They just can’t knock it out unless they pick p a piece and carry it out! Another MPC employee recently shared her version of homemade chicken feeders, so here’s mine! I found this grit and oyster shell feeder. 5. Once all the holes are cut, fit the PVC elbows into the holes like so: Here we have snugged the elbows into the feed tub. They need it so they can be able to digest their food properly. It seems like when ever we leave flat bins in the coop it gets covered…, Awesome. detergent bucket that was cleaned and aged, and then turned into a chicken feeder. My chickens love their home and don’t care that it only cost me the price of the chicken wire to build. Just a little spot at 12 and 6 o’clock on the outside sure made it easier for caulking. blog.mypetchicken… […]. I call it trying not to spend so much money on stuff that I can make myself. Is that how it works? I made my chicken feeder with repurposed PVC pipe. Chickens have no problem putting head into pvc elbow. Please take a few moments and read through the advice at the link I included. You want the bottom of the elbows to be at least one inch above the bottom of the feeder, so the chickens have a “well” to peck from. I will give it a try. been using them for 3 years and still works perfect. They should get used to it but it sometimes helps to take all the other feeders away so they just have access to this one. bag of scratch grain. Generally speaking, rodents are going to be attracted to any sources of feed they can get into. How well can the chickens reach the feed?does the chickens have to put their heads all the way in the elbow?how well would it work for babies if we made a smaller version? Birds cannot taste the peppers in their feed, but mammals (rats and goats) do and will be repelled by the taste. […] and have to get a fresh new bag of feed early! Great Post ! We found it was better to let the saw spin and warm up the plastic a bit, before pushing the drill bit through. Drilling the hole for the DIY No-Waste Feeder. We had fun making it, and the hens love it! DIY Grit And Oyster Shell Feeder. I wonder why a feeder company doesn’t use an idea like this? I found this grit and oyster shell feeder Another thing to consider: if you have lots of chickens and not so much space, you may want more, but shorter, feeding stations. I found this grit and oyster shell feeder. Then, use your finger to “moosh” the caulk in for a better seal, and let that dry completely. This is a great idea! Mine is elevated off the ground on a cement block inside the coop, and no mice have gotten to the feed. They need it so they can be able to digest their food properly. My chickens are pecking pieces of caulk off the feeder! Rats love to get into my chicken feeder which has a steel hog feed pan with a 5 gallon bucket attached supplying feed. […] Great idea for a DIY chicken feeder! they hold a 50 pd. There are other ways of offering calcium to hens, of course. Article from homesteadlifestyle.com. does this work for keeping the birds from getting the seed. I use this feeder but would like to try making one with a smart hinge lid. Apr 17, 2018 - DIY feeder for grit and oyster shells, auto feeder, farming, chickens, quail, coop. Thank you ???????????????????????? Has anyone had rodent problems with this feeder? Thanks for excellent post. Animals. I am hoping they will settle down. Grit is basically coarse dirt, small stones or pebbles, which is stored in their crop and helps them grind and digest anything they eat other than commercial feed, and the oyster shell or egg shell provides additional calcium that they need to make hard shells on the eggs they lay. The lid was hinged with heavy rubber tape. Oct 9, 2018 - DIY Grit And Oyster Shell Feeder #chickenhouse I used a black container instead of a see threw one since I read it can be sun damaged. When choosing a container, also note that the sides should be straight up and down, not angled out. I was worried about chicken feed becoming compacted in the bottom of the feeder, so I poured oyster shell grit to just below the level where the chickens will be eating. The other three are Old English mixed. If so, it won’t stop them all. Any suggestions are much appreciated. Mar 24, 2018 - Anyone know any way fool proof ideas to keep oyster shell? I love a good do-it-yourself project, so a DIY no-waste feeder — also called a waste-free feeder — was right up my alley! The only chickens likely to have a problem overeating when offered a nutritionally balanced feed would be “meat” birds. I am on day 2. Some very small ventilation holes might be drilled around the top to allow moisture out and reduce the chance for mold in that amount of feed in the summer. Started with 2 but now have ordered 2 more so we have feed to last longer. that way I didn’t need any caulk. I