Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

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ARRGGGGG! Excelsior was the only question I got wrong on my college woodworking final!

Anyway, Swamp cooler pads are made of excelsior & can be had locally if you need. Great idea!

I like this idea. My first thought was that they sell excelsior basket filling at Michael's but the swamp cooler pads have gotta be cheaper. Just cut them to size. I bet you could wash them out a few times before having to change them. Would they be compostable?

I'd be willing to bet they are compostable - wood fibers & all. May not mix in as easily as shavings though.

 

[Mikey D]

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If you were at Val Vista instead of Sierra Vista I'd be there no problem! Sierra Vista is another matter entirely.

On the bright side a hole saw is a great choice!

Sierra Vista is far from EVERYTHING

And, I agree, hole saw is a great option...and the only option that I can come up with to make a nice, neat hole in this box

If you are drilling all the way though, drill 1/2 way from the outside, let the pilot (small drill bit in the center) poke through the inside, stop and then drill the rest of the way from the inside. This will roll the burr away from the inside edge and give you a cleaner, less finger/chickie slashing edge.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

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Thank you, they really are much easier than shavings. The hen house, I wanted it to look like a shed or playhouse if we ever were to move.

working on a mural for the bare wall:

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

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ARRGGGGG! Excelsior was the only question I got wrong on my college woodworking final!

Anyway, Swamp cooler pads are made of excelsior & can be had locally if you need. Great idea!

It's not a word we use everyday! I am sure it was on the tip of your tongue!
That's good to know about the pads. Can I get them at HD or Lowe's? Oh, light bulb just went off!! DH ( also named Mike)is Chief Engineer at a resort here in the valley. I bet he can find me some. Thanks Mikey!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Mama Hen Chris, cute! Great visual enrichment for those spoiled birds that lounge around inside your coop. Also, very interesting use of that material for the nest boxes. Ace hardware also carries pads.
Mikey D, Are you going to make a feeder that will open only 12 hours a day?

I can't wait to see that!

tightwad, I used to compost my cooler pads. I'm sure they'd be much better for the soil coming from the chicken coop rather than the swamp cooler too.

tball chicky, it looks like you're well on your way to an incubator!

Beckyhsinglsc, that was very interesting about the arsenic in animal feed. I had no idea! I also wondered about Mikey's homer bucket and I went and looked at one I have in the shed--it's a 2. I'm reminded of a verse that I learned (I can't remember where, but probably my chemist brother): "Four, five, one and two, all the rest are bad for you."
The Critter Place, congratulations on the quail hatching!

I'm looking forward to pics; they must be so cute. Good luck with the chicken eggs!

 

[nurseshelly]

Here are my current Serama babies

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Quote:
ARRGGGGG! Excelsior was the only question I got wrong on my college woodworking final!

Anyway, Swamp cooler pads are made of excelsior & can be had locally if you need. Great idea!

I like this idea. My first thought was that they sell excelsior basket filling at Michael's but the swamp cooler pads have gotta be cheaper. Just cut them to size. I bet you could wash them out a few times before having to change them. Would they be compostable?

I just called eggcartons.com and you can put these in the compost. Barbara said it will take a while to decompose though. They are made from Aspen trees.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Gallo del Cielo: Great rhyme. I'll definitely remember that.



nurseshelly: I can't believe how cute! Looks like one cockerel and 2 pullets? How old are they?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

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So adorable

 

[nurseshelly]

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So adorable

Thanks!