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The Water Cooler
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Urban Poultry
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<blockquote data-quote="inactive" data-source="post: 1815770" data-attributes="member: 7488"><p>Overall, I would say it's easier than I thought it would be. The chickens are super quiet, very docile, and just instinctually started doing "chicken things" like roost and scratch and nest in the house when I got them in there (they're like pre-programmed robots, seriously). The litter is no big deal; there's a lot but it's small and they actually break it up as the bugs get into it once it appears. 1 good rain and it should be gone.</p><p></p><p>Here's some summary points about the build itself:</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Tractor:</u></strong></p><p>It took 3 sheets of ply (1 of which was the siding), roughly 7 2x4s, a large roll of hardware cloth, some 1" dowel, 2 pairs of hinges, wheels off a salvaged hose reel/cart, a set gate handles, 2 samples of stain, 2 cans of spray-on Thompson water sealer, and a handful of nails. I had the 2x4s and nails and wheels and dowels; I had to buy the ply sheets and handles/hinges and hardware cloth. It set me back probably $175 for all that (could be done cheaper, but this was more a fun project and effort to increase the integrity of my food than an act in frugality). I didn't use plans, but looked at designs online so I had an idea that I just ran with.</p><p></p><p>I tried using buckets as nesting boxes, but the hens never went into them. So I just put my aspen shavings all over the floor of the next box and the hens each picked a corner and hang out there communally. Seems to work fine.</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Food & Water:</u></strong></p><p>I purchased cheap water tray/containers at Atwoods. The bases are different colors you purchase separate from the top container. Each piece if roughly 3.50, so for a pair of complete feeders it was around 16 bucks (4 pieces). </p><p></p><p>I drilled out holes in the side of one so it would work with food. I wallowed the holes out a good amount and the food falls through fairly easily. The hens like to peck at the holes though to dig out the food (even if there is food just in the tray or on the ground), which is fun to watch.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong><u>Things I am proud of are:</u></strong></p><p>Hardware cloth is awesome. More expensive than chicken wire, but sure adds rigidity to the structure.</p><p>I like the natural finish. It will probably need touched up/refinished more than paint and primer, but spray on water sealer for decks can be applied to the entire thing in like, 3 minutes.</p><p>The A-frame design is super easy to build, is structurally sound (triangles FTW), and adds height for them to roost without wasteful space and materials. I would definitely do this again.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Things I would change:</strong></u></p><p>Don't mess with buckets. If you want separate next areas, I would probably just frame a little space out of wood.</p><p>Purchase all the chickens from the same place. It seemed introducing birds from varied flocks took some time for them to mellow. Not a big deal but would be easier.</p><p>Make it lighter. Not sure how, but would think about something seriously. It rolls fairly easily but damn it's heavy. I move it about every 2-3 days to fresh ground.</p><p>Build 2. I want to build another for 3 more hens. I should have done it simultaneously.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="inactive, post: 1815770, member: 7488"] Overall, I would say it's easier than I thought it would be. The chickens are super quiet, very docile, and just instinctually started doing "chicken things" like roost and scratch and nest in the house when I got them in there (they're like pre-programmed robots, seriously). The litter is no big deal; there's a lot but it's small and they actually break it up as the bugs get into it once it appears. 1 good rain and it should be gone. Here's some summary points about the build itself: [B][U]Tractor:[/U][/B] It took 3 sheets of ply (1 of which was the siding), roughly 7 2x4s, a large roll of hardware cloth, some 1" dowel, 2 pairs of hinges, wheels off a salvaged hose reel/cart, a set gate handles, 2 samples of stain, 2 cans of spray-on Thompson water sealer, and a handful of nails. I had the 2x4s and nails and wheels and dowels; I had to buy the ply sheets and handles/hinges and hardware cloth. It set me back probably $175 for all that (could be done cheaper, but this was more a fun project and effort to increase the integrity of my food than an act in frugality). I didn't use plans, but looked at designs online so I had an idea that I just ran with. I tried using buckets as nesting boxes, but the hens never went into them. So I just put my aspen shavings all over the floor of the next box and the hens each picked a corner and hang out there communally. Seems to work fine. [b][U]Food & Water:[/U][/b] I purchased cheap water tray/containers at Atwoods. The bases are different colors you purchase separate from the top container. Each piece if roughly 3.50, so for a pair of complete feeders it was around 16 bucks (4 pieces). I drilled out holes in the side of one so it would work with food. I wallowed the holes out a good amount and the food falls through fairly easily. The hens like to peck at the holes though to dig out the food (even if there is food just in the tray or on the ground), which is fun to watch. [B][U]Things I am proud of are:[/U][/B] Hardware cloth is awesome. More expensive than chicken wire, but sure adds rigidity to the structure. I like the natural finish. It will probably need touched up/refinished more than paint and primer, but spray on water sealer for decks can be applied to the entire thing in like, 3 minutes. The A-frame design is super easy to build, is structurally sound (triangles FTW), and adds height for them to roost without wasteful space and materials. I would definitely do this again. [U][B]Things I would change:[/B][/U] Don't mess with buckets. If you want separate next areas, I would probably just frame a little space out of wood. Purchase all the chickens from the same place. It seemed introducing birds from varied flocks took some time for them to mellow. Not a big deal but would be easier. Make it lighter. Not sure how, but would think about something seriously. It rolls fairly easily but damn it's heavy. I move it about every 2-3 days to fresh ground. Build 2. I want to build another for 3 more hens. I should have done it simultaneously. [/QUOTE]
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