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

[Back2Roots]

Quote:
I think your feeder is just AWESOME! I've been looking for something like this for ages. I found someone who makes a very good metal version, and the cost of the unit is very reasonable, but it's in the U.S. (I'm not) and the cost of shipping makes buying one prohibitive. I've seen a number of DIY plans for wooden treadle feeders that have a pop-up lid, but am not as keen on that design as the pop-in door style. I believe that with the po-up lid treadle feeders, during the learning phase for chickens the risk of potential head injury is fairly high, especially if the balance/counter balance isn't calibrated correctly. You did a great job on this! KUDOS! Do you have plans or sketches of this feeder? If so, I would love to see them.

 

[CutlassL29]

That is GREAT! now how to make it...... maybe hubby can help.

I'd be more than happy to try and do a short youtube video to show how I made it if you like. It took longer to scavenge thru my scrap than to make it! I see you're from Nashville so I gotta help now because of all the family I have there (I was born in Smyrna too!)

 

[CutlassL29]

Here is my Coop design so far, I was just approved for my Chicken Permit and we are looking to get chicks in the next few weeks. Any suggestions or tips? We haven't decided or talked much about the door and I've seen some expensive and DIY options out there...

Also we thought about putting pavers down in the run and we also have a sandbox planned, but I've seen a great deal of dirt bathing hens, any suggestions on pavers or just dirt? We are a little concerned about run off water in the yard and thought pavers might keep them a bit less muddy.


GREAT THREAD BY THE WAY!

Wendy

Chicks in Richmond, VA!

Did you use the Sketchup program for your drawing? Nice job! That's going to be one fine coop and run!

 

[DMRippy]

 
That is GREAT!  now how to make it...... maybe hubby can help. 

I'd be more than happy to try and do a short youtube video to show how I made it if you like. It took longer to scavenge thru my scrap than to make it! I see you're from Nashville so I gotta help now because of all the family I have there (I was  born in Smyrna too!)

that would be great! he used to do some machine work so he could do it.

why did you move?

 

[perchie.girl]

What is a great thread! Thought I would add to it. It's not so much an invention but a modification of a heat lamp.


I wasn't a big fan of the spring clamp that came with the heating lamp so I decided to make something more secure. So, I came up with this.


All the steel parts were in my scrap bin (I do alot of side weld jobs). I marked the pole (conduit) it slides on with 1/2" increments (not shown). The pole extends about 10" above the box. I liked the thought of knowing how high up the lamp is from the floor.
The chicks aren't here yet but when they are I can at least sleep at night knowing this thing won't fall in the brooder and start a fire!
There are some other slight mods I'd like to do so it's more versatile but for now this works for me.

Oh boy I really like this alot.... I cant tell you how many times I have had to fish a lamp out of the brooder.... I fanally gave up on the clamp and layed the lamp face down on some boards. and NEVER knew the distance it was from my Keets. I just had to take the temperature and cover the top of the brooder to regulate it.... It was not a very good situation.

How are you fastening the conduit to the side of the brooder?

deb

 

[amandamc]

Here is the outside of the coop we built for our chickens. There is a third window that you can't see in this photo.

 

[perchie.girl]

Here is my Coop design so far, I was just approved for my Chicken Permit and we are looking to get chicks in the next few weeks. Any suggestions or tips? We haven't decided or talked much about the door and I've seen some expensive and DIY options out there...

Also we thought about putting pavers down in the run and we also have a sandbox planned, but I've seen a great deal of dirt bathing hens, any suggestions on pavers or just dirt? We are a little concerned about run off water in the yard and thought pavers might keep them a bit less muddy.


GREAT THREAD BY THE WAY!

Wendy

Chicks in Richmond, VA!

first of all Welcome to BYC ....

from the San Diego High desert.

I have seen a variety of different flooring options. It really depends on Your environment. I personally use the dirt for the run and Rice hulls for the coop. Since my coops here in the desert are completely open air and combined with the run I just use litter under the roosts. My litter of choice is Rice hulls. Because I use them for my horse's bedding when she needs it. She loves rice hulls they dont compress and are naturally water repellant. Which keeps them dryer even when they get rained on.

If you are worried about predators the pavers would be a good idea.... Or you can do an anti dig skirt around the base. I take it your picture is showing the coop and run combined. So which ever way you go would depend on your disgression. Though if you do deep liter in the run From what I have read it should be in full contact with the earth....

Some people do a gravel substrate.... but Chickens tend to dig to find tasty mosels underneath so The gravel will get mixed in .

Someone mentioned building something you can stand up comfortably in .... I whole heartedly agree. If its a small coop area like in your drawing then Having something that you can reach all parts in with out having to lean in too far would be good.

Also the degree you build to will depend on how many chickens you decide to keep. for instance each hen needs four square feet inside the coop and one linear foot of roosting space. So four hens would need a coop at least four feet by four feet and a four foot long perch.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

No construction skills, limited equipment and only $40 in material (mostly scrap) but I'm proud of the coop me and my boys (12, 7, and 3) made : )

I am late in on this excellent job.... and Welcome to BYc

deb

 

[OScarlet]

Deb, where do you get your rice hulls? Are they expensive and do they blow around? I'm looking for something for when we run out of leaves. Do they compost?

The poop in my run seems to be breaking down very nicely even though there is no soil contact, there is no smell and I only see poop if it has just occurred. I did add a big bucket full of completed compost and dirt in when I added the leaves to give the composting a head start. The sand and leaves are well mixed now thanks to my ladies digging for stuff.

 

[LindaB220]

Here is the outside of the coop we built for our chickens. There is a third window that you can't see in this photo.

Wow, Amanda, this is so cute. Just what I need. Living in the south I'd have to have more open windows, but Its just perfect . What are the diminsions?