I wanted this carrier to be strong, light weight and nice looking. I selected the right kinds of wood to achieve these goals. The frame was made from “old growth” pine that was joined by finger joints. A full circumference groove holds the plywood bottom, and I also used plywood for the removable partition and top. Plywood is less than a 1/4” thick, but is straight with no delamination. It is expensive, but I just couldn’t use the normal grade they are selling these days. Garbage! The balance is poplar and hardwood dowels. There is a little bit of walnut used as accents; the partition lock and bottom of the release gates. Every piece fits and moves smoothly. Those silver shafts on either side of the gates are not metal. I just sanded, painted, sanded and repainted dowels till I got them super smooth. Hardware is real brass, except for the handles on the side which are plated steel. Read on to find out about who will use this project.
Backyard Chickens is the latest thing, and last week there was a big article about it in the WSJ. There is even a year old, radio show, “The Chicken Whisperer”, and a website, www.mypetchicken, where you can buy a diaper for your pet chicken so it can be indoors with you. As interesting as this recent upward trend in chickens is, for many years there have been a few people that are interested in fancy poultry or show chickens. Believe me it is the toughest competition there is. Anyway, some of these show chicken people want to take their show winning birds to the shows “in style” and that’s where I come in. Seriously, if you have a trio (a cock and two hens), you are concerned about them getting to the show in perfect condition. My carrier can do that. With separate compartments for male and female your trio can arrive with no ruffled feathers. The birds are loaded through the top doors. When they arrive at the show. The show cage door is opened and the carrier is placed directly in front of the door. The lift gate is raised and your blue ribbon bird walks right in. Now that’s arriving in style.
13 comments so far
CharlieM1958
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14858 posts in 2388 days
#1 posted 1034 days ago
Wow, that’s really beautiful. To say it is the nicest poultry carrier I ever saw would be an understatement.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
C_PLUS_Woodworker
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202 posts in 1077 days
#2 posted 1034 days ago
My Barred Rocks are just going to have to tough it out.
Lay or Die!
And, don’t be a rooster or you are FOOD.
Nice work on the carrier.
dakremer
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2271 posts in 1261 days
#3 posted 1034 days ago
i’m not gonna lie…..i’m a city boy….and that is pretty bad-ass :) good job – if i were a chicken…that’s where I’d want to live!! awesome design
-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!
ND2ELK
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13495 posts in 1944 days
#4 posted 1034 days ago
Great looking carrier. Very nicely done. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Rustic
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2985 posts in 1766 days
#5 posted 1034 days ago
Like the design
-- www.carvingandturningsbyrick.com, Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
yarydoc
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417 posts in 1314 days
#6 posted 1034 days ago
Where’s the plug in? Won’t they spoil? Just kidding, nice cage.
-- Ray , Florence Alabama
BritBoxmaker
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4008 posts in 1206 days
#7 posted 1033 days ago
Excellent piece of work. Strong, practical and light. Well done and thanks for sharing.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
Jonathan
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2568 posts in 1220 days
#8 posted 1033 days ago
Beautiful Bird Box!
Thanks for all the details on how everything works on this carrier.
I wonder, do chickens get jealous? If so, this is sure to ruffle some feathers.
-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."
Div
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1653 posts in 1110 days
#9 posted 1033 days ago
Wow, I better not show this photo to my farm chickens! They see this, I’m sure I’ll never get eggs again…
-- Div @ the bottom end of Africa. "A woodworker's sharpest tool should be his mind."
BTKS
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1919 posts in 1634 days
#10 posted 1033 days ago
My old hens wouldn’t know what to think. They wouldn’t get out if you let em. Great work.
BTKS
-- "Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence" (Joseph Wood Krutch)
RonPeters
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709 posts in 1050 days
#11 posted 1033 days ago
Nice bird tote.
I used to have an Australian Rosella – not quite a parrot, but bigger than a parakeet. A beautiful bird with 7 colors. The mess she created was unbelievable. I can’t imagine having chickens roaming the house, diapered or not…
-- “Once more unto the breach, dear friends...” Henry V - Act III, Scene I
BobG
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172 posts in 1131 days
#12 posted 825 days ago
My Grandpa once had a rooster that did not like me. When we went to visit he put it away. One time he was busy and forgot. That D#@$ rooster attacked me as soon as I got out of the car. Grampa caught him and put him up. At dinner that evening he says to me you won’t have to worry about that old rooster anymore!
We had chicken stew for dinner! That old rooster would not have appreciated the cage.
It’s beautiful, it amazes me what expense people will go to for their pets. I’m not criticizing, I do it too. ($50.00 bucks for 20 lbs of dog food)
-- BobG, Lowell, Arkansas--------My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am! Make more saw dust!!
smboudreaux
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46 posts in 737 days
#13 posted 699 days ago
dat must be for one of dem prized fightin rooster!!!
all jokes aside. that a nice piece
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