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

[Greg M]

For cutting the suet, try heating up a knife and then cutting it...........or more like melting it through.

 

[aart]

So this isn't really an "invention", it's more of an idea born out of desperation! You see, I had initial visions of sweet little chicks running to greet me when I came into the room where the brooder is located. I'd talk softly to them, they'd make that sweet little "churtle" sound (technical term I made up!) back at me, and we'd all live in peace and harmony - like a Coca Cola commercial with chickens. But then several chicks had "Pasty Butt", which meant catching them and washing and oiling their little hineys. Suddenly the little churtles became squawks of panic, and the only running being done was to get as far away from me as they could. This made it so much fun to try to catch them so I could do my daily cleaning of the brooder. <sigh>

But this morning I noticed that when they ran they all ended up in the same corner. So I put several layers of paper towels in the bottom of a small, clear Sterilite container, then laid it on it's side in that safety corner. I left the room and let them settle down for a bit. When I went back in there and crouched by the brooder they all panicked, ran into the Sterilite in the corner, and then I just gently lifted it up, turned to to the correct way, and PRESTO - I had most of my chicks in the holding container without chasing them around the brooder and scaring them even more! (Well Pearl and Charlotte didn't go in so I had to catch them, but they're the only ones who don't seem to mind me picking them up to begin with!) When the brooder was clean, the feeder and waterer refilled, their little perches cleaned up and a little grit and chopped Kale put in there, I did the process in reverse. I was so proud of me!!

HAHA that's great! Ingenuity!

 

[perchie.girl]

For cutting the suet, try heating up a knife and then cutting it...........or more like melting it through.

Welcome Greg M....

From San Diego. I thought of that too.... but hes got seeds mixed in it...

How about:

One of those saws that are a cable with a ring on each end. Kind of like a roebust cheese wire.

A cleaver and a hammer.... or machetti something you dont mind banging up.

And finally How about making a mold for the suet just the right size and shape using a wood form... Then remelting the suet and pour it into the mold? I dont know the particulars of suet so Have no idea if this is even possible.

deb

 

[mlowen]

And finally How about making a mold for the suet just the right size and shape using a wood form... Then remelting the suet and pour it into the mold? I dont know the particulars of suet so Have no idea if this is even possible.

deb

I "built" a mold from 1x2's to fit the suet cages I have...lined it with tin foil. It worked really well!

 

[aart]

I "built" a mold from 1x2's to fit the suet cages I have...lined it with tin foil. It worked really well!

I used a clear plastic take out container that was about the right size.....or you could use an old container that you buy the stuff in.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I use the glass pyrex containers with a piece of parchment paper in it. About the right size and I can just pull the parchment paper edges that are extending above the glass container up to remove the suet. Comes right off the back and into the wire cage it goes. (But I just use store-bought cheap suet cages.)



Also found this cheery sunflower suet cage on clearance. My round pyrex containers are perfect for this one

 

[Greg M]

Do chickens like suet? It looks like in the picture that they must.

Is there any certain kind that they prefer? Probably with sunflower and some corn in it?

 

[4stakes]

We put apple cider vinager in the chick water for pasty butt. Around 4 tsp per gallon of water. We have 18 chicks with no pasty butts.

 

[aart]

Do chickens like suet? It looks like in the picture that they must.

Is there any certain kind that they prefer? Probably with sunflower and some corn in it?

Chickens will eat just about anything... I mix scratch or wildbird seed into fat scraped off the top of the soup pot, be it beef or chicken, mix it up thick with seed or scratch, freeze it and dole it out on a chilly day, they love it!

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Do chickens like suet?  It looks like in the picture that they must.

Is there any certain kind that they prefer?  Probably with sunflower and some corn in it?

I've used suet, but especially in the summer I mix up their favorite veggies and fruit and hang it from a short plant hook. Not only do the treats last a little longer, they have fun with the swinging suet cage.