Crib sides into chick condo.....

[bluebirdnanny]

To make a chick brooder/grow up area:
I used the screened front half of an old cheap coop and put it in the corner of my coop. I used the sides of old wooden cribs for the upper part to make a second level set over the roosts that run across the whole width of the coop. Screens from my old windows from house window replacements on top of that to prevent the other chickens from roosting on top and pooping through.

This way chicks can grow up and roost higher and higher until they are old enough and I open them to the adult pen. The adults will be able to see them the whole time. Then I can use it for a breeding pen later or separating roos from reg flock.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

This photo might show better. You can see the latest two additions who I will be culling/rehoming on the lower roost that goes right through and the rooster on the ones that go over it. If the pieces I leaned to keep them off don't stay the screens on top will keep poop from falling into chick quarters. Will tweak it to be permanent later.

 

[Denim Deb]

That's quite interesting looking.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That is an awesome example of re-purposing! American ingenuity hard at work!

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Thanks. It is an example of necessity being the mother of invention.

 

[Marianne]

That's a slick idea. Is there enough room in front for them to fly up?

I was looking for an old crib side to make a pull out laundry hanging rack...that doesn't sound right. Hang Thang? Have it up against the wall, but be able to bring the top out a couple of feet so I can hang some wet clothes on the rails. Those ol' cribs can be used for a lot of things.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Well I have something in the back they could jump up on to get to the first upper level. Older hens I had isolated in there could get up and down so I guess the chicks could when strong/old enough.

Your comment is ironic as the drying rack repurpose is the reason I saved them from the donations headed to junk /dump in the first place.