Reddit mentions: The best farming kits & accessories
We found 278 Reddit comments discussing the best farming kits & accessories. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 184 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Add-A-Motor - Chicken Coop Automatic Door Accessory Motor - Model D20-120V
- Customizable - Heavy duty motor adapts to your coop, connects to any type chicken coop door (wood, metal, or plastic) to make it "automatic"
- Powerful Motor - No counter-weight needed. Motor can lift and lower a door up to 10 pounds, with door openings up to 25 inches or more
- Safety Feature - Included safe connector prevents damage if door is frozen closed or jammed and closes slowly to prevent injury to poultry
- Easy Set Up - Installs in about 15 minutes. No Complicated Programming. Simply rotate a dial to set how high and low to reel your door
- Includes - Motor, mounting hardware, universal door connector, AC power adapter, and illustrated instructions. Works like a reversible motorized fishing reel
Features:
Specs:
Color | Multicolor |
Height | 2.25 Inches |
Length | 4.25 Inches |
Weight | 1.06 Pounds |
Width | 2.5 Inches |
2. Gardener's Supply Company Mason Bee House
- PRODUCT DETAILS: Gardeners Supply Exclusive Mason Bees House Specially handcrafted with long-lasting Natural Bamboo materials. This Bee House Attracts Peaceful Bee Pollinators such as Mason Bees, Ladybugs, and Carpenter bees that promote natural pollination and boost Garden Productivity. Product Dimensions: 5-3/4"" W x 10"" H x 5-3/4"" D
- BEST USE AS: Outdoor Garden Decor and Promotes Environmental Eco-system Pollination Add elegance to your outdoor garden or even to your Patio with our exclusive Natural Mason Bee House. Boost your garden's productivity by providing a happy home for peaceful, non-stinging mason bees, Nature's best pollinators! Slightly smaller than honeybees, mason bees are incredible pollinators. Each one visits as many as 1000 blooms per day — 20 times as many as a honeybee!
- HIGH QUALITY: Last for 2 Years or More Our Natural Bamboo Mason Bee House is carefully handcrafted using high-quality bamboo materials that attract bees compared to the Plastic and Painted ones that are painted with dyes and smelly paints. This beehive can last 1-2 years if protected properly. A wonderful ornament that adds natural beauty to your garden.
- EASY TO USE: No Assembly is needed. Just hang it in a tree or somewhere in your flower garden. It will naturally attract bees and other environment-friendly bugs that will help the natural pollination and produce honeybees. Easy to care and maintain for longer use. A Gardener's Supply Exclusive Design Garden Decor.
- OUTDOOR GARDEN TESTED & GUARANTEED: Every purchase you make is 100% guaranteed. We will exchange or refund your purchase for any product that is not what you expected or does not work as described during its lifetime.
Features:
Specs:
Height | 10.5 Inches |
Length | 5.75 Inches |
Weight | 0.99 Pounds |
Width | 6 Inches |
3. Heritage Acres Market LLC Chicken Watering Nipples - Original Columbus Aqua Design, Horizontal Side Mount Poultry Waterer, Stainless Steel Parts, BPA-Free [Not Chinese] 5 Count
- CLEAN, HEALTHY WATER ALL YEAR ROUND: Our poultry nipples keep water crystal clear and free of algae, dirt or droppings for the healthiest drinking water, and won’t freeze even during the colder months
- FEWER WATER CHANGES: Our watering nipples can be used on any food grade container such as juice bottles, 5 gallon buckets, 55 gallon drums, or on a PVC automatic fill system
- EASY-TO-MOUNT DESIGN: Our poultry nipples are designed to easily mount water storage containers or buckets and are commonly used to water chickens but can also be used for watering turkeys, quail, ducks, geese, and other birds
- QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST: Crafted in Europe from premium, ultra durable stainless steel metal and BPA-free plastic parts, our Columbus Aqua nipples are the original poultry nipple and are made to last
- LIFETIME LEAK-FREE GUARANTEE: Our products come with a lifetime guarantee and we have several installation, training documents, and instructional videos available to help you make the best of your new waterer
Features:
Specs:
Color | Red |
Number of items | 5 |
4. Lasagna Gardening: A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!
- gardening
Features:
Specs:
Color | Multicolor |
Height | 9.17 Inches |
Length | 7.5 Inches |
Weight | 0.80027801106 Pounds |
Width | 0.675 Inches |
Release date | November 1998 |
Number of items | 1 |
5. Goldenrod (405) Fence Stretcher-Splicer
- Features a controlled release holding ratchet to reduce line stress when wire is released
- Quickly tighten any fence - high tensile, barbed, or smooth wire
- Splice, stretch, and reposition wire
- When splicing wire, the tool holds the ends in place so both hands are free to make the splice
- Made in the U.S.A
Features:
Specs:
Color | Gold |
Height | 9 Inches |
Length | 2 Inches |
Weight | 3.968320716 Pounds |
Width | 33 Inches |
Release date | January 2015 |
Number of items | 1 |
6. New Anti Bird Netting 100' X 50' Net Netting Aviary Game Poultry Bird 2"x2" Mesh
Permanent solution, ideal for commercial projectsSensible, strong, long-lasting, and hassle-freeLightweight, pliable, maintenance-free materialAllows light and moisture inMaterial :PEwith UV resistant
Specs:
Color | Black |
Size | 100' X 50' |
7. Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit, Completely Assembled, Painted, Made In The USA
Made in the USACompletely assembled and ready for beesKit includes one painted 10 frame 9-5/8-inch assembled hive body, ten 9-1/8-assembled wood frames with yellow waxed RiteCell foundation, painted bottom board with entrance reducer, and painted telescoping cover with inner coverAlso contains one l...
