What do you do?

[Sunny-Side Up]

Not entirely sure which thread to post this in, hopefully I got it right.
So... New flock, new start. I want to improve things within my chicken coop and how I do things. I just want to make things easier and be more self sufficient. I like DIY things that I can do, and little 'hacks'. For example, I've added a grass box in my run, put something on my coop that would keep the door open, and I figured out how to make a feed scoop out of a milk carton. Like that.

I definitely want to cut down on the feed bill -- I have grass in my run and I feed table scraps, but what else can I do? (Random question: can chickens have Love Lies Bleeding? I think it's the same thing as Amaranth...)
DIY -- little things (I really enjoy crafts and making/building stuff) like flock blocks, feeders, roosts, coops, etc.
'Hacks" -- What do you do to make chicken keeping easier or more fun, or just think-out-of-the-box ideas?

Now, I know I don't really make sense. In fact, I'm kind of embarrassed to post this because I sound so weird... But I'd LOVE to see anything that you've done for your chickens (or other poultry, for that matter)! Please post!

 

[featherhead007]

Hey, send me a flock block!!

 

[PirateGirl]

Look at Pinterest. I love BYC, but on Pinterest search chicken toys, chicken feed/treats, chicken feeders/waterers/coops, you will find soooooo many clever ideas and they all have pictures, you will be overwhelmed.

 

[deepbluesea]

Love Lies Bleeding is a kind of amaranth, so it should be fine for them, leaves and grain.

 

[henless]

What have I done to make chicken keeping easier for me?

Deep Litter - DL is the #1 thing that has made chicken keeping easier for me. I clean the coop once a year. It never stinks. I know DL is not for everyone, but I love it!

Water nipples - Depending on how many chickens I have, I only have to water the chickens once every 2 weeks or so. In the summer, I do it once a week to keep it fresher. I use 5 gallon buckets with horizontal nipples. They have fresh water 24/7. For me, lugging a 5 gallon bucket once a week is much easier than having to use the flip waterers every day.

This one is sitting on my cookie tin water heater I got off the Chicken Chick site.



Elbow feeders - I started out with a 5 gallon bucket that holds 25 lbs of feed. I've since moved up to a plastic tote that holds 50 lbs of feed. No waste and stays clean.

 

[featherhead007]

All this technology....I just peck daddy, till he feeds us!

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Thanks so much! Those are really good ideas!

What have I done to make chicken keeping easier for me?

Deep Litter - DL is the #1 thing that has made chicken keeping easier for me. I clean the coop once a year. It never stinks. I know DL is not for everyone, but I love it!

Water nipples - Depending on how many chickens I have, I only have to water the chickens once every 2 weeks or so. In the summer, I do it once a week to keep it fresher. I use 5 gallon buckets with horizontal nipples. They have fresh water 24/7. For me, lugging a 5 gallon bucket once a week is much easier than having to use the flip waterers every day.

This one is sitting on my cookie tin water heater I got off the Chicken Chick site.

View attachment 1350125

Elbow feeders - I started out with a 5 gallon bucket that holds 25 lbs of feed. I've since moved up to a plastic tote that holds 50 lbs of feed. No waste and stays clean.

View attachment 1350162