Chicken DIY E-Book

Samantha Johnson

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 119

Beschreibung

The popularity of egg-laying chickens is on the rise. Sustainable and fun, raising chickens is one of the most interesting and rewarding backyard hobbies you can find. In Chicken DIY, aspiring chicken farmers will find creative plans and easy-to-follow construction tips for making a safe and healthy environment for their fine-feathered friends. Veteran farmers and poultry enthusiasts Samantha and Daniel Johnson provide complete and easy-to-follow instructions for 20 essential projects, from coops and feeders to runs, ramps, roosts, and incubators. Clear step-by-step color photographs guide the reader through each hands-on project. Inside Chicken DIY How to prepare and build a safe and healthy environment for your backyard flock 20 hands-on projects for chicken coops, roosts, runs, ramps, feeders, waterers, nest boxes, egg incubators, and more Clear step-by-step color photographs Overview of the basic tools and skills needed to complete each project Complete, thorough, and easy-to-follow instructions "Why DIY?" section explains the positive benefits and satisfaction of building things yourself Bonus chapter takes a fascinating look at the history of chicken-keeping and DIY chicken projects through history

Leseprobe

ChickenDIY

CompanionHouse Books™ is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

Project Team

Vice President–Content: Christopher Reggio

Editor: Amy Deputato

Copy Editor: Laura Taylor

Design: Mary Ann Kahn

Index: Amy Deputato

Text © 2017 Daniel Johnson and Samantha Johnson

Photography © 2017 Daniel Johnson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

ISBN 978-1-62008-230-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Johnson, Samantha, author. | Johnson, Daniel, 1984- author.

Title: Chicken DIY : 20 fun-to-build projects for happy, healthy chickens / Samantha Johnson and Daniel Johnson.

Description: Mount Joy, PA : Fox Chapel Publishing, [2017] | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017044744 (print) | LCCN 2017047391 (ebook) | ISBN 9781620082270 () | ISBN 9781620082300 (softcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Chickens. | Do-it-yourself work.

Classification: LCC SF487 (ebook) | LCC SF487 .J67 2017 (print) | DDC 636.5--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017044744

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical problem, consult your veterinarian.

Fox Chapel Publishing

Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

903 Square Street

7 Danefield Road, Selsey (Chichester)

Mount Joy, PA 17552

West Sussex PO20 9DA, U.K.

www.facebook.com/companionhousebooks

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

Printed and bound in Singapore

20 19 18 172 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

Contents

Introduction

1. Why DIY?

2. Basic Tools and Skills

3. A Look at the History of Chicken Keeping

4. The Projects

Chicken Tractor

Dust-Bathing Area

Feeder/Waterer

Compost Bin

Egg Incubator

Nest Boxes

Egg Candler

Chicken Roost

Dropping Board

Chick Brooder

Quarantine Habitat

Collapsible Chicken Run

Chicken Ramp

Chicken Swing

Chicken Sweater

5-Gallon-Bucket Nest Boxes

Egg Hod

Grazing Box

Wading Pool

Recipes for Egg-cess Eggs

Index

Photo Credits

About the Authors

Introduction

Happy chickens will make you happy, too!

Welcome! We’re pretty sure that we know why you’ve chosen this particular book: you keep, or you’re planning to keep, a flock of chickens, and you also enjoy the idea of creating and constructing things. You’re definitely not alone—chickens are one of the most popular livestock options for small-scale and hobby farm operations.

And why not? Chickens are generally easy to care for and inexpensive to keep, they can be raised in small backyards as well as on larger properties. The required infrastructure for a flock of chickens—housing, fencing, and feeding/watering equipment—is minimal and well within the reach of a DIYer who would like the satisfaction of building these items for him- or herself.

That’s where this book comes in. Our goal is to provide you with a jumping-off place for a series of projects that can be put to good use in your chicken farming. From a portable chicken tractor and collapsible grazing pen to chicken creature comforts, like a wading pool and dust-bathing area, to a few projects that focus on fun, these projects aim to offer the reader a wide variety of directions to pursue.

