Recent content by John Smallberries

  1. J

    Rat Proof Feeder Recommendation?

    Here is how I adapted mine. I used 3/8” PVC sheet material sold at my local Home Depot. Fully waterproof and rigid enough for the ducks.
  2. J

    Coop Cam Recommendation

    I also use the Ring Video Doorbell. My coop is within the range of my home wifi. I have one inside the coop to check that all the girls are in for the night. I have a second in the run to keep an eye on our ducks. The Ring II doorbell will run for several weeks on a charge, so I didn't even...
  3. J

    My Grand Chicken Coop

    Wow. !!! Fantastic coop!
  4. J

    Chicken Coop Automation using Arduino

    Great stuff!!! The idea of setting up a total coop control board has been in the back of my mind. I've been doing it piecemeal so far. I use a Honeywell light timer to and a pair of 110-volt LED's as "artificial sun" to convert my Run Chicken light-sensor doors to open/close at sunrise/sunset...
  5. J

    Run Chicken Model T40, Automatic Chicken Coop Door

    BTW: the Run Chicken door has a 110-volt power supply.
  6. J

    Run Chicken Model T40, Automatic Chicken Coop Door

    Hi - I have had three Run Chicken doors and just ordered another brand. The door first started acting up when it would not close fully. I have had it running in my coop for about 4 months. I carefully cleaned out the slides on either side to ensure the door slides smoothly. (The narrow...
  7. J

    Omlet Coop Door

    I have just had my second "Run Chicken" door fail. So don't look to that one as bulletproof.
  8. J

    Trouble with Winter Water Set Up

    here is my rain barrel setup that feeds the PVC pipe with the poultry nipples. I had hoped that the roof would collect enough water to keep the barrel full - it did not. Yesterday, I rerouted my duck pond water pipe (on a timer and air blowout system) into the barrel. I plumbed in a 2-1/2”...
  9. J

    Rat Proof Feeder Recommendation?

    I bought two of these https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/smartstep-treadle-chicken-feeders?cat_id=143 I also added extensions on the treadles to allow my ducks to use them as well.
  10. J

    Trouble with Winter Water Set Up

    Here is my approach. I have a length of rain gutter de-icing heater cable running through the full length of the PVC pipe and also inside the barrel that feeds it. So far - no nipple icing. BUT - this is my first year with chickens in SE Michigan and we haven't had a long, deep freeze yet...
  11. J

    First coop build in Michigan - I should have done this years ago. Pics..

    BTW: my netting has been working great. The chickens stay IN THE YARD and away from the dogs. I'm getting my system dialed in... Next up: when will the chickens start to lay?? It should be soon. I am very curious to see if they will use my fancy roll-away nesting box. I did a bit of...
  12. J

    First coop build in Michigan - I should have done this years ago. Pics..

    Now to fix the water. I had a long 2-1/2" PVC pipe that I had used as an overflow for the first iteration duck pond. It is just long enough to stretch from the water barrel to the new duck pond. So - I cut an overflow hole at the top of the barrel and stuck in the drain pipe. I sealed it off...
  13. J

    First coop build in Michigan - I should have done this years ago. Pics..

    My automatic watering system has given mixed results. My wifi sprinkler timer system is working well to send fresh water to the duck pond every morning, then blow out the line. That part is great. I also have a small heater in the pond. We haven't had a long stretch of very cold weather...
  14. J

    First coop build in Michigan - I should have done this years ago. Pics..

    Updates on my Coop - ALL GOOD NEWS this time. First up: we have our first eggs! Our brown duck, "Jemima", started laying a few days ago. We now have four nice white eggs. She is still trying to figure out where to lay. One was in the back of the "duck box" inside the run, one was on the...
  15. J

    First coop build in Michigan - I should have done this years ago. Pics..

    Well .... I knew having my chickens escaping and wandering around was risky. I had planned to spend my day after Thanksgiving extending my chicken wire yard fence up to 10 feet with bird/deer netting. Too late. My birds liked my camo lean-to, but they like the neighbors pine tree stand...
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