am thinking of using this method with 5 gal buckets with lids. They last about 3-4 years before I have to repeat the process. I found this grit and oyster shell feeder . I have one of these feeders made out of a 20 gallon foodgrade plastic. Here are a few: 90 Degree Elbows for HDPE Pipe https://www.dultmeier.com/products/0.1158.1913.1942/1923 I have 30 hens. 4-6 (depending on the size of your container) 3-inch PVC elbows (90-degree). This was attached to the back and bent around to the front at a 45-degree angle, so contents will flow toward the front of the feeder, rather than collect in the corners. Might have to make this my next project! He came up with using our hot glue gun for a couple of quick “tac welds” to hold the elbows in place for caulking. I attached the new feeder to the wall of the coop, filled it up and within seconds the nosy old hens were poking their beaks in the feeder sections. Thank you very much for the wonderful instructions I have 4 buckets. putting red pepper flakes in with the chicken feed solves the rat problem and the goat problem. How do you keep them from “messing” on the top?? I decided to create a DIY PVC chicken feeder, too. My hens very much enjoy throwing their food around. They have a feed scattering party every time we fill them and this looks like it’d fix that! Birds. Put your safety goggles on! Put it on cinder blocks under the shelter that covers the coop and no problems at all. Hi could you use this type of layout as a watering container as well. Any suggestions? It holds about a third of a big 50lb bag of feed, and the hens like being able to stick their heads in and block up the hole so no one else can get to the feed till they are done eating. I used you if a but for lack of space and more sturdiness, I ordered 4 1/2 gallon square buckets and smart hinge lids about $7 each. They need it so they can be able to digest their food properly. Carefully caulk the inside of the bends, to prevent them from slipping out. This No-Waste DIY feeder will also help the issue in that you won’t have waste feed scattered around in the litter to attract them! They need it so they can be able to digest their food properly. How do you get them into the idea of putting their heads in the hole?! Feed will not mold unless it’s exposed to moisture; it doesn’t really have to do with quantity (otherwise it would simply mold inside your feed storage container, too!). We renovated our coop a bit when we merged the two flocks. Where can I get the elbows? I found this grit and oyster shell feeder I have one issue- the plastic containers deteriorate and start cracking and falling apart. What about the food stay in the middle of the container. If pvc is so toxic, why is our drinking water running through it in our homes??? In fact, I made […]. Something 1 inch tall, to help mark the placement of the elbow bends. Also baking soda and minerals for goats. A hundred pounds is a lot of weight pushing outwards on the side of the container. Step 2: To make the holes, we used a 3.5″ hole-saw. Dispenser for oyster shell or grit. Such a great idea but not sure if my chick will get stressed by putting their heads into the “hole”. You can leave out small dishes of grit and oyster shell, but I’ve found they often are stepped on and spilled, or they are quickly filled and covered with litter or become dirty in other ways. DIY Oyster Shell or Grit Feeder on September 28, 2018 Get link; Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; Email; Other Apps; Crafty people are coming out of the woodwork nowadays. I made this feeder and I really like it. I sure appreciate everyone’s feedback on feeders; now I want you all to get busy designing the perfect waterer; for both summer and 0′ F winters. As you drill, be careful not to push too hard, as the plastic can crack. I’m worried about their bill fitting around the bend…. Smaller containers would be great too, one for grit and one for oyster shell calcium. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. If you count the caulk used, this feeder cost around  $25 to make. Less angle. As my hens can free-feed out of this feeder all day, I haven’t seen any fighting for use of a particular opening. That’s why I wanted the edges of the feeder ports to be high enough that I wouldn’t be feeding a new generation. But they tend to be sickly from overeating, and die quite young if feed intake isn’t strictly limited. With most flocks, you have to deal with the issue of feed waste. This isn’t financially feasible in most cases – buying oysters just to make oyster shell feed is definitely not worth it (unless you really love eating oysters, that is! However, I’ll also save money on feed. Could you use this with Gunieas? This is why My Pet Chicken doesn’t sell “meat” birds as pets, incidentally. Am