Since I have my first hens on the homestead, I am already finding things that I need that I can 3D print instead of buying from some big corporate store. Making your own supplies is a really cool ability to have on the homestead. First up are the 'encouragement eggs'. These are little fake eggs that helps show the hens where they need to lay the eggs, also to give them a bit of a push as they see an egg is already there. Another benefit to these fake eggs is that it will help keep them from pecking on the real eggs before I get to them. So these were 2 little functional prints that have different uses. Who would have thought simple 3D printed eggs would have so many benefits? The best part, they worked and one of the hens laid me an egg about an hour after I put them in the box!
Next very functional piece that came out of the farm factory were 2 feeders. One problem I was seeing is that there is definitely one of the hens that is extremely dominant of the other and was pushing her away from the food bowl. Well, I fixed that issue with these two feeders that I put on opposite sides of the house. This keeps them separate to eat, although they kept going from one to the other. This also lets me just fill them up with food and should keep for a day or two without having to refill. This makes for happier chickens for sure!
The next chicken print that will come off the line will be an automatic water bowl that I will recycle a 20oz water bottle from the store into a water tank and will fill the bowl when needed. It's currently getting started and will have it in the coop tomorrow!
So if you have a little homestead, or really any project, you might want to look into at least 1 3D printer as they can give you the freedom to create what you need! It will pay for itself in the long run and will give you a cool hobbie to get into that could turn into a possible business down the road!
Until next time...
Be cool, be real, and always abide my dudes!