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

[bruceha2000]

The hens shouldn't be sleeping in the nesting boxes. Do they have a roost bar that is higher than the nest boxes? They will usually choose to sleep as high as they can get.

 

[Cluckingitup]

Not sure the vinegar will help, but the residual feed on the bags could in fact be drawing ants and other 'bugs'.

Thanks. Didn't think about the residual food, makes sense. I had read to use vinegar when cleaning coop, so I was just hoping that it would be a little offensive to bugs.

 

[Cluckingitup]

The hens shouldn't be sleeping in the nesting boxes. Do they have a roost bar that is higher than the nest boxes? They will usually choose to sleep as high as they can get.

Yes they do have a roosting bar above the boxes. They have clipped wings, I don't know if that matters? They came with the 4x6 coop, but I put them in the smaller coop I also have 3x3 ish. I have 5 Plymouth rocks (16 wks) going in the bigger coop. Since the day I put them in the new coop they have slept in nesting boxes. I was thinking of putting them on the roost? My nephew said he doesn't know if they slept in box or roost when he had them. I do have to clean their boxes every day so poo isn't on eggs or stuck to their bottoms. The coop is terribly big but I can look into adding another bar. They have a good size yard to run in but they also do not roost on the branches that I put outside.

 

[bruceha2000]

Even with clipped wings they could likely get up onto a roost. My GUESS is that the slept in nest boxes before as well. Might be worth blocking off the nest boxes before they go in for the night and see if they hit the roost.

 

[mdquilts]

Click on the search forum button, put a search term like feeder, click in user and start typing in jthornton and in a few seconds click on it then click on the magnify glass search button.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feeder-build.1208719/#post-19208078

JT

Thank you for the hint and the link! I think that is just what I’m looking for!

 

[bigmrg74]

I use old bulk grain bags in my nest boxes. We have horses and feed them rolled oats, and we get it in big bags from the Mill. All I do really is just try to shake out the last little bit of oats from them, the girls love that part, and then fold em up into a square to cover the bottom of the nest box. The bags are not waterproof like you would see with dogfood or other feedbags like that. But it gives them a soft spot to lay their eggs and provide them with some traction when they're in the plastic nest box. whenever they get dirty I can either flip around the folds a little to freshen them up, or just toss em for a new bag.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

My babies were four weeks old today. Momma hen’s first go st it and she is textbook perfecting everything. I’m so proud.

 

[Justso]

Here's a bag collar feeder I built which I use for 25-50lb bags of feed. My idea was that the bag can do what it already does - hold feed, and the collar just directs it down the feed ramp. Currently feeding a bunch of cornish x off it.



and of the ramp:

My only question is how do open the bag? Do you slice the bottom or just puncture some holes?

 

[Ghosty]

Here's a bag collar feeder I built which I use for 25-50lb bags of feed. My idea was that the bag can do what it already does - hold feed, and the collar just directs it down the feed ramp. Currently feeding a bunch of cornish x off it.



and of the ramp:

That is an awesome idea. I would worry about mold, though, if the setup isn't kept in a dry indoor area.

 

[bigmrg74]

Kinda kicking around an idea here, and I thought that I would bounce it off of you guys.

Recently had a couple of hawk attacks on my flock, and I'm looking at getting this string of little disco ball lights to be something shiny to help keep those buggers away. Mostly would just be getting them for the disco ball aspects of them being shiny, and might not even bother with turning them on. It says that they're indoor/outdoor use, but I'm not sure that their outdoor use includes Michigan Winter. I'm just wondering if that there's something else that I could coat them with or dip them in that would give them a little more protection and keep the little mirrors from falling off, but would still be pretty see through and allow them to reflect light very well.

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