RSS Feeds: Bamboo Chicken Coops, Bamboo Fences and Bamboo Flooring
I live in a country with abundant natural resources that are not quite so abundant in other places. Bamboo is one of these natural resources. Despite what my Filipino friends think, you don't have to be poor to use bamboo in place of wood for construction. I know what some of you are thinking, but bamboo is not wood. It grows like weeds but it's actually a form of grass.
Bamboo Chicken Coops
I've actually watched relatives and other people building chicken coops out of vertical strips of bamboo. As far as I can remember, it was done with various kinds of wood (mostly plywood) and chicken wire way back when on my grandmother's farm.
The watering trough is placed within the coop while the feed trough is placed just in front of the coop. The bamboo "slats" are spaced far enough apart for the chickens, when full grown, to poke their heads through it and eat the feed. It's very efficient.
Bamboo Fences
The entire property at one of my "down the street" neighbor's places is completely surrounded by a fence made of bamboo poles. The poles are connected with some cheap, thin wire. The only part of the fence that isn't mostly bamboo is the front gate, although it's partly made of it.
That house is now vacant and there's nothing of value in the surrounding yards, which is good because that kind of fencing won't keep the thieves out.
Bamboo Flooring
Although bamboo flooring is ecologically friendly, more so than wood (and can be made to look exactly like wood), people with regular jobs prefer to have cement flooring covered by linoleum. If they make enough money, that linoleum gets replaced by ceramic tile.
One of my wife's aunts lives in the Batangas province — my wife lived there for four or five years when she was going through high school. When my wife lived there, the flooring was made of bamboo but it was not nearly as nice as what can be found being done with it in the US. The flooring in that house is now ceramic-covered cement.
Does Bamboo mean Cheap?
The Filipinos surrounding me in this area seem to the think that only poor people use bamboo. This is probably true, but it's the wrong way of thinking. When something is available in abundance, which grows as fast as bamboo does and doesn't cost much (if anything — and it depends where you get it from), it makes a lot of sense to use it instead of spending a small fortune on other building materials.
I told my wife I wanted to make a bed frame, headboard and foot board out of bamboo and she said didn't want something so cheap in our house. I'm confused. The mattress (or mattress set) wouldn't be bamboo and neither would any of the bed coverings or pillows. I could make it super strong, unlike the bed frame for the bed in my bedroom, which collapsed after two years. She wouldn't hear of it. Perhaps she's afraid it would look cheap. I assure you, I would have someone else, who works with bamboo on a regular basis, do it for me — it would just be made to my specifications.
The support slats for my bed are in a state of repair, which need to be repaired again before they collapse again. If I need to replace the bed, I'd rather replace it with something a bit more durable, like bamboo.
Similar Posts:
"Despite what my Filipino friends think, you don't have to be poor to use bamboo in place of wood for construction."
I agree! I think that bamboo is very stylish. It gives us an oriental feeling. I think that it is simply amazing.
you are right, the bamboo is one of the most versatile, economical not to mention durable building material. i know of several people who are producing quality bamboo products but sad to say 99% of them are exported to european countries. either the filipinos dont want to use them (bec they are cheap looking… so they believe) or people outside of the philippines are better and more profitable market for the products.
anyway, find someone who is really good with bamboo furniture and you will have a quality and durable product. i once volunteered to teach in bukidnon (mindanao) and my students there can make bamboo furnitures without the use of nails. wish i had some pictures i can show you.
My last blog: Two Ways How to Help Someone with Panic Attacks
It's time to re-educate Mrs and other Filipinos about bamboo and pretty much about a lot of thing in the Philippines. I find your articles interesting.
I love bamboo and have lived in asia and seen some of the amazing things people can do with it, I always loved seeing bamboo used as scaffoding. I love the idea of chicken coops made from bamboo, the only question I have is do owners lose a lot of feed to preditors, like rats and mice?
The coops are not on the ground. The rats and mice would have to climb the thin legs and I don't think it's possible.
Yes bamboo is been used for many purpose and also the bamboo shoots are used as food in various ways. They are used in preparation such as bamboo candy, bamboo chutney and canning of bamboo in syrups.The leaves are beneficial in the treatment for Stomach Disorders, Respiratory Disorders, Menstrual Disorders.
My neighbor got some Bamboo Floors and her dog scratched them all up immediately. They seem to be quite soft…
One reason I think pinoys associate use of bamboo to being poor is it's abundance in many rural communities. Even the lowly "bahay kubo", if you've seen a picture of it, evokes the use of bamboo as cheap building material.
My last blog: Sandra's Birthday 2009
I think cork flooring is awesome. Cork flooring is a great alternative to hardwood floors and they look just as stylish. I think they will become a leading trend in the home and garden sector.
My last blog: My Contractor Says A Cork Floor Would Show Wear Patterns Easily. Is It True?
Cultural differences are amazing aren't they? I live in Australia and here It would be just too expensive to build chicken coups out of bamboo! People use it for flooring in their houses here and it does cost quite a bit. If you want to buy bamboo from a nursery to grow in your backyard it can cost quite a fair sum…it is not cheap to grow a bamboo hedge especially if you want to buy black bamboo chicken coup designs
I guess it depends on where you live and what you're wanting to use it for, as to how expensive or inexpensive bamboo is. I think bamboo makes beautifrl furniture and it doesn't look cheap. Guess that depends on how high minded you are.
My last blog: Eco Friendly Bamboo Cutting Board Review