Post your time saving HACKS!

[Mary's Farm]

In the spirit of "post your worst mistake," I'd like to inspire my fellow chicken raisers to post their best TIME SAVING hacks... can be with regard to feeding/watering, cleaning, coop design, or whatever. I'll go first.

I bought 2 gall round waterers with the curved metal wire on top for hanging, and suspended them inside a coop for nighttime access to water. Unfortunately, chickens were often pooping in them (I don't even know how they managed to hit the water since their perches were a foot away! flying poops) or knocking them around so water spilled into the litter below creating a mess.

I cut slits in clear round plastic planter saucers (about $1.50 each) and slid them over the wire top and snugly onto the top of the waterer, creating a roof that overlaps the circumference of the water feeder by a couple of inches. Now, I can use those waterers for several days before I refill and no poop gets in the water. An improvement was lining them on the inside with snug-fitting cardboard. Now, they are sturdy enough that they won't bend and I don't have chickens trying to roost on the side of the waterer, causing spills, either.

Thanks for sharing your hacks below...!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Just so you know, chickens don't eat or drink at night if it is dark.

 

[Dona Worry]

I made my coops critter proof from the start, SPECIFICALLY so I could leave food in the coop over night. I have a giant hanging feeder, that I fill once every three weeks, a waterer I fill every few days. Daily chicken chores is literally collecting eggs!
I like easy and simple.
In thst spirit, my main coop has a plastic floor, and I think I want my secondary coop to have one too. SO easy to clean, and no pervasive ammonia smell!

 

[aart]

Time savings here has to do with a good coop layout, good manure/bedding management, and easy to use and mess free feeders/waterers.

 

[Melky]

I made my coops critter proof from the start, SPECIFICALLY so I could leave food in the coop over night. I have a giant hanging feeder, that I fill once every three weeks, a waterer I fill every few days. Daily chicken chores is literally collecting eggs!
I like easy and simple.
In thst spirit, my main coop has a plastic floor, and I think I want my secondary coop to have one too. SO easy to clean, and no pervasive ammonia smell!

How to put in a plastic floor? Like what material is that or brand?

 

[Dona Worry]

How to put in a plastic floor? Like what material is that or brand?

I cannot for the LIFE of me remember what it is called, it's the same sort of poly siding that would be in say, a milking parlor.

 

[Dona Worry]

How to put in a plastic floor? Like what material is that or brand?

It's not this brand, but it is basically the exact same thing.
Heavy duty plastic siding, made for industrial things.

 

[aart]

It's not this brand, but it is basically the exact same thing.
Heavy duty plastic siding, made for industrial things.

Corrugated plastic?
Don't like the holes in that stuff...mite city!

 

[Dona Worry]

Corrugated plastic?
Don't like the holes in that stuff...mite city!

Whoops, didn't look at my own link close enough!
I'll just take a picture of my coop tomorrow in daylight.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My breeder and broody coops have plastic floors and nest box tops. It is HDPE (high density poly ethylene).
It is very tough, comes in 4X8 sheets, lots of colors and can be pieced together by plastic welding.

I get it from lowcostmetals who sell on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Densi...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649