Fold down seat

On By CarynIn Craft

Oh the quandary! To be able to sit with the chicks, but not have the seat covered in chicken droppings.

I had an idea for a fold down seat. I used scrap 5/4″ decking for one seat, and 2x4s for the other, chain, connectors, eye screws and bolts, and heavy duty strap hinges. To keep the seat in the upright position, I used a carabiner to hook it to the poultry netting. All the hardware is rated for a load of at least 320 pounds, so it should hold up to people sitting on it.

I set the first one a little high, but both my eldest and husband are taller than I am, so that is probably OK. I set the second one a little lower for my youngest and I. The poultry wire back is surprisingly comfortable.

Seats folded up

Seats folded down

Update:

The carabiners were not holding the benches upright enough, and the chickens were roosting on them, so I replaced the carabiners with gate hooks that catch the eyes I used for the chain. Much better!

Gate hook latch for seat

New roost

On By CarynIn Coop

I made the chicks a new roost. I really made it for when they are older and roosting to sleep. Right now they still all huddle into one corner of the coop. So like human kids bouncing on the bed, this is more of just a jungle gym right now!

New roost

The roost is 24″ tall, which is what my chicken book recommended. The roosts are 18″ center to center and made of 2×3″ pine. Except the branch. I’m pretty sure that is post oak or cedar elm, because that is what is in the yard, but it fit so nicely I said they could keep it.

Parallel cuts with skill saw, then excess removed with a chisel

I cut the rabbets using a skill saw to make several parallel cuts, then removed the excess with a hammer and chisel. I did both 2×4 sides together so they would match.

Cleaned out rabbet
Channel cut in PVC using a table saw

I also made a channel in 1″ PVC pipe and installed these pipes under the roosts, along the sides. I have some smaller PVC pipe that slides into these channels and some canvas that will make a poop catcher. More on that in another post (mainly because it isn’t done yet)!

Filed corners for easier use

I used a file to open up the ends of the channels to make getting the canvas in and out easier.

The chicks are having fun jumping up on the roosts, and really like the stick better than the lumber. We’ll see if the preference continues!

Cats, raccoons, and ‘possums, oh my

On By CarynIn Wildlife

The chicks are definitely drawing attention. The trail cam that was only taking pictures of waving plants over a month ago is now capturing images of raccoons, opossums, cats (of course), and even an armadillo.

I have to admit, I forgot to check the camera for a couple weeks. It was quite eye opening when we finally went through the card!

Lock and key

On By CarynIn Coop, meme

Not people proof, but I hope the locks are complicated enough to thwart the raccoons.

Simple heart lock

I have one lock on the entry to the runs and another on the back door. I had these locks in my stash. I thought they would be smaller when I ordered them, but alas, they were not. They are better fitted for this application, and by attaching the chain I don’t have to search for the key.