in-the-norway-pines-coop

I have always wanted Chickens.  I have been passively collecting relics from tore down sheds,  cabins, barns.  The kids are on board to recycle their sandbox and Swing set for a Floor Base and Small Run, and are gung ho to get some chicks here in a few weeks. The hubby is not on board with the chickens. But it's 3 against one 1.  My childhood memories are vivid for chickens my grandparents had and geese my dad raised.  I want my kids to have the same experiences.

Here is the swingset and sandbox:

And some windows and Door I've had a few years.

I love this paneled door and hardware. I did however cut off the top section as it was too tall for the size of the coop I'm building. Which is around 6' x 7'.

So I started with some blocks I got for $1 each at my hardware store. They were a discontinued product and had moss and lichen growing on them. The owner is my neighbor too which I think helped.  Checked for level with a 2x4 and bubble level.   Brought the Sandbox over and added 2x6 floor joists and used floor joist hangers.

Then saved some ply wood strips and buffalo board from some construction at work.  These were some cast offs we puzzle pieced for a floor.

Here are my helpers putting the pieces together.

Next came an ugly piece of linoleum remnant from my local flooring store for $15.  And 2x4's donated from Grandma she's had in her garage for 24 years. Thanks Gran!  We had to buy some too though to help us get all the stud walls up.

Front and center is the first studwall I've ever made!  As I drug it out from the garage the kids came out super excited to help.  Husband on couch with remote control did not move to help.  His protest has been dully noted!  Ha!  Special note on these walls.  I did make a rough drawing with Pencil, ruler and graph paper.  Also I used screws not nails. 

And this is where I ended up today, March 31, 2012:

My daughter and her buddies.  Tomorrow's task reclaiming the siding and getting it tacked on.

So Sunday, April 1st was beautiful and Sunny out. The morning we spent trying to reclaim wood off of an old sliding barn door.  That thing was fastened together with so many nails and screws and hardware it was impossible!  I didn't have a sawz-all with so I said forget it!  I think the wood was probably so dry rotted though.  That it might have been a blessing in disguise.  And although beautiful and rustic looking I worried about the white flecks of paint on it remaining.  Imagining it was probably lead paint from back in the day and envisioning my little chicks taste testing those specks of white as I'm sure there would have been more paint coming off.  Anyhow at that site we picked up this other treasure...perfectly patinaed tin roofing.  I'm so excited to put this on.  Dealing with the previous nail holes might be a challenge...but so worth it for the look I think.

The place that I found my siding is at my work place.  We've had a few construction projects there for the last couple years.  And there's a big pile of offerings that were free for the taking.  So I grabbed a varied assortment of half log and v-groove panelling.  Putting up the siding has been trickier than I anticipated.  Especially the half log.  I should have figured out the 45 degree angle thing on my miter saw.  Oh well I'll trim it out when I get it all set.  This is definitely going to be a Mish-mash of siding.  But hopefully it will only add to the charm.

I really like this "worm-wood" v-groove.  I only found a few scraps of this so saved it for above the door--it has a nice focal point appearance.  Also, hubby update:  He went on a fishing trip all weekend long and came back Sunday full of COMPLIMENTS for the new structure I'm putting up.  He said, "Great Job, Honey, it looks really nice."  Yay!

I always say, "Fishing Fixes Everything!"

Easter Saturday and I've got 4 walls finished 3 windows and a door hung.  Here's those 4 Walls.

Here's a steel Window I saved.  It took a bit to get it hung up there but of the 3 this one will last a while.  It's sturdy and I actually love how tall it is. Tons of light.

So next is getting the upper siding and starting some of the roof line.  The First section is a simple slant and that's what I've figured out last night and tonight.  I just used 2 x 2's here.  This isn't going to be a major weight bearing roof that I'm anticipating.  And I'm getting plenty of pitch.  So got out the framing square and figured out rise and run and cut for a pitch.  It wasn't on at all but I suppose this angle cut is better than none.  Gabled roof for the final roof line is next.  I'm thinking figuring that angle will be more important. 

Well that's where it's at after tonight. April 12th.  I've got 9 or 10 chicks--depends on what's available to be picked up tomorrow at my tractor supply store.  The brooder is all set up and ready for their arrival tomorrow morning.  Hurray for chickies!

April 13th.  The babies are here! The babies are here!  The Brooder is scrapped Pine Shelving from some old cabinets that were thrown out.  painted.  I made a hardware cloth lid with pine framing and a handle.  And of course a little roost made out of a branch a beaver cleaned up for me. 

The Chicks are (From L-R, Top-Bottom):  New Hampshire Red, Black Australorp, Silver Lace Wyandotte, Auracana, RIR, "Dominique"--but I see feathers on the feet now that I got her home--Black or Blue Cochin?!?  Anyone?, Auracana, Partridge Rock, Buff Orpington.  We'll take whatever we got!  They're all lovely and darling.

April 16th.  We get a little set back in the weather.  It was beautiful, but not condusive to getting that roof on and finishing the coop.

Okay so next has been the roofing.  Rafters turned out pretty simplistic.  Buffalo board to help cut some of the noise for when it rains and hails and then the slightly rusted steel roof.  Caulked some seams with "Stretch" exterior caulk.

I had one nice evening in the forcast then rain for the rest of the week and weekend so last night after work I went to town on the coop.  Soffits/facia and finished the Tin Roofing was a priority.  The chicks are getting big for the brooder but still find comfort in it. I took them outside in my flower garden and they liked it of course but were glad to be back under the security of their mother brooder light, too.  Hahaha.  Anyhow here it is as it will probably look.

Next up are some finishing touches, vents, Indoor bells and whistles:  screen & hardware cloth the windows, roosting rails, dividing the nesting box area.  Some chicken house decor.  OH Yeah!  and a Run!  Tons to do yet but fun to see it at this point.