Whiteqube: Hatchery

Some time ago, D was seduced by the idea of having free range eggs. And so, he designed and built a chicken coop. It was not to be any ordinary coop for it must satisfy certain BCA (Best Chicken Aviary and Building Code of Australia) requirements.

eksoskeleton

D went on to create a hatching-indusive environment, cosy, fox / snake-free and mobile timber coop. It was framed out of plywood and timber studs.

joints

A right angled triangle was formed by portal frames and this was to protrude an approximate of 3 metres in length, divided into 3 equal parts. It is to remain lightweight as to enable the coop to be a mobile structure.

meals on wheels

Hardy rubber flexible wheels were fixed to the 4 ends of the coop with a timber extension. The mobility was an added on feature so that the occupants could have a different view whenever we feel they deserve it. Everyone gets a little jaded with the same views everyday. D has his own reasons for the wheels, but they are a little too technical for me to be bothered.

enclosure & entry

Of course, it wouldn't just be a skeleton of studs. One third of the coop's main structure is to be enclosed with plywood - for shelter, defence, privacy and the very important task of egg hatching. We have a feeling the chooks may like to lay their eggs away from prying eyes.

elevated apartment

The plywood is laid upon each other with small openings for ventilation and light. The enclosure is totally closed in and elevated from the ground because the chooks deem themselves of upper class society and must therefore not live close to the ground. A small, steep, 1 : 3 graded ramp is provided at the entry for the chooks to come and go from their 'apartment'.

Rear entrance

The rear panel is a hinged opening that allows us to open up the 'apartment' and do some spring cleaning for the occupants. Of course, it is also to enable the egg-collecting task. Inside, a snug box is prepared and the chooks will naturally know that they have to deposit eggs in the box daily. Fresh straw bale is laid throughout the floor of the 'apartment'.

minnaloushe & morrighan

Of course, the star of today's show are the layer hens themselves. They were given sophisticated names but respond exclusively to 'clucketty clucketty cluck' or to the rattling of their food basket. They eat anything from pre-packaged layer pellets, to (in order of favourite), apples, raisins, corn, vegetable offcuts, breadcrumbs, hash browns and insects. They also eat meat but it is best not to feed them with poultry lest it encourages cannibalism.

Morrighan

They are passionate about the rain, they love sand bathing, and they retire to bed as soon as the sun sets, be it 5pm or 8pm. Fortunately for us, we have a pretty amiciable dog who, although loves his KFC, gets along fine with the chooks, if not grudgingly.

close - up

Anyway, the sole purpose of us inviting the ladies to live with us, is for their eggs. How this works, I am unsure, because each and everyone of our visitor have different opinions in regards to the eggs. Some believe that the eggs should not exist without a cockerel. Some believe that if we don't collect the eggs, they will eventually hatch. Some believe there is a chicken-to-be in that egg.