Open-bottom dust-bath boundary frame

Keep a dry loose bathing area from spreading into a walkway; the frame is not a treatment and supplies no medicinal dust recipe.

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 × Four-hole 90-degree wood-connection angle. Two per corner
• 32 × #8 corrosion-resistant exterior wood screw 1 1/4 in (31.75 mm). Four per angle. Use compatible coatings/metals and the maker's pilot-hole guidance; do not substitute drywall screws.

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. Choose a sheltered dry level location away from feed and water. Confirm birds can step over a 5 1/2 in (139.7 mm) edge without crowding.
2. Cut A to 36 in from actual 1 1/2 × 5 1/2 in stock; cut B to 21 in from identical stock.
3. Sand the upper long edges and both upper corners of every board; remove splintering knots.
4. Place A parallel 24 in (609.6 mm) outside-to-outside. Fit B between A to create a 36 × 24 in outside rectangle.
5. Clamp the assembly and compare diagonals. The inside clear rectangle must measure 33 × 21 in (838.2 × 533.4 mm).
6. Fit two metal corner angles at each inside corner, one low and one high, avoiding an exposed top edge.
7. Use two 1 1/4 in screws in each angle leg, following the angle hole pattern; every screw enters a board face rather than a thin end.
8. Inspect the base with no fill. It must lie flat with no rocking and no accessible metal burrs.

9. Set the open-bottom frame onto the chosen clean, dry ground surface. Do not line it with a loose fabric or wire mesh that can catch feet.
10. Use only a suitable clean dry bathing substrate confirmed for the flock; do not add insecticide, ash, diatomaceous earth or a homemade veterinary remedy under this plan.
11. Observe access from all sides and keep the path to feed, water and shelter open. Remove the frame if birds avoid it or pile in a corner.
12. Empty wet/soiled material and lift the frame for drying; move or remove it during flooding, persistent dampness or when maintenance is neglected.

Checks

• Outside footprint is 36 × 24 in, inside footprint 33 × 21 in; A remains full width while B fits between.
• Angles are below the rounded top and every screw is shorter than the 1 1/2 in board thickness.
• Dry level placement; no sharp fastener, trapped liner or blocked walkway.
• No parasite-control, medical or flock-capacity claim; actual bird use is observed.

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