Weed Patrol

Hello to all, I finally finished the portable chicken pen and it is working!!! (UPDATED with additional information on Nov. 13, 2011.)

My goal here was to use the chickens to keep the growing beds weed-free through the winter rainy season here on California’s north coast.

This is a “before” photo of the weeds that had overtaken the bed.

This is the “after” photo, having left the pen on the bed for 5 days. After a quick rake to remove larger debris, and a second pass with the hoe, the bed is in great shape.

I will start adding yard clippings, leaves, and bedding from the barn as it becomes available, and have the chickens at the ready to keep the weeds under control.

Come spring I hope to have a composted, fertilized and weed-free bed ready to go. (fingers crossed).

The construction of the pen was made very simple with some handy PVC snap fittings available from Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply. 

I used:
10 pieces of 10 foot long 3/4 inch pvc pipe (6 whole pieces, 2 cut in half and 2 cut to fit random lengths)
4 3/4 inch 3-way fittings for the corners
2 4-way fittings for the bottoms of the down supports that help balance the weight of the feeder
14 of the T fittings (these are not fixed into position, they “float” on the pipe)
an 8 x 10 tarp
some tarp tie downs, zipties
a small clip lock

I did NOT glue any thing together, just snapped it together and trust the sturdy fencing cover will hold it all together, so far so good. I simply used zipties to attach the fencing to the pipe.

By the way, I built the arches 5 feet apart matching the width of the fencing I had for easy coverage. Two pieces of fencing go over the arches and meet perfectly in the middle. I could have run the fencing the length of it, but it would have overlapped at the top and I don’t think it would have stretched out as tightly over the frame.

For access into the pen, I cut out a square of fencing in the end of the structure, then cut a larger square to cover the hole, and attached it across the top with zipties not cinched up all the way tight. I use an inexpensive little clip lock to keep it secure on the bottom.

I covered the pen with an 8 x 10 tarp folded partially back over itself (double layer of tarp) to ensure the rain stays out. The tarp is secured with some fancy, and new to me, tie downs that were available right next to the tarps at the hardware store. I will see how they hold up to the wind and weather and keep you posted. Note, they were extremely easy to use.

Finishing touch, zip tie in a few sticks or drift wood that will support the chickens weight and your done. I added an extra arch near the rear in hopes of attaching some light weight nesting boxes but have not found just the right set up yet.

It took me one whole day to build this by myself. 

The only tools required were wire cutters to cut the fencing, a PVC cutter to cut the pipe (a hand saw could be used if you do not have the PVC cutter) and a rubber mallet (hammer) to make sure the corner fittings were tight, and of course a tape measure.

UPDATE!!!!! (Nov. 13, 2011)

A few of my personal friends have sent very specific construction questions that many of you may also be asking so I will attempt to answer them with the following hand drawn “plans”.

The 4 squiggily lines represent the pvc that arches over as the “roof”

This drawing shows the locations of the “roof” fittings.

Also shown are the two feeder supports, 2 pvc pieces with the 4 way fittings on the bottom that hang down from the top. (see photo above with the feeder)

PLEASE note that the pipe lengths are approximate. You will have to take into account the space where the fittings and pipes connect. (a 4 foot pipe will be shy of 4 feet by a bit to compensate)

Another point to mention is the center cross bar on the bottom.  I used one “T” pointing up for the arch and right on top of that is a “T” facing toward the center of the pen on both sides to hold the cross bar.

Hope this helps. 

This project has been very succesful so far!  I have 3 beds already cleaned up and looking great! Not only do the chickens get extra “greens” by eating all the weeds, the time freed up by not having to weed has enabled me to complete a few other chores.

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