Clik here to view.
Chicken run: starting fencing
We’re having record heat this week, with highs over 100°F (38°C)… what better time to work outside on the new chicken run?! My latest toy is very useful to dig the 2′ deep fence post holes — an earth...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken run: remaining framing
Back to work on the chicken run, after the festivities of the weekend (and thanks for all the kind words about the coop). Yesterday I installed one of the posts and horizontal beams for the small gate...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken run: gates
You know when you have big gaps in fences, intended for people to go through? Traditionally those are filled with gates. Call me crazy, but that seems a useful idea. So, over the last couple of days I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken run: fencing wire
Over the last few mornings I’ve been attaching 14-gauge welded wire fencing to the chicken run framing: The lower course flares out a little below ground level, to prevent animals from digging under...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken run: now open!
This morning I finished the new chicken run fencing, and installed the automatic pop door opener (with a little help from Domino), enabling the chickens to access the run: The opener is mounted to a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken coop: nesting boxes
One of the last steps on building the new chicken coop is making the nesting boxes. Rather than just buying plastic boxes like in the old coop, I wanted to make custom roll-out boxes, where the eggs...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken coop: finishing nesting boxes
Several of the new chickens are looking ever closer to being ready to start laying, so I took a little time this morning to finish off the nesting boxes. Firstly I added shelf liner and plastic nesting...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken poop tray & grazing frame
Today I crossed another couple of little chicken projects off my list. Firstly, I built a poop tray — a nested tray to collect the poop chickens release overnight while roosting, to make it easier to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken run roof
Over the last several days, I finished off the new chicken run, fully enclosing it with a netting roof. Firstly, I extended the fence between the two chicken runs, to be the same height as the rest of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken oyster & grit dispenser and run enhancements
Yesterday I did a bunch of relatively small projects for the chicken coop and run, as the last building projects for it (for now, at least). Namely to make an oyster shell and grit dispenser for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Outdoor cat feeder adventures
I previously posted about the outdoor kitty condo I got as a feeding station for our outdoor feral cats. I since got a food dispenser, but that attracted the attention of raccoons and other wildlife,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicken sign & stamp
Jenn gave me a couple of chicken-themed gifts for Christmas: a sign for the coop, and a stamp for the egg cartons. The sign is a fun custom one via Etsy, that says “Coopacabana, est. 2017”. That’s our...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: plans
As mentioned at the end of a recent blog post about the feral cats, the current shelter for the outdoor cats is a little too small, now that they’re getting bigger. Also, the current feeding station is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: floor
Today I started construction on the outdoor cat shelter. I went to Home Depot on Sunday to purchase a bunch of materials, but decided to get the larger items delivered, as there was too much for one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: tweaked plans
I’ve drawn a new detail view for the front windows and awning, to help plan their construction: I’ve also tweaked the existing plans for the cat shelter a little bit, based on changes while building....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: walls
Continuing from building the floor, over the last few days I’ve been building the walls of the cat shelter. Like the floor, the walls are insulated. Here’s the inside of the center wall, between the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: walls & platforms
I’ve done a bit more on the new cat house. I previously worked on the walls of the shelter part, and this weekend continued that with the walls of the feeder section, plus the feeder awning and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: roof & trim
I did some more work on the new cat house over the weekend, building the roof and some of the trim. Firstly I made framing for the insulated ceiling of the shelter part: And added three layers of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a cat shelter: sliding maintenance door
I’ve decided to slow down work on the new cat house, as I need to spend more time on consulting and Dejal apps, and this isn’t urgent, since the cats already have a heated shelter and raccoon-proof...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gas holder & feed store supplies
Before I could mow I needed to get some gas (petrol for non-US readers) for the mowers. Securing the gas cans in the bed of the truck is always a bit tricky, so on a whim I whipped up a wooden holder...
View Article