Specs:
Color | White |
Height | 13.14 Inches |
Length | 22 Inches |
Weight | 36.03 Pounds |
Width | 18.5 Inches |
Size | Painted Wood Frames |
8. Yardbird 21833 Chicken Plucker
- POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT PROCESSING: With a heavy duty 1.5 HP motor and 300 RPMs of spinning force, Yardbird can de-feather chickens, ducks, geese, hens, waterfowl and other birds in just 15-30 seconds following an appropriate scalding process. A roomy 20” diameter drum easily accommodates many sizes of birds.
- NATURAL AND SAFE DEFEATHERING: 110 individual rubber fingers naturally and gently remove feathers dirt and grime from the skin of the bird. A drum-sensing safety switch and GFCI ensure that the operator is safe and secure during processing.
- SIMPLE DEBRIS COLLECTION: An integrated irrigation ring with standard garden hose connector allows for hands-free flushing of plucked feathers into the feather chute. Feather collection is accomplished by simply placing a 5-gallon pail under the chute.
- EASY TO CLEAN & MAINTAIN: A removable stainless steel, food-grade, drum along with a gear-drive commercial-grade motor encased in a specialized waterproof motor housing make for easy cleaning and minimal maintenance.
- TRANSPORT AND STORAGE FRIENDLY: The compact size of the Yardbird allows for efficient storage while the solid rubber wheels with ball-bearings give the user the transportability and flexibility needed to get to and from the processing site.
- SERVICE AND SUPPORT: The Yardbird Chicken Plucker is backed by a US-based customer service team and a 1-year warranty.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Stainless Steel |
Height | 36 Inches |
Length | 27 Inches |
Weight | 83 Pounds |
Width | 31 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
9. Honey Keeper Beehive 20 Frame Complete Box Kit (10 Deep and 10 Medium) with Metal Roof for Langstroth Beekeeping
- 2-Tier hive: Premium solid wood construction for a durable hive. Includes one deep hive body box, which serve as the colony’s living quarters. This is the hive’s largest component, holding ten frames of honeycomb. One medium super box collects surplus honey harvested from your bees and holds ten medium frames with foundations.
- 20 Frames with foundations: Our Langstroth Beehive Kit comes with twenty removable solid-wood frames, with plastic foundations, designed to support the honeycomb. The kit includes ten deep brood frames and foundations, and ten medium super frames and foundations, which bees use to make their honeycombs.
- Telescoping cover and bottom board: This heavy-duty galvanized metal cover, prevents rust, protects your beehive and the colony from the outdoor elements, and helps extend the life of the wood hive. The bottom board supports the weight of the entire hive and protects the colony and the floor of your hive from the damp ground.
- Entrance reducer: A notched wooden strip allows you to control the bottom entrance’s size to protect the colony. It limits bee access to the hive and helps control ventilation and temperature during colder months. This wooden entrance reducer cleat is removable to allow full entrance.
- Queen excluder: The flat plastic rack limits the queen to the two lower deep hive bodies. Large holes allow the worker bees to enter, yet these holes are small enough to keep queen bee out. This helps with preventing the queen bee from laying eggs inside the Medium Super Box so honey can be collected - not the eggs.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Fir Wood |
Height | 19.75 Inches |
Length | 23 Inches |
Weight | 46.5 Pounds |
Width | 23 Inches |
Size | 23" high by 18.25" wide by 19.75" high |
10. RentACoop Chicken Feeder-Holds 20 Pounds-Pellets-Crumbles-Grain in Bucket - for 21st Century Chicken Owners - Inside or Outside of Coop - Use with Nipple Waterer (2 Feed Ports - Corner (4-6 Hens))
- 🐓 For chickens 12 weeks and older. (Younger/smaller chickens can crawl in the port) No-Roost Cap included! Place feeder anywhere in your yard/run and the feed stays dry. No need to put it under cover.
- 🐓 MADE IN THE USA with US and Global Parts!
- 🐓 No more squirrels, wild birds, mice or rats getting into your coop looking for feed on the ground 99% of feed stays in the feeder - Even with your most wasteful hen!
