Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[chick-among-us]

Most Ingenious Chicken Design Contest

Our other entry Deb came up with this one!!

This is her less than beautiful but saves a RIDICULOUS amount of money in feed...
problem: head slinging hens while eating causing MUCH food waste ALL over and then they can't find it don't want it whatever....WE cut our feed cost IN HALF with this, if not more... I am not even exaggerating!
Solution: This little gadget! feeder....Easy to make...

1. cat litter bucket...we used this because we had them laying around but turned they have a handle and year later the handle hasnt busted off!,there is a locking lid...it holds ALOT of feed and there are 20 chickens in that pen
2 large tote with med sides....to low they still sling it over to deep its uncomfortable and they wont use it....make the pan only a couple of inches of extra room around the bucket once you set the bucket in the pan since if it is too big they get IN it and poop in the food.
3. drill 1 inch holes.very close to the bottom of the bucket, about 3 on each of the 4 sides of the bucket...
4 screw the bucket into the pan pick up the handle and it can be carried and moved easily!



see all that food in the pan part?? THAT is what they would hae wasted!! so now for chicks we do tha same thing!! no more wasted chick feed either! But for chicks it is scaled down...you take thier regular feeders and place them in a clean CAT PAN on a brick all the wasted food can be recycled back into the feeder and fresh added and you dont loose it anymore!! and your shavings last longer cause the yucky food isnt a factor....IF you still have problems with feed being slung out the side isnt tall enough or you have raised the feeder to high....take out the brick or get a pan with taller sides...chicks have to know where it is! so they know to hop in to eat! Thats it!!

 

[ronott1]

.... You know this brought up something....I DONT want to cut the head off of a pet....these bantams ARE just that... PETS and if We are processing our roos that is one thing, but is there not something for euthanesia that is HUMANE? for a suffering bird? I thought of insulin, but that makes you FEEL so bad....I dunno ...They are staying in, I DO know that, the big chickens wouldnt go out at all, after the incident,our rooster is new and he did a great job, for not even knowing his way around yet....pinkachu gave his life...as the hawk was inches from a whole pile of his silkie family...

There is a way to make a euthanasia device out of a couple of chemicals and a plastic bag. I don't remember the details so you should look it up if you want to try it.

Ron

 

[1muttsfan]

Most Ingenious Chicken Design Contest

This starts out as a large empty bottle of bleach. And ends up as a chick feeder and quail feeder. There is little to no waste. I made many attempts to come up with something to stop the quail chicks and adults from wasting so much feed. Now I use it for all chicks and when they get older I don't put the top on. They waste some but not near as much as those jar feeders. No bleach jug goes to waste here. I make a feed.

I really like this -
1. Recycled
2. Disposable
3. Inexpensive

How do you make it? How do you keep them from hopping into the upper part and dust bathing in the feed?

 

[dsqard]

I love the candler, Deb. in fact, we're kind of poking around the house seeing if there is some insulation we can strip off a pipe!
SCG, get out and enjoy the weather for me! There are conferences at school, and I have to stay until 5, 6:30, and 6:30 the next 3 days. Not that anyone has ever come to see the art teacher, but I should be able to get caught up on projects.
Whoever requested the "cliff notes" version of this thread, I'd like to order a copy also.

Cliff notes version for those who can't keep up. This is only up to today.
Waiting and chatter
Waiting and chatter
Waiting, some boo boo's and chatter
Eggs being sent all over the place
Panic by those waiting for eggs
Set day, more panic by people waiting for eggs, panic by people CHECKING TEMPS WAYYYYYY TOO SOON (ahem, to Mahonri)
Contests starting to kick off
More panic by people about temps and humidity
PM's to Laree to fix mistakes
Back to waiting and chatter

 

[dsqard]

Ok so here is the "STORY" Yesterday I hear a comotion in the coop

I am soooo soooo sorry for your trauma and loss.

X2

We have lost a few to predators, but I have to say it wasn't as traumatic because I didn't see it happen, nor did I have to fight off the predator. Lots of prayers for your hurt babies.

 

[Razadia]

I'm caught up.

chick-among-us, I'm so sorry to hear about your babies. I know how hard it is.

But woman you are crazy. I'd have done the same thing.

I hope pricess makes it.

 

[meepitqueenie]

so i got the 4 doz eggs yesterday that the po lost/missent after being in the mail for 1 week. so these will be after easter chicks.

so i set them yesterday. we had a 21 yr old guy crash and roll his car at the storage units were i work and he died

very tragic. so i forgot my camera at work and took this photo on the ds last night.

still dealing with that today with insurance etc.

 

[Cynthia12]

My goal is to get 2 beehives going next year. I am still working on my DH about that though, he isn't saying NO but he would rather I didn't.

Angelia

Ennis...loooove your Avatar! Darling, did you catch that pic yourself??

 

[Cynthia12]

Yea, they are actually thinking about moving to a bigger property so they can do more.

Thanks, My pic is from my wedding at the LDS Temple in Snowflake, AZ. (2008)

Ohh, Snowflake, haven't been to that one. Very pretty, you and your dress, and the temple..and your hubby, well, he just looks handsome.

 

[EnnisLakeFarm]

We're adding bees this year. It was DH's idea. We get to the store and pick out the hive stuff, then go over to the bee suits and DH looks at me and says "pick out what one will work for you". I was

Lucky you! My DH was pretty much this way when I wanted rabbits too. "Not NO but not yes either" and now he is happy I got them (he really likes my Rabbit Cookin') so I think I am going to just get the hives all set up next year and hope for the best

. Then if it is a problem, I will find someone who will let me put them in their field or something. My DH is more of an "asking for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission" kind of guy so I think I am going to try his method