I doing something wrong? Where did you buy smart hinge 4G buckets for $7 please? but I used a extra ring on the outside and the pvc glue to attach it to the inside pvc elbow. While feed stores sell bags of ground oyster shells for a relatively low price, you may decide that you want to make your own oyster shell supplement. Great to prevent waste and less likely for predators to get to food. We have 9 birds. My whole chicken coop is made from reclaimed wooden palettes that we destined for the dump. Chicken Breeds and Designer Chicken Breeds, DIY PVC Chicken Feeder - My Pet Chicken Blog, https://www.dultmeier.com/products/0.1158.1913.1942/1923, https://www.dultmeier.com/products/0.1158.1913.2145/2130. My helper-dog is on the prowl for things he can interfere with! Step 4. Would this original idea work for water too? Funny thing is, I don't call it being crafty. Does this mean the chickens have to stick their head in and down to get the food? DIY Grit And Oyster Shell Feeder. Anyone else have this problem? If their necks are too short to reach, it wouldn’t work. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I made a 4 at first then bought a new tub and more elbows and am using a 10 hole feeder for 20 chickens and it works great other than the boss chickens peck the others and have not let them eat much. That plus the container is an expensive feeder! You could always try it, and if it doesn’t work for you, you’ve just got an extra feeder! You can see here why creating the right size hole is important for a snug fit. Portable Chicken Coop Backyard Chicken Coops Chicken Coop Plans Building A Chicken Coop Diy Chicken Coop Chickens Backyard Chicken Tractors Homemade Chicken Feeder Chicken Feeders. This particular container cost me around $12 at Walmart, and is large enough to hold two 50-pound bags of chicken feed, with room to spare. To prevent the weight of the feed from pushing the elbows out, let dry overnight and do a second coat. Cut a piece of wire the width of the gate plus 12 inches. Chicken Coup Chicken Chick Chicken Lady Diy Chicken Coop Keeping Chickens Raising Chickens Backyard Farming Chickens Backyard Chicken Roost. I am learning alot! If you live in a cold weather area do the containers only last one year before becoming brittle? I think this would work very well for our girls. Note: I like the clear containers, so I can easily see when it needs a refill. Then I filled the feeder with their regular crumble. Mice can’t get in it, and even the silkies can get their heads in. So here’s my version. My ideas and my carpentry skills do not match up, so after spending some frustrating hours, I turned the whole project over to my husband, and headed into the house for the camera. Of course, you can buy waste free feeders for chickens if you don’t have time for DIY projects—but I love chicken DIY projects! I’ll be awaiting. I used the 2nd for my goat minerals. It may have nothing to do with toxicity but the house we are building now has PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) delivering water to the outlets…since the well isn’t in yet, I don’t know if PVC will be used between the subsurface water and the PEX. But particularly if you’re seeing feather picking/pecking, you’ll want to make sure there is space for everyone to eat at once. Grit is available at your local feed store. So, just wanted to clarify here – in order to get the food the hens have to stick their necks way in to reach the feed at the bottom of the bin? , Yes, the girls stick their head in to get the food. As long as the water level is not too high? Other types don’t have this problem. Use a 45 instead of a 90 for ducks maybe? Finally, place the feeder, and fill it up. A no-waste feeder just helps to prevent a lot of wasted feed knocked onto the ground. I am researching best ideas for my chicken coop that will hopefully be up and running in the next year. My hens are not sold yet, they still haven’t figured it out ..is elevating it critical? They need it so they can be able to digest their food properly. Great write up! So,when choosing your container, be sure to note the thickness and quality of the plastic. 888.460.1529. I hope that will help! Anyone have any helpful hints on goat proofing a chicken feeder? Mar 27, 2018 - Threads - Small easy DIY oyster shell Feder. Add it when caulking but use a good plastic glue to make it stick all around. There is no waste. Do you find certain plastic containers that last longer? The best way to avoid attracting them in the first place is to remove food sources, as you probably know! Jan 18, 2015 - Are you feeding your chickens grit and oyster shells? I am not a chemist. Not nearly as easy as it looks.. I’ve been using a feeder like this for several years now. 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