STOP THE BIRDS!!!!!!

Now it didn't take long for the local bird population to discover the food source in the chook pen.
I scatter seed and other food on the floor of the pen and in the morning leave the gate open of the pen so the chooks can come and go as they like all day. HOWEVER parrots, rosellas, gallahs & other birds have found thier way into the pen. Now most of them get out no problem, but it's becoming an annoying problem that some can't find thier way out with out considerable help from me. During the process the birds get stressed and bash themselves up to the point of bleeding at times. It has to stop.

Chooks comming 'home' though the new chook door

So today I built a little chook door so the big door can remain shut all day.

Chooks locked in for the night both gate and little
chook door closed.

I cut a hole out of the wire next to the gate, dug a hole and put in a short post and then cut an off cut of form ply 40cm x 35cm to be used as a door. This was attached to the existing gate post with two hinges and then a gate bolt was screwed to the chook gate and a hole drilled into the new post for the gate bolt to slide into the shut the little chook gate closed when needed. I put a paver under the chook gate so foxes/cats/dogs can't dig under it.  There is existing chicken wire under the ground as well as added protection.

Showing chook sized door hinged & bolted shut.
Chicken wire is nailed to door frame with U nails.

And the chooks have taken no time at all to work it out and use it. Hopefully the birds don't learn to use it as well!!!!!!!!