newcastle Outbreak**

    A good practice is to have different shoes when interacting with livestock to prevent spreading disease.
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    Californians **Beware!!! Newcastle Outbreak**

    If they visit another poultry owner that has VND, yes they can. They can step on dried feces and carry it on their shoes when they visit you.
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    Feed and water in pen/coop

    I'll consider maybe changing the exterior door to a metal one if I start seeing nibbles. Thank you for the advice and constructive criticism
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    Feed and water in pen/coop

    Well, it's pricier with the wood box but it definitely saves space. I kept thinking it was silly to not have a feeder that fit the whole bag of feed and built the box based on the volume of a full bag. Then I thought it would be nice to have it against the wall and be able to be fill it without...
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    Mealworms in the feed

    Thanks for your input. I didn't realize that mealworms had a high fat content. I was thinking they wouldn't overrun the feed but you make a good point about them digging through the feed just to get at the worms; my feeder is pretty resistant to that habit though. I have had problems with...
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    Feed and water in pen/coop

    I recently built a feeder into the wall of the pen. Minimal food loss and easy to refill from outside the pen. As for the waterer, drinking nipples on a PVC pipe attached to hose and a 5 gallon bucket with lid outside of the coop. Easy to fill with a hose.
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    Mealworms in the feed

    If mealworms are a good addition to chicken diet for protein, would it work if live mealworms were grown in the feed bin? Or would that alter the composition of the feed enough that it will no longer be a balanced diet? Also, maintaining moisture for the mealworms is typically done by putting...
  14. Space-Saving Feeder

    Space-Saving Feeder

    Inspired by the popular PVC bucket feeder. I built the feeder into a box that was then secured to the supporting studs of the run. It can hold a 45lb. bag of feed and, as the original design, is fairly resistant to chickens that like to pick the feed out first (I had a problem with one...
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    Comment by 'ChickenFatHead' in media 'Space-saving Feeder'

    @BReeder! Will shoot one when I get a chance. Stay tuned.
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