Since chickens like it dark when they lay eggs, put curtains over the nest box. Nothing organic in the nest box to discourage mites and helps to prevent mold. The henhouse floor is lined with Sweet PDZ, a type of odor-controlling zeolite mineral used for bedding in coops and horse stalls. Coarse sand for the floor of the run.
Native pollinator habitats can create a refuge for wildlife while also providing a colorful trellis for growing plants, such as these trellises by TerraTrellis. The habitats should face south to entice bees. Be sure to use untreated wood or bamboo tubes. If possible, line the tubes with rolled paper or straws so they can be cleaned out each year to prevent accumulation of parasites.
put a native bee house in your yard, providing much needed shelter for the insects, whose habitat is dwindling. These bee houses are easy to install and take up little space. This native pollinator habitat designed by Urban Hedgerow hangs on a wall and creates a refuge for wild nesting bees, ladybugs, lacewings and other crucial pollinators.
see related article on backyard coops for more info and details; option to buy plans or kits. Build one side higher, and slope the roof; vent the high side at the top for the gases that build up; put in windows if you want the chickens to lay eggs; in a wet climate, make sure you step up to the coop as chickens with wet feet tend to get sick. The American Veterinary Medical Association says a coop needs the following items to meet chickens’ basic needs: Appropriate floor space. Many experts say coops should provide at least 2 to 3 square feet of space per chicken inside the henhouse, and 4 square feet per chicken in the adjacent run. Proper ventilation Good quality litter. Wood shavings are excellent, straw should be checked for mold or contamination before using and hay is not recommended due to harmful mold spores and dust. Nest boxes should be in the lowest, darkest part of the henhouse. Perches and roosting bars where chickens sleep should be adequately high and spaced apart; Coops should be located where hens get plenty of sunlight, which promotes egg laying, but also access to shade during the hottest months. The henhouse should be elevated 1 to 3 feet off the ground. This ...
self-serve catio access; rain shelter on top; fun levels/tiers as perches or for exercise
looks like window access to catio; sheltered from rain on top
self-serve catio entrance
add-on catio
catio integrated with porch
catio hammock
a catio!
litter box sits immediately inside hole cut out of tall cabinet door on left - easy access for box use and cleaning; hole is cut lower than edge of box
easy, cheap, portable litter box screen
these two goats love to follow the family around and spend time curled up with people in the hammock - what kind?
an indoor/outdoor pet rabbit
dog house
leash hooks inside dog cave
xmas wrap storage container for litter box?
another bench solution for litter boxes
eureka! arch access small enough to keep dogs out, but bench top allows easy access for human; plenty of space for supplies; probably want non-porous lining and a small fan for ventiliation
entry hole to litter box area needs to be large enough for kitties to feel comfortable entering, but small enough that dogs cannot access space
bottom and sides of the enclosure are lined with galvanized sheet metal with sealed seams to prevent “accidents” from soaking into the sheetrock; ductwork inside connects to a standard ceiling fan, which can be flipped on to remove kitty odors; need a door for easy human access to clean and maintain
part of a big happy pet family!
Electronic pet doors allow only pets wearing sensor tags to enter or exit through the door. The door and tags can be programmed to allow pets in and out at certain times of the day, and the door remains locked at other times. Some electronic doors can be programmed to work with an animal’s microchip. The Humane Society says pet doors with sensors are the best way to keep out unwanted wildlife.
pet food cabinet container, with (sealed) lid (needs to hold 50 lbs bag)
fold-away dog beds
(colors and materials all wrong, but...) secure cat bed beneath sky light, with cat walk all around, accessed by cat stairs at far end
dedicated space for (removable) dog crates
round and shallow kitty bed
cats can come and go when doors are closed
sun room in center of house brings a lot of light; could keep plants without cats destroying them
built-in dog bed
luxe "catio"
stairs w/matching pet gate
hidden steps; bath must be elevated; also need some kind of barrier to keep feisty dog in bath
tub is too small, but it is elevated; like the sto-away ramp
fold-away step for dog (still a big step for older or smaller dog), or kneeling bench for dog washer, but not enough front protection from rinse water
not beautiful, but functional
nice finish, but needs to be higher and include steps/ramp
commercial style sink and faucet (with added steps/ramp) for dog bath?
tips, resources, photos
Q