Chicken Nesting Box Design & Plastic Chicken Nesting Boxes

Chicken nesting box design consists of these primary elements.

Size
The size that works best is 12 inches deep, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches tall on the the side that connects to the inside of the chicken coop. 

Sloping Top
The nesting boxes should have a sloping top.  It should slope down to end up just below the roosting perch.

Amount
You should provide one nesting box for about every four hens.

Perches
You should alos provide roosting perches for the hens to sit on.

Material
You can use exterior grade plywood or plastic.  Plastic chicken nesting boxes are gaining in popularity due to their ability to last longer.

Pigeon Loft Designs & Building Pigeon Lofts

Whether you have sporing pigeons or utility pigeons, knowing the basics about pigeon lofts is essential.  These lofts are sometimes called houses or coops and consist of a few major elements.

Multiple Pens
The majority of pigeon fanciers build multiple pens into their lofts.  This allows them to separate the males and the females so that you can control the breeding patterns.  Another reason to do this is to separate the unmated pigeons from the settled and mated pairs.

Landing BoardThe landing board allows the pigeon to get back into their home when they are ready to do so.  The two most common forms of a landing board or trap are the bob wire and the sputnik trap.

Flypen
Pigeons that are allowed to fly are in much better spirits and breed better.

Nest Boxes
Pigeons are very territorial.  Allowing them to have next boxes keeps the peace.

Perches
This goes back to the territorial nature of pigeons.  This is usually built on the roof of the building.

IDPA Stage Design & Cardboard Target Stage Designs

IDPA stage design is always focused on an array of self-defense scenarios and scenarios that would lead to action.  Many of these stage designs are made for law enforcement from local pd to the FBI.  The FBI has many stage designs that they use for training new recruits and for yearly testing of existing field agents.  If you have not had the chance to see one of these set ups in person, you probably have seen a few of them in popular movies.

Here are the key elements in an IDPA stage design.

1) Hostage Situations - Pop up targets with the bad guy holding the hostage are one of the core elements of these design scenes. 

2) Surprise - Late and close range pop up targets are designed to startle the test taker and throw off his or her aim.

3) Obstructed Targets - This is where only part of the targets body or head is showing.  Usually the gun is visible so that the test taker can id the target.