This isn't really an invention so much as just the repurposing of old (very old) materials.
While building a henhouse... all from old boards (saved from the house and barn renovation) I desired to have a three compartment nesting box. While looking around the barn for a boxlike form to begin as the nucleus of the project, my eyes fell upon the old antique chest that had been under a pile of odds & ends when we purchased the property.
An antique, the exterior painting bears the date 1847. One hinge was missing (from being rusted away), one hinge was almost equally as bad though it still held the top and bottom together and there was absolutely no bottom remaining. Additionally, though the locking mechanism was still intact there is no key nor knowledge if the lock still functions. An "AHA" moment and a good deal of construction was saved (maybe, but probably not...
).
So I cleaned it up, painted on a water base sealer and then added a solid floor from tongue and groove flooring scraps. A little calculating and I figured I could cut the arched lid in half (lengthwise), add a backing board on which to install new hinges, while adding boards to top off the other half of the chest and it should function as required. The size of the chest gave me three nesting boxes 12" x 12" (30cm x 30cm) and a partition to store extra goodies in. I opted to make one nest box a little larger as our rooster oftentimes likes to sit next to one of the hens when she is focused on doing her business. Moral support I guess....
So here is how the chest appears... now as an antique nesting box, from outside the henhouse. This construction was on the interior of the barn so required some additional lighting (flash) for photographing. The chest will continue to age well as it is protected from the elements with this interior setting.
Also please note the four whitewashed antique boards forming the wall that the chest adjoins. These boards were all an incredible 18" (45cm) in width x 8 feet (2.4 meter) long x 1-1/2" (3.5mm) thick solid fir from about 100 years ago. All taken from the ceiling of what was the potato storage room... now my ceramic studio. Not bad material to make an antique henhouse from...
The two exterior walls were completely clad with these.
Additional note: The henhouse is built upon one layer of old hay bales for floor insulation. Those in turn are separated from the soil with a sheet of construction moisture barrier, so should not rot or cause problems during my remaining lifetime...
The floor of the henhouse was built from two old wooden bed platforms (from the house at purchase), covered with linoleum (or some kind of vinyl flooring sheet) with a good layer of easy cleaning sand (from the beach just a few miles west of us).
The following two shots show how I cut the top so that it is hinged back for access to the nests and the small storage unit.
Then on the interior of the house three portals are cut into the back wall of the chest as entryways for the individual nests. A perch of elm is carved (from one of the nine large dead and dried elm trees left on the property) for easier entry/access.
The eggs in the two left boxes are also carved from some of the spalted elm scrap.
And at last the hens are happy...
the rooster is happy with his adjoining waiting room...
three new chicks have hatched (and are happy)...
and all appears right with the world...
While building a henhouse... all from old boards (saved from the house and barn renovation) I desired to have a three compartment nesting box. While looking around the barn for a boxlike form to begin as the nucleus of the project, my eyes fell upon the old antique chest that had been under a pile of odds & ends when we purchased the property.
An antique, the exterior painting bears the date 1847. One hinge was missing (from being rusted away), one hinge was almost equally as bad though it still held the top and bottom together and there was absolutely no bottom remaining. Additionally, though the locking mechanism was still intact there is no key nor knowledge if the lock still functions. An "AHA" moment and a good deal of construction was saved (maybe, but probably not...
So I cleaned it up, painted on a water base sealer and then added a solid floor from tongue and groove flooring scraps. A little calculating and I figured I could cut the arched lid in half (lengthwise), add a backing board on which to install new hinges, while adding boards to top off the other half of the chest and it should function as required. The size of the chest gave me three nesting boxes 12" x 12" (30cm x 30cm) and a partition to store extra goodies in. I opted to make one nest box a little larger as our rooster oftentimes likes to sit next to one of the hens when she is focused on doing her business. Moral support I guess....
So here is how the chest appears... now as an antique nesting box, from outside the henhouse. This construction was on the interior of the barn so required some additional lighting (flash) for photographing. The chest will continue to age well as it is protected from the elements with this interior setting.
Also please note the four whitewashed antique boards forming the wall that the chest adjoins. These boards were all an incredible 18" (45cm) in width x 8 feet (2.4 meter) long x 1-1/2" (3.5mm) thick solid fir from about 100 years ago. All taken from the ceiling of what was the potato storage room... now my ceramic studio. Not bad material to make an antique henhouse from...
Additional note: The henhouse is built upon one layer of old hay bales for floor insulation. Those in turn are separated from the soil with a sheet of construction moisture barrier, so should not rot or cause problems during my remaining lifetime...
The following two shots show how I cut the top so that it is hinged back for access to the nests and the small storage unit.
Then on the interior of the house three portals are cut into the back wall of the chest as entryways for the individual nests. A perch of elm is carved (from one of the nine large dead and dried elm trees left on the property) for easier entry/access.
The eggs in the two left boxes are also carved from some of the spalted elm scrap.
And at last the hens are happy...
What a neat feeder! I didn't look to see where you are located, but wondering if it would work in winter time..we get some snow...and major snow storms I am guessing now..but little bits of snow (was the normal around her most years) I am wondering how well it would work?
