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

[Bens-Hens]

Love the pop door!

Looks like something from Alice in Wonderland!

 

[basmommy]

Not my invention and may have been posted here before but I just love my new feeders. Cheap and hold a lot!

Love this. i have a ton of these buckets!

 

[Ali707]

I'm loving this thread and getting some wonderful ideas for upgrades to my current setup and new things to do You all are a creative bunch! Here's my DIY/creative repurposes so far....



Old wobbly step ladder, now handy roost.


Old cabinet door, now pop door. I was even able to re-use the hardware.


Old sideboard. I framed in between the legs, removed the drawers, and added doors. My husband added heat lamps on dimmer switches, and LED lighting strips. Two level brooder. Here it doesn't have the lower door on it yet. I didn't have the hardware for a while.



Drinker with cup waterers.



And I know that everyone uses PVC feed troughs, so this is hardly new, but I found out something handy, the lid from a standard yogurt or cottage cheese container (1 quart or one pint) just fits on the end of 4" PVC Pipe, and it's a whole lot cheaper than end caps. I put some glue on it then sandwiched it VERY TIGHTLY between the ends of this feeder. If I was really worried about leakage I would seal it with a little clear silicone, but so far it hasn't leaked at all.

I think you just saved me $5!!! I have to get a cap for my PVC feeder. I am going to go home tonight and see if it fits! I already have the yogurt!

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Hello all! I have been reading this thread-----and hope I will be posting to the correct location.

I am considering raising 2 chickens in my suburban backyard and have been reading all about it.

Last weekend I came across this dresser at a yard sale -----they were getting rid of it for free and it
just spoke to me saying..................this is a chicken coop------not a dresser.

I want to build and paint etc etc etc..........in preparation of raising chickens.

I will try to post pictures of the dresser and its wonderful----totally coop like features ( I hope)

I do have the dresser/coop as my avatar for now.............hoping it will be my BEFORE and later much later
I can post an awesome AFTER

I do not have great woodworking skills so I thought converting something that was already
somewhat assembled might be a good idea................time will tell.!

I see the first drawer as the nest box and then in the area that would be the upper 3 drawers the roost area.
I plan to vent the second and top drawer a bit..........to be determined.
the middle dividing wall would need to come down.

I am thinking a door out the right side panel.

the front swing forward door I would like to cut in half and have a bottom half barn door ---solid and the top half as a window / ventilation thing.

I wonder if I should be raising the dresser/coop up higher off the ground?
so here is my initial start..................love to hear what you think!------ ---Lisa In PA

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Okay---I am replying to my own post!

I love the concept of the drawers for both the nest box and

as a poop cleaning drawer or tray for under the roost.

Stapling wire mesh inside for ventilation...............

I also am not sure if I will be painting it grey.

My house is grey with white window trims etc and I have a grey shed.

In my area----raising chickens is not common and I need to not draw much attention.

If I purchased a dog or rabbit hutch it might be better but I need to save money and I really am
looking forward to inventing or creating something unique.............it just needs to be good for
chickens and not an eyesore! In fact if it could not draw any attention from people going by---this would be best.

I have never raised chickens-------I thought 2 little bantams might be a good start.

How noisy are these girls............will my neighbors be hearing them????

thanks for any guidance-----

 

[3forfree]

If that was mine I would raise it off the ground and add a run to it. Look at the top of this page for a heading of LEARNING CENTER. click on that and look for coops, look there for small coops and you will find LOTS of pics of small coops that you can get ideas from. good luck, keep the pics coming.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

thank you for your ideas----

I think it should be raised too..............what is the rationale----is it predators or water or????? air......it has a solid floor.

Yes I definitely want a nice run.

I want the chickens to have safe space to roam.

My concern is also keeping its appearance acceptable so that neighbors dont complain.

In the winter there will be less leaves etc and the whole thing will be more visible-----I might need to plant some
evergreen bush or something to keep it more discrete and out of peoples eyesight.

There are no ordinances prohibiting raising chickens that I can find in my township but also none specifically saying its allowed.

I am afraid to directly ask.

So I am trying a small project and trying to keep it clean and out of view and not a general nuisance to anyone.

I would love more ideas about this project and will definitely look at the small coop section.

I must say I have read quite alot on this site! I think I am developing addiction without having ever raised a chick or chicken!

 

[3forfree]

I don't know how old you are but raising a coop is much easier on the back. Mine is high enough to get a wheelbarrow underneath so I can clean it out.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Okay----that makes good sense.........

I am thinking that the lower drawer is the nest box and could just slide out...........for eggs and cleaning

then a drawer higher up would be a poop drawer under the roost

but cleaning the section on the right------would require lots of bending..........I was going to place a board that was a former shelf on the bottom of the right section as well so I could pull that out and scrub.

I am also wondering if I might coat that board with either very good outdoor paint or maybe plexiglass so that its easier to clean.........maybe just cut a plexiglass piece to fit? Is there anything about plexiglass that is harmful to chickens?

What other materials are very good surfaces for cleaning trays? I am all ears!

 

[Scott H]

Linoleum!