CLOSED - NYD Hatch-along Contest #4: Most Ingenious Chicken Product Design

[Daloorashens]

I don't have pictures of the process but it's pretty easy to explain and understand, I think. So, here goes...



The structure which the blue one is under is his "Mama"

I took an empty apple cider container and put about an inch of water in it for weight, turned it on its side, wrapped a heating pad around it and put some fabric over that and safety-pinned it all in place. Then I just had to find something to put under it so it would be off the floor of their little box about an inch and a half. The heating pad is on low and it keeps them toasty warm underneath it and I don't have to have the light on 24/7. Pretty cool hu? I have some little snippets of grass from one of my fodder trays in there for them to pick at when they decide to try eating.

I have "s" hooks hooked though the safety pins at the top and hooked onto the edge of their box so that it cannot fall over.

 

[gabrielle1976]

You all have such good ideas .

 

[Designermomjs]

This is the "chicken Playpen" I made for a chick with lame legs. She has a water dish and food dish so she can eat and drink without having to hobble over to the other side of the brooder pen. She is up off her legs so that hopefully they can grow back into place where they need to be. It is padded and has a hemp rope across the back so she cannot fall out.

 

[cochins1088]

This is the "chicken Playpen" I made for a chick with lame legs. She has a water dish and food dish so she can eat and drink without having to hobble over to the other side of the brooder pen. She is up off her legs so that hopefully they can grow back into place where they need to be. It is padded and has a hemp rope across the back so she cannot fall out.

Awesome job! I tried to make 2 of these before. One for a chick with a dislocated achilles tendon that wouldn't stay in place, and one for a chick who hatched with only one leg. It didn't get it to work either time. They fussed around and never settled in but it looks like your is really content! Could you add a few details of how you made it? Thanks!

 

[Lothiriel]

Closed! I'll start a poll this afternoon and peeps can start voting!

 

[coophandyman]

Are we supposed to vote on the invention that is the most unique or the one most useful?

 

[TMNfarm]

I just happened to notice that my watering system is listed in the going section as lacy blue and not TMNfarm...

 

[Brechin]

Are we supposed to vote on the invention that is the most unique or the one most useful?

The contest is for the most ingenious product design. I imagine this means the most unique but still useful. Mostly it is your personal opinion.

 

[juststruttin]

This is a “REAL HANDY” brooder (My Portable Baby Pen) that my husband and I built out of a Christmas tree storage bin. After I hatch out chicks, I like to keep them in the house for a few weeks (you know, cause I like to play with them :-) and this allows me to house quite a few chicks with no fuss or mess. I set up the heat light at one end, which allows the chicks plenty of room to get under it or away from it. The high sides help to hold the heat in and it also prevents any shavings from being kicked out.

I also like that you can just open half of it, which makes it easy to keep chicks in when feeding, watering, and changing bedding. The pen is 51 inches long, 19 inches wide, and 11 inches tall from bottom of pen to the screen when it's closed. It has wheels on the bottom of one side, making it easy to move, and is very lightweight.



The screws are drilled into the top thick edge, then when you pull the screen over them, the lip on the screw allows the lid to close snug and tight.



I use portable (and inexpensive) filters to lay over the top after they have grown a few weeks and things start to get dusty. The chicks seem to feel safe when they can run under there. I guess they don’t realize we can see them through the clear sides, duh!



The zip ties on the back side work like hinges and allow movement so the screen can be raised and lowered in the front easily.



We’ve also drilled holes in several places along the sides so I can feed and water them in plastic cups attached by pieces of pipe cleaner. I hang these after they are a few weeks old and are kicking too many shavings into their feed and water. It also helps a lot when you have lots of chicks so no one gets pushed away from the food and left out. You can put as many dishes as you want (I have 4), and it’s especially nice because they are along the sides and/or ends, and they don’t take up any floor space.



I truly love this (Baby Pen) and would be lost without it. I've even bought the material for a second one. I think the storage bins were $19.99 at Walmart & $14.99 at Aldi's last year. A Must Have for anyone who likes to raise chicks in the house.

Woooooo there nellie... Love those filters!!! What a fabulous idea!!!!! I usually kick the babies out of the house at a week old cuz the dander drives me nuts. Love this!

 

[juststruttin]

I guess I will kick off this contest!! My entry is as follows:

I have created, and am currently testing, a device that monitors and maintains the micro-environment of an incubator. I think it is safe to say that a lot of people with home made, used, and even basic new incubators have trouble making sure the temp and humidity are in the correct ranges. This device (still trying to think of a name for it) actually controls the heat source in your incubator. It is also equipped with a high quality micro thermometer that is accurate within a 9th of a degree and a micro hygrometer that is accurate within 1%. These together allow for a very incognito wire to be laid in the incubator and the sensor head, no bigger than a dime, right over or at the level of the eggs.

The best part about my invention is that is not only controls the heat source for you, turning heat lamps on and off to maintain temps, but it also send you an alert when your temp or humidity strays outside a range you have set. These alerts are emailed to you with specific data available to let you know what exactly the problem is. There is also a "live feed" webpage where you can go and see graphs and temp/humidity readings in real time. These are updated second by second in your web browser. The graphs show you the efficiency of your particular incubator which allows you to make changes as needed. In testings, it was found that INC A was losing heat too quickly because the graph showed quick highs and lows where the lamp was coming on to keep the temp at a safe range. But INC B is very steady!

In the future, this device may actually be available for sale to BYC members who are looking for a way to erase some of the headache and heartache of hatching. I have included pics below of the very primitive Alpha version of this invention as well as graphs and a link to the graphs where you can view them in real time until they hatch is over. I plan to add an oxygen sensor and motion sensor or webcam option. This may also be sold with a heat lamp base and instructions for usage to get the optimum use and accuracy of the product.

In summary, my invention:

-controls heat source to maintain constant temp.
-monitors temp/humidity
-send alerts when temp/humid goes outside a set range (you set this range)
-collects constant data of the incubation period and graphs the data fro you to view
-can monitor and control up to 4 incubators with a 30 ft range for each sensor cord (these will unplug from main power cord when not in use)
-makes life a lot easier/less stressful.

HOPE YOU LIKE MY INVENTION! I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS!! CLICK HERE!!
To see the graphs and readings in real time!

PIC #1 - microcontroller board number 1 of 2 that makes this all possible.



PIC #2 microcontroller board number 2 of 2, covered in duct tape to prevent wires from becoming dislodged.





PIC #3 housing unit built to keep all the live power safe.

PIC #4 the wire with both microsensors on the end. The final product with have more of a whale tale shape and cleaner look.



PIC #5 the website where you can view this particular unit's readings.





PIC #6 graph and temp readings of INCUBATOR A (does not have hygrometer installed yet)


PIC #7 graph and temp/humid readings of INCUBATOR B


**PATENT APPLICATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED!!**

Ok... show off... you are a brainiack. Very impressive.