- May 19, 2009
- 2,063
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This began as a twisted idea for a Christmas ornament, but as I don't decorate for holidays, I quickly became bored with it. I didn't want to waste my work, so I came up with another idea: a safe comfey playground essential for my chicklets! They love it! Here's how:
Gather tools and ingredients. You will need a small foam craft ball, pipe cleaner or firm wire, glue and a bottle cap from which to dip it, a commercial grower's flower pot, a utility knife or scissors, and a pile of soft feathers. Mine was harvested from a dead Cochin. Macabre, I know, but consider it the "gift of life."
Insert the wire through the foam ball. You can use a half-ball, just poke through the flat side. It only needs to stick out the other side a half inch or so, and fold that end over. Fill your bottle cap with glue, and start dipping. Put the end of the feather in the glue, and poke it into the foam ball, starting at what will be the bottom. CAUTION: do not get glue on your fingers! Think Brer Rabbit and the briar patch! The process is a carpal tunnel nightmare, but it only takes about 20 minutes to poke all the feathers in. If you are using a whole ball, don't go all the way to the top. Set your ball of fluff aside to dry, and grab your flower pot. Cut a "mouse hole" into one side of it, big enough for the chicks to fit inside.
Next, thread the wire of your fluff ball through the inside of your hut, up through one of the drainage holes. Adjust it to a height where the babies can move around easily, but still be able to rub against the feathers. Place it near the heat source inside your brooder. The drainage holes will prevent it from turning into an oven. Add chicks! Mine love it. I am a pathetic hatcher, and I often have one lonely peep waiting forlornley until another is hatched, a week later. This hut has been a great comfort to my little lonely hearts!
This one could be adjusted a bit lower.
Gather tools and ingredients. You will need a small foam craft ball, pipe cleaner or firm wire, glue and a bottle cap from which to dip it, a commercial grower's flower pot, a utility knife or scissors, and a pile of soft feathers. Mine was harvested from a dead Cochin. Macabre, I know, but consider it the "gift of life."
Insert the wire through the foam ball. You can use a half-ball, just poke through the flat side. It only needs to stick out the other side a half inch or so, and fold that end over. Fill your bottle cap with glue, and start dipping. Put the end of the feather in the glue, and poke it into the foam ball, starting at what will be the bottom. CAUTION: do not get glue on your fingers! Think Brer Rabbit and the briar patch! The process is a carpal tunnel nightmare, but it only takes about 20 minutes to poke all the feathers in. If you are using a whole ball, don't go all the way to the top. Set your ball of fluff aside to dry, and grab your flower pot. Cut a "mouse hole" into one side of it, big enough for the chicks to fit inside.
Next, thread the wire of your fluff ball through the inside of your hut, up through one of the drainage holes. Adjust it to a height where the babies can move around easily, but still be able to rub against the feathers. Place it near the heat source inside your brooder. The drainage holes will prevent it from turning into an oven. Add chicks! Mine love it. I am a pathetic hatcher, and I often have one lonely peep waiting forlornley until another is hatched, a week later. This hut has been a great comfort to my little lonely hearts!
This one could be adjusted a bit lower.
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