I have just completed my first movable chicken Ark. I made it using whatever pictures I have been able to glean from the web of the Forsham 903 Ark. I also used some inspiration from the pictures posted by Newchickenmom&kids on this site of her custom Ark. I made it to the exact dimensions of the Forsham 903 as posted on the Forsham site. The details I grabbed from wherever I could!
It looks great and I have just put my 10 week old Buff Orpington pullets in it to get acquainted. I hope that it works out well over time and that I didn't screw up any pertinent details. I wish I had gotten to see the real thing.
This is a side view of the ark. The ark is heavy because I used treated deck planks (1x6). They will probably last forever, but they ain't light!
This is an end view of the ark. You may notice the rope tied to the end that I use to pull up the ramp, for moving and confining the birds either up or down.
Another picture of the same thing with the doors removed.
This is a picture of the side of the ark with the door removed, showing the inside area. There are two nest boxes on this ark like on the forsham 903. Since my Buffs are not yet laying, I have tacked a temporary cover over the nest box area on each end to prevent them from nest roosting. This will be removed when needed and after they have already gotten into the habit of roosting on the removable roost pole. Also note that the ramp is pulled up into the closed position.
This is a more detailed view of one end (and with two of my Buffs in the picture).
A shot underneath, now with the ramp down.
And a last shot of the ark with chickens in and my guineas about the outside.
It is always interesting to try to make something you have never seen in use. It is kind of like the blind man trying to describe the elephant. It may turn out there are things I missed. Anybody with experience with a forsham ark? Couple of things that I am not sure of is how do you keep the litter from falling out of the door? Is there a rail on the forsham? Or do you just accept litter falling out? What mechanism is there for pulling up the door. I used a rope and a boat cleat. Is this close? The carrier handles on each end need to be trimmed into shape, something I still plan to do.
I would appreciate any feedback from members. What have I missed?
Thanks!!
dealhound (Tim)
It looks great and I have just put my 10 week old Buff Orpington pullets in it to get acquainted. I hope that it works out well over time and that I didn't screw up any pertinent details. I wish I had gotten to see the real thing.
This is a side view of the ark. The ark is heavy because I used treated deck planks (1x6). They will probably last forever, but they ain't light!
This is an end view of the ark. You may notice the rope tied to the end that I use to pull up the ramp, for moving and confining the birds either up or down.
Another picture of the same thing with the doors removed.
This is a picture of the side of the ark with the door removed, showing the inside area. There are two nest boxes on this ark like on the forsham 903. Since my Buffs are not yet laying, I have tacked a temporary cover over the nest box area on each end to prevent them from nest roosting. This will be removed when needed and after they have already gotten into the habit of roosting on the removable roost pole. Also note that the ramp is pulled up into the closed position.
This is a more detailed view of one end (and with two of my Buffs in the picture).
A shot underneath, now with the ramp down.
And a last shot of the ark with chickens in and my guineas about the outside.
It is always interesting to try to make something you have never seen in use. It is kind of like the blind man trying to describe the elephant. It may turn out there are things I missed. Anybody with experience with a forsham ark? Couple of things that I am not sure of is how do you keep the litter from falling out of the door? Is there a rail on the forsham? Or do you just accept litter falling out? What mechanism is there for pulling up the door. I used a rope and a boat cleat. Is this close? The carrier handles on each end need to be trimmed into shape, something I still plan to do.
I would appreciate any feedback from members. What have I missed?
Thanks!!
dealhound (Tim)
