Homemade accessories?

[walldanzig]

I have made a home made heat lamp out of a sweet tin and an inspection lamp it's two days old and working a treat

[janeyo]

Whoop!

Just spoken to a (very sensible) friend from school who is NOT going away in half term and is really excited to bring her boys and look after the cickens for us. There shouldn't be so much to do now though - and she even asked if anything in the garden will need watering! She is 2 mins walk away too.

I think I love her......

[Suechooks]

Good for you! You can go and relax without wondering if they're ok now. Enjoy!

[chris]

I think this is the only downside of having them.. Thankfully I have amate who keeps them very near me. We have an agreement about looking after each others!

[Mikey]

I was going to ask if any of your childrens friends could do it. I think I'll be quite lucky with mine, my neighbour has already been round with some pimms as an excuse to come and sit and watch them for an hour. I told him he was welcome anytime but to bring some cold cans next time.

[Minamoo]

We didn't make them ourselves but we did buy an automatic feeder and two automatic waterers. I wish we could have a giant feeder and just leave the girls to it but they have zero self control and will just groge themselves on whatever food is left out. Literally 2.5 days worth of food was consumed in a single morning! I think it's cos they weren't looked after properly by their previous owners. and that feeder is great. You can set it to give them whatever quantity of food you like at whatever time of the day and as many times as you like. It may not be cheap...but for us it's pretty much the only option. And the waterers connect directly to a hosepipe which is great.

[janeyo]

Well an update on the feeders / drinkers...
The feeder works really well.

The drinker has been less of a success as it gets full of mould. It needs cleaning out every 2 weeks. (its a black dustbin) I have tried adding ACV to the water and it still goes mouldy. I think we will just use this when we go away and go back to the hand filled ones for the rest of the time.

[Snadger]

Just bought a spring for 3 quid off ebay and dug out a small barrel I had lying around at the allotment. Now all I need is a bit of time, a bit of inginuity and a bit of inspiration.

Getting a bit peed off with feeding rats!

[Polly Fouracre]

Polo, I was thinking myself, reading this thread that we could set up a "I'll look after yours/ you look after mine" service. I, for one would be more than happy to see to peoples stock within,say, a 10-15 mile radius either for holidays or in an emergency.

[Suechooks]

Good idea Polly. There is a similar thead on another forum givng locations and availability.

[chris]

So let's start one then!!

[Suechooks]

So let's start one then!!

You're the Mod - go on then!

[RichmondHens]

Good idea in theory. My feeling is that it would only work though if it was a "like for like" situation, eg six hens for a week in return for similar. It would be unfair to expect someone who was only used to dealing with a few placid hens to come and do a large flock with several cockerels/broody hens/chicks etc.

[Mikey]

I'm sure I've read somewhere on here putting some charcoal in the butt will stop mould.

Well an update on the feeders / drinkers...
The feeder works really well.

The drinker has been less of a success as it gets full of mould. It needs cleaning out every 2 weeks. (its a black dustbin) I have tried adding ACV to the water and it still goes mouldy. I think we will just use this when we go away and go back to the hand filled ones for the rest of the time.

[jessmorris]

Good idea in theory. My feeling is that it would only work though if it was a "like for like" situation, eg six hens for a week in return for similar. It would be unfair to expect someone who was only used to dealing with a few placid hens to come and do a large flock with several cockerels/broody hens/chicks etc.

Don't know if I agree with this ;-) I babysit for a friend and I have no kids, but I quite enjoy it. Also coping with someone's broody might inspire folk to do some hatching, or turn them off completely without them having to go through the whole thing to find out....I think its up to folk to say if its too much to take on, don't you?!

And if anyone fancies feeding some bonkers bantams while I'm away August Bank Holiday they are more than welcome to contact me!