Post by horses7 on Aug 14, 2008 23:58:52 GMT 8
Was web cruising tonight and came across this plan for a portable chicken coop, what I liked about it is that it is made completely out of PC pipe, not a nail or screw in site. I think even I could build this
www.pvcplans.com/PoultryPen.pdf
and found this on how to make your own feeders and water containers
CHICKEN FEEDER
The farm stores all carry a nice selection of chicken feeders and water containers but they can be rather expensive. I made a 5 gallon feeder and waterer using two 5 gallon buckets I got for free at our local grocery store - usually the bakery or deli section - and two 20 inch plastic planter bases. The plastic planter bases cost around $5.00 - I purchased mine from a garage sale. Of course, any local retailer such as Walmart, Target, or your local hardware store or nursery would carry them as well. The 5 gallon feeder I'm currently using is pictured above - after filling it with feed, it will last about 3 weeks for 13 chickens.
How it's done: To make the Chicken feeder - drill several holes about 1 1/2" in diameter around the bottom of the bucket. Make sure the bottom edge of the holes are no higher up than 1/2" from the very bottom of the bucket. Next - place the bucket in the bottom of the plant base so the top of the bucket is still up. Don't throw away the lid - you'll still need it. Make sure the bucket is centered as best as possible in the plant bottom and then screw it in place using 3 or 4 screws until it is secure. That's it! just pour in the feed and put the lid on and you've got 5 gallons worth of feed. I'm guessing this would be roughly 20 lbs of feed since it holds just under half of a 50lb bag of chicken feed in my feeder. I place my feeder on top of 2 concrete blocks - chickens are sloppy eaters and this helps prevent feed spillage. I've seen other people hang their feeders a few inches off the ground with rope. The suggested distance off the ground is about the height of the chickens back.
CHICKEN WATER CONTAINER
For the waterer, it's the same method except you only need to drill one or two small holes (1/4" or so) near the base of the bucket - and drill them around 1" up from bottom of the bucket. You can vary the height or distance from the bottom of the bucket a little, but make sure the hole does not lie above the rim of the planter base - If you do, all the water will overflow out of the trough.
www.pvcplans.com/PoultryPen.pdf
and found this on how to make your own feeders and water containers
CHICKEN FEEDER
The farm stores all carry a nice selection of chicken feeders and water containers but they can be rather expensive. I made a 5 gallon feeder and waterer using two 5 gallon buckets I got for free at our local grocery store - usually the bakery or deli section - and two 20 inch plastic planter bases. The plastic planter bases cost around $5.00 - I purchased mine from a garage sale. Of course, any local retailer such as Walmart, Target, or your local hardware store or nursery would carry them as well. The 5 gallon feeder I'm currently using is pictured above - after filling it with feed, it will last about 3 weeks for 13 chickens.
How it's done: To make the Chicken feeder - drill several holes about 1 1/2" in diameter around the bottom of the bucket. Make sure the bottom edge of the holes are no higher up than 1/2" from the very bottom of the bucket. Next - place the bucket in the bottom of the plant base so the top of the bucket is still up. Don't throw away the lid - you'll still need it. Make sure the bucket is centered as best as possible in the plant bottom and then screw it in place using 3 or 4 screws until it is secure. That's it! just pour in the feed and put the lid on and you've got 5 gallons worth of feed. I'm guessing this would be roughly 20 lbs of feed since it holds just under half of a 50lb bag of chicken feed in my feeder. I place my feeder on top of 2 concrete blocks - chickens are sloppy eaters and this helps prevent feed spillage. I've seen other people hang their feeders a few inches off the ground with rope. The suggested distance off the ground is about the height of the chickens back.
CHICKEN WATER CONTAINER
For the waterer, it's the same method except you only need to drill one or two small holes (1/4" or so) near the base of the bucket - and drill them around 1" up from bottom of the bucket. You can vary the height or distance from the bottom of the bucket a little, but make sure the hole does not lie above the rim of the planter base - If you do, all the water will overflow out of the trough.