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

[Leahs Mom]

When I first saw @Dizzydog s heater I thought it was going to use those electric elements and I was thinking... Fire!

Then when I read, I realized how it was done. A great idea!

 

[hennible]

nice.....  love the cermaic part for sure...

deb

X2
It will retain some heat

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay, but doesn't there have to be a seal around the top where the bottle is at the top of the bucket to accomplish that? Or is it just having the neck of the water bottle under water that accomplishes the seal?

 

[hennible]

Okay, but doesn't there have to be a seal around the top where the bottle is at the top of the bucket to accomplish that?  Or is it just having the neck of the water bottle under water that accomplishes the seal?

I think it's the neck... Idk though

That's how this one works

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Okay, but doesn't there have to be a seal around the top where the bottle is at the top of the bucket to accomplish that? Or is it just having the neck of the water bottle under water that accomplishes the seal?

The latter..... take a drinking glass and fill the sink then submerge the glass then lift it up by the bottom without leaving the water.... Air pressure keeps it in the glass... pretty cool stuff.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Yep... same deal that bottle probably screws on but its only to keep it and the base to gether for moving it around....

deb

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Okay, but doesn't there have to be a seal around the top where the bottle is at the top of the bucket to accomplish that? Or is it just having the neck of the water bottle under water that accomplishes the seal?

The latter..... take a drinking glass and fill the sink then submerge the glass then lift it up by the bottom without leaving the water.... Air pressure keeps it in the glass... pretty cool stuff.

deb
Okay... duh

I knew that. Somehow I just couldn't "see" it. I use this principle with my home made glass waterer.

Now I'm wondering if there is some kind of frame up there that holds the top of the bottle up from the bottom of the bucket higher or if the water container is just wide enough to catch on the bucket and keep it up higher all by itself.

 

[taamator]

yes when you set the 5 gallon water jug in the bucket use a bright light to see the neck of the water bottle cut the holes in the bucket little bit above the out let of the water jug in the neck part its a gravity feed when the water goes down it refills itself like the water feeders for cats I wrapped duck tape around the bottle so it sits little higher in the bucket so its easier to pull out the weight if the 5 gallons of water is 40 lbs and sinks in the bucket and is kind of stuck but comes apart by pulling it I also put vinegar in the water its good for the chickens

 

[vehve]

Deb, I was going to write the water glass thing, but you beat me to the punch.

 

[RonP]

Last winter was unusually cold for my area, with days turning to weeks of temperatures way below freezing.

My schedule allowed me to gather my eggs twice a day, 8am and 8pm.

For weeks I had cracked frozen eggs. Literally dozens of eggs were deemed unfit for human consumption, and fed back the the birds.


I Quote:
US FDA says:
"Shell eggs should not be frozen. If an egg accidentally freezes and the shell cracked during freezing, discard the egg. Keep any uncracked eggs frozen until needed; then thaw in the refrigerator. These can be hard cooked successfully but other uses may be limited. That's because freezing causes the yolk to become thick and syrupy so it will not flow like an unfrozen yolk or blend very well with the egg white or other ingredients."

My solution was to heat the nesting boxes (3 boxes in total).

Materials used:

Seedling heat mats. Each uses 17 watts. Water proof construction. UL listed.


CONSTRUCTION:

I began by cleaning the 16" cube nesting box out completely.

I cut a 1" hole in the top of the box to insert the power cord of the seed mat.

Then installed mat to box using paint sticks and screws. The mat bends easily when warm.

I covered the mats with the leaf bags, a perfect fit at 16" width. Disposable when soiled.

I covered the leaf bags with shredded junk mail, easily replaced and plentiful, and inserted some ceramic eggs in each box

Connected the 3 boxes to the power cord extension

Connected the power cord extension to the power strip, which has the thermo cube and LED night light to show when thermo cube is powered on

The power strip is connected to the light timer, set to turn on at 5:30am, off at 9:00pm. Note that the power to the lights are on the first timer outlet, which first goes through a photocell, so lights only are only on when needed. All power comes from a GFIC outlet. All wiring is inaccessible to the flock.


Summary:

The light timer supplies power on at 5:30am, off at 9:00pm.
The Thermo cube powers the mats only when temps reach below 35F, and off at 45F
The mats heat the nesting material to around 20 degrees above ambient temperatures.

The "Heated Nest Boxes" help keep the eggs from freezing till temperatures reach around 10F.

Hope this helps others!