Just saved myself $100 from not throwing out old stuff!

[TJAnonymous]

Don't even get me started on the price of lumber.... I've been tracking it closely for the past 3 years. Whomever is at the top of that racket needs have a RICO charge.... There's a few businesses that throw out packaging lumber and pallets. They get some pretty big stuff like commercial refrigerators, etc....which means they often throw out whole 2x4s or 4x4s. I try to grab all that stuff whenever I see it. Of course, we use the pallets too. I built a doghouse and a Silkie coop on top of repurposed pallets. Oh...and I went to our local siding company and asked if I could buy their scraps. They told me I didn't need to pay for it and could just take whatever I wanted out of their scrap pile. Needless to say, I got nice vinyl siding on my doghouse AND new chicken coop without paying a dime. I simply painted it all to match and voila!

 

[gtaus]

Oh....I also use empty TP rolls to make seed starter cups for the spring garden.

Good use for those TP rolls. I bought a metal soil block maker last year, but not yet convinced soil blocks are for me. Giving the soil blocker another run this spring to see if I get good results. Had a problem with the soil blocker I bought last year. It was only making 1 or 2 soil blocks that were any good out of the 4 molds. I ended up sending it back for a replacement, but the replacement arrived too late for my spring seed starting.

 

[gtaus]

They told me I didn't need to pay for it and could just take whatever I wanted out of their scrap pile. Needless to say, I got nice vinyl siding on my doghouse AND new chicken coop without paying a dime. I simply painted it all to match and voila!

That's the way to do it. Sometimes I think the only way to save money on chickens is just buying the eggs at the store. Much cheaper option than raising your own chickens for eggs (less than $1 per dozen where I live). But I have chickens for many other reasons and consider the eggs just a bonus. Saving money on the coop builds is great way to get started.

 

[gtaus]

Don't even get me started on the price of lumber.... I've been tracking it closely for the past 3 years. Whomever is at the top of that racket needs have a RICO charge....

Instead of putting money into an IRA or stocks and bonds, I would have been much better off buying a barn full of plywood or OSB and earning 3X my investment in the last 18 months! Never seen lumber prices like we currently have. Hope they continue to drop back to a somewhat more normal supply/demand price like before the COVID pandemic.

 

[TJAnonymous]

That's the way to do it. Sometimes I think the only way to save money on chickens is just buying the eggs at the store. Much cheaper option than raising your own chickens for eggs (less than $1 per dozen where I live). But I have chickens for many other reasons and consider the eggs just a bonus. Saving money on the coop builds is great way to get started.

Ditto! I put up nets over my large run (130' x 35') this spring. Cost me about $200. While it has helped me stop losing chickens to the local fox population, it has caused me endless cursing because of the pile up of leaves and sticks on top of it AND the constant sagging which means I have to pretty much stoop down to walk around the run. So I've decided that I want to use my bonus & taxes to redo the fence using 4x4x10 and 4x4x12 posts. I'll put hardware cloth around the bottom 2 ft (to prevent chicks from running through the fence) and 2x4 welded wire around the rest, including covering the top. I did a rough estimate on just the lumber and fencing based upon Lowes current pricing.... Ready for this? Almost $3800! That doesn't include new gate hardware, U-nails, tie clips, quikcrete, or renting an auger.

So yeah... In my case, it would be cheaper to just buy eggs! But like you, my birds bring me so much joy and companionship that I couldn't imagine life without them....

 

[Sally PB]

For example, I have some large glass bulk pickle jars from WalMart that must be good for something?

If you have the lids and can get the pickle smell out them, they're great for dry storage. If you make kombucha, you can throw out the lid (because you won't need it) and use the jar for fermenting.

Oh....I also use empty TP rolls to make seed starter cups for the spring garden.

Mine worked great. Plant the whole thing. I had a few bits of TP roll that were left on top of the soil, so those just went into the compost bin for the worms.

 

[Sally PB]

If you have the lids and can get the pickle smell out them,

Speaking of which, if you know how to do this, please tell me! Ditto with the garlic smell in those little minced garlic jars.

 

[Happy hen lover]

Speaking of which, if you know how to do this, please tell me! Ditto with the garlic smell in those little minced garlic jars.

The jars come clean it's those lids! I've wondered about baking soda to absorb that smell but it's in the rubber ! I just can't get it out. Ok for Salsa, tomato sauce etc, but no applesauce, peaches.

 

[gtaus]

I put up nets over my large run (130' x 35') this spring. Cost me about $200. While it has helped me stop losing chickens to the local fox population, it has caused me endless cursing because of the pile up of leaves and sticks on top of it AND the constant sagging which means I have to pretty much stoop down to walk around the run.

For me, it's wet snow in the early winter that takes down my bird netting for the season. As far as sagging, have you considered putting up a support pole somewhere in the middle and letting the netting angle down to the fencing? As for leaves, I get some in the fall, but I just take out my leaf blower and blow them off.

As long as my bird netting is tight, I don't have to bend over in the chicken run. But, I might take my own advice this spring and add some 8 foot support poles in the middle so the netting so it will angle down towards the 6 foot tall fencing. Should help keep leaves off in the fall and maybe next winter will help the netting stay in place when we get wet, freezing snow.

So I've decided that I want to use my bonus & taxes to redo the fence using 4x4x10 and 4x4x12 posts. I'll put hardware cloth around the bottom 2 ft (to prevent chicks from running through the fence) and 2x4 welded wire around the rest, including covering the top. I did a rough estimate on just the lumber and fencing based upon Lowes current pricing.... Ready for this? Almost $3800! That doesn't include new gate hardware, U-nails, tie clips, quikcrete, or renting an auger.

That's a bigger bill than I am willing to commit to my small backyard flock! But, yes, I can believe how expensive those supplies add up. Where I live, a dozen eggs at the store is less than $1.00. I knew when I went into raising a small backyard flock it was not going to be to save money on eggs. But we enjoy the fresh eggs from our own chickens, we sold extra eggs for feed money when the hens were younger and laying good, and they have made lots of chicken run compost for my gardens. And, of course, they have just been fun to have.

 

[gtaus]

If you have the lids and can get the pickle smell out them, they're great for dry storage.

The jars come clean it's those lids!

Yeah, I think it's the lids that hold the smell. I don't the imagine the glass jars retain any smell. Depending on the type of jar lid, maybe soaking it in baking soda water for a day or two and then letting it dry out really good. Don't know. Just have about 4 or 5 of those large bulk pickle jars on the storage shelf looking for a second life.