Best farming kits & accessories according to redditors

If you really want to support bees, the ideal arrangement is a couple of flowers native to your area and suited to your sun/soil/water that will bloom over the course of the spring-fall. Honeybees aren't native to North America, but they share many food sources with native bees and butterflies. Eliminate or limit spray and weed killer so pollinators can feast.

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.

Spicebush is a big deciduous bush with yellow flowers in the spring and green leaves in the summer, butterfly host plant (so let bugs eat it), native to eastern US and parts of the Central US and Ontario.

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.

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.

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 PA, OH, IL, IN, AR, and parts of neighboring states, Pineleaf Penstemon is native to AZ and NM, and Davidson's Beardtongue native from the Sierra Nevada Range in California and Nevada through the Coast and Cascade ranges.

Flame acanthus- red blooms, attracts hummingbirds, native to Texas

Fall

Asters are great fall blooming flowers, but they can sometimes look a bit straggly, so 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.

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

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.

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.

Invest in one of these

This might work.

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!

This. Or to keep her at arms length, this.

From a review of the second item: GIVES JUST ENOUGH SHOCK TO LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG ....

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.

Also it makes it easier to tell when certain things start to disappear so you can ask your kid WTF are you doing with all our forks?

Also i feel like keeping stuff organized is easier around kids when its not a chore to organize/clean up, its just the normal thing to do. It wont always work but it probably helps.

The best thing you can get to help keep your place organized with kids is this teaching them good habits early on. If that does not stick by the time they are like 13 then just buy one of these to help keep the house organized.

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 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!

MTM Case-gard ammo cases.

AA

AAA

18650

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

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.

It's a bee house for mason bees https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Mason-House/dp/B007XIWY1A

Holy shit. That image gallery, and your setup....uh, wow, only in my dreams. I have very limited space so I keep 10ml flavors in 10ga/12ga shotgun shell ammo boxes. I separate into a few categories and within the category it's all alphabetical. I label the bottoms so they're easy to find.

I like having a wide variety of juice and rarely mix a large (over 120ml) of any recipe so I only have a few flavors in 30ml bottles. Here are a few photos. I've got a couple more boxes now but it's not hard to expand or rearrange.
https://m.imgur.com/a/PR6OR

The shotshell boxes are available on Amazon or can be ordered online from Walmart.

My mixing station is the top of a dresser in a room that serves several purposes. All other vaping equipment or supplies are in a tackle box on top of the dresser or in the top two drawers, fighting for space with a stock of household batteries and misc office supplies. Nic stays in the freezer except the 50ml "in-use" squeeze bottle in the dresser. PG & VG are in the linen closet.

• Most of the TENS equipment out there is basically garbage. I know it's expensive, but the stuff made by Erostek is totally worth it. They have figured out the proper types of electrical signals that actually will make you cum.
  
  
• There are a lot of garbage violet wands out there that just aren't strong enough. There are a few name brands that are much better such as Dr Clockwork, though he isn't the only one that makes a good product.
  
  
• As for other electrical toys, I really like the Electreat which is the original quack medical product. It has no beneficial medical effects, but it feels good and I have managed to get a hands free orgasm from it before. They don't make them any more so you have to find one on ebay or such. If you are lucky you can get one for less than $25, making this a great way to start off.
  
  
• If you want something a bit more painful there are a lot of toys that will give a painful zap of current. One popular toy is the Tazapper, though there is little difference between it at $40 and an electric fly swatter for less than $5. just remove the swatter part and make a tip resembling the Tazapper out of the leads coming out of the handle. This is also a great way to get started cheaply.
  
  
• If that's not enough pain you could go for a stun gun or a cattle prod which hurts like a son of a bitch.
  
  
• Finally, if you want a LOT of pain and want to cum from it, there is the Bailey Ejaculator for Rams and Goats which will painfully shock your prostate until it convulses and forces you to cum.

Or one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Sabre-Stock-Prod-Carded/dp/B000LF652Q

'Education'

I hear you brother

https://www.amazon.com/Magrath-Livestock-Yellow-HotShot-22/dp/B005R3V770

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/REAMTOP-Professional-Beekeeper-Jacket-Gloves/dp/B06WW8FB8H/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1539135046&sr=1-4&keywords=bee+suit

For anyone else who wants to buy a beesuit.

