I’ve wanted chickens or quail since moving into our new place two years ago. Today I pick up some chicks. The prior owners left us a chicken coop and a feeder and water dispenser for adult chickens. The water dispenser works fine for chicks as well, but not the feeder, so GF to the rescue…
I tried using a lid from a jar, but they would just trample it and dump most of it into the bedding. This holds more food and keeps them from walking on it. Win/win!
For those who are curious, the five red ones are Rhode Island Reds and the other five are Ameraucanas (Easter Eggers). They are called Easter Eggers because of the color of their eggs. I CANNOT WAIT to start getting eggs from these.
The first is a compact cut list for all of the feeder parts except for the sides. Just set all three paths to cut. Then cut out 2 of the second file for the sides of the feeder.
What an awesome job. Thanks for sharing the file. We have our own little flock of “Easter Eggers” and they have been very prolific in their egg making. You will enjoy them and the eggs.
I am pretty excited about them. The prior owners also left me an egg incubator, so I’m hoping for an advantageous hen/rooster mix. Then I can grow the flock naturally, if I choose to do so.
Welcome to the chick family! We’ve had chickens for five years now, raising many of them from chicks. They are so much fun! Get ready to be overrun with eggs in about 5 months, although by then it’ll be winter-time and they usually don’t lay as many during the winter (depending on where you live), but next Spring, whoohoo! And thanks for sharing the feeder!
Careful. Apparently it is quite addictive. About a decade ago both my son’s family and my daughter started raising chickens for something to do and of course the free eggs. I went to visit this weekend and the chicken coops and large pens have taken over both of their properties. Apparently my daughter-in-law has gone as far as being registered by some AKC equivalent for chickens as a source for rare breeds. There are isolation and quarantine pens, separate coops for controlled breeding and a huge local group of chicken swappers. The size, colors and even flavors of the eggs are outrageous. Her eggs are in local demand for Easter since some of the breeds lay very colorful eggs. The picture shows some eggs I brought home for breakfast yesterday. I didn’t take a picture of the more vivid eggs, but green eggs and spam are standard breakfast fare for me.
BTW: Damn rooster started crowing at 4:15am while I was dead to the world in the guest room.
I think you’ll love having chickens. We had some for several years and they’re so adorable. I used to suspend a round, galvanized feeder from a chain at about chicken knee level which prevented them from stepping into it.
That’s what we do, for both their water and their feeder. Works great.
@rpegg - we had a friend spend the night with us, and she was amazed that our roosters (we had two at the time, now we have three), not only crowed in the morning, but throughout the day as well. I often hear ours crowing anywhere from 3am up until they roost at night. Then they’re pretty quiet.
…to attack you. We had one named Gregory (Peck)…and he was terrifying. He attacked my young grandson…chasing him and running up onto his back digging his spurs in. I know not all roosters are mean, but ours was a real piece of work.
which prevented them from stepping into it.