building paradise for the birds

[birdman55]

today was not really productive...it was like 45 out so the ground wasn't that hard...I got one side in the ground...still four left...so yeah thanks for the tool idea....as you can see I picked one up and it works wonders....the ground is off level by roughly eight inches so made it level..wow this will be a fun time...lol...not really but it will get done tommarow...cause the day after that I have to pick up wood for the walls....so here is some pics from today

 

[uzisuzuki]

I really appreciate you taking the time to document your entire process here. Since I'm currently bumbling about as a first time chicken/bird tender, it's great to see what people are doing as far as coops/pens go. Makes my task of constructing my own in a few months a little less daunting.

 

[blueraven]

this is some of my ducks in the aviary i built out of my sisters already existing horse round pen. due to my sister moving her horse away I placed fencing around the outer edge the pen is 50/50 feet i bought a 50 by 100ft bird netting to keep owls out and keep my birds in, worked great in keeping owls out never lost a bird in this pen only when a bird was outside did an owl get one of my mallards. I kept turkeys in there also and kept them for butchering. these pictures were last year in the fall. as to why there are no turkeys lol. I did keep a few turkeys but they free ranged all winter as they were smart enough to roost. i sold them in the spring.























these are some of my newer birds
three of the ducks are pure breeds the blue runner, buff duck, khaki, the rest of the ducks are hybrids from the last years ducks that i hatched out myself. the geese are wild breeds and 4 domestics.

 

[bantamphienix]

nice pheasants. where are you located in Michigan?

 

[birdmansmom]

The sun is shining so far today here in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Hope you are getting some sun too! Can't wait to see your progress today.

 

[bigmrg74]

today was not really productive...it was like 45 out so the ground wasn't that hard...I got one side in the ground...still four left...so yeah thanks for the tool idea....as you can see I picked one up and it works wonders....the ground is off level by roughly eight inches so made it level..wow this will be a fun time...lol...not really but it will get done tommarow...cause the day after that I have to pick up wood for the walls....so here is some pics from today

I told ya a Mattock is one of the best tools for digging in frozen dirt. also useful if you gotta go through some roots as well.

 

[birdman55]

nice pheasants. where are you located in Michigan?

by grayling...not feeling well today but out to work I go

 

[birdman55]

well today was a tiring day...beating at the frozen ground but I think I got a a lot done...for the couple hours I was out there...I ate a lot of dirt working with this maddock tool...and Im covered in dirt....so today was one day closer to getting that base in the frozen ground...had a little issue with one of the base boards being an inch and a half off center so I had to dig on the side of it and move it...not fun but didn't take as long as I expected....well...here are some pics of the progress...it feels like im moving at a snails pace...one inch at a time...
board on the right was no issue

the board directly in front was the issue....when I first set it in the ground and got it level looked fine...but then when doing measurements I found out that the board needed to be pushed outword an inch and a half...then it was fine

brief break the dogs had to say hi

man they were focused on them chickens

the pen on the right will be split in half and the larger one will be for when I start breeding...for the younger birds

got half of that dug out before it got dark

night pic of the peafowl

another night pic of the peafowl...tommarow I will be cleaning this coop out and adding fresh straw for them...no amish stores open on sundays...and that's our feed store...

also thought I would tell everyone I sifted out the mealworms and found my first three pupas....so they are getting closer to reproduction....cant wait for it to turn to a beetle...I will take pics of what these look like and post tommarow after I get done sifting out the other container tonight...
have a great night / day everyone

 

[satay]

I finally did it, sat down and read the entire 49 pages of your thread. Yes you are a crazy man Lol... Your pens are looking great and to work so hard in those conditons is amazing. I love all your birds etc. You have some of the most stunning birds i have ever seen. Well done on building your own bator. It is sweet to see you mum drop into the thread too ... Lovely to see a mum so proud of her sons efforts. Your pitbulls are beautiful too. What a shame the are a banned breed in australia now.

 

[birdman55]

yeah mom, dad and my two aunts are on here now watching my progress....I guess in Florida you can legally own a tiger but not a pit....which ones more pathetic...societies view of the pit compared to a tiger or the fact that society cant just accept that these breeds have helped with their nations endeavors like in ww2 pits were actually used in missions and in their prisoner camps...weird....but you can make any dog mean...
anyways thanks from stopping bye from the down under...lol