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I like that term... 'field engineer" I may use it. My husband is an "Electronic Engineer." I think a "field engineer" would be more impressive then my usual job of "Domestic Engineer."
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I like that term... 'field engineer" I may use it. My husband is an "Electronic Engineer." I think a "field engineer" would be more impressive then my usual job of "Domestic Engineer."
I use the term "field engineering" as the term my father used to use for rigging something up that works with available materials is not and never has been politically correct.
Just remember - the chickens will never know that their coop has been freecycled and not build from scratch with all the bells and whistles. As long as you meet their requirements for a safe shelter - who cares what it looks like!
Great Idea!!!! I too would make sure its 100% secure-I used to live in the city and actually saw an occasional racoon-they can do alot of damage-Love your idea take pics if they go down the slide!!!!!!!
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Well, I haven't seen any preditors in my yard ever, except a few cats here and there, but with Spartacus, not many other beasties come around our place. I live in the center of a city, and have a 6 to 8 ft fence around my yard. we do have the a few hawks now and then. My regular chicken run is 1/2 inch hardware cloth, on all sides and on top. I may put a 24 inch high second layer of chicken wire around the bottom of this, with the openings off set so it will have smaller holes.
Raccoons are in the middle of every city, and will tear open the chicken wire- please don't rely on not having seen them to indicate they aren't there- I'd hate to have you find out they are the hard way. I'm the only one in the middle of my city to have built for bear...and I'm the only one who hasn't lost birds to raccoons.
I love the recycling job, though! Fabulous choice- I wish I'd done something like that with ours instead of putting it on the curb (it only lasted about 20 minutes and WHOOSH! Gone!).
I think it's great and I love it. I don't think you have to worry about preditors. I have chicken wire on my coops and it has worked out great for several years now. Good job with coming up with an idea that works! I think the slide is going to be way cool for the chicks. You will have to get a video of that.
Way cool! The one I (okay, my boyfriend...) am working on is a wooden tower playset we're converting. I never thought of using a plastic one. It should be pretty easy to clean, I'd think!
The chicken wire would make me nervous, too, though. I love raccoons, but now that I'm thinking about chickens, they scare the crap out of me....