INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Old Salt 1945]

rope lighting. I had forgotten about that. Thanks you for mentioning it. I will be looking for it to go on sale as my new coop could use some lighting for the adult chickens once I clear out the chicks and their heat lights.

Tell me more about rope lighting. What's that all about?

John

 

[Urbanmom519]

I made the water heater out of a light bulb-I used a energy 13 watt bulb hoping it keeps it from freezing, and landscaping blocks, with a tile bottom, with the same plastic waterer with the red bottom, I have four 9 week old EE pullets, they look at it like it it's from outer space, and now that it glows red at dusk they just stare at it, lol anyone else have this problem, do they figure it out eventually? and yes about the rope lights, do you use those as a light source for laying, my girls aren't old enough so do you think I should bother with extended light hours?

 

[Old Salt 1945]

Here ya go! It measures about 24 w, 18 h, 12 deep.
With some effort, he should be able to make a MUCH better version.




The framing around the top is a drip edge to keep rain out of the hopper.


Send me a self-addressed stamped envelope of epic proportions and I'll mail you some of the fencing. $15 postage should do it.


John

This feeder has worked out pretty well. It holds 100# of feed. Construction is slipshod simple. Cleats, glue, brad nail gun, drywall screws. I used scrap pieces I had left over from other projects.

The throat through which the feed flows is about 3/4". Everything else is eyeball adjusted, as in, "that looks about right".

John

 

[Old Salt 1945]

Hi Indianer-ers,

We are moving soon to Mishawaka. Is anyone here in the area and have information about predators in the area? I want to let my flock (soon to be purchased) free range during the day, they will be secured at night. We are moving from Arizona where our predators are coyotes and hawks. When I lived in Nappanee, I did have a raccoon attack one night, but never any incidences during the day, my flock there free-ranged from dawn to dusk.

Thank you!

Sally didn't mention coyotes. They are a serious problem around here. The flock needs to be secured at night or they will be strained through coyotes.

John

 

[kabhyper1]

Tell me more about rope lighting. What's that all about?

John

I use it along the inside upper part of my coop with a timer. I have it kick on at 5 or 6 am until 9 am. It gives the girls a couple extra hours of light in the morning for laying. Don't do it in the evening though, that will mess up their internal clocks.The rope lighting works best because it is covered, and isn't too bright.

 

[Urbanmom519]

Sally didn't mention coyotes.  They are a serious problem around here.  The flock needs to be secured at night or they will be strained through coyotes.

John

I'm an hr west of there, we have a bigger problem with hawks, raccoon, loose dogs, possom, we do have coyote and Fox but they don't seem to be a nuisance... yet. lol

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
here is a picture or two. Worth a thousand words. I found these on google. I saw the idea a long time a go on BYC but I have no idea where that thread is now.






I would be putting the lights on the inside more like the first picture.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
Thankfully I'm close enough to town and such that I have not had a coyote or a bobcat but there are some in our state. Wild alley cats that look like large over grown house cats are sometimes found in downtown Indy too. Haven't had that problem yet either. I do have toddlers that help make sure there is a fresh ammonia scent all around the run and back yard area. In a pinch DH will help with that too. It has never been strong enough for me to smell but it might be help keep animals away.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Please be careful with the light bulb/block and light bulb/cookie tin heaters. Because the wiring is not made for heating they have caused some fires.

I was originally going to make one of those but thought better of it because of the wiring. That's why I chose to use the heaters from the dog bowls. They are wired and rated for the use in which I'm using them and I believe a much safer bet than the light bulb wiring. And they're not very expensive at all.

 

[Urbanmom519]

Please be careful with the light bulb/block and light bulb/cookie tin heaters. Because the wiring is not made for heating they have caused some fires.

I was originally going to make one of those but thought better of it because of the wiring. That's why I chose to use the heaters from the dog bowls. They are wired and rated for the use in which I'm using them and I believe a much safer bet than the light bulb wiring. And they're not very expensive at all.

my farm store was sold out of the dog bowl heaters that's why I opted to try the block heater, it's outside not inside the coop, I haven't figured out how to solve that problem of freezing in the coop, it's fairly small in there, the run is 10 by 10' thanks for the info though, I will change it asap! I was weary of it too