A step up from Rubbermaid

The chicks are quickly outgrowing their current Rubbermaid lodgings, so we spent the last week constructing their next step-up: a 5’x3’x4′ cedar box where they can live in our garage for a few weeks. I should have taken more photos during the build process, but I didn’t draw anything our and was just working off an image I had in my mind. Not exactly precise, but it’ll get the job done.

Testing the durability

The box is roughly 4 feet tall, 5 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. Or roughly one “Elan” in volume. There’s a locking lid and the inside is reinforced with Simpson strong ties. Hopefully this should make the box long lasting and critter proof. To help move this unwieldly box around our small garage, I attached two wheels and handles so you can move the box – cart style. 

There’s a few small trim pieces left to add, but other than that it’s ready for the chicks to make their move this weekend. After the chicks spend a few weeks in this home, we’ll be moving them outside to another temporary enclosure. More to come on that build later. The cedar box will then go on to live the remainder of it’s life as a raised garden bed, likely for potatoes.

See more photos of the build below!

It’s not pretty, but it’ll work…hopefully

Anne doing the final inspection

Handles for easy moving