The Front Porch Swing

[bruceha2000]

I don't think the PVC tube with a wye or buckets with ells type feeders would work so well for Blooie, not with ~20 birds. Even if you put 3 ells in each bucket you would need 3 or 4 of them so that would get expensive. And if you need to extend the fitting on the outside an inch as shown, guess what, they don't sell PVC pipe by the inch so you'll be cutting a lot of 3" pieces off a longer piece. Not too bad if you have a power miter saw, heck of a lot of back and forth with a hacksaw while holding the pipe down (easier if you have a vice on a bench). 9 to 12 street ells, a length of pipe plus 3-4 buckets (I would probably choose square, easier to cut the hole). But I don't think I would want the birds having to shove their whole heads down to the shoulders in a hole to eat.

I think Bee has the right idea - some sort of lean-to roof over a multi bird feeder. You can get a 10' plastic gutter for ~$7 and another ~$7 for 2 end caps. Or you can make one of Leslie's horizontal PVC pipe feeders (with carrying handle

). It would be stiffer but more expensive ~$20 for the pipe and ~$8 per end cap. Hers are held up off the ground in cement blocks stood on end with the pipe in the upper holes. And of course, since my mind is running with this: you could make a roof for this simply by putting a ~2' wide piece of plywood or metal roof on top of the cement block! Easy

I suppose you could get fancy with this and instead of cutting the pipe ALMOST in half (so you have the handle) horizontally, you could drill holes about 30 degrees from the top on each side. If you have 1 hole every foot, you can feed 20 birds all at once. Not sure what the diameter should be for the holes but you would need larger holes in the top at some undetermined spacing to fill the feeder because it won't flow by itself. Or a funnel with a BIG lower diameter to fill through the feed holes. Or a screw auger to move the feed along. I'll have to stick this in the back of my head for the future (probably not the screw auger part though

).

Bruce

 

[Beekissed]

It's a beautiful, sparkling morning here....just tended to animals and walked the meadow a little to check on my clover growth...it's doing great! Will be spreading lime on all of it this week to help kill off encroaching moss and to feed the clover. Found many, many plantains in the yard this year...don't know why so many all the sudden but will observe to see if the birds like them...never have noticed chickens eating them.

Saw my bluebirds this morning...they are nesting another clutch of eggs. I LOVE to see that cerulean blue flash against the green...my favorite songbird by far.

Have to waste time in town today but hope to get into the garden this evening and get started on prepping it for planting, fencing it off and seeding the pathways to clover.

I hope everyone is enjoying good weather and fruitful days of spring labor....or just sitting and listening to the birds, smelling the fresh air and letting the sun warm your face.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I don't think the PVC tube with a wye or buckets with ells type feeders would work so well for Blooie, not with ~20 birds. Even if you put 3 ells in each bucket you would need 3 or 4 of them so that would get expensive. And if you need to extend the fitting on the outside an inch as shown, guess what, they don't sell PVC pipe by the inch so you'll be cutting a lot of 3" pieces off a longer piece. Not too bad if you have a power miter saw, heck of a lot of back and forth with a hacksaw while holding the pipe down (easier if you have a vice on a bench). 9 to 12 street ells, a length of pipe plus 3-4 buckets (I would probably choose square, easier to cut the hole). But I don't think I would want the birds having to shove their whole heads down to the shoulders in a hole to eat. 

I think Bee has the right idea - some sort of lean-to roof over a multi bird feeder. You can get a 10' plastic gutter for ~$7 and another ~$7 for 2 end caps. Or you can make one of Leslie's horizontal PVC pipe feeders (with carrying handle  ). It would be stiffer but more expensive ~$20 for the pipe and ~$8 per end cap. Hers are held up off the ground in cement blocks stood on end with the pipe in the upper holes. And of course, since my mind is running with this: you could make a roof for this simply by putting a ~2' wide piece of plywood or metal roof on top of the cement block! Easy   I suppose you could get fancy with this and instead of cutting the pipe ALMOST in half (so you have the handle) horizontally, you could drill holes about 30 degrees from the top on each side. If you have 1 hole every foot, you can feed 20 birds all at once. Not sure what the diameter should be for the holes but you would need larger holes in the top at some undetermined spacing to fill the feeder because it won't flow by itself. Or a funnel with a BIG lower diameter to fill through the feed holes. Or a screw auger to move the feed along. I'll have to stick this in the back of my head for the future (probably not the screw auger part though ).

