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

[LindaB220]

Yes. I have "portable paddocks" and move them around (front yard this summer, around the garden for the Fall.) I can set up the fencing & then run the tunnels to wherever the "paddocks" are.

Great job!!! I have plans to do the same this spring. What is that , five or six feet tall? They are so easy to make.

 

[Leahs Mom]

One more note on these waterers and the idea that @amenfarm posted....

I feel that it is very important to offer RESTRICTED OPENING waterers in the winter rather than open bowls, buckets, etc. I feel this for 2 reasons:

1. When birds get "scuffling" in small spaces, it's not too hard to end up stepping into an open waterer quite by mistake. This is a recipe for instant frostbite and possible loss of toes and/or feet...or worse.

2. Birds that have larger wattles will have wattles hanging in the water in an open-water system. if the opening is restricted, wattles are more likely to stay on the outside of the small opening water troughs rather than hanging in the water. Wattles in water = frostbite.


So...
There are plenty of ways to keep water from freezing in the winter, but the DELIVERY SYSTEM is of utmost importance for frostbite PREVENTION, in my opinion. An ounce of PREVENTION is worth a Pound of cure. So I always encourage people to think, not in terms of keeping water thawed, but in terms of preventing frostbite while presenting thawed water.

Just some food for thought.

 

[mlowen]

Great job!!! I have plans to do the same this spring. What is that , five or six feet tall? They are so easy to make.

Thanks so much.
The ones in that picture are 6 feet tall and built of 2x3 rough cut hemlock. The bases are 2x4 finished lumber, so they slide right into the 2x4 wire fencing. I used 10" spikes to hold down the ends and make the whole thing a bit more stable. I use 4 foot wire fence, because I physically cannot move a 6 foot roll by myself. And I hang 2 foot chicken wire above the 4 foot fence on cup hooks on the posts. Twist ties where there are gaps and to make things "hang together" better. It works great for me.



These pictures are of some I used all 2x4 stud lumber.

 

[RonP]

I feel that it is very important to offer RESTRICTED OPENING waterers in the winter rather than open bowls, buckets, etc. I feel this for 2 reasons:

1. When birds get "scuffling" in small spaces, it's not too hard to end up stepping into an open waterer quite by mistake. This is a recipe for instant frostbite and possible loss of toes and/or feet...or worse.

2. Birds that have larger wattles will have wattles hanging in the water in an open-water system. if the opening is restricted, wattles are more likely to stay on the outside of the small opening water troughs rather than hanging in the water. Wattles in water = frostbite.


So...
There are plenty of ways to keep water from freezing in the winter, but the DELIVERY SYSTEM is of utmost importance for frostbite PREVENTION, in my opinion. An ounce of PREVENTION is worth a Pound of cure. So I always encourage people to think, not in terms of keeping water thawed, but in terms of preventing frostbite while presenting thawed water.

Just some food for thought.

Very interesting thought.

I hope others will comment to share their experiences for others to learn from.

 

[aart]

So I always encourage people to think, not in terms of keeping water thawed, but in terms of preventing frostbite while presenting thawed water.

Just some food for thought.

For sure!!....why, I went to H Nipples this year, in a heated vessel....no wattle dipping and less dripping than the V Nipples.

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks so much.
The ones in that picture are 6 feet tall and built of 2x3 rough cut hemlock. The bases are 2x4 finished lumber, so they slide right into the 2x4 wire fencing. I used 10" spikes to hold down the ends and make the whole thing a bit more stable. I use 4 foot wire fence, because I physically cannot move a 6 foot roll by myself. And I hang 2 foot chicken wire above the 4 foot fence on cup hooks on the posts. Twist ties where there are gaps and to make things "hang together" better. It works great for me.



These pictures are of some I used all 2x4 stud lumber.

Fabulous idea out the added 2' wire. This will help me also. Nifty idea for my garden this spring. To be able to take down in winter. Kudos!!

 

[Amberjem]

 

[Wootage]

So not an invention at all, but since we have a goat who hangs out in the yard with the chickens during the day, we have a 100 gallon water trough out there that is heated. We drilled some holes around the trough and screwed in some horizontal nipples and tada! Everyone can use it now! It's actually pretty cute to see the goat drinking with chickens drinking at the same time.

 

[aart]

So not an invention at all, but since we have a goat who hangs out in the yard with the chickens during the day, we have a 100 gallon water trough out there that is heated. We drilled some holes around the trough and screwed in some horizontal nipples and tada! Everyone can use it now! It's actually pretty cute to see the goat drinking with chickens drinking at the same time.

Need pics!

 

[perchie.girl]

So not an invention at all, but since we have a goat who hangs out in the yard with the chickens during the day, we have a 100 gallon water trough out there that is heated. We drilled some holes around the trough and screwed in some horizontal nipples and tada! Everyone can use it now! It's actually pretty cute to see the goat drinking with chickens drinking at the same time.

Brilliant idea... Yep need some pix....

deb