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Recycled corrugated iron sheets are dug
in to around 40cm, to prevent foxes from digging underneath.
They are then affixed to star pickets.
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Thanks to Isa Menzies
for this detailed account of her Journey to CHOOKTOPIA.
"After moving to a quarter-acre
block in Canberra's Ainslie, I decided it was time to
realise my dream of having chooks. It took a few months
to convince my partner that he shared my vision, but
eventually he got on board, and Chooktopia represents
the fruits of our (but mostly his!) labours, taking
4 months of off-and-on weekend work. Thank you Clinton
you are a star!"
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The basic frame (including
laying box, LHS) is constructed from recycled timber and corrugated
iron pieces. These were left over from a shed that was on the
block when we bought it, and which Clinton dismantled.
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More corrugated iron was
attached to the frame to form the structure, which has an insulated
ceiling, and "home made" wall insulation, in the form
of rags stuffed into the curves of the corrugated iron! The floor
and ceiling are simply sheets of masonite.
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To make the frame of the
chook yard, 2 x 3m lengths of PVC polypipe were joined in the
middle and then attached to the star pickets, creating a lovely
arching structure.
(Witness me being helpful!)
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The PVC was then wired together,
to create an even stronger framework, over which we draped chicken
wire. Overall, around 50 metres of 900mm-wide chicken wire was
used.
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The laying box features a
hinged door, so I can access the eggs without having to enter
the enclosure. This is in the rear of the box, rather than the
more usual top of the box, to allow enough room for the overhang
of the corrugated iron roof within the enclosure.
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Next step was the door, which
Clinton constructed beautifully out of new timber and pet wire
(like chicken wire but with a finer weave). It is attached with
two strong hinges to prevent it sagging in the future, and bolts
onto a piece of wood attached to the pole you can see behind Clinton.
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Here we see the structure in its entirety,
with Clinton adding a few finishing touches.
The next step - to add chickens!
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I saw an advertisement by
a woman selling rehabilitated ex-battery hens, and we thought
it would be a great way to start our venture, so we brought home
two crossbred white hens. We will also hope to add a couple of
Australorps soon.
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The next day, which was quite
warm and sunny, we noticed that they were quite keen on the shady
areas of the run, so we added some shade-cloth, which you can
see here. Eventually we will grow a deciduous vine along this
side, which is the northern aspect, to allow them plenty of sunshine
in winter time.
In this pic you can also see
the inside of the coop, which has wood shavings on the floor and
cherry branches for perches. The first night the chickens slept
together in a laying box, so to discourage this we blocked them
off at night, and added a temporary ramp up to the perches. They
got the hang of it within a few days, and now perch happily.
Chooktopia indeed!"
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