New Pekins – housing

For housing new arrivals I make use of a timber dog kennel that I scrounged off a neighbours nature strip during a hard rubbish collection. I replaced the front with a piece of melamine, note the  smaller entry more suited for little chooks.

For a small kennel it’s very sturdy, timber is a good insulator for those cold nights. The gable roof is hinged on the left, very convenient for cleaning. In summer I prop the right side up with a bit of timber for ventilation during hot weather. 

Winter is here with temps already dropping below five degrees. I decided to heat the box to keep the new girls cosy. We are fortunate to have a reptile supplier in our area so off I went intending to purchase a ceramic heat lamp. Depending upon wattage prices were around the $70-80 mark – scrap that idea. I settled for a 75W Reptile One night heat lamp for $16 bucks. These lamps give of a blue light which is supposed to replicate natural moonlight which is fine for reptiles but what about chooks? I also purchased a ceramic lamp socket with lead and switch for $30 – ouch.

I screwed a hook into the roof and secured the lamp lead with a cable tie. When I open the roof the lamp swings down and sits on the side, if the lamp is on and I don’t open the roof gently I’m likely to knock the lamp – and blow it.

I really need to support the lamp so it stays in the middle and not hit anything.

So I fashioned a lamp support from some coat hanger wire.

Now the lamp socket is held safely in the middle and the wire support provides some damping when the roof is opened and closed.

The first night after setting up the heat lamp I poked my head in there after dark and the chooks looked like they were at the disco LOL, too bright for them and they looked a bit unsettled. I need to cut back on the moonlight – but how?

I rummaged through the workshop and found a dismantled bird cage which my older kid had previously used for rats. I trimmed the top to fit inside the roof and attached to this with cable ties a double layer of shade mesh.

That should cut down the moonlight!

Screw down the “moon light shade” and wait for darkness - I’ll be back.

 Later on...looks good; big reduction in the disco lighting!

Chooks are happy and cosy.