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

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

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

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 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

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.

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.

Link to order your own.

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.

Cattle Prod? Joking.

You mentioned a tier 2 system (individual)? But what is your tier 1 system?

1. Would a typical mail-order queen+squad survive on its own if released into a midwest backyard in early spring?
   
   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.
   
   
2. A Langstroth. I recommend purchase first and always recommend two hives. The reason why is you can tell something is wrong when one hive acts differently and you can interchange things to save the other colony. For example, if you have a honey surplus in one and a honey deficit in the other you can give them some of the honey frames so they survive winter. If one hive loses a queen you can add a frame a brood from the other hive to keep the brood cycle from being interrupted as it may take 25 days until you have a living queen again.
   
   
3. I do a weekly inspection at the most busy time of year that takes half an hour at best. I refill the sugar jar daily, but that all depends on the feeder you choose. You need to feed them much of the first year as it takes a lot of resources to build the comb they need for brood, honey, and pollen.
   
   
4. Most common bee in the US - Italian Honeybees. They do pretty well and are prolific honey produces.
   
   
5. Depends on your region. Ask your local beekeeping association what your nectar flow(s) are/is. This tells you when harvest time will be every year. Regions also have different types of honey due to different types of nectar sources. Bees love everything from clover to tulip poplar.
   
   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?

I made a watering bucket for mine. Got a food-grade plastic bucket with lid (for free from Sam's bakery, they go through tons of those icing buckets), cleaned it well.

Ordered chicken nipples from Amazon (way cheaper than getting them through a poultry supply place); drilled four holes in the bottom of the bucket, and put the nipples in. (here is a link to the type I got)

I mounted a hose reel to a post in the run, hung the bucket handle over it, and voila! -- clean water on demand!

It took them about five minutes to figure it out -- now they prefer that to a bowl of water. Only down-side is, I can't use it during the winter due to freezing temperatures. However, from spring through fall, it saves me a ton of work, and means they always have clean fresh water.

This is pretty useful for the lazier folks.

Works great. Just add a zwave switch.

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.

We must be talking about different models. I've been hit multiple times without issue by a couple variations of this model
https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Sabre-Stock-Prod-Carded/dp/B000LF652Q

I've had one used on me because I want to get one and needed to see what it felt like and yeah it has quite a kick to it! I would use it like I use my stun gun and that's on the ass, thighs, calves. But not on testicles...stun gun is ok but not the cattle prod!
Get the red one on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LF652Q/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_zj-nxb6EN9R2K

Wiggle wire and locking channel. http://www.amazon.com/Wiggle-Channel-Greenhouse-Spring-U-Channel/dp/B01BC4HAPA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1458595181&sr=8-3&keywords=wiggle+wire

Screw the locking channel to a 2x4 or other piece of wood then wiggle wire your poly film into the locking channel.

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

These?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00846NTRI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lzJ8Ab7A2YFEC

like this ?

https://www.amazon.com/RanchEx-102569-Wire-Stretcher-Standard/dp/B01KJOJIU4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35M26PSTACIFU&keywords=wire+stretcher&qid=1557804454&s=gateway&sprefix=wire+stre%2Caps%2C208&sr=8-1

My Master recently acquired a cattle prod from Amazon. This thing is brutal. The worst part about it is the sound. It beeps when he powers it up and then makes a mean electricity humming sound.

Our most recent play session he strung my hands up to the rafters, blindfolded me, then mostly just shocked me with it until I safeworded. (Though there were quite a few times when he just powered it up for me to hear the beep and hum and make me squirm).

The time prior to that he rubbed the whole thing up and down my body not powered up. Not knowing when and where on my body he was going to finally zap me made me go crazy. I was whining and shivering and just totally fearful, which is not a place I get to often. Then he told me he was going to give me one more big shock and made me tell him where to place it.
Torture.

https://www.amazon.com/Magrath-Yellow-34-Livestock-Effective/dp/B005WFXD2K/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=cattle+prod&qid=1558042744&s=gateway&sr=8-3

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.

