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

[Toast n Jelly]

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Double post

 

[perchie.girl]

Gravity fed Feeder from a water pressure tank. We wanted to offer free access feed but didn't want to have to check them more than one or two times a day. We had changed out our whole house water system and had this tank left over.




This is the idea

>Remove the water pump inlet plate
>if needed modify toilet floor flange. This is the adapter to go from metal to PVC Pipe

>Anchor the Tank to the coop with reinforcement studs- this will be heavy when full!


>Run pipe to the area you want the feed to go to- Remember this is gravity fed so no uphill
Last thing is to fill the tank with your chosen feed. Since we get a lot of rain (up to 200"+ / year) I will be shielding the actual feed slot with an acrylic or plywood 'wall' to keep driven rain away from the feed.

Love love love this idea... especially for a single coop

deb

 

[SuperK]

Love love love this idea... especially for a single coop

deb

Thanks Deb,
If you don't have a vermin problem this may work for you. I am going to have to modify it now however. Just last night a neighbor told me never leave feed out overnight saying that if I don't have them now the extra food will attract rats. Turns out the rat population on the Big Island are master thieves and even better at hiding. I haven't seen a single one yet though we've been here almost 7 months but everyone we meet talks about them. Anyway, I will be adding a gate valve of sorts to both limit the the amount of feed the girls will get and keeping track of their daily intake, the amount of time the feed station has food in it. When I get that design worked up, I'll post that add to this thread too.

I am looking for a simple pull-push arrangement, or maybe a quarter turn set up. I would love it to be self actuating by timer but I don't want it to be too complicated. Ideas are swirling in my head, just have to nail the best one down.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

sealed box around the food with a pop door on a timer

 

[aart]

I am looking for a simple pull-push arrangement, or maybe a quarter turn set up. I would love it to be self actuating by timer but I don't want it to be too complicated. Ideas are swirling in my head, just have to nail the best one down.

Look at fish feeders....for ornamental koi ponds or fish farms.
Did you get the lid waterproofed yet?

 

[RindleRidge]

Hey if anyone here could tell me how to build a goat-proof feeder that actually works I'd be leaping for joy.... seriously.

We build a lot around here... roll away nest boxes (perfect until the hens decided the trash barrel was better...) barn doors, coops, a milking stand for the goats, this coop on wheels (built on top of a trailer) is our latest adventure. I apologize it isn't finished yet... so this is more of a tease.

 

[SuperK]

Look at fish feeders....for ornamental koi ponds or fish farms.
Did you get the lid waterproofed yet?

Yes I did get the lid done. I folded a length of 90 degree roof trim up and hammered it so it was completely flat, then made the circle, measured and cut it to length. Drilled and pop riveted in place then ran a bead of clear sealant (not clear silicone caulking, but true window sealant). Now the entire edge is protected from water incursion.


Since I had it off the coop I added a clear Acrylic window. Rabbeted completely around the Acrylic then hit it with a heat gun and formed it to the curve of the tank. I then drilled a few holes, added some clear sealant, then pop riveted it in place. Two days to dry completely and it works like a charm. As for the the auto part of the feeder, I am looking at fish and deer feeder stations since they are both run on batteries on work on a timer and can be set to feed from 4-10 different times. Now regardless how I do the feeder, the tank will act as a primary hopper and I can see at a glance how full it is.

Tropical Storm Darby is heading our way and due tomorrow about noon-ish so I have opted to wait to re-install the feed station; choosing to pan feed them for the next few days instead. Once the storm is passed, I will reassess what repairs, if any, need to be done then show photos of the completed feed station.

 

[bigmrg74]

Tropical Storm Darby is heading our way and due tomorrow about noon-ish so I have opted to wait to re-install the feed station; choosing to pan feed them for the next few days instead. Once the storm is passed, I will reassess what repairs, if any, need to be done then show photos of the completed feed station.

Keep your head down and hope you have plenty of Hurricane party supplies at the ready.

 

[Teila]

Not an invention as such but you know how us chickeneers see something and automatically start working out ways we can use it with regards to the chickens?

Well, saw and picked up this freebie, free standing, timber, towel rail:



Took the base off, took 30cms off the height and then put the base back on. Instant ornamental chicken roost for the garden

And yes, that is Crystal standing right in the middle of the newly planted grass