Folding two-panel handling hurdle

Create a visible movable guide during supervised movement of birds; it is not a cage, quarantine pen or unattended boundary.

Editorial construction draft. Original digital diagrams; no physical build or load certification. Read dimensions, fit and use limits before making changes. US customary dimensions control; metric values are references.

Before marking and cutting

• Read every step and identify the installed orientation. Make the component off-site with birds excluded.
• Measure the actual receiving space, chosen commercial accessories and access route. Stop if the example does not fit; changing only one member can invalidate the assembly.
• Reject split, warped, moldy or chemically contaminated stock. Keep exposed mesh cut ends and all sharp fasteners inaccessible to birds.
• The drawing dimensions control; illustrations are not full-size templates. Allow a saw kerf between parts when laying out stock.

Use limits

• No person may stand or sit on this component. No tested load rating is claimed.
• A site-specific safe location and supervision are required; remove it if birds become trapped, peck damaged material, or cannot use their normal feed, water, shelter and escape routes.

Materials and cuts

Hardware and consumables

• 8 × Flat corner brace with matched short screws. Four per frame
• 28 × #8 corrosion-resistant exterior wood screw 1 1/4 in (31.75 mm). Mesh battens. Use compatible coatings/metals and the maker's pilot-hole guidance; do not substitute drywall screws.
• 2 × Corrosion-resistant hinges with smooth-ended fasteners. Keep hinge knuckles on handler face
• 2 × Flexible hinge-gap guard. Fit to actual hinge and travel; no loose loops

Tools

• Tape measure, square and pencil
• Saw appropriate to material and work supports
• Drill/driver, countersink and pilot bits selected for the screws
• Clamps, sanding block and eye/hearing protection; dust control appropriate to the material

Assembly

1. Cut four A rails to 24 in and four B stiles to 19 in (482.6 mm) from actual 3/4 × 2 1/2 in stock, producing two equal 24 in square frames.
2. Lay each frame flat with B between the A rails. Clamp, compare diagonals and fit a flat metal corner brace at every rear corner.
3. Use the braces' short maker-matched screws; no point may protrude through the 3/4 in frame face.
4. Cut two C mesh sheets to 22 × 22 in (558.8 mm). Center one over each frame, providing 1 1/2 in overlap beyond the 19 in clear opening.
5. Cut four D battens 24 in long and four E battens 21 in long, all actual 3/4 × 1 1/2 in.
6. Fasten D across the upper and lower frame fronts, four 1 1/4 in screws per batten. Fit E between D at each side, three screws per E.
7. Check every wire edge is fully covered. The mesh must have no loop, projecting end or loose center that could snag a foot or wing.

8. Place frames side by side with a 1/4 in (6.4 mm) hinge gap. Fit two hinges at 4 and 20 in (101.6 and 508 mm) above the bottom on the handler side, with smooth-ended hardware.
9. Fold the panels toward the handler to check their travel; fit flexible hinge-gap covers using hardware suitable for the selected hinges so no accessible scissor point remains.
10. Set the hurdle on a level floor in a shallow V held by an adult handler. Do not attach ropes, create a narrowing trap or leave the hurdle standing unattended.
11. Move slowly behind birds with a wide clear destination; stop if a bird presses against mesh, flaps into it or attempts to jump.
12. After use fold it, clean/dry the lower edges and store out of bird reach; inspect the covered hinge gap before every reuse.

Checks

• Both frames remain 24 in square; clear wood openings are 19 × 19 in.
• Mesh cut edges have 1 1/2 in overlap and are fully trapped by battens.
• Hinges move freely, their gap is guarded, and no folded edge catches a handler's fingers.
• Used only by a present handler; it is not claimed to contain predators, chicks or airborne disease.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Inspect before each use for splits, loose joints, protruding points and trapped debris.
• Remove accumulated litter or manure promptly. When cleaning is needed, move birds away, remove debris first, wash and use only a suitable label-directed product if disinfection is indicated; let the item dry before return.
• Recheck the fit after seasonal wood movement. Replace cracked panels, rusted fasteners or frayed liners instead of concealing damage.
• Sand accessible edges to a small smooth radius. Use a removable washable contact liner where specified. Any optional coating must be suitable for the intended animal-equipment use and fully cured according to its label before installation. Porous wood is not represented as a disinfectable food-contact surface.

Primary context

These sources inform the context and do not endorse the original construction design.

• S3 · Small-Scale Poultry Housing
• S2 · Build a Clean Routine
• S4 · Galvanized Hardware Cloth