Superadobe or earth bag building was developed by Nader Khalili, an Iranian American architect, writer, and humanitarian. He developed the superadobe system in 1984, in response to a NASA call for …
Source: The Art of Superabode
Cal-Earth has a school here in the High Desert that teaches people how to build homes with adobe. Their homes pass code enforcement, pass earthquake standards, survive huricanes, and pass for art. Taking their classes is on my bucket list.
Lately I have been texting with James Gielow, author of https://mindyourdirt.com/2015/06/01/backyard-chicken-eggonomics-how-much-does-it-really-cost-to-raise-chickens regarding my hen’s poor egg laying of late. Better hen-house security is his recommendation.
So, my thoughts have turned to materials at hand. I near completion of an aviary that I am building with materials recycled from some rather ugly chain link fence that once bordered my front yard. The aviary protects from big predetors – like hawks and coyotes. What about those little rats that “have been harassing …. hens when you guys aren’t around.” Those not so “‘airborne’ bully[ies] that’s after their lunch money and trying to dole out atomic wedgies.” In addition to “lunch money”, eggs might be on the little rat’s shopping list as well.
Since I have such a big supply of soil that is better suited for making bricks than gardening, an adobe hen house makes sense. So now I need to come up with a plastered mud house design that meets the following criteria:
- Comfy chicken bedroom that can be secured at night and when I am not around so my hens will feel safe.
- Can be readily cleaned and kept hygienic. Lime plaster should help here.
- Cozy laying boxes that are wheel chair accessible.
- Good airflow
- Cool in summer, warm in winter.
- Meet the chicken seal of approval.
Caliche Challenge 