- 🐓 100% Food Grade and BPA Free Plastic - Comes fully assembled - Simply fill with feed and it's ready for your hens. Holds 20 pounds of feed! Refill once every 30 days for 2 hens, 14 days for 4 hens and once every week for 8 hens
- 🐓 Available in Center or Corner placement Models
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 25 Pounds |
Size | Corner Placement |
11. Cozy Products CL Safe Chicken Coop Heater 200 Watts Safer Than Brooder Lamps, One Size, Black
- LOW HEAT OUTPUT: Unlike traditional high wattage heaters, this 200 watt warmer puts out a low amount of heat which is ideal for chickens and young chicks, is much safer than heat lamps, and saves a lot on energy costs
- A CHICKEN COOP WARMER DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Safer than brooders or dangerous heat lamps, the Cozy Coop is ETL listed and rated for zero clearance; Third party certifications ensure that product is safe to use
- PROTECTED CORD: Our cord is protected and durable, so chickens are not hurt if they peck at the electric cord with their beaks, and it keeps curious chicks, ducks, chickens, pets, or small birds safe in the barn, hutch, coop, or outdoors
- ULTRA FLAT DESIGN FOR ULTIMATE CONVENIENCE: No lightbulbs or lamps to replace; Simply plug into a power source; Cozy Coop comes with a convenient stand; The heater can also be safely mounted to a wall
- PERFECT HEAT FOR SMALL ANIMAL HOUSES: Radiant heating panel provides consistent gentle heat without overheating your pet dog, cat, or your animal’s habitat; Ideal for outdoor coops and freezing winter temperatures
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 12.01 Inches |
Length | 18.98 Inches |
Width | 0.63 Inches |
Size | One Size |
12. Rite Farm Products 48" Chicken Catcher Leg Hook CATCHING Poultry Goose Geese Duck Turkey Fowl Bird
Powder Coated Steel1 Piece ConstructionMade to last a lifetimeDirect from the maufactureLowest price on Amazon Period
Specs:
Weight | 2 Pounds |
Number of items | 1 |
13. Complete Bee Hive Kit, Painted, Assembled, 10-Frame, Made In The USA
- Made in the USA with quality pine
- Completely assembled and ready for bees
- Kit includes one painted 10 frame 9-5/8-inch assembled hive body, ten 9-1/8-assembled wood frames with yellow waxed RiteCell foundation
- Solid painted bottom board with an unpainted entrance reducer and a painted telescoping cover with inner cover
- Measures 22-inch length by 18-1/2-inch width by 13-1/7-inch height
Features:
Specs:
Color | White |
Height | 13.14 Inches |
Length | 22 Inches |
Weight | 31.65 Pounds |
Width | 18.5 Inches |
Size | Painted Wood Frames |
14. Seymour 21306 AU-S6 Iwan Auger with Hardwood Handle, 6" Diameter
- It is designed for general purpose use in a variety of soils
- Steel blade is riveted to tough pliable iron yoke
- Has a steel shaft with a welded steel t-handle
- 6" Point spread
- Made in USA
Features:
Specs:
Color | 0 |
Height | 5 Inches |
Length | 11 Inches |
Weight | 8.41 Pounds |
Width | 11 Inches |
Size | 6" Point Spread Head |
Number of items | 1 |
15. Titan Incubators Chick Heating Plate/Brooder Hen – Heat Lamp Replacement - Up to 25 Chicks – 12” x 12”
Specs:
Height | 12.6 Inches |
Length | 14.57 Inches |
Weight | 3.30693393 Pounds |
Width | 2.36 Inches |
16. MTM 25-Round Magnum Shotshell Box
- Material: plastic and metal
- Color: red, black and silver
- Applicable to AC DC control circuits.Designed to control the movement of a mechanical part.
- High precision design, use easily
- Rating: AC 250V/7. 5A, 125V/15A, DC 125V/0. 6A, 250V/0. 3A
Features:
18. Miller Little Giant 7 Gallon Poultry Waterer Fount - The Best
Holds 7 gallonsRugged handle makes transport easyEasy-to-fill jar snaps onto baseDent-proof, heavy-duty translucent plastic allows view of water level
19. BAFX Products - 2 Gallon Chicken - Poultry - Fowl Watering Bucket & Lid w/ 4 Nipples
Specs:
Height | 9.9 Inches |
Length | 11.8 Inches |
Weight | 1.3 Pounds |
Width | 11.4 Inches |
20. YARDGARD 308302B Fence, 48" x 50'/4" x 2", Color - Galvanized
- 308302B 48"x50' 4x2 Weld Wire
- This product adds a great value
- This product is manufactured in China
Features:
Specs:
Color | Color - Galvanized |
Height | 48.03 Inches |
Length | 8.96 Inches |
Weight | 27.77 Pounds |
Width | 8.96 Inches |
Size | 48" x 50'/4" x 2" |
Number of items | 1 |
🎓 Reddit experts on farming kits & accessories
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where farming kits & accessories are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
The average homeowner can help support wildlife diversity and pollinators, plus help with CO2 emissions by doing two simple things. 1) Plants a range of flowers/shrubs/trees native and suited to your area and 2) Limit insecticide use as much as possible. All these suburban lawns with Bermuda grass and arborvitae are part of the problem. We still need large scale conservation, but this is something anyone with a yard can help with. Ideally, you want a range of plants that bloom at different times.
Spring
Redbuds are ornamental trees that bloom early in the spring. Eastern Redbud- native to parts of the eastern and midwest US. Western Redbud- native to mountainous parts of the western US. Texas/Oklahoma Redbud- a cultivar of Eastern Redbud meant for the less arid parts of TX/AR, pink flowers
Pussy Willow is a small tree or shrub with cottony, non-colorful blooms in April/May. Cool architectural look for people who don't love colorful flowers. Native to parts of the northern US, prefers wetter soil. Try not to laugh at the name. Article from a beekeeper on planting Pussy Willow.
Violets are massively important to Fritillary butterflies and they bloom in the spring/summer. They lay their eggs on violets and the larvae feed on the leaves. Without violets, there are no Fritillary butterflies. Violets have a tendency to spread, so unless you need groundcover, you may want to put them in a planter rather than straight in the ground. The common blue violet is found in the Eastern and Central US and can be grown in a lot of different conditions. It is also the traditional flower of lesbians (not a joke). The prairie violet is common in parts of the Great Plains and Southwest. It does well in drier soil and does not spread aggressively. The cream violet is an aggressive spreader that thrives in drier ground from New York to Arkansas. The marsh violet needs very wet soil and lives in parts of the Eastern US.
American Tulip Trees grow very large and may not be suited to most yards, but studies have found they are one of the best trees for socking away CO2. Native from CT to AL.
