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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 9:00:06 GMT -6
I came up with a feeder last year after several tries to eliminate waste and still protect the feed from getting wet. Last night proved it to work great. I left the quail incovered last night because I didn't know it was going to rain. Well it did and rained like crazy. I went out this morning and the feed was dry. I had quail last year for the first time and they wasted more feed than they ate. I was scooping up feed by the scoopfulls last year and it was going in the trash. So if anybody wants to give it a try i'll let you know how to make one. What you need are 1- 1.42 gallon bleach jug 1 gallon ice cream bucket (round) Duct tape Knife Cut around above where the label is and take the top completely off. Cut the spout off just below where the threads are for the cap and cut about 2 inches off the handle starting where it attaches to the spout and down. Not lengthwise but cut that much of the handle off. Wash it out and let it air dry. Cut 4 holes in the side of the bottom part about 2 inches from the bottom. Leave one side without holes in it. The holes should be about 2 inches round and 1 1/2 inches apart. Mine are far from perfectly round or exactly round but the distance from the bottom is important. YOu don't want them too high so the babies can't get to the feed or too low the feed gets thrown out. The babies will get inside till they are bigger. Then they won't go in but just stick their heads in. Invert the top into the bottom portion with the handle facing between the 2 middle holes and the spout facing the back side that has no holes. Press it down so it's not touching the bottom but is about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom and use duct tape and place a few pieces to hold it in place. Then go around the entire edge and tape it down. For the top: cut the bottom of a gallon ice cream bucket 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches tall. Cover the top of the feeder with this I'm going to attempt to add pics of the steps. The pic with this one is a completed one Attachments:
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 9:03:11 GMT -6
This is the top part with the cut spout and handle and the bottom with holes marked. I don't normally mark them. I just use a knife and cut, then trim amy pointy places. Attachments:
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 9:13:04 GMT -6
This is a picture of the spout and handle inside the bottom portion after it's been taped down. The handle is cut shorter than the spout for the reason to let feed fall through it as well as the spout. The reason you don't want them on the side of the holes is the feed will come out closer to the holes and they will get it out and waste it. This way it comes out towards the back and as they eat it it will slowly refill it's self. When the feed gets low, I give the bottom a little shake and it disperses it out towards the holes. To fill the feeder, take off the top and fill through there. YOu'll want to give it a shake to make the bottom fill up and continue to fill it till ful. Replace the lid and put in the cage. There may be a very little feed that does get wasted but hardly any. I put some large flat rocks on top to keep wind from taking it off. If the top ocmes off, it will get wet inside. I fill my feeders once a week and that is either a dozen quail chicks, 6 silkie chicks or 5 grown quail. I use them with "chicken" chicks also. Till they get too tall to reach in the holes. It seems chicks love to waste feed. Attachments:
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 9:18:35 GMT -6
I haven't tried it yet but i'm thinking if the handle was cut to be lower in the bottom part it could be used as a water container. I woldn't want to use it in with chicks because they will get in and drown but with grown quail it would probably work. And one could get ice in these where the rabbit bottles it's harder to get ice into to give them cool water when it's terribly hot.
I make one of these out of every bleach jug I empty. I've tried using several different things like the liquid laundry detergent bottles, milk jugs and 2 liter bottles. None work as well as the bleach jug and they aren't as easy to make either. I'll be working on a simple and cheap way to make a 2 liter waterer. One that will be able to be used with a smaller water bottle for travel also.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 9:19:48 GMT -6
Here's one that shows it taped. You will want to rip the edges to be more even before you tape it so the lid fits on better. Attachments:
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Post by ellisfarms on Jul 13, 2011 9:25:40 GMT -6
i use the almost the same setup but for wasp and flies .all you do is don't cut holes in the side . and fill it up with sugar water keep water about 1 in from hole l in top works good .
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 11:19:05 GMT -6
Great idea. We have about all kinds of stinging critters here. I'm always getting hit with a bee of some sorts. Rarely get stung though. I pretty much ignore them and if I get too close to a nest they just fly and run into me pretty hard then fly away. There is a wasp nest in one of my pens and when I hose it out everyday they just hang out and watch me. I keep forgetting to bing the wasp spray when I go in there. I'll get rid of them eventually.
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Post by ellisfarms on Jul 13, 2011 12:16:57 GMT -6
you have all kinds of good ideas . we all can learn alot from you .it helps to have people like you in this club
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Post by Timbo on Jul 13, 2011 14:57:05 GMT -6
Great job Chowdown.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 13, 2011 21:02:53 GMT -6
If its a way to save money, i'm all for it. The hubby has financed my chicken hobby from the start and it can get expensive. Although I have lots of feeders and water containers it seems there is always a need for more from time to time.
And the quart jar feeders are so easy for the birdies to rake the feed out and waste it. I was so tired of throwing feed away. With the quail it was crazy the amount of feed that was wasted till I decided there had to be a better way.
Some of the feeders I came up with just ran the feed right out and some the feed didn't flow ike I wanted it to. But I was determined to make something work.
These feeders work great. There is a tiny bit of waste but not enough to make a difference. I thro out more left over dust than gets wasted with these feeders.
There is also a way to not waste the dust left over. Treat cakes can be made out of it and extra can be frozen till it's needed. I have yet to make them but I was told about them from chicken fancier. Pretty much any fruit or vegetable can be added to the cakes, along with flour, egg a little oil which is the base. Add the dust left over from the feed and any vegetable and or fruit, applesauce, black sun flower seeds, what ever is your chickens favorite treat can be added. BAke them till done in little loaf pans or a 13 x 9 cake pan and cooled then cut into squares. Wrap with plastic wrap or in ziploc bags and freeze.
They say these don't go to waste. They eat every crumb.
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Post by ellisfarms on Jul 13, 2011 23:25:22 GMT -6
jest what i was talking about lol you full of good ideas
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Post by Backwood Barns on Jul 14, 2011 7:10:56 GMT -6
Chowdowns, if your coming to the meet next weekend can you bring one I can look at. The pics are good but I'm more of a hands on learner
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 14, 2011 7:32:42 GMT -6
Chowdowns, if your coming to the meet next weekend can you bring one I can look at. The pics are good but I'm more of a hands on learner I sure will. I have one here I just made.
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Post by Backwood Barns on Jul 14, 2011 10:00:11 GMT -6
Great! Anything to save a dollar. We don't have quail yet. Fiancee wants some next year maybe but I'm sure it would be useful for some of the other birds even if we had to modify some
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 15, 2011 2:01:44 GMT -6
You can use them for chicks and if you make the holes bigger, the grown birds should be able to use it. Providing they do't have large combs.
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