Oyster Shell Dispenser for your Hens

 Etched Glass Wine Bottle Oyster Shell Dispenser

With 

Copper Wire

I have tried several types of bowls and feeders to give my hens free access to oyster shells and also grit for the young birds that don't get to free range all day, but every one had it's faults.  Most were just too easy for the girls to dump out and waste  so I was forever buying more oyster shell and grit.

Then I thought of this

I used some recycled wine bottles, wire and cans to make one of the best dispensers for oyster shell and grit.

I have made several now with different colored wine bottles and wire and they are each very different, no two are ever alike.  Some of my designs are done free hand and others I have traced out designs on the bottles with a permanent marker before I start etching with the Dremel.  

These are really etched, it is not a chemical application or a painted etching process.  Using a Dremel and a diamond tip bit I spend several hours carving out the designs.

 The one pictured here is made from a clear bottle and different copper wires. The copper has begun to age and is just getting some nice patina on it.  They work on gravity, as the access bowl is consumed, more comes out of the bottle and they are easy to refill by just swinging the can over to the side to get access to the bottle opening.

Best of all, the girls haven't wasted any !  I hung this one about chest high to the girls and not one has tried to jump on it or dump it all out.