California lilac- lots of different types native to CA. Non-native lilacs are also very popular with native insects. Miss Kim is a popular small variety More info. Betsy Ross is a bigger lilac suited to warmer US climates More info pdf. Declaration is a bigger lilac suited to cooler US climates More info pdf.
Summer
Black eyed Susans are native in the Eastern US into parts of the Mountain US.
Virginia Sweetspire- small deciduous bush with loads of long white flowers in the summer and great fall color, native NJ to TX.
Butterfly Weed looks a bit like a weed, but it attracts both bees and butterflies. It grows from parts of New England into parts of the Southwest US.
Parsley is a host plant for several types of butterflies and will grow almost anywhere in North America, but it will die with the frost. Let the caterpillars eat it so they can grow into butterflies. Plant after the frost (aka probably right now). Same goes for Dill.
Shrubby St. John's Wort is a hardy shrub with yellow flowers native to parts of the Eastern and Central US.
Bees tend to like hydrangea, although most are not native to the US. Popular non-natives include Limelight hydrangea, [Annabelle Hydrangea](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=s9400, and Bigleaf Hydrangea. Oakleaf hydrangea is native from North Carolina west to Tennessee, and south to Florida and Louisiana. Popular varieties include Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea, Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea.
Penstemon/Beardtongue is a favorite of both bees and hummingbirds. It prefers drier soil with full sun. Foxglove Beardtongue is native to parts of the Central US, Pineleaf Penstemon is native to AZ and NM, and Davidson's Beardtongue native in parts of CA, NV, and OR.
Flame acanthus- red blooms, attracts hummingbirds, native to Texas
Fall
Asters are great fall blooming flowers, but they tend to look better at the back of a flower bed. Examples- New England Aster (native from New England into the Great Lakes and parts of the South), Aromatic Aster (native to parts of the Midwest and Texas), Smooth Blue Aster (native to much of the Northern US), California Aster (native BC to CA).
Sneezeweed can bloom into October, is native to much of the US and despite it's name, it doesn't bother allergy suffers.
Turtlehead is the only host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars. It grows in wet ground from Newfoundland and Manitoba to GA and MS. There are pink and white varieties.
Pink Muhly Grass is native from MA to FL and TX to KS. It prefers sandy or rocky dry ground. Link
American Witch Hazel- small tree, yellow blooms, flowers super early in the year, native to most of the eastern and parts of the midwestern US. Better photo
Winter
Winterberry is green in the summer and full of red berries for birds in the winter. It grows from eastern Canada to Minnesota to northern Alabama. It is a little tricky to grow as you need a mix of male and female plants, but a local nursery can get you the right plants.
If you want evergreen bushes, it is worth considering native options like Inkberry native from Atlantic Canada into the US South, Northern Bayberry native to coastal areas from Canada into Virginia, Southern Bayberry/Wax Myrtle native to the US South, California Bayberry native to Vancouver Island to Long Beach, CA, Eastern Red Cedar native from New England to parts of the Great Plains and Texas, Sweetbay Magnolia native Long Island to Alabama, and Yaupon Holly native to the US South.
Homes for Native Bees
Lots of people are suggesting more people try beekeeping, but beekeeping is an intensive hobby. Adding a shelter for a native bee to your yard is far easier (but no honey). Put a Mason Bee house like this in a sunny part of your yard. Or build one yourself.
Edited a bunch of after thoughts into this post.
Depends on the amount of chickens and how cold/hot your area is. Starting out, I'd probably do like 4 chickens unless you don't mind the extra bit of work involved with more chickens. I'd recommend having at least 1 roosting area per couple of chickens, although they'll probably end up sharing one particular spot even if you have like 10. Do keep in mind things like brooding with your chickens if you don't have a rooster. They'll get pissed that their eggs aren't hatching and will eventually get aggressive towards you, you'll need to separate them from the rest of the chickens to help them calm down. So plan for multiple areas (later down the line, depending on how old you get your chickens. They can lay eggs for up to 7 years surprisingly.)
I'd recommend maybe something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N42KXC3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Lve1CbYY5H5N2
It's a good starter coop and is relatively affordable for up to 10 chickens, although I'd say closer to 8 depending on the breed of chicken. It's good to have an enclosed run (the fence type thing that comes with the coop) while they're younger so you can better control their eating area until they're older. You should get 1 big water fountain for them, as it'll reduce the amount of time you need to spend re-watering them. It's worth the upfront cost of getting a big one that's a few gallons as opposed to getting a small one and eventually getting a big one like I did. You can make your own with some buckets and some PVC pipe fittings if you're up to the task, it's worth getting/making a good quality feeder / waterer for your chickens. Obviously, having a big reservoir will reduce the overall work on your part. You should keep in mind that as your chickens get older, and depending on the size of your backyard / lot, you will eventually let the chickens free roam your area and they'll drastically reduce the amount of feed they'll require as they'll eat bugs and random shit (sometimes literally) in your area.
Windows are good for ventilation of your chickens, you should definitely have a window or two to help air out the coop. That's why I recommend that particular coop I linked above because it has a window already and has a decent amount of space for a couple of chickens when first starting out. Also, try to make an area they can sit on. They like to perch on random things like branches on a tree if it can support their weight. I've had my chickens perch on a bicycle in my property.
