What have you repurposed while building ?

[Dona Worry]

An old pool frame + a calf hutch for shade! They seem to enjoy it!
ETA: Oops, forgot the photo!

 

[igorsMistress]

Last resort I had some chicken fat from my sons cooking that day. Store bought fat chickens. However any leftovers meat wise and with some success spent grain I get from the brewery in town. The spent grain is meant for chickens but a small amount in trap seems to work. Keep water in it for the draw. It does get to smelling so put in a place out of way. The spent grain works for raising meal worms as well. Trap will eventually draw flies not the meat bees, unless it’s kept fresh for the wasps.

Awesome thanks!! Going to try this over the weekend.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

When I was a kid we had a neighbor down the road a piece, that would do interesting stuff with junk. I still have a couple of the shovels and a couple of the rakes that he made pipe handles for.

You pretty much can’t break them, and you can leave them leaning against the back of the shed in the sun and weather with no worries, other than a bit more rust

These are at least 25 years old, and probably spent much of that time being neglected, but they still work just fine... the shovel is a little awkward but it works for chores around the coop.

 

[Birdsong 82]

My deeper does some pretty interesting stuff too. He used to work for the city outside of our town. He would get a hold of all kinds of material. He actually made a recycled house is what he calls it. When my family comes over they ask me when it’s winter and I can see through the trees how I stand such an eyesore. I think it’s pretty amazing. It’s three stories now! He’s used so many different materials to create this thing. All it is used for is his own personal hide out. If I had a teenager three toddlers and my mother-in-law living with me I think I would create a hide out too. I might sneak over one day when they’re not home and grab a pic because I think that thing is cool

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

I thought this would be an interesting thread for everybody could share what they have repurposed While building a coop and run or just anything for their chickens. Great way to gather and share ideas for less waste in the world, way to save money and a way to get the imagination flowing. I am huge on re-purposing anything. I’ll see something just sitting on the side of the road or at a job site in my imagination goes wild. I’m bringing home stuff all the time. I’ve been called a scavenger once or twice.
So share what you have reused or re-purposed. Added pictures are great but if you’re anything like me you have a hard time loading them

I retrofitted the back half of my shed into a chicken coop this summer. The wall is covered with hardware cloth. The keep the pine shavings from being spread all over the non coop side i used some bifold doors we recently took out of the basement.

As you can see it also has an ancient screen door, ladders roosts and the run area has some pallet fencing.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I retrofitted the back half of my shed into a chicken coop this summer. The wall is covered with hardware cloth. The keep the pine shavings from being spread all over the non coop side i used some bifold doors we recently took out of the basement.

As you can see it also has an ancient screen door, ladders roosts and the run area has some pallet fencing.

Wow! You gonna have some happy chickens!

 

[MinniesMomma]

Maybe scare rooster straight but my hens apparently aren’t afraid of a grill View attachment 1474741 That was their reuse idea... not mine

Hilarious!

 

[skullgrrrl]

My whole coop was made of recycled materials. Here's the article I posted about making it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/upcycled-coop-on-a-budget.73353/

 

[TomZilla43]

I used mostly recycled everything for my coop but the thing that I think most useful to pass on?

Rain gutter guards.
They are great for ventilation because they are strong and don't rust. About 6" wide and however long you cut them; I think they come in 6 foot lengths.

That's an absolutely ingenious idea!! I'm sure that's not something you necessarily run across everyday but what a really cool use for them

 

[GrannyHeeney]

I might sneak over one day when they’re not home and grab a pic because I think that thing is cool

Please do! The scrounger in me is excited to see it! Heehee!