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

[bruceha2000]

I did! Here is the final product, some changes occurred but mostly with the roof framing which weren't completely sketched. It was a great learning process and we gained knowledge and tools along the way.

"gained tools" KEY accomplishment!

So I need to make a chute to fill though. ...

This will be a fun project

Might as well go "whole hog" and turn your mixer into a pumper, then you can use the remote controlled articulated arm to fill troughs all over the place without having to move the mixer, nixed food, filled troughs or yourself! NOW it is turning into a fun project.

 

[dheltzel]

Anyone modified the chick feeders that screw onto canning jars to not waste so much feed? I find that they fill too high and the chicks push a lot out of the holes, seems like more than they actually eat. I think the manufacturers of those feeders are in cahoots with the feed companies!

 

[ChickenPapaCT]

When my girls were young (under 8 weeks) I used a plastic ice-cube tray that I screwed into a 2' peice of 2"x4" pine (for weight).
The girls couldn't tip the thing over because of the weitght, and the separations in the tray made it difficult for them to "kick" the food out. They still ate like pigs and wasted some.

Around 8 weeks I made a PVC pipe feeder that works fantastic! NO waste whatsoever. The girls love it. I also put a cap on the feed tube so I can close it up at night so the other creatures (aka mice and rats) don't get any free feed.

 

[LaurelC]

So I have built 2 different types of feeders, the 5 gallon bucket and elbow kind, and also the pvc pipe with the Y kind. I prefer the volume and relative water resistance of the 5 gallon bucket, but the ducks drag food all out onto the ground. Any suggestions on either modifying the "Y type" to be water resistant (I could probably add another length of pipe to the top if necessary), or the 5 gallon type to keep the ducks from being totally disgusting?

 

[tracecom]

So I have built 2 different types of feeders, the 5 gallon bucket and elbow kind, and also the pvc pipe with the Y kind. I prefer the volume and relative water resistance of the 5 gallon bucket, but the ducks drag food all out onto the ground. Any suggestions on either modifying the "Y type" to be water resistant (I could probably add another length of pipe to the top if necessary), or the 5 gallon type to keep the ducks from being totally disgusting?

I don't have ducks, so that limits my ability to understand. Why does the Y type work better for ducks that the bucket? Are the access ports different sizes or shapes?

 

[LindaB220]

So I have built 2 different types of feeders, the 5 gallon bucket and elbow kind, and also the pvc pipe with the Y kind. I prefer the volume and relative water resistance of the 5 gallon bucket, but the ducks drag food all out onto the ground. Any suggestions on either modifying the "Y type" to be water resistant (I could probably add another length of pipe to the top if necessary), or the 5 gallon type to keep the ducks from being totally disgusting?

I saw on youtube someone put an extra 1" pvc on the outside opening to make them reach farther. I don't have ducks so maybe it will help, or not!!

 

[LaurelC]

I don't have ducks, so that limits my ability to understand. Why does the Y type work better for ducks that the bucket? Are the access ports different sizes or shapes?

The Y type faces up, and I believe that it helps in catching more of the food that they drop, vs the PVC type being fairly horizontal, so they can get a mouthful and kind of drag some of it out while they pull their head out.

 

[tracecom]

The Y type faces up, and I believe that it helps in catching more of the food that they drop, vs the PVC type being fairly horizontal, so they can get a mouthful and kind of drag some of it out while they pull their head out.

I think I understand. To change the bucket with the PVC angles to more of a Y configuration would require essentially rebuilding it, and would probably increase the water susceptibility. So, I would guess that adding a "roof" over the Y opening to shelter it from rain might work. You could make a little awning out a a piece of PVC the same size or slightly larger than the pipe the feeder is made from, and glue it on the vertical pipe. I know that isn't a very good description, but maybe you can imagine what I am thinking.

 

[seminolewind]

I use chamber pots. I have 6 big geese now as well. They eat out of the chamber without a mess too.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I built the shelter a while back, but my coops just didn't fit under it.

So I took out the old coops and built one large one under the shelter.

They will be sleeping in their new coop tonight.