If you want to be extra lazy, check out some automatic coop door openers. There's some pretty fancy ones that use a Raspberry Pi to control the door mechanisms and are charged by solar panels. Here's one I use and I love it.
http://hentronix.co.uk/mainstore/hentronix-automatic-chicken-door-opener
MIller Little Giant 7 Gallon Poultry Waterer Fount - The Best https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6ZTGSU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1xe1CbYAJ3CX8
RentACoop Chicken Feeder-Holds 20 Pounds-Pellets-Crumbles-Grain in Bucket - for 21st Century Chicken Owners - Inside or Outside of Coop - Use with Nipple Waterer (2 Feed Ports - Corner (4-6 Hens)) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016047Q5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fze1CbVRJ00G2
I think it is a viable plan and it sounds like you'll do just fine. I am probably different from many people on this sub as I don't spend much time with my chickens at all and they do just fine. My chickens are not pets - they exist to provide eggs. I treat them well and they have a good life but I do not go to the extent that some people do to protect, enrich, cool, or heat their flock. I have never had a sickness or problem other than losing a hen to predators every now and then, which is just a fact of life.
Four hens is extremely manageable. We set up a hanging feeder like this one and a hanging water bucket with nipples like this. The food is refilled about once a week with four hens and the water about twice depending on the size of the bucket. We give them kitchen scrap treats several times a week. Otherwise they are pretty self sufficient. They put themselves in and out of the coop each day, they manage their own needs with the resources they have. I feel like a lot of people don't give chickens enough credit. They know what to do. They've been doing it for tens of millions of years. It is actually cool to watch them do instinctually things that they have no way of knowing how to do.
The one thing I would say to you is not to mess around with ex battery hens. I haven't had them and I know nothing about them but it seems like they would require extra work and care and attention. It seems like you don't want to do that so if it were me I would just start with young yens of a breed that are strong layers like Rhode Island Reds - if you have those in what I am guessing is Australia. They will be less work and hassle which is what it seems you want. Good luck!
This spring I started a garden on my deck in Philadelphia. This was really the first time I gardened anything seriously and I’ve enjoyed myself immensely. Skip to the bottom for the album of it all.
I primarily started my plants from seeds without researching how they grow:
I quickly realized that I needed to be creative about how to manage these plants as a lot of them grow out instead of staying compact. Once the plants outgrew their medium sized pots, I needed a different solution. The major unlock for me was finding CaliKim's container gardening videos on YouTube that recommended planter bags. She also has a great method of making cage trellises that work perfectly in the bags she recommended.
With this starting point I was able to get these plants into a compact space and still be able to thrive. Because I’ve got everything on top of each other there is some inter-mingling but for the most part things stay in their cages.
My deck faces south and with the egregious Philadelphia summer I sometimes have to water twice a day to keep everything happy. I have done a lot of pruning to keep the plants reigned in and not way overgrow their plot.
As the project progressed I realized I needed bamboo stakes to stabilize the cages and my non caged plants, and a few other random items listed below:
The watermelon needed hammocks to fend off gravity in this system, pole around YouTube for different ways people have done this
In my research I got disheartened several times because many said growing watermelon or cucumber or squash in a compact space is extremely challenging and arguably not worth it. At that point I had already started the plants and I decided to give it a try anyway. To my delight things have turned out very well, and I wanted to share with any other urban gardeners who think they don’t have enough space for veggies.
Next year I would grow more cucumbers and cage them instead of stake them (or maybe both). For the winter my plan is to leave the bags and soil outside and see how they hold up. It seems like they are able to handle snow / excess moisture without too much issue.
https://imgur.com/gallery/jCqiEQH
Reading a book about chickens may make it seem harder than it is. Silkies are great birds. Here is some practical advice. If you are buying hatching eggs that will get shipped through the mail, make sure that you get at least 6 if you want three birds. If you cannot have roosters, then get even more eggs. My experience is hatching eggs get damaged in shipping, so the hatching rate could be very low. I recently got 10+ Japanese hatching eggs. Only one shows signs of life. I opened some of the bad ones and the yolk was broken.
Chicks will need a feed that has higher protein and no calcium. Most commercial feeds will explain the ages to use what feed. Go to a local store that sells chicken supplies and look at the feeds.
The nipple type feeders are nice, as stuff doesn't end up in the water. Birds can easily learn to use them, but you may have to nudge and show them a bit. This one has worked well for me: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00JXUAD0K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_tLauzb7DRFWVV
Silkies can easily handle below freezing conditions. They have a pea comb so aren't prone to frostbite. They also have great feathers. I don't do much of anything to make things cool or warm. Make sure they have access to shade and water. They will pant kinda like dogs to cool off. They also use their comb to regulate body temperatures.
A 3-4 chicken sized coop will work for easily six silkies, as they are a small bantam birds. Good ventilation is important for a coop, as a build of ammonia from chicken poop can damage chicken lungs.
Bantam birds are especially vulnerable to hawks. If you are keeping the birds in a restrained run, make sure it's also covered.
These have worked for me against raccoons and other night predators: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01EAFNFJ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_FUauzbZVNP87B
Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens!
Releasing a package of bees is kind of chaos. One, they might not have accepted the queen yet as she is still in her cage and they need to chew through the candy. Second, they can swarm and go miles away. They need a nook to live in and may end up in somebody's wall. Third, they need a hive if you want to harvest honey.
I recommend this guy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016YJ9A1A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=29VJ8PUPFOP20&coliid=I2ACZZ7RHI1RVJ
Also, watch this series. Walks you through an entire season and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjrdwXXEtLo&list=PLF3090CE32602616C
What's an easy beehouse to assemble for first time honey collectors?
How much daily maintenance is required for healthy bees?
What's an easy species to raise in the American midwest?
What kind of nearby plants could the bees feed themselves with?
This is an amazing book for learning what can fit where. Remember that it is more for advanced gardeners so start small. Use it as a guide on long term plans.
