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

[Ms Jellybean]

 

[kimmerjo]

Ok don't know if this has been on here yet... I use sand in my coop and needed a way to clean it other than a kitty litter scoop so I did this.

found a small drill bit and a bucket with a handle. Drill a lot of holes took about 10 minutes. Then I just rake my coop sand into a pile shovel it into the bucket and shake the bucket til most the good sand falls out put the yucky in the compost pile!!

 

[perchie.girl]

Ok don't know if this has been on here yet... I use sand in my coop and needed a way to clean it other than a kitty litter scoop so I did this. found a small drill bit and a bucket with a handle. Drill a lot of holes took about 10 minutes. Then I just rake my coop sand into a pile shovel it into the bucket and shake the bucket til most the good sand falls out put the yucky in the compost pile!!

Cool... How long does it take to sift the sand?

deb

 

[kimmerjo]

It took me about 3 minutes. I only put about 3 -4 inches in it to start. My husband thinks I should drill holes on the side also.

 

[Dave Scott]

HERE IS ANOTHER DRINKER INVENTION....
I built this at the beginning of the summer and it has been working perfectly.
I fitted a small float valve into the side of a plastic tub that my children had drawing chalks in.
I put a couple of holes in the sides to let the water leak out into a plastic box.


I put a lid on the tub so the ball valve is now protected from the chooks pecking at it.
I made a cone from a circle of vinyl and fixed that on top of the lid so the chooks cant perch on it and mess in the drinking water.


Then I connected a simple press fit pipe to a plastic 20 litre tank supported on a shelf outside the run.
This is easily accessible for filling with the garden hose once every week or two (I have 5 hens).


I made a small hole (aprox 5mm) in the filler cap to let the air in as the water gets consumed.
I have also covered the container now with a dark sheet of plastic to prevent to water from going developing algae in the sunlight.
This device has saved me so much time since I no longer have to fill up my small drinker every day, although I expect I will have to revert back to it when the winter freeze comes!
Dave

 

[Leahs Mom]

I like that! (I am partial to seeing all kinds of waterers.)

How often do you change have to change the water in the "bowl" part? I find open waterers end up with a lot of shavings and gunk in them so I try to keep the dishes as small as possible.

 

[Dave Scott]

..Oh and while I'm at it, here's my feeder that I knocked up cheaply and quickly with some plywood and glue.
Takes around half a sack of layers pellets (10kg) and keeps the 5 hens going for about 2 and a half weeks.

Dave

 

[perchie.girl]

It took me about 3 minutes. I only put about 3 -4 inches in it to start. My husband thinks I should drill holes on the side also.

Put the holes in the sides as well.... then you can spin the bucket back and forth to let centripetal force extract the sand as well as gravity.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

I like that! (I am partial to seeing all kinds of waterers.)

How often do you change have to change the water in the "bowl" part? I find open waterers end up with a lot of shavings and gunk in them so I try to keep the dishes as small as possible.

looks very well elevated and in an area that appears to have no shavings....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Hey for those of you who have considered an automatic dog watering bowl for their chickens and were worried about a chick drowning in the water All you have to do is put a chicken wire cap on the bowl with the top submerged about half an inch....

deb