Feel free to follow our directions to the letter or modify aspects to your own liking. In many cases, the cost of project materials is quite low, and many of the projects can be made almost entirely from scrap materials that a seasoned DIYer might already have on hand (“I knew that 2-foot piece of 2x4 would come in handy!”).

We hope that you find plenty of inspiration and help throughout the pages of this book. And after trying a few of these projects, you’ll end up with something to crow about! Happy building!

In addition to the fun and satisfaction that comes from raising chickens, the potential for fresh eggs is a major attraction for many chicken owners.

Looking for a wonderful project in which the whole family can participate? Why not keep chickens?

Chapter 1

Why DIY?

The duties of a DIY chicken keeper are many, but the rewards are well worth the effort!

Maybe you’re already a DIY enthusiast with a track record of producing some pretty awesome results around the house. Maybe you love the idea of creating helpful, useful items for outside your home, too.

For many people, there are rewards to be found in constructing nest boxes and roosts and grazing boxes—satisfaction in the ability to be self-sufficient and enterprising as well as joy in the task of construction itself. But some people question the purpose of DIY projects. “Hey! Why are you using scrap wood to make your chicken gear when you could just go purchase many of these items from a retailer?”

The answer will vary from person to person, but here are some common answers to the question “Why DIY?”

Saving Money

It goes without saying that if you can build something yourself from materials you already have sitting around, you can save a lot of money compared to going out and buying the manufactured version of the same item. Even if you have to purchase some or all of the supplies to build something on your own, it’s likely that you’ll still enjoy significant savings since you won’t be paying for someone else’s time (and price markup).

You’ll find plenty of satisfaction in using your own skills and tools to produce quality equipment for your small-scale chicken operation.

Doing it yourself can be a real money saver, and you’ll also have the ability to customize the projects to your own preferences.

Of course, there’s a trade-off: you’ll need to invest your own time in each project, but if you’re thrifty and make good use of your materials, you might be able to complete several projects for very little financial output.

Recycling

As the saying goes, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Along with saving money, DIY projects can also save items from winding up in a landfill. Remember those leftover scraps of wood from building your chicken coop—the ones stacked up in the tool shed? Maybe they’re too short and oddly shaped to be of any use—or maybe they’re perfect for constructing a collapsible chicken run. What about that 5-gallon bucket that leaks and no longer holds water? Maybe it’s time to throw it away—or maybe it’s time to turn it into a nest box.

The ability to take an item that was destined for the trash and turn it into something useful is certainly an appealing aspect of DIY projects. If you’re the type of person who likes to hang on to scraps for future use, DIY chicken projects might be the perfect way for you to put those materials to good use and save some money at the same time.

Customization

By taking the DIY route, you also have the ability to customize projects to suit your personal preference and needs. Let’s say your coop is custom-made or part of a larger building. Imagine the convenience of being able to construct nest boxes, roosts, feeders, and waterers to a very specific size or design—what a great benefit!

Your happy chickens will thank you for your efforts, and you’ll enjoy the process, too.

DIY projects are an excellent way to use up scrap materials left over from other projects. Don’t throw the material away—reuse it!

Satisfaction

While it might be easy to go down to the farm-supply store and buy a chicken feeder, you really can’t underestimate the personal satisfaction that comes from building things yourself. It’s vastly rewarding to visit your chicken coop each day and see your chickens using the items that you’ve built with your own two hands. It’s hard to put a price on satisfaction like that!

Are You Ready to Start?

By following the steps outlined in this book, you will soon be well equipped with an impressive variety of chicken-related products that will transform your coop and its surroundings into a chicken paradise. But as much as anything else, the projects in this book were conceived as inspiration for your own DIY ideas. While we certainly recommend that you follow the steps provided herein, we also encourage you to modify the designs to fit your individual needs, as long as you always keep your chickens’ safety (and your own safety) first and foremost in your mind.

Important!

