AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

[After much tooing and froing, back and forth and around, I decided this is the best place for this post.]

Today I got a lot done on my new, improved Australorp pen.



My $10 star picket rammer came in handy. Those star pickets are 8FT and that fencing is 6FT. I don't think the star pickets are going to fall over anytime soon.

The idea I had a couple of weeks ago of the drums recessed on an angle into the ground was a wash out when it rained. The water wet the wood shavings and the wood shavings acted as a sponge taking up the water all the way into the back of the drum.

I have them sitting in a couple of upturned pallets now, still on a slight angle. No wood shavings yet. Alternate nesting material ideas welcome.

And, finally, I have a door...kind of. That section of fence to the right of the doorway wraps right around the corner of the pen.

I still need to put shade cloth and/or bird netting over the top.

I also still need to work out what else I can do to provide more weather protection. They like to sleep on the sheet of tin sitting over the drums...even when it is raining or windy.

Maybe I'll whack another star picket in the middle, but not drive it so deep, then drape a tarp over the top and down one side or something.

BTW: The trench I dug yesterday runs about half a metre behind this pen. It was the trench location that made me build this pen on an angle and further from its previous location.

Looks pretty good to me. I'm happy to know it won't fall apart.

The new pen looks great Charles.. When did you say you were coming to do my renovations

Nice pen Mate , I use 44 gallon druns for my large fowl to nest in , If you are looking for alternate nesting material , I am using Peanut Shell at the moment , and The Fowl have given it the scratch of approval

nice pen mate, i have the same problem with my birds sitting on the box too any one have a soultion for this?

also why not just use hay for nesting meateral

Hay is for horses.

I have thought about it, but hay is in short supply at high cost due to a drought or something.

Will certainly consider it more, so don't write the idea off just yet.

yes saw dust is good and i wonder if you could use shredded news paper?

Use dry grass it is a lot cheaper than hay and still makes nice nesting material and composts well.

could you use grass from the lawn mower once its dryed?

Yes but it really has to be dry so you don't have the heating mouldy thing happening.

ok kool ill mowe the grass tomrrow then
also what about news paper?