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Thursday, June 23, 2011

It's like building a boat in your basement.

Safely outside, waiting for its chicken wire cover.
Or, in my case, building a chicken tractor (don't look, APG) in my living room.  I have never lied about my complete lack of building skills.  I have a very limited sense of space and dimension.  It took me years to be able to parallel park even a tiny Toyota MR2 (gawd, I loved that car!)  When I decided to provide my Red Rangers a change of venue, I dug around in my 'construction pile' - aka, leftover bits and bobs of prior projects - and found enough 1" PVC pipe to make a tractor large enough for my six birds.  I drew it up, made a list of PVC joints needed and hit Home (away from home) Depot.  Full disclosure here:  it took a total of three trips to get it right.

I pulled out my handy PVC cutter (WHAT?  You don't have one???) and I carefully pieced it together whilst watching a "Murder She Wrote" DVD.  Then I pulled out the super glue and began welding it together.  Well, thank goodness I took a break and mulled over the project before I finalized it!  A little late in the game, I decided to measure it to make sure I would be able to get it out of the living room and out of the house.  NOT.  It was a full 2" too wide to make it through even the sliding glass door.  What to do?  I jacked it over on its side, pounded off the bottom braces and cut each leg 3" shorter.  Then put everything back together again.  If that doesn't work, it will be a neo-modern-classic entertainment center.  Especially when the chicken wire is added....

8 comments:

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

Hehehe, I am not much for measuring twice and cutting once either. At least it is outside!

Unknown said...

Looks great!

dr momi said...

Now that sounds like what I would do --- totally forget it had to go out the door. :-)

Mama Pea said...

And don't forget how much entertainment it will be for your guests (and dogs days when you're away) when you add the chickens. In the living room. In the chicken tractor. ;o}

The Apple Pie Gal said...

HA!!! Oh you crack me up! Do you honestly think I would have "welded" it any differently if us gals had done it ourselves?

Welded...hehehehehe! Oh my gosh I love you!

And your little chickie-poos will love it too!

Awesome Job!

Susan said...

Jane - No matter how many times I goof up because I don't follow the measure twice/cut once advice, I never do. It would be so boring if I did...

Nancy - Thanks! I think the chickens will love it, no matter what it looks like.

Dr. Momi - I think I was starting to get used to it being in the living room.

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Ya know, there are days when that sounds like a good idea - like when it's pouring outside.

APG - Oh, pshaw. I love you too! You're right - my chickie-poos don't give a poop what it looks like, just as long as it's on top of green stuff! Yeah - welded - you know, stuck together? hehehe

Erin said...

Hey PVC is highly underrated, my hubby loves the stuff! I think that chicken tractor will be awesome and easy to move - plus you can easily put an "addition" on... hmmm, maybe my next house should be made of it! And yes, I DO have a PVC cutter LOL... can't wait to see it!