DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[PrimroseMom1]

Y

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I built the moveable fence and set it up around my garden. I think I'll call it the "portable paddock." The girls spent the day in it, today, and it worked great! To make the posts, I screwed a 24-inch piece across the flat of the 2x4 post and a 16-inch piece that butted up to the cross piece . The cross piece lumber slides right through the fencing (2x4 welded wire.) I used coat hanger wire to hold the top of the fence to the post. I got all the 2x4's from the cull lumber bin at Home Depot. $.51 each 4 foot piece. I wanted to use 5 foot wire fencing but it was way too heavy for me to manage by myself, so I got 4 foot high fencing. I got mine at Tractor Supply, but I've seen it at Home Depot, too. I used 10-inch, 3/8" spikes for the ends of the cross pieces. They were $.20 cheaper than the 12" spikes. I built 10 of the fence posts and will probably build two more...just because. [/quote You did it!! Congratulations!!

 

[perchie.girl]

I built the moveable fence and set it up around my garden. I think I'll call it the "portable paddock." The girls spent the day in it, today, and it worked great! To make the posts, I screwed a 24-inch piece across the flat of the 2x4 post and a 16-inch piece that butted up to the cross piece . The cross piece lumber slides right through the fencing (2x4 welded wire.) I used coat hanger wire to hold the top of the fence to the post. I got all the 2x4's from the cull lumber bin at Home Depot. $.51 each 4 foot piece. I wanted to use 5 foot wire fencing but it was way too heavy for me to manage by myself, so I got 4 foot high fencing. I got mine at Tractor Supply, but I've seen it at Home Depot, too. I used 10-inch, 3/8" spikes for the ends of the cross pieces. They were $.20 cheaper than the 12" spikes. I built 10 of the fence posts and will probably build two more...just because.

I see now that the little short leg that I originally thought was useless Is actually backed up by the fence wire itself. I am also glad you opted for the shorter wire. Eggcellent job...

deb

 

[cluck13]

I built a mobil coop yesterday - idea to be able to easily moved by one person. I have realized not large enough to house 2 chickens at all times. But really ideal for a broody hen, you wish to keep seperate or for those hens that need to be kept separate. Please keep in mind that I come from Australia

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Nic

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I built a mobil coop yesterday - idea to be able to easily moved by one person. I have realized not large enough to house 2 chickens at all times. But really ideal for a broody hen, you wish to keep seperate or for those hens that need to be kept separate. Please keep in mind that I come from Australia [/quote Nice. Here in Louisiana we can't use chicken wire, too many predators can get through that.

 

[cluck13]

Yes there are certainly advantages of where you live - I will have to keep an eye on snakes during summer, in the past haven't had issues as my work dogs are often off the chain during the day. Also my kids are outside making lots of noise

 

[mlowen]

I see now that the little short leg that I originally thought was useless Is actually backed up by the fence wire itself. I am also glad you opted for the shorter wire. Eggcellent job...

deb

I found out by experimenting with the piece of scrap rusted wire in the first picture that when you slide the cross piece into the wire at the bottom, you want to be sure there is a corresponding piece sticking out the "back." Otherwise, even with the fence holding it down, it's not as stable. I was very paranoid about them flying over the 4 foot wire. I had draped a dog blanket over the entrance where I pulled in the chicken tractor to get them into the pen and one flew up onto that blanket. It was over the top of the tractor, so it held her. I grabbed her & dropped her back in and no one tried it again.

 

[jimmywalt]

Built this chicken tractor a few weeks back. Used 2"x4"x8' for the bottom and 1"x2" for the uprights. Have 4' high sides. Pretty cheap to build too!

Works great except if I leave them in one spot for over 30 minutes they scratch out big holes in my lawn, so I don't use the tractor much. Wonder if there is any way that I can put chicken wire along the bottom (floor) so that they can't scratch so much??? Yet how would I move the chickens in it??

 

[malndobe]

I built the moveable fence and set it up around my garden. I think I'll call it the "portable paddock." The girls spent the day in it, today, and it worked great! To make the posts, I screwed a 24-inch piece across the flat of the 2x4 post and a 16-inch piece that butted up to the cross piece .

Nice. How often do you plan to move it? If you bought a package of those screw in hooks (you can get a package of 10-20 for pretty cheap) and screwed them into the wood you could hang the fence on them if you plan to move it a lot. Would help with sagging and then you wouldn't need the wire ties.

 

[mlowen]

Nice. How often do you plan to move it? If you bought a package of those screw in hooks (you can get a package of 10-20 for pretty cheap) and screwed them into the wood you could hang the fence on them if you plan to move it a lot. Would help with sagging and then you wouldn't need the wire ties.

Actually, the wire ties are easier & quicker to take e off than hooks. Plus, the fence may hit differently in the next spot than this one, if the ground is uneven in a different way. I want them working my garden for awhile, then I have a section with lots of dead leaves--good worm & skink hunting there. I'll probably move it mid-October. I'll roll up the wire and store it & the posts undercover for the winter. It just occurred to me that a dolly would be a great tool to have around for moving that wire...it's heavy!

 

[malndobe]

Actually, the wire ties are easier & quicker to take e off than hooks.

I'll roll up the wire and store it & the posts undercover for the winter. It just occurred to me that a dolly would be a great tool to have around for moving that wire...it's heavy!

I was thinking leave the hooks in the wood and just stretch the wire between the wooden "foot" and a hook near the top, then unhook to move.

I've built a couple of dollys cheap, 4 caster wheels from the hardware store and some old 2x4s to make a frame. Add some rope to the front to pull it and off you go. How uneven the terrain is determines how big of a wheel you will need.

I like the idea, I'm going to have to "borrow" it for a few temp yards at my place. I don't have the fencing already, so I'm thinking the green plastic "construction fencing" would work well, and be lighter weight. The orange is cheaper, but it's really "bright" LOL