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Commenced:
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01/01/2005 |
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Submitted:
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08/04/2011 |
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Last updated:
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16/02/2016 |
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Location:
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Cherokee, Victoria, AU |
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Climate zone:
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Cool Temperate |
(projects i'm involved in)
Project: Fernglade Farm
Posted by Chris McLeod over 9 years ago
Chook-trek: The next generation of chicken housing and enclosure on the farm. These are the voyages of the chicken house and enclosure. Its five week construction and mission: to permanently exclude rodents, to provide all weather shelter; to make it quicker and easier to maintain the chickens; and to boldly go where no chicken has gone before!
Seriously, the chickens have been curious about all of the fuss and activity just downhill of their current enclosure, but they haven’t yet steeled (pun intended) themselves to explore their new home which is currently under construction.
Earlier in the week I constructed seven of the A framed steel roof trusses (that is a fancy name for the pointy bits that give structure to a roof). Later that afternoon the roof trusses were installed onto the steel frame and the proportions of the new chicken enclosure and shed started taking shape.
| The roof trusses were constructed and installed onto the steel frame for the chicken shed |
Looking at a half constructed building for me is like tasting cake batter before the cake has been cooked. Cake batter always tastes nice to me. It is exciting for me too because the steel frame is now showing a beautiful symmetry which is very pleasing to the eye.
In the above photo, you are able to see the existing chicken shed and wire enclosure and a couple of chickens loitering about enjoying themselves. That original shed won’t be wasted and will eventually be converted into a firewood storage shed. Observant readers will note that there is a very handy pile of firewood just waiting to be stored in that future shed so that it is kept out of the wintery wet weather.
The rats and field mice have always been a problem with the existing chicken shed and enclosure. Honestly, the little rodents currently twitch their noses at me in utter contempt every single day whilst enjoying a healthy diet of whatever the chickens chose not to eat as well as some very yummy grains which I'm paying for. The rodents also currently have access to fresh water which they're happy to leave their manure in and they’ve also been known to climb the fruit trees on warm summer evenings enjoying the ripening fruit which I would have otherwise enjoyed.
Over the past four years it has been a battle of wills between myself and the rodents – and they’re winning. However, observation is a useful tool, and I have been watching the rodents and learning their patterns and habits. The new enclosure and chicken run incorporates everything I’ve learned by observing the rodents behaviour.
For the rest of the blog click on: http://ferngladefarm.blogspot.com.au/
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