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Our Member's Section => Members Pictures => Topic started by: chewchew on September 08, 2007, 11:49:47 PM

Title: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: chewchew on September 08, 2007, 11:49:47 PM
I’m starting to make my flight pen. I picked up all the wood and hardware today... Hope to start tomorrow. Weather permitting... I’m making it so I can take it down if needed... It will be 16'L x 8'w x 6'h sitting 2' of the ground. I will post pics as I go.

sam
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 20, 2007, 01:27:16 PM
=))
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 20, 2007, 01:28:59 PM
1 of 4 bobs...
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 20, 2007, 01:30:46 PM
the door
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 20, 2007, 01:32:18 PM
the pack..
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 20, 2007, 01:33:15 PM
a overhead
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 20, 2007, 01:34:42 PM
in-side the house
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: jacksoncovey on October 20, 2007, 09:37:05 PM
It looks really terrific!
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: WHITNEYPLU on October 20, 2007, 11:19:38 PM
A pen Reeves would be proud of. Great job you should be proud of yourself.
Title: Re: Starting my flight pen project
Post by: chewchew on October 21, 2007, 12:11:32 AM
thank you,
I'm very proud! I'm only 18, so no one thinks i know what I'm doing.. so when i do.. I'm proud. i put a lot of time, and work into it. i work just about 5-6 days a week + hight school, so its hard to find time. i planed every thing out. it can be broke down if need be. and may i add its is 100% leveled. i used one of them things they they use on high ways and roads.. its like a laser or something. i may add on to it also. but i need to look more into laws in PA be for i put more money in to it.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: CharlieHorse on October 22, 2007, 04:13:55 PM
i used one of them things they they use on high ways and roads.. its like a laser or something.

That would be called a "transit".

Good thing that you got it perfectly level or your birds legs would have grown one shorter than the other in order to walk vertical.  :eek:   :grin:

Pen looks good, alot of work, figuring, etc., I am sure.  Throw an old pine tree in there and the birds will really dig it.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: chewchew on October 22, 2007, 10:26:29 PM
lol, ya a transit.. i plan on puting a pine tree in there.=) thanks
sam
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: aKirA on October 23, 2007, 03:27:46 AM
Do you have any predators of the furry kind around your parts? If so...the netting may not be enough protection. You may need to go 1/2" hardwire all around.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: Reeves on October 23, 2007, 08:48:33 AM
Nice looking pen lad !

Like aKira said though....

Looks like 2"x3" wood used ?

Screws , or nails ? The only nails I use are in the shop to hang tools up !

Tip: do not pound staples all the way in. Makes it a great deal easier to remove them in the future.

What stain did you use ?
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: chewchew on October 23, 2007, 09:18:09 AM
i used screws all the way around. 2x3 were used, because they are about a $1.00 less then the 2x4s. also i made it in 4 parts. 4- 8x8sq and then made them in to 2- 8x8x8 box's. i then had to move them about 100yd to its new home. what i did, which i thing was a good idea, was i used 1/4in bolts on the uprights,( they are 2x4s) i ran the bots thew the upright and the 8x8sq box. then i just put it up into the air 1 leg at a time. i then ran a 2x3 on 2 of the sides, to act like rails to slid the bottom box in to place. then did the same thing as the top. i netted it first. i used a deck sealer, for the stain(rose wood). it looks nice plus it will long the life of the wood. as of predators.. not tomany. lots of crows come around, but thats what the 28GA is for. i saw 1 hawk but only one time. my cats the bigest predator i think.. lol. i had 3 or 4 big black birds.. i dint know what they are. they are like crows on juice.. i grabbed my paint ball gun i hit 2 with about 50 plus balls.. you have to love full auto paintball guns.=) they didn't come back. and my dog loves to get under the flight pen ad give the bobs a work out. thanks for the tip.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: CharlieHorse on October 23, 2007, 09:30:44 AM
Do you have any predators of the furry kind around your parts? If so...the netting may not be enough protection. You may need to go 1/2" hardwire all around.

:roll:   Is that netting or wire on the outside of that pen?

I hate to tell you, but if it is netting, it won't be long until your minus 4 more birds.  :eek:  The coons will still kill them and eat them right through 1" wire and drop the carcass back in the pen. They'll do it right in the middle of the wire on the top, how they pull that one off........I don't know. And that's just what the coons will do on wire. All kinds of other critters, let alone the coons and dogs will walk right throught netting like it isn't even there.


Plus, what is up with the owl?   You'll give them birds some kind of mental disorder!  :grin:  They'll think that owls are their mother and try to fly up to them for worms. :eek:
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: chewchew on October 25, 2007, 08:34:37 AM
its only 1/2 in netting.. i have never seen a coon on the side of the road  let alone in my yard. but I'm i bet there around. i trap in my part of the woods, and have not got a coon. i have trapped fox, and coyotes. its also 2ft of the ground, and i plan on puting 2ft trim along the bottom. as for the owl... why not. a owl is a predator of predates. hawks and owls.. not the best of friends.,=)
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: CharlieHorse on October 25, 2007, 01:03:30 PM
A solar powered electric fence charger may be your best insurance at this point??  Any kind of "trim" along the bottom won't have any effect on critters. I went about 4 years with no problems at all, then the coons have gotten me twice so far this year. I have steel "trim" (as you call it), 2 1/2 feet high around the entire pen, in which doesn't protect the sides and the top where the coons will get them.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: chewchew on October 25, 2007, 08:35:48 PM
i cant see coons get my birds, from under... its only 1/4 in wire on the bottom.. and how will they get them if i have the sides closed off??
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: CharlieHorse on October 25, 2007, 10:30:44 PM
I'll see if the feathers are still in the top of my pen, right out in the middle of the wire where a coon munched one of birds right through the wire and then dropped it's carcass back in the pen. They'll get them on the sides too. It's as if the coons say, "here stupid birdy, birdy! Fly up to me stupid birdy", and they do! :x  It amazes me how they do it. The birds instinctively know what the coon is, even after dark, just by the sounds it makes........then they flip out and fly everywhere and the coon will have his paws stuck through the wire and amazingly grab one and that's the end of the road fer dat bird.  They have been killing about 4 per feeding.     How many did you say that you had?  :wink:

Like I said, you may get by for years as I did, then one full moon lit night.....BAMM!!    Although, my point is......had I used netting, I would have had alot more problems with other animals all along, not just the coons.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: chewchew on October 25, 2007, 11:00:45 PM
well i have 4.. and its a full moontonight.. lol but like i sade i have been trapping for about 6 years with grand dad and never got a coon by my house..   
we will see.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: CharlieHorse on October 27, 2007, 10:37:46 PM
we will see.

That, we will.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: aKirA on October 28, 2007, 04:09:38 AM
Hawks and falcons are known to snatch quails right through the nettings. So unless you have a 24/7 guard...then in the long run I can only predict disaster.
Title: Re: my flight pen project(w/pictures) =)
Post by: Jake Levi on December 02, 2007, 11:42:23 AM
Its a very nice pen, and not overstocked, you can do well with it,

but I agree on the predators,  owls, coyotes and foxes, as well as coons,

the portable fence charger is your best insurance against them, a couple wires on top and one bottom of the sides will most likely keep you out of trouble, if you put long roosts across the pen then you'll need some kind of guards where the roosts come to the sides.

besides those predators I have to guard against both Bald Eagles  and Black Bears, a hot wire can protect agains them too.

Better safe, then sorry.

Enjoy, and good luck,

Jake
Curran, MI