I guess my own thread on a small JH was dropped from the links I posted above.
This 4x4x6' johnny house holds 30 bobs. The design flight conditions and promotes vertical flight daily as the birds must fly upward to the light, ledge and loafing catchpen/verenda.
The JH itself is of a pretty basic design. Funnels at base, sun porch with ledge on top.
From there I've tried to make improvements to the JH learning from earlier mistakes.
I try to armour the house as best as I can from the perimeter cattle fence, solar hot wire and welded wire protective base. I'm even fooling with a Big Ben Alarm clock that when alarm is set it will lower from the key a pulley which would close up the house after the last bird is in.
Another key component to a JH would be the catch box verenda on the opposite side of the JHdoor. The design allows you to fly birds out the other side without handling them. Or you can drop the quelletine door catching anumber of birds within, remove the box and transport the birds in a darkened cage with a miniumn of disturbance. The top of the catch box is overlapping tire tube tthat allows me to remove birds individually to band, doctor, or set up a controlled flush.
Mirrors set beside funnel entrance shortstop birds that may want to walk around the JH base. Once stopped they enter more quickly. This photo may not show the mirrors. I've also enlarged the funnel cover metal walkup, reduced the walkups angle, and painted it with a gritty paint as some birds seemed hesitant to enter if slipping.
Electric call device seems to improve the return of birds being trained to recall.
Hanging PVC feeders and waterer within reduce waste and there is no fouling of water with the nipple waterers. I use them with my homers as well. The pigeons work the nipples as well as do the gamebirds. A dust box within stimulates preening behaviour to assure better plumage and strong flight.
The beauty of the JH is that it's design makes the birds fly up to the light at the upper ledge and keeps the bird's wings from atrophy, ensuring good flights when training the dogs. It also lessens the attraction to predators that would work a open ground recall pen.
I should ad that the JH is built uupon 4x4 synthetic pieces cut sledge like that can be easily pulled by tractor or atv to various sites.
There's no rotting of base nor termite problems with it as well. My older models, even when raised by bricks, the base and flooring were the first to go. Synthetic wood is more expensive, and heavier but will far outlast even treated wood.
A sign in governmental font attached to the pens side announcing that this is a state gamebird research project with my phone number as reseach biologist and asking to please not approach has prevented vandalism.
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