This is a great guide to low-cost or free soil creation/amendment It also has a great guide to growing almost every veggie/herb. It works amazingly as a substitution for the very expensive recommended soil in This great guide to planting closer together to avoid weeds
Some ideas for reducing water usage:
Sub-Irrigation (there are a great many ways to do this, this is just one)
Hugelkultur Looks like shit but creates an amazing wood "sponge" under your gardens. After 2 years you pretty much don't need to water again (if done correctly). You also get a constant stream of nutrients from the wood breaking down. It is possible to "contain" hugelkultur beds to create more of a "I mean to do this!" order so people don't think you are just piling shit up everywhere.
Definitely agree. The first year, I'd start the herbs and get some compost going, if you can. For your compost, make use of whatever is locally available in quantity (eg, grass, leaves, food scraps, kelp, pond scum). This website is a good resource.
I started out using the Square Foot Gardening plan with raised beds and had good success. Now I've added some lasagna beds, as I think this method is more environmentally friendly and sustainable (and easy!). (Mel's Mix uses peat moss, which isn't sustainably harvested, is my quibble.) I'd say whatever you do, don't bother tilling anything. Is a waste of time, IMO. No-till is where it's at. Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza is worth reading if you're interested in this method.
Think a lot about how you're going to clean out the coop in your design. Nice big doors with good access will make your life a lot easier. Also, keep in mind that chickens will attempt to roost literally anywhere they can manage to fly and perch to, and will manage to get poop into any of those spots, so make sure you design well for that eventuality especially where food and water are concerned. And don't underestimate predators. Be thorough with your security.
Edit: Also worth mentioning: I dropped $100 on an automatic door opener (this one), and it's seriously the best $100 I've ever spent. My ladies get to go out right at the crack of dawn every morning and I don't have to be home to shut them in in the evening. Of course, if you build a super secure run you might not have to worry about that in the first place, but still, chickens are generally safer in a coop at night no matter how secure you make the run.
I use one and it works great, you do have to get a separate timer and build a sliding door with little to no friction but it’s cheaper than all the others I’ve see and we just had our second light snow today and it’s still going strong. Good luck!
https://www.amazon.com/Add-Motor-Automatic-Accessory-D20-120V/dp/B007IZJWNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=automatic+chicken+coop+door&qid=1573611131&sprefix=automatic+chi&sr=8-7
Electricians don't, but farmers do (for building barbed wire/electric fences). If the newbie is sent to a sufficiently well-stocked hardware store the joke can backfire. Great fun. http://www.amazon.com/Dutton-Lainson-405-Heavy-Duty-Stretcher-Splicer/dp/B00004YK6I/
Ammo boxes for 10 & 12ga shotshells. I love them, great for limited space... I don't have room for a rack or big mixing station. $5.00 each when I bought them, they've dropped a little:
https://www.amazon.com/MTM-25-Round-Magnum-Shotshell-Box/dp/B00T9CC0M6
I've got mostly 10ml in them, and a few original bottles that are larger -- like 13 or 15ml I believe. They only fit the caps, hence the labels on the bottom. When not in use I close & flip over to store them.
Thank I saw that earlier and plan on making some calls tomorrow (Monday). I’ve thought about catching one but I think that starting out id rather spend the money initially and have more of a complete setup while I’m learning.
I’m thinking of buying something like this to start. Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit, Completely Assembled, Painted, Made In The USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8L5ZJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BEzPAbF6WQTJT
I’m mostly wanting a little honey and wax. Not looking to sell any or anything like that just personal use and maybe give some to friends and family.
I tried the cups, but my chickens couldn't figure out how to get the water out and almost dehydrated. So, I got the sideways chicken nipples and those have been working great. I have three of them on a 5 gallon bucket lifted a few inches off the ground. Then, I have a PVC pipe that goes into the lid on top and out of the run, so I can fill it without going into the run. There's a minor problem of the chickens roosting on the bucket and pooping on the lid, but I'll solve that pretty soon by just putting something up there.
how much money do you want to spend?
Amazon sells a 100 foot by 50 foot net. Unfortunately the gaps in the next are about 2 inches. If you fold the net twice i reckon it'll catch ping pong balls. and it will a more manageable 50x25 feet.
A net will be by far the best tool.
its 80 dollars though. https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Bird-Netting-Aviary-Poultry/dp/B00CDL3LXC/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=netting&qid=1555431651&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-9
this one has a half inch mesh. Might be better. https://www.amazon.com/BEST-BIRD-NETTING-Bird-Net/dp/B01GUJBF3U/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=bird+net+half+inch+mesh&qid=1555431919&s=pet-supplies&sr=8-1
With a large enough net, and enough friends you should be able to catch all the ping pong balls.
I got a little ahead of myself posting the video. I'm excited it works! I've still got some more to do, at which point I'll do a complete post about the process.
It's pretty easy though. Everything runs off an extension cord right now. The security camera is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Zmodo-ZM-SH75D001-WA-Camera-Two-way-Monitoring/dp/B00ZZ4HX1K
The coop motor is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Motor-Chicken-Automatic-Motor-D20/dp/B007IZJWNQ
and we turn it on and off using a WeMo Wifi plug:
http://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Enabled-Electronics-anywhere-Compatible/dp/B00BB2MMNE
Last fall, I read Lasagna Gardening (http://www.amazon.com/Lasagna-Gardening-Layering-Bountiful-Gardens/dp/0875969623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310442283&sr=8-1).
As I recall, the author recommended the following:
Digging to loosen the soil seems unnecessary as the ground will loosen as the straw decomposes. So far, I've created an environment that my plants seem to be loving.
