Washingtonians

[mikeyb]

Well, well. Day b4 yesterday, 5 of 7 chickens gave me eggs. Yesterday they gave me 4 eggs and today I got 6 eggs from my 7 hens.
Neghbor lady was pleased, another neighbor says he won't eat brown eggs just because he thinks they should be white.
So, egg production is coming along nicely, the eggs are increasing in size as time goes on.
No problems so far, (knock on wood)

 

[Greg Richardson]

Quote: Everytime you think you've heard it all some one comes along to prove I'm wrong.
Did you ask him if he likes his shell sunnyside up?

 

[RaZ]

Neghbor lady was pleased, another neighbor says he won't eat brown eggs just because he thinks they should be white.

Neighbors can be funny. One says she will not eat eggs that "come from a chicken's butt", one says he only eats "store bought" eggs. Another is convinced that eggs from backyard chickens are "raw and unpasteurized". The neighbors behind me can't get enough of my fresh eggs.

Some people get it. and others just seem to shun education.

 

[VelvettFog]

Phew - extra hot today! So I decided it was the right day to mess around with the treadle feeder. I followed pretty closely the instructions found in the Learning Center under "feeders and waterers". Now that this prototype is built, I know what changes I'd make.














The feeder is 16" high (not counting the lid) and it's footprint is 16x16". It's big! Almost too big maybe. It should hold close to 40# of feed. As you can see it takes about 6 lbs. (3/4 of a gal) to open the lid. That's too much weight. So I'll have to fiddle around with the lifting mechanism. Future models will use lighter weight arms (I used quarter-sawn oak 3/4" square), and will be a big longer. I used a piece of masonite for the lid - I think that's too flimsy, I will use 1/4" plywood next. I also built this out of the plywood I hard on hand already. I could reduce the overall weight of the feeder (~20#) if I use thinner plywood. I can change the lid up a bit and drop a bit of weight there as well.

Some of you have shown interest in treadle feeders. A sheet of plywood makes two. Then we need some material for the arms, and of course the pivot posts. Over here in Yakima, I can get a 1/2" sheet of sanded fir plywood for ~30 bucks. The feeder needs 8 pivot posts (sex-bolts, binding-posts). I found those on the 'net for .45 cents each (plus shipping & tax) if I buy 25 at a time (That does 3 feeders). Add a few bucks for some odds and ends:

4x4 plywood = 17.00
8 binding posts = 5.00
Arms = 3.00
Nails, glue, washers, sandpaper, etc = 5.00

Total Cost = ~$30.00 (Cost could be a bit more. I made guesses on tax and shipping etc.)

UPS shipping on a 25# package from Yakima to Seattle is ~20 bucks. (I just checked)

 

[VelvettFog]

Now -- off to do bumble foot surgery.

 

[Breshcandra]

Came home and was expecting a dead chick. Its perked up a little and has a lot more running around energy. Still wheezing and a tiny bit of gasping but not like this morning. I had put electorlitize in the water. maybe that helped or the small amount of olive oil.

I am hoping for more progress. Its got feathers on the legs so I was hoping that I could keep it. The other older serama is a diffenent frizzle. And I think its a male.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Guess what???!!! I got our very first ***2*** eggs today!!!!!! Pics later after company leaves

 

[Breshcandra]

Guess what???!!! I got our very first ***2*** eggs today!!!!!! Pics later after company leaves

Yeah!!!!!!

 

[VelvettFog]

Guess what???!!! I got our very first ***2*** eggs today!!!!!! Pics later after company leaves

I remember the first eggs we got, and how excited we were to get them. I bet your kids are over the top

Very cool Jess

 

[KMHunter]

Phew - extra hot today! So I decided it was the right day to mess around with the treadle feeder. I followed pretty closely the instructions found in the Learning Center under "feeders and waterers". Now that this prototype is built, I know what changes I'd make.














The feeder is 16" high (not counting the lid) and it's footprint is 16x16". It's big! Almost too big maybe. It should hold close to 40# of feed. As you can see it takes about 6 lbs. (3/4 of a gal) to open the lid. That's too much weight. So I'll have to fiddle around with the lifting mechanism. Future models will use lighter weight arms (I used quarter-sawn oak 3/4" square), and will be a big longer. I used a piece of masonite for the lid - I think that's too flimsy, I will use 1/4" plywood next. I also built this out of the plywood I hard on hand already. I could reduce the overall weight of the feed (~20#) if I used thinner plywood. I can change the lid up a bit and drop a bit of weight there as well.

Some of you have shown interest in treadle feeders. A sheet of plywood makes two. Then we need some material for the arms, and of course the pivot posts. Over here in Yakima, I can get a 1/2" sheet of sanded fir plywood for ~30 bucks. The feeder needs 8 pivot posts (sex-bolts, binding-posts). I found those on the 'net for .45 cents each (plus shipping & tax) if I buy 25 at a time (That does 3 feeders). Add a few bucks for some odds and ends:

4x4 plywood = 17.00
8 binding posts = 5.00
Arms = 3.00
Nails, glue, washers, sandpaper, etc = 5.00

Total Cost = ~$30.00 (Cost could be a bit more. I made guesses on tax and shipping etc.)

UPS shipping on a 25# package from Yakima to Seattle is ~20 bucks. (I just checked)

I will take at least one!

Looks good! If you can lighten it up a bit and make it so it takes less weight to open that would be great. Could't those of us that get one just add some weight to the treadle part?