This entry is presented in the tradition of "reaching for your head, rather than your pocketbook" which is one of the content threads associated with field trips at Waterfowl of Chenoa. Efforts are made to show students that although you can buy anything if you have the money, your quality of life can be improved considerably by applying the science learned in school to interests or hobbies. Literally, this page is intended to explore ways in which the individual can employ school science ideas to solve problems related to fowl culture.

Many times hatching eggs in the classroom or playing host to a small animal requires a container of some sort to serve as a home for the visitor(s). A brooder/small animal cage is easy to construct from a clothes storage box.

The brooder box above is very useful for small numbers of quail, bantams, and even waterfowl if for only a short period of time. The person who coined the phrase that "baby ducks and geese are cute" most assuredly saw the individuals described shortly after hatching and certainly before eating and drinking. This page addresses the designing of a broodery for larger numbers and older fowl than can be accommodated by the brooder above.

This page addresses the designing of a broodery expansion which is suitable for larger numbers and older fowl than can be accommodated by either of the brooders above. Like the broodery above this expansion also is equiped with an automatic watering system and has a waste disposal system.

From the late 70s until 2004 the only aviaries at Chenoa Waterfowl were those constructed of chain link fencing. The major waterfowl inhabitants were true geese, shelducks, and mature ducks that could not escape through chain link fencing.

At Waterfowl of Chenoa there is a pen that has been used for pigeons, pheasants, and bantams for nearly 25 years. Recently I decided to refurbish the pen by putting screws where nails had loosened and replacing chipboard covering with plywood on which a preservative had been placed. During this period a genetics idea was hatched, retired you know. A new enclosure was needed for the project so a desion was made to replicate the original as cost per year had been very low on it. This page addresses the designing and construction of that enclosure for small fowl.

Incubators can cost a fortune or be constructed by combing old and new parts which results in a considerably smaller total investment. A large homemade incubator is easy to construct from old refrigerators. This page shows how three different models and sizes of refrigerators have been employed as incubators.

To provide fresh grass and/or space for fowl, a moveable pen is needed that is reasonably strong, relatively large, fairly inexpensive, and light enough for a single person to move.

The A-frame is chosen by a number of the small to medium size geese as a nest aid. Among those are the Nene, Barnacle, Snow, and Eastern and Western Greylag. This page is based on the construction of six A-frames. The major components are treated 2" x 4" lumber of various lengths and 4' x 8' sheets of CD plywood.

A plastic barrel can also be used as a nest aid. Used barrels are readily available in the food industry and are for sale at some farm supply stores.

This is an effective nest box selected by Wood ducks and a variety of other species of ducks and shelducks. The nest boxes an be pole or bench mounted. The construction plan is designed for producing four boxes with no waste from grade three 1 x 12 shelving.

An environmentally sound, yet inexpensive shipping box can be made from a Rubbermaid storage box. The boxes are readily obtainable from Wal-Mart and the only tools needed are a hammer, Osborne 245 belt punch, and a plastic cutting board.

For more information please contact the CE/CE Online

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Last Modified Wednesday, 13-Jul-2005 13:44:24 CDT