In march I purchased 4 Rhode Islands and my adventure began. I have never had chickens but I am addicted now. When the chicks started flying out of the tub, it was time to move outside.
Our chicken run project started with an old pool deck. We were going to pull it down but instead we decided to fence in the lower area the posts were already there and the deck provided shelter above. We wrapped chicken wire around the lower part of the post, and then wrapped around it with 2x2 fencing. This is Boo she is now a chicken herder. By this time I have 2 self blue OEG chicks to add to my flock.
We then went to the backyard and cut some limbs for roosts. They really like to perch on the limbs. I put dried pine needles in the bottom for bedding. Pine needles are cheap and we have plenty in our yard. My husband built a large door to the right of the steps for easy access.
After we finished the run we needed to build a better shelter, so we decided to build a hen house on top of the deck. My husband and I bought some lumber new but we used a lot of old lumber that was left over from other projects around the house. We built the frame out of 2x4's and set it at an angle because the deck was curved.
We covered the frame with OSB, made vents at the top and used chicken wire to cover the openings. There is an opening in the back for an extra breeze, it gets really hot here in Arkansas. We also added a door to cover that opening in the winter. The top was shingled with left overs from our house. My husband made nesting boxes with doors I can open from the outside.
We then cut a hole in the floor of the deck and placed malinite (not sure of the spelling or the name) a paneling with a slick white surface on the floor and covered it with pine chips and DE, and made a ramp up to the house. I was so afraid they wouldn't know how to get up there, but the next morning they were all in the house. This is Ziggy our terrier mix she loves the chicks.
And this is the finished product. We also placed a watering system into the house and run using PVC and nipples.
Now every evening we "chicken watch" it is so relaxing.
Thanks for looking!!
Our chicken run project started with an old pool deck. We were going to pull it down but instead we decided to fence in the lower area the posts were already there and the deck provided shelter above. We wrapped chicken wire around the lower part of the post, and then wrapped around it with 2x2 fencing. This is Boo she is now a chicken herder. By this time I have 2 self blue OEG chicks to add to my flock.
We then went to the backyard and cut some limbs for roosts. They really like to perch on the limbs. I put dried pine needles in the bottom for bedding. Pine needles are cheap and we have plenty in our yard. My husband built a large door to the right of the steps for easy access.
After we finished the run we needed to build a better shelter, so we decided to build a hen house on top of the deck. My husband and I bought some lumber new but we used a lot of old lumber that was left over from other projects around the house. We built the frame out of 2x4's and set it at an angle because the deck was curved.
We covered the frame with OSB, made vents at the top and used chicken wire to cover the openings. There is an opening in the back for an extra breeze, it gets really hot here in Arkansas. We also added a door to cover that opening in the winter. The top was shingled with left overs from our house. My husband made nesting boxes with doors I can open from the outside.
We then cut a hole in the floor of the deck and placed malinite (not sure of the spelling or the name) a paneling with a slick white surface on the floor and covered it with pine chips and DE, and made a ramp up to the house. I was so afraid they wouldn't know how to get up there, but the next morning they were all in the house. This is Ziggy our terrier mix she loves the chicks.
And this is the finished product. We also placed a watering system into the house and run using PVC and nipples.
Now every evening we "chicken watch" it is so relaxing.
Thanks for looking!!