Like one of these?

What about hooking up something like this?

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.

I use a rapid feeder or a chicken watering bucket.

https://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=14

https://www.amazon.com/Harris-Farms-Galvanized-Poultry-Drinker/dp/B006ZJHBRU/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

The former is in a medium empty super on the top of my hives. I added a few 1-1/2" screen holes to the inner cover to keep it ventilated and set the feeders over the center opening.

The chicken feeder can get exciting to be around in the fall. I have a pulley system and run it up about 20 feet in the air on one of my pine trees. It also works for watering during the dry season. I just lay some poly rope in the bottom of the tray to avoid drowning bees when it is crowded.

What ever you do you have to worry about drowning bees.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B018KIPZTE?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

$50 on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Energizer-250-Feet-Aluminum-Containing/dp/B00O76E0VS?keywords=electric+fence&qid=1536093584&sr=8-3&ref=mp_s_a_1_3

I've been really pleased with these

I was going to say the same thing.

u/beeeeker I suggest you throw that boardman feeder in the trash. You may as well hanging up a billboard and invite robbers over. Frankly, I wish they would stop selling them, but as long as new beekeepers buy them they'll keep selling. There are lots of good hive top feeding options.

See http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm

options include

Frame feeders

Rapid feeders

ceracell feeders

top feeders

If you want to make your own there is the

FBM feeder (google it, plans for purchase or enough picturtures you can figure it out)

bucket feeders,

and jar feeders to go over your inner cover for up to four jars with a super over it to protect it.

Good luck in your new hobby, that looks like a nice location.

For obedient children: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000LF652Q?pc_redir=1411187071&robot_redir=1

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.

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/

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

I have an elec wire, made for dogs. My dogs touch it once and never go back.

I got this one at the local Feed and Grain store.

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Energizer-250-Feet-Aluminum-Containing/dp/B00O76E0VS/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1549063156&sr=8-14&keywords=electric+dog++fence

Either one of these
Or including her in your sport activities. Taking her to the gym. Taking her to run in the park.

I believe this is the one that is used in many BDSM films : https://www.amazon.com/Miller-Shot-Sabre-Stock-Prod/dp/B000LF652Q/

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:

• thin layer of manure (or compost)
  
• cardboard to suppress weeds
  
• thin layer of manure (or compost)
  
• 6-8 inches of straw
  
• compost around the plants you start.
  
  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.

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/

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.

https://www.amazon.com/REAMTOP-Professional-Beekeeper-Jacket-Gloves/dp/B06WW8FB8H/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539194636&sr=8-3&keywords=beekeeper+suit&dpID=411-Qu7WKdL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

The brood frames will be on one side. If I need to feed syrup I will just replace one of the boards over the frames with a board that has a hole in it for one of these feeders that I have. https://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Feeder-Round-Hive-Easy/dp/B07FNW2VDB?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_6

I have only kept bees for a year but haven't actually fed them yet. I may actually feed in this on though so they can build up wax faster.

https://www.amazon.com/RanchEx-102569-Wire-Stretcher-Standard/dp/B01KJOJIU4/

https://www.amazon.com/Oasis-Poultry-Water-Nipples-Pack/dp/B00846NTRI

I think it's called Spring Wire and Lock Channel. I have catalogs from a couple places in my area and I think their prices are much cheaper, but here's an Amazon example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BC4HAPA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_-N2IAbF3219DN

Try this instead:

https://www.amazon.com/Miller-SS-36-Livestock-Prod/dp/B000LF652Q

p.s: not a parenting expert.

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.

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.

I use this for my kids

Spoiler: My kids are dogs

I think it could be a poultry waterer of the double-wall variety, missing the top piece. The pipe is hooked up to a hose for refilling (edit, or for the vent?). But I’m not sure the top lip would be covered by water allowing this to work.

https://www.amazon.com/Harris-Farms-Galvanized-Poultry-Drinker/dp/B006ZJHBRU#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1520471474997

Solution