Ended Official BYC DIY Contest #1 - Show us Your Project and Win!

[trsturself]

I'm really diggin' this thread! So much so, I thought I'd share a few of mine.


The feeder I have inside the coop is made from a galvanized feed pan and a 5 gal bucket. Drilled big holes in bottom edge of bucket, put in pan, filled with feed. Walla, auto feeder!.

Why the pipes? Were those intended to be the roosts when you built it? I'm assuming the chickens like the wood part better since it's wider. Chickens like it wide not skinny and round like other birds.

I have the same feeder! I have found that I need to put an upside down funnel in mine to keep the food moving better and not piling up and getting old in the middle.
I have also made a fermenter for my food.
http://flamingarrowfarm.blogspot.com/2013/12/fermenting-food-part-2.html

I need to figure out something to keep the goats out of the chicken run but allow the chickens to come and go when I want to let them free range. Love your idea for keeping them out of the coop. Unfortunately I feed in the run so that's where I need to keep them out of. Maybe I'll build something similar to your idea and attach it to the fence and add a predator proof door I can remove when I want to let them out.

 

[yellowchicks]

Insulated Water Feeder:

For those who has no electricity in the coop to heat up the water in the winter, here is a DIY water feeder idea. The materials and construction are pretty straight forward as shown in the photos. This is basically a 2 gal. bucket inside a 5 gal bucket surround by insulation. I just happen to have most of the materials at home except for the spray foam and the horizontal nipples. You should be able to take the same idea and adapt with what you have on hand.

Material List:

• 5 gal. bucket with lid
• 2 gal bucket with lid
• Horizontal Poultry Nipples
• 1" thick insulation board
• Spray foam insulation for big gap filler
• Lexel synthetic rubber caulk
• 3/8" polyethylene tubing
• 2" PVC pipe section (6" long),
• 2" PVC Cap
• 2" PVC adapter

1. Cut two layers of 1" rigid insulation board to shape to line the bottom of the 5 gal bucket.
2. Remove the small bucket handle, put the smaller bucket inside the larger one.
3. Shim the sides using vertical strips of rigid foam board then fill the gap with spray insulation foam designed for big gaps.



4. While the spray foam is curing overnight, cut two more layers of rigid insulation foam, shape to fit the bucket caps as the top insulation cover.
5. Drill a 2" hole though both bucket caps and the top foam layers.



6. Sleeve through and assemble the PVC parts through the hole in the caps to be used as a water filling port.




7. Drill two (or how many you need) 11/32" holes about 1" above the bottom of the inner bucket. Insert a 3" segment of the 11/32" rigid polyethylene tubing, then seal the seams with specialty silicon. Note that it is very difficult to bond to the polyethylene buckets and tube, so you may need to trial and error other types of caulking material.
8. Trim off the excess tubing, insert the horizontal chicken nipples to the outside end of the tubing.



9. Wait for the caulk to fully cure before adding water to the bucket. It may take up to 2 weeks for curing depending on the temperature.

To prevent the chickens from roosting on top of the bucket, put a cone on top. If black color buckets are available, use the darker colors ones to absorb more heat.

For a faster result, just use an insulated water cooler.

 

[Chipper Chicken]

Chickens actually stand up partway when they lay and they need some height as they get settled, might want to go at least 14 high.
Course of you lower your pivot point that will increase height inside a little bit.
No chickens to test design once it's finished?!?!?.

Well that's why its a prototype! Lol! I absolutely want constructive advice, especially since I don't have a test chicken anymore.
The hens will have about 12" high for part of the nest area, because of the ramp slope.

Does that make sense?

 

[aart]

Quote: Yep...let's continue this conversation on your article page so we don't jam up this thread.

 

[Mellow1]

Nice job on the insulated water feeder yellowchicks....smart thinking!

 

[batchhatchin]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/934729/brooder-almost-done-pics#post_14287480
Brooder I built this week

 

[aart]

Insulated Water Feeder:

• Horizontal Poultry Nipples

Beware....water left on the lip of the HN, outside your insulated area, can freeze and lock the valve.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/240#post_14287518

 

[RuzichFamily]

Ruzichfamily, what is the white and green bucket with the electric cord for?
Love the goat block entry for the chickens.

Thanks! Coincidentally, that is just a cord running across my yard to my electric fence around my flight pen where I keep my pheasants, peafowl & ducks. The white & green thing is a 6 gal waterer.

Why the pipes? Were those intended to be the roosts when you built it? I'm assuming the chickens like the wood part better since it's wider. Chickens like it wide not skinny and round like other birds.

I have the same feeder! I have found that I need to put an upside down funnel in mine to keep the food moving better and not piling up and getting old in the middle.
I have also made a fermenter for my food.
http://flamingarrowfarm.blogspot.com/2013/12/fermenting-food-part-2.html

I need to figure out something to keep the goats out of the chicken run but allow the chickens to come and go when I want to let them free range. Love your idea for keeping them out of the coop. Unfortunately I feed in the run so that's where I need to keep them out of. Maybe I'll build something similar to your idea and attach it to the fence and add a predator proof door I can remove when I want to let them out.

Yes, the 3/4" pvc pipe was intended for roosts but they prefer the 3/4" wood, lol, go figure. That roost was kind of a prototype and is not the best craftsmanship I've put out, I plan on rebuilding next spring but it works for now and I'm not too worried about it.

I will have to try the upside down funnel thing inside the bucket! Great idea!

 

[Amberjem]

neat

 

[evemfoster]

Thanks! Coincidentally, that is just a cord running across my yard to my electric fence around my flight pen where I keep my pheasants, peafowl & ducks. The white & green thing is a 6 gal waterer.


Yes, the 3/4" pvc pipe was intended for roosts but they prefer the 3/4" wood, lol, go figure. That roost was kind of a prototype and is not the best craftsmanship I've put out, I plan on rebuilding next spring but it works for now and I'm not too worried about it.

I will have to try the upside down funnel thing inside the bucket! Great idea!

Chickens prefer an even wider perch them most people think. They don't like to curl their toes around the purch at night preferring to just sit on the top of a thicker limb and being able to cover there toes with feathers in the winter. The wider the perch the better. The wide side of a 2x4's is better than the narrow side.