I took some scraps of red oak and made an elevated dust bath for my Cinnamon Queen hens. Of course they thought it was an alien from outer space that was there to eat them for a day or two.

I used spline joints on the corners and finger joints on the long sides. The top is 6 pieces of red oak.

The spline jig didn't turn out well because I glued the MDF together and it swelled the particles for a few days then when it dried it was not perfectly flat any more.

I glued some reinforcements to the inside corners before cutting the slots for the splines. I cut the slots from both sides to center them and to sneak up on that perfect fit.

The legs are fastened with pocket screws.

 

You should see what it looks like today! Chickens sure are messy...

 

JT

 

Edited March 11, 20224 yr by jthornton
Photos out of order

That's a nice brood of chickens. 

 

Really nice project for them. Love your workshop, too!!

12 hours ago, lew said:

That's a nice brood of chickens. 

 

Really nice project for them. Love your workshop, too!!

+1 to what Lew wrote. Thanks for all the pics. Enjoyed the the journey.

 

13 hours ago, jthornton said:

You should see what it looks like today! Chickens sure are messy...

Yes they are. BTDT...but do miss the fresh eggs. Nothing better especially when you score a few double yokers.

I put some fresh bathing dirt/ash mix in the elevated dust bath and 5 of 6 hens tried to be first... only 3 fit at a  time lol.

 

All the chicken furniture is the same color after a while...

 

JT

They look like they are enjoying it!

JT, I'm beginning to believe you're "henpecked." 

19 hours ago, jthornton said:

I put some fresh bathing dirt/ash mix in the elevated dust bath and 5 of 6 hens tried to be first... only 3 fit at a  time lol.

Looks like the girls are enjoying it!  Happy hens make the best eggs!

22 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

JT, I'm beginning to believe you're "henpecked." 

 

It's very rare that I get "henpecked"

 

JT

mmmmmmmmmmmmm:  extra crispy