I've also found this to be extremely useful for filling raised beds.
What is the build cost on this? With the cost of the motor, pulleys ($70 per video), fingers ($60 per video), wiring/electrical, and miscellaneous materials, you're probably approaching the price of [this](Yardbird Chicken Plucker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BI5D0MK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mePYzb3PHBBBY) which is listed for $425 on Amazon. And that thing is stainless steel (much easier to clean and sterilize, and we are talking about meat processing) and it's fully waterproofed (which is necessary, I know someone who got electrocuted using something like this that was not). It's a cool DIY and I give you props for that, but I'm wondering if it's actually cost effective in comparison.
Aviary or bird netting over the area they 'free range'. The link below is for 100x50 but they come in all sizes. fence in the area and then cover the top with these. Put a few together and you can end up with a pretty large area for them to run in. If you use T-post for your fencing you can move it around once a year or so if you want too. My personal plan if for 200x100 area covered that I can just leave them in forever.
http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Bird-Netting-Aviary-Poultry/dp/B00CDL3LXC/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1409076747&sr=1-2&keywords=bird+netting
I would HIGHLY recommend that you consider getting a Heat Plate Brooder. For example, this one.
The year I used Heat Bulbs like you are, I witnessed one explode into the brooder (sitting quietly on the couch when it happened), and I had another nearly start a fire despite being bolted into the frame I built.
When I upgraded to my Brinsea Heat Plate Brooder for my latest chick batch....I kicked myself in the ass because I did not buy it sooner!
Not only does it provide better warmth and overall coverage for a larger group of chicks....it is almost completely safe! The only thing you must watch out for is if they get unplugged accidentally....resulting in very cold chicks!
There are a few options on Amazon for cheaper or more expensive/larger ones. It may be an investment, but it is worth it! Especially due to the potential of fires happening while you are away!
Edit: Here is a cheaper option. You might find used ones on Ebay/Amazon, elsewhere!
The post issue should be ok but, I would highly recommend stretching it as it keeps tension on the posts and makes them that much more durable. You could try using a post to stretch it but, investing in a wire stretcher was one of the best things I did.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004YK6I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1/190-2691787-6737748?qid=1457795343&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=wire+fence+stretcher&dpPl=1&dpID=31TgCBN2DML&ref=plSrch
Edited for link.
Just chiming in, I have had to dig a bunch lately for deck/fence projects. I got this hand auger and it's awesome. Costs less than renting one for a day and perfect for small'ish jobs. http://www.amazon.com/Seymour-Mfg-AU-S6-Post-Auger/dp/B00002N8OK/
Kinda, that one would be great if you're doing 4 or 5 birds. I have a bit bigger one, that works really nice
https://www.amazon.com/Yardbird-21833-Chicken-Plucker/dp/B01BI5D0MK/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1526785603&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=chicken+plucker&psc=1
I have considered calling a local beekeeper to come get them, but then I realized I could be a local beekeeper if I didn't. I've always been interested in beekeeping, but have no experience. Amazon has a starter kit but I'm not sure if it's actually worth buying. Any input is appreciated.
This is pretty useful for the lazier folks.
Works great. Just add a zwave switch.
I would never, ever, encourage anyone to break the law, so get a permit before taking, cleaning, cooking, and eating a delicious wild turkey. It would be against the law, if there was a turkey in your back yard, to quietly catch one (https://www.amazon.com/CHICKEN-CATCHER-CATCHING-POULTRY-TURKEY/dp/B01MZ06EMB), then clean it, (https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/article/how-to-clean-wild-turkey), and cook it (http://www.wideopenspaces.com/tips-cooking-wild-turkey/) and then eat it, perhaps with a nice merlot, without getting a permit first. A permit is required to avoid having the turkey police come into your quiet suburban subdivision, and somehow catch you taking one of the wild turkeys that stand there in your back yard (acting like they own the damn place), or in your driveway (pecking your SUV), and give you a citation for unlicensed turkey depredation. The turkey police could be watching, so I urge you to get a permit, to avoid the extremely slim, almost non-existent, very very slight, teensy weensy, microscopic chance that you might get busted.
Cozy Products CL Safe Chicken Coop Heater 200 Watts Safer Than Brooder Lamps, One Size Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX9K1JI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oNiTCbQ2FATS4
Best purchase I ever made, a manual auger makes digging holes so much easier then using a traditional post hole digger
https://www.amazon.com/Seymour-21306-Hardwood-Handle-Diameter/dp/B00002N8OK
I do not recommend moving them at night. Believe it or not at night while they are clustered they are more aggressive. Right now is a good time to reorient them to a new hive. on Amazon you can buy a Langstroth hive this is my personal recommendation. You will want a veil and probably a smoker. Use pinestraw for the smoker. Youtube before you do anything. Bees are easy to manage in the summer. Finding the queen and shaking her into the box is the only hurdle between you and an established colony (though note in general don't shake the queen into the box, but as a beginner shaking all the bees into the hive is probably the easiest way to transfer them).
18650
AA
AAA
They'll all fit in a shoebox.
You could use the 18650 one for all cells like others have said.