Bruce

I think the bucket feeder might work to keep outdoor feed dry, and you can put 3 holes in each ... I think you'd need at least two feed stations to help avoid guarding the feed. A screw type lid would make feeding easier. I'm not sure you would really need more than two, though. If you have feed out all the time they don't all mob the feeders at once.

My upright PVC feeders are inside ... the tops are open and they don't work for me if I have crumbled feed ... They only work for me with pellets. Pellets are the best way to feed dry feed, IMO. I do have individual feed holes drilled in the feeder portion of those and roosters manage them just fine. I think we are down to just using 3 of those and I'm going to repurpose the pipe for other stuff. I've not had trouble with moldy feed in these feeders.

My trough feeders for Fermented Feed don't have end caps ... Ends are not necessary when feeding wet feed ... it's easier to clean the troughs if they are open on the ends ... we like the troughs and the FF a lot. But I'm not sure how feed holes would work on a trough as it would be tough to fill unless the top flips up ...

I do have to make special efforts for little birds. At first they can't jump very high. And hens with chicks fling bedding EVERYWHERE!!! oh my how they fling! They bury everything!

One note about working with PVC ... I like to file/sand it so the edges are smooth. This protects combs and wattles. It's an extra step.

 

[Blooie]

And this is why I've learned to ask my questions here.....lots of answers and not one "Boy, are you stoopid - you're doing it all wrong" response!

I wasn't real clear last night. Sorry, my friends. The only time I want to use the "bulk feeder" (I guess that's what it's called) is when we are out of town. The kids did a really good job and I'm really proud of them, but even tossing scratch far from the door as a distraction didn't keep the chickens from mobbing the little ones when they came over to feed. Both kids and their moms ended up spending time trying to catch the escapees that overwhelmed them at the people door and spilled out. Not that big a deal, except for one evening when Tammy ended up being late for work for the first time in 5 years....chasing chickens. They tried several things to prevent the "Hilarious Adventures at Oleo Acres" but the chickens didn't read the book and nothing worked really well.

Ken belongs to an organization and holds a state office in that group. So we are often gone for 3 days, sometimes 4, when he has to attend meetings and functions all over Wyoming and surrounding states. What I'd like to be able to do is leave the regular feeder in the run all the time when we are home, and rely on the bulk feeder for those days we are out of town without worrying about the food getting wet and spoiled. I won't always have 22 birds.....as soon as these chickens are big enough some of them get an all expense paid trip to freezer camp. I seldom have a mob at the feeder at one time - most of the time a few are eating while others are foraging around in the litter, drinking, taking dust baths, or preening on the big branch in the run. The pop door stays open 24/7. They go in at night and come out whenever they're ready in the morning. That breakfast feeding gets a little hectic but they soon settle down. I figured with the bucket and nipple waterer and a bulk feeder, they should be able to fend for themselves quite well for the 3 or 4 days we are gone. Evan and Katie will be over to feed and water Molly and let her out as they have always done, and all they'd have to do is check on the chickens and gather eggs via the nest box door when the hens start laying.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

It's a beautiful, sparkling morning here....just tended to animals and walked the meadow a little to check on my clover growth...it's doing great! Will be spreading lime on all of it this week to help kill off encroaching moss and to feed the clover. Found many, many plantains in the yard this year...don't know why so many all the sudden but will observe to see if the birds like them...never have noticed chickens eating them.

Saw my bluebirds this morning...they are nesting another clutch of eggs. I LOVE to see that cerulean blue flash against the green...my favorite songbird by far.

Have to waste time in town today but hope to get into the garden this evening and get started on prepping it for planting, fencing it off and seeding the pathways to clover.

I hope everyone is enjoying good weather and fruitful days of spring labor....or just sitting and listening to the birds, smelling the fresh air and letting the sun warm your face.

