Peacocks

[Snowy]

I needed some housing for the pekin babes as they are way too small to try to integrate them with the hybrids.

A small wooden house seemed to be the ideal solution, but as I've already had red mite in the cube, I didn't want to give the blighters any more hiding places!

Found this little house at my local feed supplier - £32.99 (I've seen similar on ebay for about £33 inc delivery). Removable floor, no perches or nest area. Lots of gaps in the tongue and groove!

And set about 'improving' it.

First job was to tighten all the screws as it was ever so wobbly!

Then a good coat of oil based undercoat, trying to get loads into the gaps.

Made little holders for some perches. Perches themselves robbed from the old set of cube roosting bars, cut down to size and given two coats of outdoor varnish. There will only be one perch in the house, but I made two so I would have a spare. Ventilation holes drilled around the sides and back wall.

Still loads of gaps in the wood, so filled in everything I could find with polyfilla and gave it another coat of undercoat.

Coated the whole of the inside with a good layer of clear varnish, including dribbling varnish all around the roof where the roof felt meets the wood. I don't want any mites getting under the felt!

Final coat of gloss paint to the outside.

Ta dah! They moved in this morning.

Eyeing it up suspiciously at the moment!

I haven't put a nest box in yet as they are not laying, but there is space behind the perch to place a round tin for them to lay in. And the perch can be removed at a later date so it can be used as a broody box

I know it may still get red mite, but hopefully it will be easier to get rid off as there are very few places left for them to hide, plus should be easy to clean due to the nice smooth gloss coating.

Gratuitous shot of them all trying to have a dust bath in a seed tray!

[Olly]

That's really clever, sounds as if you've reduced the opportunities for red mite - and it looks so pretty! What have you used for a run?

[Snowy]

Thanks Olly! I couldn't resist an opportunity to 'glamp' it

The run is made from weld mesh panels that my neighbour used to use for her rabbits. She gave them to us and they have been invaluable for sectioning off bits of garden. It is the same stuff as the omlet runs are made from.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That looks lovely - much prettier than the "before" one .

[Lewis]

Looks great!

 

Seen a few people use those for chooks before but yours looks the most "glam"!

[Cooks]

well thats a huge improvement on the before pic, i do like the blue

 

i think Falkor uses those little houses.

[Egluntyne]

Very pretty.

[Snowy]

well thats a huge improvement on the before pic, i do like the blue

 

i think Falkor uses those little houses.

 

Must admit I'm quite pleased with it myself!

Yes it was Falkor who told me that they can suffer with condensation (I didn't think they would, as the Eglu detractors claim it is the Eglu that suffers with condensation ) which is why I put the holes around the top. So far, so good!

[scarlettohara]

I have 2 which I painted and have no red mite - I give them a good hose down every so often and spray with poultry shield