Project Articles (Random Order) | ||
About Yophotoman | .................. | pg 1 |
DIY Sailboat | .................. | pg 2 |
DIY Rowboat | .................. | pg 3 |
DIY Backyard Shed | .................. | pg 4 |
DIY Shed Interior | .................. | pg 5 |
Amateur Radio | .................. | pg 6 |
Radio Antennas | .................. | pg 7 |
VHF-UHF Mobile | .................. | pg 8 |
Btech Radios | .................. | pg 9 |
Xiegu HF G90 | .................. | pg 10 |
DIY Computers | .................. | pg 11 |
Video Projects | .................. | pg 12 |
My Cameras | .................. | pg 13 |
Christian Author | .................. | pg 14 |
Writers Guild | .................. | pg 15 |
FL Gardening | .................. | pg 16 |
Five More Projects | .................. | pg 17 |
Essays Downloads | .................. | pg 18 |
Backyard Chickens | .................. | pg 19 |
Locator Map | .................. | pg 20 |
GMRS Radio | .................. | pg 21 |
My Youtube Channel - Click Here | ||
Text me at 727-480-8897 or email to yophotoman@gmail.com Donation Link in Support of Yophotoman's Future Projects This can be a one time donation or a monthly payment, any small amount, invoiced under my business name "Kratos Websites." |
Of course any suburban chicken project would start with building a chicken coop or shelter. My design was more of a free range shelter than an enclosed coop mini building. Finding adult chickens for sale in surburbia is a rare thing. So, I bought new hatchlings and raised them up to adults - a six month project of itself in addition to the months I spent building the shelter.
Since I live in central Florida, where winters are never cold enough to bother chickens and summers are not usually too hot for the birds, (except maybe Summer 2023) I went with an open design. The shelter was fitted on top of existing garden bed. I thought I might eventually move the structure from one garden bed to the other but the more complicated the shelter got, the less that seemed like a doable idea.
The design evolved as I went through the build so roof panels got used for sides and some garden fencing got covered up with panels. Not too smart. I also wanted to be able to service their water and feed stations as well as collect eggs from outside the shelter. That took a bit of design, especially in a 4x10 space.
The nesing boxes are look like their own tiny building. The sloping roof keeps the chickens from roosting there. I also wanted lights in the shelter, so I could service water and feed stations or to just check on the chickens after dark. So, I commandeered an old Harbor Freight solar panel and a battery from a portable radio and ordered some automotive van lights.
When you get newly hatched chicks from Tractor Supply, this is how you find them. You tell the store worker which types you want and they put them in a transport box for you. These two breeds are Easter-Eggers and Buff-Orpingtons. New chicks live off internal yoke sacs for a few days so they're fine to get them home and into your own brooder. Mine didn't start eating on their own until they were four days old, then it was feeding frenzies interrupted by power naps!
For the complete story of this project, you'll have to go to my Youtube channel and access the Florida Chicken Coop playlist. Link to my channel is in the left column.