DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[amandamc]

Wow, Amanda, this is so cute. Just what I need. Living in the south I'd have to have more open windows, but Its just perfect . What are the diminsions?

I am tempted to say 16 feet by 9 feet but I would have to re-measure to be sure. We've had it for a few years now and I can't quite remember.

 

[CutlassL29]

Oh boy I really like this alot.... I cant tell you how many times I have had to fish a lamp out of the brooder.... I fanally gave up on the clamp and layed the lamp face down on some boards. and NEVER knew the distance it was from my Keets. I just had to take the temperature and cover the top of the brooder to regulate it.... It was not a very good situation.

How are you fastening the conduit to the side of the brooder?

deb

that would be great! he used to do some machine work so he could do it.

why did you move?

@DMRippy my parents moved up here when I was a toddler, Maw from TN and Paw from MA. Go figure, my brother and sister live down there with dear ole mom and I stayed up here (because of my job) when the folks split up.

Here's the video of the heat lamp mod I did. Hope it shows up here

 

[ozexpat]

Deb, where do you get your rice hulls? Are they expensive and do they blow around? I'm looking for something for when we run out of leaves. Do they compost?

The poop in my run seems to be breaking down very nicely even though there is no soil contact, there is no smell and I only see poop if it has just occurred. I did add a big bucket full of completed compost and dirt in when I added the leaves to give the composting a head start. The sand and leaves are well mixed now thanks to my ladies digging for stuff.

I have a never ending free supply of rice hulls

I just pull a trailer up next to a portable rice mill location and take mountains of them

But that is in a different world.

You can ask your feed store - they are sold in an compressed bale

They are great for deep litter - but they are very slow to break down. We just spread them and let the sun and tropical rains eventually soak them

 

[perchie.girl]

Deb, where do you get your rice hulls? Are they expensive and do they blow around? I'm looking for something for when we run out of leaves. Do they compost?

The poop in my run seems to be breaking down very nicely even though there is no soil contact, there is no smell and I only see poop if it has just occurred. I did add a big bucket full of completed compost and dirt in when I added the leaves to give the composting a head start. The sand and leaves are well mixed now thanks to my ladies digging for stuff.

Sorry I am battling computer gremlins..... LOL There are a few feed store around here carry them.... Same sized bale that you get shavings in.... They are a bit more expensive but they last longer..... dont know about composting but if you have wet seasons they are the bomb for dealing with moisture.... I dont compost so cant say.. Some of them do blow a way but not much. Expect your chickens to dive in and pick out little extra bits of rice.....

My mare thought they were Yummy But then figured it wasnt worth the work.... LOL.... When I used to spread them out for her the black birds would line up on the fence rail tapping their fingers and eyeing me.... waiting for me to LEave Their Grub alone.... OMG too funny.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: eggcellent.... I dont have sound but I understood the whole assembly.... How hot does that cross bar get?

I know the priciplals of welding and have been known to weld but What I do aint preety.... LOL. I need to relearn for sure.

For those of us who cant weld you can use a threaded piece of pipe and a screw on pipe flange, instead of the hat channel bracket for the base. The pipe is more expensive than conduit but do able.

deb

 

[Pancholoco]

I think your feeder is just AWESOME! I've been looking for something like this for ages. I found someone who makes a very good metal version, and the cost of the unit is very reasonable, but it's in the U.S. (I'm not) and the cost of shipping makes buying one prohibitive. I've seen a number of DIY plans for wooden treadle feeders that have a pop-up lid, but am not as keen on that design as the pop-in door style. I believe that with the po-up lid treadle feeders, during the learning phase for chickens the risk of potential head injury is fairly high, especially if the balance/counter balance isn't calibrated correctly.
You did a great job on this! KUDOS!
Do you have plans or sketches of this feeder? If so, I would love to see them.

Thanks for the compliment, but I don't have any plans/sketches for this feeder

Measures came to my mind when I saw a metal one on eBay too

I was inspired in this ONE.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Here is my Coop design so far, I was just approved for my Chicken Permit and we are looking to get chicks in the next few weeks. Any suggestions or tips? We haven't decided or talked much about the door and I've seen some expensive and DIY options out there...

Also we thought about putting pavers down in the run and we also have a sandbox planned, but I've seen a great deal of dirt bathing hens, any suggestions on pavers or just dirt? We are a little concerned about run off water in the yard and thought pavers might keep them a bit less muddy.


GREAT THREAD BY THE WAY!

Wendy

Chicks in Richmond, VA!

What are the dimensions of the run and how many chickens. It is very easy for it to become a poop mush really fast. One ones I know that use a closed space swear by sand because the poop kind of melts into it. I use River rock. Lots of it because when it rains the poop disappears. Can even hose it down. Where will the poop go with pavers? I fenced off an area of my yard under an oak tree where they run free during the day. They use the coops for sleeping and safety from predators.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Our run is built on a slope covered with pavers (with wire underneath) then we have a row of cinder blocks on top of that (with small gaps between them for drainage) then the run and coop are built on them. We put down about four inches of masonry sand and then collected dry leaves and put them in the run, there is about one and a half trash bins in there. It has been a month and I haven't had to clean the run at all and there is no smell at all. We haven't had rain but I plan to put a shade cloth cover over the run which should divert the rain. Our chickens love the leaves and I love that all I do is turn the sand and leaves a bit once a week.

Besides the River rock I also use leaves. Besides the big oak tree in the chicken yard, in the fall I pick up the huge bags of leaves people put on the side of the road and dump them in my yard. I've been doing that a couple of yards.

 

[LindaB220]

eggcellent.... I dont have sound but I understood the whole assembly.... How hot does that cross bar get?

I know the priciplals of welding and have been known to weld but What I do aint preety.... LOL. I need to relearn for sure.

For those of us who cant weld you can use a threaded piece of pipe and a screw on pipe flange, instead of the hat channel bracket for the base. The pipe is more expensive than conduit but do able.

deb

Deb, I blame you. Watching this I clicked on Rippy's site. OMG Then I went to all the hatching sites. Now I have to get an incubator. It's like that funny girls rant on youtube. I think I'll get a steer and homestead.

 

[ozexpat]

Deb, I blame you. Watching this I clicked on Rippy's site. OMG Then I went to all the hatching sites. Now I have to get an incubator. It's like that funny girls rant on youtube. I think I'll get a steer and homestead.

Y'ALL need a water buffalo