Recycled Chickens: Let's share what we do to save money and build with recycled materials

[Marty1876]

Hello fellow BYCers!

I'd like us each to talk about anything and everything recycled and poultry related. Chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, quail, any domestic birds you have, and what you've recycled to FEED them, HOUSE them, FENCE them, NESTBOXES, and etc.....

 

[Marty1876]

I've used skids to build fences before. I've also recycled the woods to make cages, nest boxes, and other sheltor related items.

I know if I talk to the produce dept at local grocery store, they will save me old produce for my birds. I can also get old bread from one of the restaurants locally, that serves it with everything, and folks throw it out. They also accept pizza from the pizza buffet occasionally.

I've used milk and pop crates to make nestboxes, and even fencing before. I recycle boxes (big ones from the lawn supply place) to make brooders that go out to my garden as mulch every week.

I have more, but first, I'd like to read what you use, or even what you need ideas for.

COME ON BYC, GO GREEN!

 

[Mootworm]

Hi, I think this is thread is a great idea! Especially helpful for newbies such as myself. Although I don't have a coop yet, I'm planning on using recycled/repurposed materials to be thrifty while being green I'm thinking of using a kiddy playhouse or small shed for the coop (I'm keeping an eye on Craigslist's free section lol). For nest boxes, either the covered type cat boxes or old milk crates, whichever I find first. What I can't find for free, I'll scavenge from the local habitat for humanity re-store. And I'm always looking on here for more ideas!

 

[Malibu99]

I don't know of this counts, but we use leaves In the run. The chickens help it along by scratching around in it :3

 

[Marty1876]

I think that using old playhouses, crates, and leaves are all great recycling! Do you use the leaves in your garden next? I think that a playhouse, especially a plastic one, is great reuse! Landfills are allready full of things like that, not good enough for a kid, great for a chicken.

I also use plastic coffey containers, old pots, small buckets, and more for waterers. I use old metal coffey cans, hung cut gal. milk jugs for hanging feeders and snack baskets, old ladders for roosts, and old clothes to line nest boxes. Don't forget to save wire for as many uses as duct tape almost.

 

[keenecowboy]

I have rebuilt my horse stalls into the coop. I have a good relationship with the local lumber yard. Saw dust, pine shavings and lots of lumber trims.
Local bakeries supply me with plastic buckets for feeders, water buckets. When they break or get too bad, they go to the recycle bins.
I recently got a load of 4 x 6 cut off posts. Length where from 3 to 6 feet. Used them to reinforce the edges of the barn where the chickens have scratched under the rim boards.
I will put requests out on free cycle yahoo groups for needed items. Careful don't drive too far to save a buck, but burn gas to get there.
Good hunting and re-purposing.

 

[Malibu99]

I think that using old playhouses, crates, and leaves are all great recycling! Do you use the leaves in your garden next? I think that a playhouse, especially a plastic one, is great reuse! Landfills are allready full of things like that, not good enough for a kid, great for a chicken.

I also use plastic coffey containers, old pots, small buckets, and more for waterers. I use old metal coffey cans, hung cut gal. milk jugs for hanging feeders and snack baskets, old ladders for roosts, and old clothes to line nest boxes. Don't forget to save wire for as many uses as duct tape almost.

Yup. We rake the lawn, put it in the chicken coop, then just let 'em scratch through it for a few months and in the spring we'll use it in the garden as fertilizer.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

If you look at "My Coop" on my profile, everything except for tarps, chicken wire and hardware(screws and latches) were re-purposed from thing around my house and other peoples house. The dog run panels are from my SIL. Wood left over from paintball field bunkers and extra from under my carport. Total cost for what is pictured is less than $100. Now I am collecting pallets to build a permanent coop.

 

[Mootworm]

I think that using old playhouses, crates, and leaves are all great recycling!   Do you use the leaves in your garden next?  I think that a playhouse, especially a plastic one, is great reuse!  Landfills are allready full of things like that, not good enough for a kid, great for a chicken. 

I also use plastic coffey containers, old pots, small buckets, and more for waterers.  I use old metal coffey cans, hung cut gal. milk jugs for hanging feeders and snack baskets, old ladders for roosts, and old clothes to line nest boxes.  Don't forget to save wire for as many uses as duct tape almost.

Wow I didn't even think of using old ladders for roosts. I have one in my yard that would be perfect! Guess I'll have start saving coffee containers and milk jugs too
Keep the posts coming!!!

 

[flgardengirl]

We use pallets, fencing (there are fence companies that will take down old fences and want someone to come haul them away free), recycled boards from houses etc., I also get those boxes from sam's club that the tyson hot wings come in and use them for nest boxes and when they are dirty then put them in the compost pile and get new ones. They are good for temporary housing nest boxes or for broodies that are separated in broody hutches.