Here is an update as of today. It's almost finished, just have to slap together a watering system using PVC pipe and those nipples. Im currently using water & gator aid bottles with nipples. Rig up a hanger for the feeder with a hood over it. Put some hardware on the triangle scrap feeder doors and paint the all the plywood.
What kind of chicken are those laying blue eggs?
What are the removable triangles next to door?
Looks very nice, would love to see video of the wheel lift operation!
Critique?
Not predator proof with chicken wire and very easily opened latches, unless you've got chicken proof dog(s) that range 24/7.
Roosting bars below nests, they may well roost in nests and poop them up.
What kind of chicken are those laying blue eggs?
What are the removable triangles next to door?
Looks very nice, would love to see video of the wheel lift operation!
Critique?
Not predator proof with chicken wire and very easily opened latches, unless you've got chicken proof dog(s) that range 24/7.
Roosting bars below nests, they may well roost in nests and poop them up.
Those are ping pong balls in the nest buckets, sorry for the poor quality vid as I had to use my cell. No eggs yet
The removable triangles are so I can toss scraps into the run without having to open the door. I have yet to put handles on them for ease of use. I just completed making them moments before the vid.
I will make a vid of the lift and move next time I relocate it. It takes two people to move the tractor due to the distance the handles are spread apart.
*The latches for the nest doors are actually a PITA to unlatch except one. I had the ones in the vid already half way undone so I did not have to fumble around
I was thinking about drilling the receiver holes larger to make it easier but I guess I will leave them alone now, thanks. I am planning on putting locks on the nest boxes and front door to safe guard against anyone just walking off the street and reaching or going in.
**So the door and upper vent area are areas of concern for predators due to my use of chicken wire? What types of bad guys should I be wary of due to that weakness? As far as predators go I hope what I have is good, time will tell. Only ones I know of out in my area are cats, hawks and the occasional snake. Which I am worried about the snakes the most.
***So far no chickens have bothered to roost in the nest boxes. They prefer the high roost above the nest boxes in the center and also the lower roost under them. But once I add more chickens and the high roost fills I can see what you are saying.
Thanks.That's actually a much simpler design than the cam levers I've seen. Let us know how it holds up for ya.
Raccoons are freakishly strong and can tear thru chicken wire pretty easily.
Chicken wire is good for holding chickens, but will do little against coons, dogs, maybe even fox......weasels, rats and snakes go right thru the holes.
1/2" hardware cloth attached with screws and fender washers every 6-8" is your best bet against all predators.
2x4 welded wire fencing seems to work pretty well on the bottom of tractors to prevent anything from digging in.
They can also get most single action latches undone....a loop type latch with a carbiner or padlock thru the loop seems to work pretty well.
