We're getting to know our animals a little better and what their needs are. The chickens, we've discovered, are pretty good about staying in the yard and not messing with the plants in the vegetable beds. We were originally thinking about setting up an open bottomed pen for them that we would move around the yard, but I'm starting to think that giving them the run of the whole place might not be a bad idea.



That would probably also mean building a fixed coop that would be their permanent home base. They are pretty used to sleeping in the kitchen and walk in on their own during the evenings. It's adorable, but they're getting big enough to need a place of their own.

Clark said that he would build one for me if I gave him plans. Well, he'll be getting a full architectural model.



I used this guy as my chicken stand-in. It's a little over an inch tall which translates well to my 12:1 scale as the chickens will be a little over a foot tall when they are full grown.



The bottom and top are two separate pieces so it's easier to see the ramp and the enclosed first story where the chickens will go for food and water.



The top floor will have roosts and boxes for laying eggs.



I used .005" plastic sheeting to make the pieces. I bought a 12 foot roll so it will be certain to resurface in a future project.

The parts are held together with plain packing tape and I drew all of the illustrations on the pieces using permanent markers.

Labels: projects

posted by Alison 6/10/2009 11:32:00 AM : (0) comments : splink