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#1
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Chook dome questions
Hi everyone,
Would anyone have any suggestions on building a chook dome? I have Linda Woodrow's book "Permaculture Home Garden" which outlines using one in a mandala garden, however I have since read (from other sources) that the design is not stable enough in high winds and doesn't offer enough protection in the weather for the chooks. Also, PVC piping apparently is not a great choice of material as it breaks down quickly? (Damm, I was going to use it to create makeshift gazebo's etc!) Someone has suggested using a yurt design or teepee - however the structure needs to be moved every fortnight. Any feedback would be appreciated. Tracey |
#2
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Chook dome questions
"KingLillis" wrote in message
Would anyone have any suggestions on building a chook dome? I have Linda Woodrow's book "Permaculture Home Garden" which outlines using one in a mandala garden, however I have since read (from other sources) that the design is not stable enough in high winds and doesn't offer enough protection in the weather for the chooks. I've never built one as I have a house for them, but I do have a friend who made many of them. She always had at least 3 on the go and was constanatly moving them around the village on the back of her ute. (Don't ask why -it's one of those really complicated life stories that make one shake ones head in wonder at how others live!) She built them from all sorts of materials usually found at the tip. The materials list included PVC pipe, electrical conduit, old curved bits of metal that fitted and all sorts of tying, binding, holding together agents. She covered the outsides with everything and anything including old sheets, polytarps, chicken wire and bird wire, old feed bags and anything else that could be tied to the surface. I always viewed then as being both and eyesore and so flimsy that they'd fall apart at the drop of a hat. I was wrong as they were surprisingly sturdy (given the rattyness of the building technique and the makeshift look of them). She did lose some choks to a fox but then not as many as I have over the years when I've forgotten to lock the night house. The one thing I never liked about them though was that they don't give good shelter in our cold climate. In a warmer climate (or if only used in summer) they may be OK, but here where it is so cold in winter, I think it is rather cruel and especially given the nutritional needs of layers who also need to keep warm. Also, PVC piping apparently is not a great choice of material as it breaks down quickly? ?????? I think this is an odd statement and have never had any polypipe break down quickly. Even in the stock yard where it is left leaning up against a fence in the full sun for years on end. (Damm, I was going to use it to create makeshift gazebo's etc!) Someone has suggested using a yurt design or teepee - however the structure needs to be moved every fortnight. Sound like a lot of hard work. Any feedback would be appreciated. Tracey |
#3
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Chook dome questions
Thankyou for your reply.
I guess I will give the dome a try with the polypipe and try and cover it over with some tarps. I live in Brisbane so our winters are not that cold. I really want to try this design as it utilises the chooks as tractors for the mandala garden. I do have another book that uses strawbale as housing - but you can't make a round chookhouse out of strawbale! grin Tracy "Fran Higham" wrote in message ... "KingLillis" wrote in message Would anyone have any suggestions on building a chook dome? I have Linda Woodrow's book "Permaculture Home Garden" which outlines using one in a mandala garden, however I have since read (from other sources) that the design is not stable enough in high winds and doesn't offer enough protection in the weather for the chooks. I've never built one as I have a house for them, but I do have a friend who made many of them. She always had at least 3 on the go and was constanatly moving them around the village on the back of her ute. (Don't ask why -it's one of those really complicated life stories that make one shake ones head in wonder at how others live!) She built them from all sorts of materials usually found at the tip. The materials list included PVC pipe, electrical conduit, old curved bits of metal that fitted and all sorts of tying, binding, holding together agents. She covered the outsides with everything and anything including old sheets, polytarps, chicken wire and bird wire, old feed bags and anything else that could be tied to the surface. I always viewed then as being both and eyesore and so flimsy that they'd fall apart at the drop of a hat. I was wrong as they were surprisingly sturdy (given the rattyness of the building technique and the makeshift look of them). She did lose some choks to a fox but then not as many as I have over the years when I've forgotten to lock the night house. The one thing I never liked about them though was that they don't give good shelter in our cold climate. In a warmer climate (or if only used in summer) they may be OK, but here where it is so cold in winter, I think it is rather cruel and especially given the nutritional needs of layers who also need to keep warm. Also, PVC piping apparently is not a great choice of material as it breaks down quickly? ?????? I think this is an odd statement and have never had any polypipe break down quickly. Even in the stock yard where it is left leaning up against a fence in the full sun for years on end. (Damm, I was going to use it to create makeshift gazebo's etc!) Someone has suggested using a yurt design or teepee - however the structure needs to be moved every fortnight. Sound like a lot of hard work. Any feedback would be appreciated. Tracey |
#4
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Chook dome questions
"KingLillis" wrote in message
Thankyou for your reply. I guess I will give the dome a try with the polypipe and try and cover it over with some tarps. I live in Brisbane so our winters are not that cold. I really want to try this design as it utilises the chooks as tractors for the mandala garden. I do have another book that uses strawbale as housing - but you can't make a round chookhouse out of strawbale! grin I'd like to hear how you go with the construction as I'd really like to get some geese and would like to have them out in a paddock rather than in the chook orchard. I've thought that a dome would be a good idea for geese but have always been a bit too idle to bother to build one and then it's the usual catch -22: can't get geese till I have accommodation, don't have accom so can't get geese. I've just spent the last day building chook nests made out of lawn mower grass catchers which sit up on a stand. A lot of fiddlefaddling about for such a simple thing but hopefully it will work. Because of the drought I have rats around the chook pen and the chooks ill only use the high nest box and the pressure on that has been too much. I must go back out there now and install the unit into one of the sheds (an old half tank on its side- this MUST go when I get out of hospital as I'm sick of the sight of it). Report back please on the success of the chook dome and how effective they are at clearing the beds. |
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