Favorite tools and those to avoid?

[crowdofmyself]

I'm still new at this whole idea of building a predator-proof run and reading everything I can get my hands on. Now I'm wondering what tools you chicken pros have found to be the most useful. (For example: Do you use hog rings? If so, what's the most versatile tool that you've found and what would you steer me clear of? If not, why not?)

 

[snow5164]

I would never waste money on galvanized feeders or wateres. My waterer rusted in one month from well water , I exchanged for plastic 5 gallon .

I’d never do nipple anything, birds can’t get a nice big gulp of water, they’re easier for us but not great for the birds.i have 4 of this kind

I’d never use straw or deep litter again, it’s slippery and got moldy , I love my sand coops, nesting boxes and run.

I love my metal litter scoop and metal buckets for poop and water

I’d never buy Icelandic birds, when they say should be free range they mean it .


Have a good day

 

[igorsMistress]

A heavy garden rake

Leaf rake

Shovel

Gallon waterers, water should be fresh every day.

Broom

Poop board and cat litter scoop

Metal scraper

5 gallon bucket

Hudson sprayer

Fan and mister

 

[CapricornFarm]

Impact driver with two batteries, and a big compressor with a pneumatic stapler. Must have if you build a lot of stuff.

 

[rosemarythyme]

For example: Do you use hog rings? If so, what's the most versatile tool that you've found and what would you steer me clear of?

If you're using hog rings make sure to get the matching pliers... makes it far easier and the pliers are usually fairly inexpensive.

Other than that... a paint scraper (for getting poop off things), multiple buckets with a few lids (to dump poop in, moving around small amounts of litter, etc), a pooper scooper.

 

[Backyard Bruce]

I have to whole heartedly agree with CapricornFarm, Battery IMPACT driver (for the deck screws) and PNEUMATIC stapler with 1,1/4-1,1/2" galvanized narrow crown staples are indispensable.

 

[lazy gardener]

I love deep litter. This tool is the most awesome for managing wood chips.

I keep a snow scraper in the coop for scraping poo, a short handled tined garden cultivator for cleaning up a bit of surface poo in the nest boxes, and a long handled black plastic spoon for scooping eggs out of difficult to reach nest boxes.

Repurposed wire refrigerator or freezer shelves make awesome temporary broody enclosures. Cattle Panels make great skeletons for larger dividers/enclosures.

Old fashioned screen door springs on all doors so they close immediately behind you. Prevents chicken escape.

 

[crowdofmyself]

I have to whole heartedly agree with CapricornFarm, Battery IMPACT driver (for the deck screws) and PNEUMATIC stapler with 1,1/4-1,1/2" galvanized narrow crown staples are indispensable.

I'm looking at impact drivers on Amazon now. They look like drills. I have two drills, both of which have a screw mode and auto-torque feature. Is that what you mean?

That pneumatic stapler is a new one on me! I've never seen a tool like that before. Does it require an air compressor to use it? I've got some kind of heavy-duty Stanley-brand stapler but it doesn't look like those.

 

[crowdofmyself]

I love deep litter. This tool is the most awesome for managing wood chips.

... Old fashioned screen door springs on all doors so they close immediately behind you. Prevents chicken escape.

 

[crowdofmyself]

We're about to have ten pine trees taken down and I'm going to have them chip them up on site and leave the chips. Will pine chips will be okay for deep litter? Great tip on the screen door thingies.