Ok just finished up a day's work in the barn and new coop. Michael wired the barn side for lights and plugs. I finished the roll-out nest boxes except for staining and adding the nest pads which should be here this week. I also covered the space above the screen door and reconfigured my removable jump up roost.
Then, I went nuts. I was going to make a big wooden feeder like one I saw here on BYC. During a forage through the Home Depot looking for wood I spotted
THESE:
I turned one upside down and started looking at it and realized I could use it as the framework for a feeder. It was only $14! I bought some small pieces of plywood to plug up the openings and a couple of hinges and headed home with my treasures. I was originally going to make it so they could feed from both sides. I quickly realized that would take up too much floor space. So I made one side higher than the other and attached it to the wall and made a hinged slanted lid to discourage climbing on it. I hesitate to use to word
prevent because they are Icelandics after all. I still need to find a tray for the food to fall in but I think it might just work! I will post pictures tomorrow. I took my camera down to the barn in a driving rain only to realize the battery was on the charger at the house.
So we are almost ready to make the big move. My 7 and 8 week olds are spending their first night in the big coop without their heat-lamp. They were in there at lock-up instead of in their baby coop so I left them. There is a flat panel coop heater running and they are cuddled up around the feeder. The are fully feathered and should be fine but I will worry myself sick all night anyway. I am hoping it goes well because I really need to move my Thanksgiving babies out of the brooder and into the outdoor baby coop to make room for my New Year's babies! Good grief!
Well, I am off to catch up on Mahonri's New Year's thread and then to bed early. I want to finish things up tomorrow in the new coop. I can't really finish until the pop door and nest pads get here but I can get everything else done.
Later!
Edited to add that I LOVE power tools. A few years ago hubby bought me this and a table saw too!
