MJ's little flock

[Ribh]

I knew I had a lot in common with you Aussies. I need to add driving long distances to the list.

America is a big country too. I can remember being astonished @ how many countries we could travel through in the amount of time it would take us to drive just through our state in Europe.

 

[Ribh]

The unties lUS is basically the same. Long distances are traveled quite frequently by car. I just drove 5.5 hours to rehome my cockerel Versace and the people providing him the new home drove 2 hours.

View attachment 3973580

Yes, it's a sensible solution when both parties have to travel some distance.

 

[MaryJanet]

If its slippery you can staple an old towel on to it. That’s what I did.

Last year:
View attachment 3973196

I've already placed a sheet of non-slip under the cleats. I doubt the chicks will find it slippery.

 

[MaryJanet]

Sounds like a wonderful drive.

It was a treat!

 

[BY Bob]

Look what I just purchased! My colleague is going to make me a nest.

View attachment 3971346

Those are awesome!

 

[MaryJanet]

Here is my ramp setup that solved the problem. The main ramp is marked with the arrow. The other pieces were added and since removed. View attachment 3973563
There is a small ramp I add to the porch to get them into the coop as well. You can see it here, red arrow.
View attachment 3973566

That back wall behind the ramp is hardware cloth (indicated with the blue W). The ramp is flush with it so the chicks can't fall off that way. If the door to the outside is closed it is also flush with the ramp. In reality, that door was usually open before the mums brought them outside.

Thanks Bob, very helpful!

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks Bob, very helpful!

I'm glad it was helpful. I'm sorry I've been absent for stretches recently. You can always reach out to me directly if you need anything or have questions you think I can help with.

I am very excited for you and Mary.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm glad it was helpful. I'm sorry I've been absent for stretches recently. You can always reach out to me directly if you need anything or have questions you think I can help with.

I am very excited for you and Mary.

Well, I'm happy for her, I think it was the right choice. And I'm enjoying the side projects that go with it. But I'm not counting chickens before they hatch.

 

[BDutch]

The towel is a good idea but staples, assuming they are the same size and type of staple one use in a paper stapler, are not. They do not grip well, not even the heavy duty ones and that's because they are designed to fold once the material is pierced. They pull out easily basically and they are not good for the chickens digestion.

You are right. I used a tacker with heavy duty staples (or something that looks like staples with another name I don’t know.

A thin wooden batten at top and bottom with the material folded around once and then the strip screwed into the ramp is preferable.

Yes. Even better!

 

[MaryJanet]

Apart from food and water in the nest compartment, everything's ready.

The insert in the nesting compartment is a very snug fit so no tiny claws get caught. It's 7 sheets of cardboard measured and cut to fit, then taped together into one whole. There's a sheet of ply, also measured and cut to fit, sitting on top and I've wrapped it in a towel to prevent splinters because I ran out of time to sand it properly. I may do that next weekend.

Here's the wide ramp with logs on one side. I'll place a sheet of ply vertically on the the other side if needs be.

I put a cabin hook on the roosting compartment door to prevent it slamming shut.

And I've been tweaking the angle and stretch of the new shade sail.

I'm ready for a rest