Show crates/carriers

[ultasol]

Anyone have any designs or ideas to share on building your own show carriers? I need to make more efficient use of space when transporting to shows so I can take more birds. I'm a novice woodworker with access to powertools.

I've been looking for designs on the internet, but not finding too much. I might be using a poor choice in key words when searching, but regardless.

Or, I could go the easy man route and carry my birds in like this..
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://image28.webshots.com/29/5/16/6/254151606EhCdhs_ph.jpg&imgrefurl=http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1254151606056532847EhCdhs&usg=__sJ8yMniWvYo0HoRFaoHM9Lurprc=&h=600&w=800&sz=58&hl=en&start=0&sig2=ZTvd1A5BSSBRjrUoWBetZQ&zoom=0&tbnid=K8ZxMHXdJJsKoM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&ei=IvyDTNSuDIX2tgOU2pT3Bw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchicken%2Bcarrier%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den% 26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D800%26tbs%3Disch: 10%2C60&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=201&oei=dvuDTKGGH5KcsQOY-ZX3Bw&esq=6&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:21,s:0&tx=58&ty=69&biw=1280&bih=800

Sorry, found that picture amusing.

Any pointers, pictures, or websites would be appreciated. At this point I need to build ones for larger bantams, and will be building crates for standards at some point later in the season.

[Evy]

After having several types over the years, my favorites are 32 x 15 x 11 '' high. They have 4 compartments, 1'' vinyl hex wire across the front & simple rope handles on each end. The frame is 1x1'' strips, the body & sliding top is thin paneling which makes the box weigh about 5#.
I drilled additional ventilation holes in the back & top. You can't have too much air when traveling in hot weather. The hex wire allows coop cups for each bird.
The boxes are stackable & sturdy. I had others with dowels in doors that slide up, but after hearing of a friends birds dying when boxes slid together in transit, I opted for carriers they couldn't stick their heads out of.

For small bantams, the pigeon people have neat aluminum carriers that hold 6-8 birds.

[ultasol]

I have silkies and SLW. Pigeon carriers won't work. I didn't like the doweled look, and I wanted something light. Question I had is what about the bottom? How light dare you go on it?

I was also looking at the pegboard as the siding,.. as it would be already covered in holes. When I went to the Spring shows here, while it was cool at the destination I live in a high-desert area and we were in the 80's during the day by then, so ventilation is really important.

How much hex netting do you use? Particular size netting?

The ability to use cage cups would be nice, give them something moist to aid with the heat and travel.

[Evy]

I have silkies and SLW. Pigeon carriers won't work. I didn't like the doweled look, and I wanted something light. Question I had is what about the bottom? How light dare you go on it?

I was also looking at the pegboard as the siding,.. as it would be already covered in holes. When I went to the Spring shows here, while it was cool at the destination I live in a high-desert area and we were in the 80's during the day by then, so ventilation is really important.

How much hex netting do you use? Particular size netting?

The ability to use cage cups would be nice, give them something moist to aid with the heat and travel.

Same thin material for bottoms...1/8 '' paneling. I guess pegboard would work but it's heavier. Since their heat rises,it might work well for the top if it'd slide easily. A damp, warped top is no fun...trust me. You won't have much weight in them & your frame gives the box strength. A couple inches of shavings isn't heavy either. The wire front is the 1" hex used for pens.
It's nice to have carriers uniquely your own. Saves the mix-ups at coop-out that pet carriers & cardboard boxes can result in.