So I had this idea . . .

[Wendy Bee]

Our chicks are getting big (7-ish weeks) and our coop/run is still under construction (rain outside and appliance installs happening in the house contributing to delays). We're over-nighting the chicks in the house brooder, but they REALLY needed more space during the daytime.

We have hardware cloth (48" wide) rolls, so I knew I could make a circle of that, and maybe cover the top with old trampoline netting (recently torn and needing to be replaced). As I walked outside and saw the trampoline . . . Hmmm . . . frame, cover, circle - this could work! And with the broken net, the children are not allowed to jump on the trampoline anyway, so . . .

Roof on the coop/run is tar-papered and lots o' rain was coming, so a tarp is up until weather permits shingling. We're continuing to work on the coop portion so we can overnight the birds in the coop and put them under the trampoline 'tractor' while we complete their run. We do have at least one roo who is learning to crow. At 5am. In the house. Which IS adorable, but we're looking forward to them overnighting in their coop!

We are able to 'tractor' the trampoline around the yard. When no dirt is available, I put a large bin half filled with dirt where they can dust bathe, which they enjoy very much .

Rainy all day yesterday, so installed a big tarp and a large log underneath the trampoline for perching. It proved a bit chilly for them, so they ended up back inside. Hoping it warms up a bit so they can go back out today. It was 92F here a few days ago! 42F and rainy cold yesterday. Pushing 49F now, so we'll see.

One of the boys siphoned off the water that had accumulated on the tarp. We'll be taking the chicks out in a bit .

So if you have a trampoline, and you need a temporary tractor . . .

 

[H-B-O]

Our chicks are getting big (7-ish weeks) and our coop/run is still under construction (rain outside and appliance installs happening in the house contributing to delays). We're over-nighting the chicks in the house brooder, but they REALLY needed more space during the daytime.

We have hardware cloth (48" wide) rolls, so I knew I could make a circle of that, and maybe cover the top with old trampoline netting (recently torn and needing to be replaced). As I walked outside and saw the trampoline . . . Hmmm . . . frame, cover, circle - this could work! And with the broken net, the children are not allowed to jump on the trampoline anyway, so . . .

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Roof on the coop/run is tar-papered and lots o' rain was coming, so a tarp is up until weather permits shingling. We're continuing to work on the coop portion so we can overnight the birds in the coop and put them under the trampoline 'tractor' while we complete their run. We do have at least one roo who is learning to crow. At 5am. In the house. Which IS adorable, but we're looking forward to them overnighting in their coop!
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We are able to 'tractor' the trampoline around the yard. When no dirt is available, I put a large bin half filled with dirt where they can dust bathe, which they enjoy very much .

View attachment 2694080

Rainy all day yesterday, so installed a big tarp and a large log underneath the trampoline for perching. It proved a bit chilly for them, so they ended up back inside. Hoping it warms up a bit so they can go back out today. It was 92F here a few days ago! 42F and rainy cold yesterday. Pushing 49F now, so we'll see.
One of the boys siphoned off the water that had accumulated on the tarp. We'll be taking the chicks out in a bit .

So if you have a trampoline, and you need a temporary tractor . . .

That is so cool!

 

[Wendy Bee]

That is so cool!

Thanks!

 

[3KillerBs]

Hoping it warms up a bit so they can go back out today. It was 92F here a few days ago! 42F and rainy cold yesterday. Pushing 49F now, so we'll see.

At that age, with full feathers, they'll be fine outside in those temperatures as long as you make sure they can get out of the wind and aren't sitting in water.

These were my 4-week-olds outside in a dog crate the first night I had them. I was slapping their shelter together in the rain and they were fine.

Several of their first nights were down in the low 40's and I had to put them into the shelter when they tried to sleep outside.

 

[KnightsMist]

Brilliant idea!! Waste not, want not good luck finishing the coop and run, looks like it will be great!