I recently ordered a few of these... Been happy so far.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8L5ZJ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for your help :) I'm pretty new to this, so you'll have to forgive me on my lack of knowledge and experience. This is the apiary I purchased https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YJ9A1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 What are your thoughts on this? I fully assembled it and painted it white. I haven't thought about purchasing more hives until I've got the hang of it, but would like a few more hives sometime in the future. My pre-order states 3 pounds of bees will be delivered. I've been posting on Craigslist for a couple of months now, but to no prevail, which is odd cause I know beekeepers are in my area. Maybe I'll stumble upon someone here.
http://www.amazon.com/Hesi-HESI-Starter-Kit-Soil/dp/B00503BU8I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408905867&sr=8-1&keywords=hesi+starter this one.
a combination of four diffrent ones. im not even close to the recommended mixratio. im using half of it or something.
im also using tapwater which is pretty hard where i live.
Found it from this site, and we have 3 Ameraucanas. My plan was to keep straw on the ground in the run, and in the coop.
For when it gets very cold, we were going to have this heater in the coop, and also a heated water bowl.
Any other suggestions you all have would be greatly appreciated.
First start your cast iron cookware bubbling with some peanut oil.
Whisk an egg white and make a wash.
Blend flour, corn meal, and seasonings to your taste.
Finally acquire the chicken. Get your running shoes on, get you one of these: https://www.amazon.com/CHICKEN-CATCHER-CATCHING-POULTRY-TURKEY/dp/B01MZ06EMB and roll around St. Matts, Nulu, and the Highlands lookin for coops.
Now combine the ingredients in the obvious fashion, fry till golden brown, and enjoy.
Nah, but it looks like they are just really expensive here.
http://www.amazon.com/Hesi-HESI-Starter-Kit-Soil/dp/B00503BU8I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348669660&sr=8-1&keywords=Hesi+nutrients
I can get the Gerneral Organics starter kit for around 40$
btw. check out this feeder: https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Feeder-Holds-Pounds-Pellets-Crumbles-Grain-Bucket-Placement/dp/B016047Q5G/ref=sr_1_5?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1522849960&sr=1-5&keywords=chicken+feeder while it is a pipe feeder I don't expect it to clog and its probably easy to build diy
If you want to help you can put up something like this in your backyard.
That's specifically for Mason bees but the blog I saw it on and the product description says they're the hardest working pollinators, visiting 20 times as many flowers as honeybees in a day.
By solitary bee hive, do you mean something like this mason bee house?
If so, put it somewhere it'll get morning sun and about 5 feet high.
looks like the sort of hive they make for mason bees.
https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497532336&sr=8-2&keywords=mason+bee
I didn't build mine. You can buy them.
Something like this, though I don't know how much you'd need to space them out if it's a lot of land.
https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A
You already have a vertically-sliding door, so you're halfway there. All you would need to do is buy the motor-kit. I've installed one a while ago, very easy to DIY with instructions. Some of them require a power outlet, some of them use solar, but almost all of them will let you power them off a 12V battery
example: https://www.amazon.com/Add-Motor-Surface-Chicken-Automatic/dp/B007IZJWNQ/
While I was researching for my automatic blinds project I ran into this:
http://www.amzn.com/B007IZJWNQ
Which, aside from the webcam server would allow you to do what you're looking for without the raspi
I had a heating plate that was fine in the coop.
https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Incubators-Chick-Heating-Brooder/dp/B018KIPZTE/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=chick+heater&qid=1565146615&s=gateway&sr=8-4
I bought some vertically mounted nipples on Amazon and made a waterer for inside the coop out of a 5 gallon bucket (http://www.amazon.com/Horizontal-Side-Mount-Poultry-Nipples/dp/B00JXUAD0K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_86_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51wPoZtroXL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1HVBH3D9JJJRP8X9ZAK3)
I like the use of nipples inside the coop because it keeps them from getting their water continuously dirty. And using a 5 gallon bucket saves me the work of the extra complexity of running water through the wall and into the coop.
I have not had to do it yet, but I am planning on fashioning a side mount nipple waterer with heater.
the parts:
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-250-Watt-Heater-Floater-Safety/dp/B002QXN1EQ/ref=pd_bxgy_86_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002QXN1EQ&pd_rd_r=4BE7ZKH6Q8G5V12XNS8K&pd_rd_w=VeR0H&pd_rd_wg=MuKt0&psc=1&refRID=4BE7ZKH6Q8G5V12XNS8K
with your own bucket and side nipples
https://www.amazon.com/Horizontal-Side-Mount-Poultry-Nipples/dp/B00JXUAD0K
or buy a bucket with the side nipples.
my current bucket is bottom nipples but I understand those freeze even with a heater since the water runs down and freezes.
They come in many varieties and styles, but shotgun shell cases
http://www.amazon.com/Round-Shotshell-Handled-Gauge-Shipping/dp/B0161NDYW0
http://www.amazon.com/MTM-25-Round-Magnum-Shotshell-Box/dp/B00T9CC0M6
http://www.amazon.com/Plano-Shot-Shell-Box-gauge/dp/B000P3YVFW
http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Motor-D20-Chicken-Coop-Motor/dp/B007IZJWNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410702792&sr=8-1&keywords=automatic+coop+door
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B018KIPZTE?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
It's a bee house for mason bees https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A
Those are for mason bees! I’ve read mixed reviews online—some of them can be good, but some are made with pipes that are too narrow, and the bees get trapped in them trying to turn around. Get ones that look like this instead of this. I don’t have one, but my parents do, and they love it. They have lots of those little guys buzzing around.
Clay is the worst. That is all.
Any neighbors who do use pesticides? We really need to save the bees, including native bees & making pesticides that hurt them illegal should be step 1... but with our current President I can't imagine they will do so.
I keep several mason bee houses in my yard to help the native species. Im terrified of wasps and killer bees (Ive been attacked once), but native bees never harass me.
For those interested, I have something similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A/