Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

Here is my feeder, just missing the front which is drying before i put it on.
You can see where the top is hinged on top. I angled the feed slider board and caulked to keep fine food from getting in the cracks and going stale. The slider board prevents food from piling up in the back of the feeder where the birds can't reach it. This feeder is based on Rabbit feeders, except much larger. I showed the slider board in previous pictures , it is the unpainted board. Sorry it can be hard to see detail with the black color but that is the cheap paint and the color i decided to go for as an accent color with my yellow interior. The contrast of the white caulk helps show the angles of various boards. Tomorrow i will touch up the paint and put the front on and i will be done. Not feeling so great today, not sure if it is the sinus infection, the antibiotic or my intestines. Kind of feel light headed. Hope you all had a great day.

 

[CapricornFarm]

And i forgot to add, this wood is all scrap wood and wood salvaged from pallets. I like to recycle when i can.

 

[Nksg75]

Thanks, I'll have to try to find some. Haven't seen them, but that doesn't mean we don't have them. I used a plastic peg to hold down some bird mesh, but that would be way too expensive for a larger job - having said that, straight pins might not hold that well in our sandy soil, they could just pull straight back out.

Just wanted to add a cheap/free way to get the sod staples. I frequent Pinterest and found this tip.
Wire hangers cut in half(minus the top hook part) can be used instead of buying them from a store. I used this technique to hold my hardware cloth skirting around the entire coop and run until the grass grew through it and kept it down on its own.
This may not work for your sandy soil, however I just thought I would pass this little tidbit on.

 

[Nksg75]

The chicks are here!View attachment 1112251

Just curious, are they day old chicks from hatchery? They look large, that's why I am asking.

 

[aart]

Just wanted to add a cheap/free way to get the sod staples. I frequent Pinterest and found this tip.
Wire hangers cut in half(minus the top hook part) can be used instead of buying them from a store. I used this technique to hold my hardware cloth skirting around the entire coop and run until the grass grew through it and kept it down on its own.
This may not work for your sandy soil, however I just thought I would pass this little tidbit on.

Brilliant!! Even in sandy soil, put them in at an angle, the extra length would help.

 

[User395221]

the antibiotic or my intestines.

The antibiotics can affect the intestines/make you feel queasy. Just take it easy if you are feeling dizzy, you don't want to come a cropper

Just wanted to add a cheap/free way to get the sod staples.

Thanks for the tip. I've got a bucket of wire from when I had my open chicken yard, maybe I could bend and use that to make the pins.
I actually went to the nursery and got some more plants. Hopefully the girls will leave them alone without me having to mesh them. I don't think they're particularly tasty ones - but I'm at the ready to mesh them if necessary. I extended the area around my vege beds and I'm planting some inside there. (chook-free zone.)

 

[aart]

Hopefully the girls will leave them alone without me having to mesh them. I don't think they're particularly tasty ones - but I'm at the ready to mesh them if necessary.

Mesh them!.....they may not want to eat the plants, but may dig in the freshly turned soil from planting them.

 

[User395221]

Mesh them!.....they may not want to eat the plants, but may dig in the freshly turned soil from planting them.

They're agapanthus -I'll just kick the dirt back over them. They'll be ok. I'll lure the girls to the compost heap instead if they pay it any attention, they'll like that better.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Just curious, are they day old chicks from hatchery? They look large, that's why I am asking.

Yes! They felt so light i was really worried about them. But they came back with the electrolytes and feed, and all have survived so far. Very pleased with Hoover Hatchery.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I had a really rough night last night with my IBS. So that was the issue. The cramping gets so bad the sweat pours off you. I will be taking it slow today i expect. Husband is out there with the chain saw this morning.