Bobs do like a natural hide-out!

[_Randall_]

Quote:
12' long x 63" deep x 36" tall (60 sq. ft). I have 48 Bobs in there.

 

[_Randall_]

Update: I went ramblin' through the cabinets in the kitchen island, and found a Tupperware? or Rubbermaid? bottom of a cake-carrying container, and put it under the feeder to catch the waste feed. I may get hanged if it's missed

............ but, it has a new duty now. Mounted it last night, and checked this morning a little after daylight, and saw there was a fair amount of feed in it............Checked tonight when I got home, and saw it was fairly free of feed.....and no poop. So, may save a penny or 3 by doing this.

I'll post a pic in a day or two........if I can get home before dark

 

[SamG347]

Hey Randall I love the setup man! I have found between bobs, chukar, and pheasants....all LOVE having any type of cover to get in or around. Are those regular Northern bobs or jumbos? And will you be selling eggs come spring?
Thanks!

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Thanks, Mr. Sam........I'd guess about 30 - 35 or so of them are Northerns, and the rest are Wisconsin Jumbos. Yes, they love to get all up in the thickest part of it they can find. Not necessarily on the bottom either......they like to crawl / fly up in the branches to perch in the daytime, too. Really, I don't think I'll be equipped to sell eggs for a while. Matter of fact, I'm probably gonna be buying some "Jumbo Bob" eggs from somebody on this forum come March or so. I want to get set up where I can keep 150 or so on hand all time, and still have enough to keep the freezer stocked for my household, as well as other close family members. (I've got some pens to build this winter!!

). I've done got the addiction so bad and love foolin' with them so much, heck I don't know if I'll be able to process them for the freezer or not!! Naw......I can do it. Them suckas taste too good to hang on to.

 

[SamG347]

Yes they are DELICIOUS!!! You wouldn't happen to be getting eggs from Charlie would you? He has some BIG birds I plan to snatch up as many of his eggs I can this spring.

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Don't really know who I'll be gettin' eggs from. I'm still trying to learn who's who on here. Bunch of quail-lovin' folks.......I know that.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Randall, I know everyone else said it but that feeder is SWEET! I think I like that enough to incorporate into my design

 

[PatS]

Do Jumbo Bobs taste very different than Jumbo Coturnix?

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Speaking on behalf of me, (and maybe a few others here

) ......... The luscious white meat of the Bobwhite puts any Coturnix to shame, when it comes to taste.

(OK, Coturnix lovers..........Sorry

)

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Thanks. Yeah, I kinda like my feeder, too

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

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43975_quail_pen_5.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43975_quail_pen_6.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43975_quail_pen_11.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43975_qual_pen_8.jpg

OK, I think I've found THE solution for what little feed waste I had with the feeder. I removed the jar connector ring from the feeder, and trimmed the opening so that the small end of a 1-1/2" x 2" PVC reducer would fit off down in there to where the taper part of the reducer is just setting on the top of the feeder. (Then connect the 2" part of this reducer to the existing 2" x 3" reducer with a short piece of 2" PVC pipe).

This fitting is now recessed down low enough to where the feed won't completely fill the feeder up where it almost comes out the feeder holes as you see in the pic below.........but yet lets just enough out to where those big jug-headed Jumbos get their big noggins in there and get the feed............and not able to rake it out. I've had this for over a week now, and waste per feeder refill is about .000000001%

Here's the ring I was talking about......I'll take a close up pic of the finished project and post in a day or two. It's the Cat's Meow