• "THE OTHER SIDE"

This is my Mother's Day present.  I just love it. It is a Lowes Quick Shed that we converted into a coop.  It measures 8 x 10.  We put runs on both sides.  They are converted dog kennels.  One is 8 x 10 and the other is 6 x 10.   Since these pictures were taken we have added hardware cloth around the bottom 2' of the runs.  It is and I guess will always be a work in progress but I just love it  Growing up in Texas my Grandma had chickens.  I think some of my fondest childhood memories are going to Grandma's house and gathering the eggs and feeding the chickens.  She also had a strawberry patch that I loved. Maybe that will be my next project.  I am hoping to make memories for my daughter Talia (we adopted her when she was 5 and we were 50), my 4 grandchildren, and twin nephews (my brother's wife had them when he was 50. crazy huh?)  My 4 grown children seem to be loving it too as I have found them looking for eggs.  I have put a bench beside the run so that Talia and I can watch chicken TV in the evenings.  It has become one of Talia's favorite places to do her homework too.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my chickens! I have 2 barred rocks, 1 production red, 3 EE, 3 cochin bantams, and 1 sexlink. 

This is my chicken tractor.  I bought it already made.  I use it to move around my yard during the day.  I lock my chickens up at night in the big coop.  If I were going to keep chickens in it at night I would need to add harware cloth and an inside door for the coop section.  Right now the front of the coop section is completely open.  I really like it but it is heavy.  I usually get someone else to help me move it.  I might try to find a way I can hook it up to my lawn tractor for easier moving.  If I were building one like this I would have made the top hinged for easier cleaning and of course put on hardware cloth.  I am thinking of buying some silkies in the spring to put in there.  We'll see!