Metric conversions for measurements in the projects are close approximations, so please double-check the measurements before obtaining materials for each project. Also, some measurements, such as “2x4” are common instead of actual measurements. In these cases, the metric conversions are based on the actual, rather than the common, measurements.

Chapter 2

Basic Tools and Skills

Ready to do some construction? Great! But do you have the equipment and knowledge you need to complete the job? Photos, step-by-step directions, and cut lists are helpful, but unless you have the tools and know-how to put them to use, DIY projects can prove challenging. Here are some basic tools and skills you’ll need to create the projects in this book.

Basic Tools

At the start of each project, we’ll supply you with a list of the tools needed for that particular job. But, as a brief overview, here are some of the tools you’ll want to have on hand.

Hammer

For your basic nailing, tapping, and prying, the classic claw hammer is the tool you need. We recommend a simple 16-ounce hammer because this size strikes a nice balance between functionality and effectiveness.

Hammer

Electric Drill

These days, when we say electric drill, we’re really talking about a modern cordless drill—lightweight, easy to use, and fully portable. This tool allows you to do everything from drilling large holes through wood to pre-drilling nail holes for hand-nailing to installing and removing short and long screws while assembling large projects. Basically, it’s a must-have tool and probably our favorite of all.

When purchasing a drill, consider the drill’s power versus its weight. A 14-volt drill might be easy to handle, but it might not have the strength for some of the tasks in the projects (particularly fastening 2x4s with long screws). Drills upward of 20 volts have more power, but they’re bulkier and heavier. Before you make a final selection, try out a few sizes to see what feels comfortable to you. Bonus tip: It’s a good idea to purchase two batteries so that you can be using one while charging the other. Trust us—this scenario happens more than you expect.

Drill

Circular Saw

This is one of the most popular and common power saws, and it’s a workhorse for many carpenters. A circular saw is lightweight and easy to handle with a small-but-useful blade (7¼ inches is the most common size), which makes it the perfect choice for many general-purpose cutting tasks. Like the electric drill, a circular saw is essentially a must-have item for carpentry work.

You can find circular saws that use rechargeable batteries, but these saws might be a little underpowered for some of the tasks you’ll throw at it, and you may prefer a corded (although admittedly less convenient) version.

Circular saw

Jigsaw

A jigsaw features a narrow, vertical blade that rapidly saws up and down, allowing the user to make fine, careful, precise cuts, although slowly. You won’t need a jigsaw often, but when a task requires one, there is really no better option.

Jigsaw

Miter Saw or Chop Saw

Okay, let’s say you have something repetitive and tedious to do, like sawing a long series of 2x4s to the same length. You can always do this with a circular saw, but it will require repeated measuring and marking of each 2x4 and many careful cuts with the circular saw. A miter saw or chop saw can take a lot of the effort out of this job—you just set up the length you need, and then you can saw each 2x4 one after another, which saves time. (Curious about the difference? A miter saw can cut various angles, while a chop saw can do only 90° angles.)

Miter Saw

Miter Saw

Table Saw

It’s one thing to make a quick cut across the narrow side of a board; for example, to modify a 10-foot 2x8 into a 6-foot 2x8. A circular saw can do this job—called a cross cut—quickly and simply. But it’s quite another problem to rip that same board; that is, to make a long, straight cut up the middle, parallel to the grain. It’s possible to do a cut like this using a circular saw with a rip guide, but it’s time-consuming and difficult and will likely lead to wobbly results. A table saw is the solution here because it allows you to easily feed a long section of lumber through a guide-aided blade that will rip the boards to the exact width you need.

Table saw

Table saw

Stapler

A handheld staple gun is a great time-saver for the many projects that require hardware cloth or screening. While it’s possible to attach hardware cloth or a screen using other methods (such as nailing), a stapler and a box of -inch staples are handy tools to have in your box.

Stapler

Wire Snippers

Speaking of hardware cloth, you’ll need a way to cut out sections of specific dimensions for use in the projects. A solid pair of wire snippers (they’re sometimes called tin snippers or aviation snips) can be an excellent tool for this use.

Wire Snippers

General Safety Warning