I've been building very complex, labor intensive, permanent, underground outdoor shelters lately and they are working perfectly. But I wanted to do just a quick, simple, underground, dirt covered hide for one of my baby pens. I want them to have an underground retreat from the intense afternoon heat, but not have it take several day to design, build and install. They are only in this pen during nice weather so it does not have to be rain proof or heated in any way. Its just a cool, shady spot for them to hang out in, if they want.
Here's the box and start of the hole.
Here I've started burying the box.
I started to cover the top, but as soon as a thin layer of dirt reached the front, it would just spill into the opening in the front. I placed these old bricks on top to hold the dirt back so I could pile more on top.
Here it is all finished.
Here is the view from the back side. You almost can't tell its there.
I find that when I make something new like this, it takes them a good two weeks to get used to it and use it, but after that you almost can't get them out of it. Each day, I put them all in their new cave and they pretty much just walk right out of it. I think they will eventually figure out that its a nice place to be.
Here's the box and start of the hole.
Here I've started burying the box.
I started to cover the top, but as soon as a thin layer of dirt reached the front, it would just spill into the opening in the front. I placed these old bricks on top to hold the dirt back so I could pile more on top.
Here it is all finished.
Here is the view from the back side. You almost can't tell its there.
I find that when I make something new like this, it takes them a good two weeks to get used to it and use it, but after that you almost can't get them out of it. Each day, I put them all in their new cave and they pretty much just walk right out of it. I think they will eventually figure out that its a nice place to be.