It has been pretty darn nice here ... on and off. I can't get over this spring, it seems especially pretty with especially many warm, clear days.

I need to get out there and cut some lilacs today or I might miss them. I have a special thing with lilacs. They were my mother's favorite. I think I completely missed taking photos of my Second Favorite Tree ... so you guys will have to wait until next year for the big reveal of that one. It is really, truly spectacular during the entire blooming process.

I've managed to get some deferred indoor and coop chores done lately. Longer days help with that. Gust is enjoying being outdoors more, too. But I'm getting very distracted with CHICKS ... it's hard to not just sit and watch them. I followed the Freedom Mutts around for most of the day that we found them.

I really like spring. I'm so happy I live in a place where we get four seasons.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

And this is why I've learned to ask my questions here.....lots of answers and not one "Boy, are you stoopid - you're doing it all wrong" response!

It's all about finding a system that works for you. I like when other people share their experiences with some detail so I can learn and pick up ideas. But for sure a great idea that works for one person does not necessarily work for others! Anyone who jumps on other people for not doing things their way has perhaps forgotten how different thing can be.

I'm sorry your chickens give your family a hard time.

We've recently spent more time chasing chickens than I like ...

 

[Triple Willow]

I'm wondering how well it does for more than a few birds....looks like only one chicken at a time could feed from it.  I could see that making for huge fighting at the feeder. 

True. Probably have to have more than one. They might work if you were going to be gone a short time. I don't see one working too well for daily use, for me anyhow.

 

[Triple Willow]

I have one and tried but doesn't work very well with FF, the food would not continue to flow down as they ate. it's good for dry feed planning to use it when I'm out of town for several days, it prevents waste of the dry feed though not as efficiently as FF. Maybe you can tweak it

I bet the consistency of the ff would pay a part. Glad somebody tried it.

 

[LindaB220]

No chickens I need to order hay for my horse.... I went to get some clothes and actually found a couple of T shirts and shorts that fit at Walmart. Then went to Cathryns for size 5x PJs. All cotton dont like anything else. Found a really pretty Hawaiian print shirt there in 5x as well. AND a couple of pairs of 4x shorts. Cathryns 4x is like Walmarts 5x... And the material is five way stretch without looking like it.

I am doing good started drinking a meal replacement drink.... High protien Low carb and I like it. Cheapest one at Walmart. So I went and bought a bunch. Its not very sweet.... I dont like too much sweet stuff even if it is Low cal. Only 100 calories per 11 ounce serving. Youd thing some of thes "Smart" diet people would come up with a Chicken soup flavored one.... Or heck even Pea soup flavored. Youknow Savory.

I probably could make my own.... Hmmm ... use Eggs for the protien.... some Mushrooms... Onions of course.... and chicken stock. I have some sweet Vidalia onions and some garlic... need to buy mushrooms. With Atkins I only have to count Carbs. So I can have Olive oil, coconut oil, Real Butter, and animal fat.

hmmm... Any way I am comfortable now with clothes that fit and are cool... And I am formulating some sort of plan to get into my 4xs.

deb

That's the ticket. Make your own and use a lot of veggies. LC ones. Actually red beef is better for you than chicken, more protein. Turkey has a lot also. Cream in your coffee w/ sweetener. I would buy the red zero colas at 10 cal and add 2 T cream. Instant float for low carbs. Also, Dr Pepper 10 is so much better. Not so much like diet. For best results, keep protein under 100 gr daily and carbs under 40. This will help lose weight and keep you from burning out. Before discovering chickens my passion was LC. PM me anytime.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

That's the ticket.  Make your own and use a lot of veggies.  LC ones.     Actually red beef is better for you than chicken,  more protein.  Turkey has a lot also.  Cream in your coffee w/ sweetener.  I would buy the red zero colas at 10 cal and add 2 T cream.  Instant float for low carbs.   Also, Dr Pepper 10 is so much better.  Not so much like diet.  For best results, keep protein under 100 gr daily and carbs under 40.   This will help lose weight and keep you from burning out.  Before discovering chickens my passion was LC.   PM me anytime.     

Careful with those artificial sweeteners though. I've heard aspartame can wreak havoc with your immune system.