DIY Chicken Feeder

Up to now I've been using a DIY chicken feeder made from a Tractor Supply bucket and a large flower pot plate/bottom.  It worked out well, but eventually got on my nerves with the amount of space it takes up, the heaviness of it when it's full, and the constant need to shake the food down.  So I've been looking for a while at other options in DIY feeders and came across this one on Pinterest.....

http://pinterest.com/pin/95631192058204649/

I thought it was neat, and didn't look like it would take up a lot of space in my small coop.  Sunday we went to Lowe's with the idea of making one for ourselves. While looking at the suggested 4 inch plumbing pieces I decided that was far too large a size for where we wanted to put it, so we went down to the 3 inch versions.  However, they didn't have the Y-adapter in the 3 inch size.

Then I saw it...  A three way adapter! I call it a W-adapter.  LOL. How perfect could that be?  Chickens could eat out of two sides at once.  I could still place it against a wall--saving coop space--and more than one hen could eat at a time.  Yay!

We snagged a 2 foot long pipe, the W-adapter, and caps for the top and bottom.  Brought it all home, put it together, attached to the inside of the coop, and filled with feed.  It took the hens a few minutes to discover there was food inside, but after that they all had to check it out.

The next morning when I went to let them out of the coop I heard happy munching from the new feeder.  The sound of another successful DIY chicken project.  :)

I wish I'd thought to take pics of all the parts before we put it together, but I didn't. Bad blogger, Me! However, here's a pic of the finished project inside the coop.  It took a dozen pictures to get one without the hens standing in the way... surely wondering what the heck I was doing.

So there it is, my new DIY PVC chicken feeder.  It cost less than $30 to make, which is more expensive than the bucket method, but it takes up less space and *should* be less hassle to deal with.  Fingers crossed anyway!  :D

New layers in the coop.

As you may recall, back in April I purchased six new chicks to add to my coop of three Rhode Island Reds.  The fluffy chicks quickly grew big enough to go into the coop with my older hens.  Up to now we've just been waiting until the egg laying began.

And now it has!

Out of the six Barred Plymouth Rocks, three are now laying daily.  I did a happy dance the first day when there was a new egg in the nest.  Each day a new one arrives I celebrate.  All the work and waiting is starting to pay off and I couldn't be happier.  Each egg is like a new gift.  :)

Before:

After:

EGGS!

The top two eggs are from my Rhode Island Reds, and the rest are from the Barred Plymouth Rocks.  You can't tell too well in the picture, but there is a little color difference (the BPRs are lighter) and size (the BPRs are smaller).  However, they all taste the same!  ;)

Soon the other three will start laying and I'll be collecting approximately nine eggs daily.  Since my RIRs are a year older than my BPRs I'm hoping when one breed starts molting the other will still be laying.  That way we'll always have eggs.  At least that's what I'm hoping.  Who knows what the chickens will think of that.  LOL!

A new blog award.

I get these from time to time, but only a few are what I consider worth the time to put them up (or I simply forget to do it!).

My blogging friend, Connie [Sunfire's Ramblings], awarded this to me back in July.  And you see how long it's taken me to put it up.  LOL!  Eek!

Anyway, here we go...

The rules:

[1] Thank the giver - Thank you very much, Connie!

[2] Post 7 things about yourself
        ~ I've never lived by myself. Went from my parents' house to my newlywed apartment.
        ~ Blue is my favorite color, but I have a big enjoyment of purple also.
        ~ I never wanted to live where I am. Always thought I'd move away from my hometown.
        ~ I named my three Rhode Island Reds (Henny Penny, Goldie, and Brownie), but never gave the Barred Rock Plymouth chicks names.
        ~ I hate waking up before daylight, but enjoy all the work I can get done when I do get up.
        ~ I really should be getting dressed to take FIL to an appointment instead of sitting here playing online.  LOL!  Oops. ;)
        ~ Sometimes I want to smack my husband across the face when he's snoring.  And yes, he knows.

[3] Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers and let them know they’ve been nominated - I always have a hard time choosing! And yes, most of these are from my writer's side of life. LOL.

        ~ Robin Renee Ray
        ~ Andi's Book Reviews
        ~ Paranormal Reads
        ~ Living Crazy in Montana
        ~ A Girl and Her Kindle
        ~ Krazy About Kindy
        ~ Paige Tyler

[4] Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog - Done!