Building a winter coop
22/31 daily posts as part of WeblogPoMo2024. Expect (and forgive) more words and less editing.
Canberra winters1 are beautiful. This is a typical week-ahead forecast.
But those mornings are cold, and Wendy is in a moult. They spend most mornings in 'bush 1', which is a fine bush but not a particularly warm spot.
So on our day off, we built them a winter coop. We started with a frame that we're no longer using.
If you're lucky, the ladies will come and 'help'.
Our local Bunnings -- at Canberra airport -- is spectacular. It's the best hardware store I've ever been in.
British people think that B&Q is a hardware store. I'm sorry, dear motherland, but no. You need to see a proper Bunnings.
I wrapped the frame in 0.5mm clear PVC ($14.59/metre) to make it like a greenhouse.
Wendy, predictably, is the first to have a look. She seems to like it, but tomorrow morning will be the test.
Mealworms will be deployed.
This is Wendy, right. Notice how her feathers, usually so splendid, look all ragged. Belinda, to the left, looks much more healthy. And that's Marie, above.
A lovely day off on a perfect Canberra day.
Footnotes
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It's not actually winter yet, I know. But with any luck this will be the weather until September. ↩