We finally got the netting in for the new pen. I got them all moved in and I've been so busy I haven't had time to take new pictures, but I will do so soon. I figured I would share some pictures of the in progress pen.
Here's the former "door" to the area. When we started, we had only the barn wall, the gate, and the closest wall of fencing. There was some cattle fence along the far side (I say was but it's still there), but it was just a few wooden planks. We picked up a 10x8x6 paneled kennel ($10 a panel!) and a 10x10x6 paneled kennel ($125, but it was in much better shape) to complete the walls. Then we used a 13x8x6 (wth?) kennel that was not paneled to create part of the far wall and give us a place to separate injured or sick birds. That was also where the kids were being held while this construction went down.
Here's the side view. It's a 30x30 pen, and the tarped area is the separation bit. The wooden spool in the center is both a perch and a support for the PVC pipe we used to hold the threaded wire we tented the netting roof with- gave them a lot of clearance above! You can barely see them, but the wooden uprights became 5.5' perches, and there's a truck camper hood we used as a shelter for the rain (and they used it in the storm 2 nights ago! Good birds!). There's also a broken down doghouse on the left that I repaired and left for nesting.
The back view- we added a second gate to the left, which became the only gate when we wired on the roof. There's the kids in their holding cell.
The other side of the holding pen from inside the new pen. You can see the wire we used for the roof there, and one of the uprights we later made perches from.
Turning around from the previous picture, there's the perches, the doghouse, and the shelter- and the big barn in the background. I planted yellow squash underneath the perches- may as well not waste the fertilizer that will surely accrue!
Of all the things in the pen, they love this thing the best. I can't say why, but they choose this to roost on usually instead of the high perches. I think my birds are broken
The black thing under the camper top is a garden bin. It got filled with soft shavings and diatomaceous earth for them to dust bathe in. Osiris loves it, the others are not so sure.
And here's the scary looking doghouse. I cleaned out the inside, filled it with fresh shavings (and will put straw in soon), pulled off the loose bits of the roof, and hammered on some new boards for them. I left part of the side open instead of putting on new boards, so it can vent some heat in the summer.
Taking a break from wiring up the netting for them, eating some chilled watermelon while we worked.
And for fun, I figured I'd show off Osiris once more
This is how it goes whenever I go into their pen- I have to practically trip over her to get inside, and once I'm there whatever I am doing is most certainly her business and won't I please pet her. And there's Octavian (the opal), Kail (the blue who will be gone shortly), and Lilly (the hen) in the background.
I will post pictures of the pen all finished when I get a chance!
Here's the former "door" to the area. When we started, we had only the barn wall, the gate, and the closest wall of fencing. There was some cattle fence along the far side (I say was but it's still there), but it was just a few wooden planks. We picked up a 10x8x6 paneled kennel ($10 a panel!) and a 10x10x6 paneled kennel ($125, but it was in much better shape) to complete the walls. Then we used a 13x8x6 (wth?) kennel that was not paneled to create part of the far wall and give us a place to separate injured or sick birds. That was also where the kids were being held while this construction went down.
Here's the side view. It's a 30x30 pen, and the tarped area is the separation bit. The wooden spool in the center is both a perch and a support for the PVC pipe we used to hold the threaded wire we tented the netting roof with- gave them a lot of clearance above! You can barely see them, but the wooden uprights became 5.5' perches, and there's a truck camper hood we used as a shelter for the rain (and they used it in the storm 2 nights ago! Good birds!). There's also a broken down doghouse on the left that I repaired and left for nesting.
The back view- we added a second gate to the left, which became the only gate when we wired on the roof. There's the kids in their holding cell.
The other side of the holding pen from inside the new pen. You can see the wire we used for the roof there, and one of the uprights we later made perches from.
Turning around from the previous picture, there's the perches, the doghouse, and the shelter- and the big barn in the background. I planted yellow squash underneath the perches- may as well not waste the fertilizer that will surely accrue!
Of all the things in the pen, they love this thing the best. I can't say why, but they choose this to roost on usually instead of the high perches. I think my birds are broken
And here's the scary looking doghouse. I cleaned out the inside, filled it with fresh shavings (and will put straw in soon), pulled off the loose bits of the roof, and hammered on some new boards for them. I left part of the side open instead of putting on new boards, so it can vent some heat in the summer.
Taking a break from wiring up the netting for them, eating some chilled watermelon while we worked.
And for fun, I figured I'd show off Osiris once more
I will post pictures of the pen all finished when I get a chance!
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