Sent to the Chook House

I swear my Easter visitors will  never want to visit Highfield again. You see they were sent to the chook house, or rather sent to build a chook house, or put on catering duty to feed the workers.

sorting the materials

My very handy brother and the handsome Lad spent the whole of Easter and beyond on the job.

The brief was specific -  build a chook house from recycled  materials from the hut ruin and the farm in general (where possible)  that will protect the feathery girls from foxes, snakes and goannas (very big lizards that like to eat eggs) that has good ventilation for our very hot  potentially poultry-killing summers.

First, materials were collected from the hut and sorted. These were mostly piles of corrugated iron - the regular stuff as well as the mini orb, all with a lovely patina, piles of structural timber, old wire fencing and the odd iron bar or two. Based on the materials, the site and the brief they got to work.

contemplating the site -  a home among the gum trees

In no time at all the frame was up and part of the roof on.

And the walls on.

I love the patina of the materials.

The chook house has an open fronted shed and a yard covered with shade cloth. The edges of the yard have corrugated iron dug in to stop the foxes digging under.

And the sides of the house have wire mesh knitted together to stop the beasties getting in. This wire mesh was old fencing material that was piled up under a tree.

The finished item

The only materials purchased were shade cloth, cable ties, cement, a roll of weld mesh and screws and nails. All other materials - wood , iron, door and wire fencing  mesh were reused materials from the farm.

Thanks so much Lads. What a beautiful rustic chook house in a lovely setting. I am sure the girls will love it. 

And thank you chief caterer for keeping the Lads well fed and watered - stunning open sandwiches and perfect cut scones.

Will you come back?  I promise, no jobs next time.

Next post - an introduction to the girls.