Kenji's member page

Wow, we love seeing all the homemade coops on this site -but, we opted to buy one already made. Just didn't have the time, or patience to make one. Also, we wanted a "good quality" coop that would last through the ages. So, thankfully we bought one made by the Amish(or Mennonite society -not sure which) community. We were so impressed by the attention to detail and craftsmanship! For $900 (or so) dollars total we were able to get extras like windows, a run, tin roof(or tile if desired) in any paint color -or stain for the same price!

(we added the flower boxes) -from Big Lots! LOL! The Lanterns came from a local retail store (each one with a 40 percent off coupon -so we bought one a month!

Though the coop was ready-made, however, we didn't let that deter us from bringing our "bling" factor! Below is a picture of the the coop as we started to step up the bling. I knew for my end of things bland walls wouldn't do -so we painted the inside walls beige and painted the top rafters Red for a splash of color, then added a Mirror(from the dollar store form 5 bucks!) Our Girls are somewhat vain -so we figured they needed to see how they looked prior to walking the red runway to the great outdoors into the run! Besides, a girl has to have her feathers together, right? RIGHT! Also added wall sconces -no candles of course!

Still blinging on a budget! LOL!

Then, we started deciding how to actually care for the chickens and what would be most practical. First on the list was bedding. Hay and straw(and certain types of shavings) can cause crop impaction and/or slowdown. Litter could create an issue as well. So after much research we found that sand was a good practical way of keeping moisture down, the grit within the sand was good for the digestion of food and is fairly easy to maintain. So, since we had extra hardwood flooring panels, we used the extra panels to place on the sub-floor of the coop. We then added tarp to protect the hardwood and added the sand on top of the tarp for daily clean-up. And for quarterly cleanings -we can lift the tarp with all the sand and sweep the residual. So, below is a picture of the hardwood floor panels(left over from a previous project) then we placed a tarp over the floor -then added sand. That sand makes cleanup really easy and fast! Sand/flooring 30 bucks approx. . . .

It takes two! Of course I usually eyeball! But my other half is all about the measurements -So, thanks K!

Afterward, we thought about the nest boxes and what to do regarding "the girls" wanting to use them for sleeping areas -vs. actual nesting. So, we found that nest-box curtains would help with this

notice the red curtains at the very bottom to the right of the pic below)-and, the research we found was true -after placing the nest-box curtains ,our "Girls" started roosting!

Along the way, as we were putting things in order . . . we wanted window curtains to help with the bling factor -but, also, give our girls some privacy -but still allow for some natural light on those rainy days. So, Wally-world came through with some really nice curtains on clearance. Bling on a budget I say!

To finish up -Coop Kenji wouldn't be complete without lighting -but we haven't done the electrical yet! But, we found a really good deal on a chandelier on Amazon for 25 bucks! So up she went! I think The Girls approve! Also a nice tree branch was added to bring in some nature! Afterall -it's just a coop right??

Last, we are going to add an addition of tin-look panels(really styro-foam) found on E-Bay -to be attached to the ceiling -(at a fraction of the cost of the real tin ones) With all the time we saved -not making the coop-it really gave us more time to "bring the bling!" Notice the little red stool on the right -just the perfect touch to spend time with "The Girls" !

We love our "girls" and hope they all end up being girls and not roosters! LOL!

Time to let "The Girls" enjoy the new digs!! Will update soon with a pic of the ceiling remodel . . .
Until then here is a shot of the planting table -a repurposed aquarium stand, LOL. I love to plant and watch the Girls!

Also, my knees got to hurting -leaning into the Coop -plus landing hands first into chicken potty is no fun! So We built a porch/step

Lemme see, know to make the space an outdoor seating area we must add seating! LOL

Now for the picture of the ceiling work (as promised earlier)! The running joke is that I'm doing everything to this Coop -that can't be done inside the house! *I'm sure someone can relate)! It took an act of Congress almost to just get the Coop! But we choose our battles!

The tin panels are actually styrofoam and come pre-painted! And Voila! Almost done!!!!

Hmmm, now what to do about the plain wall behind the chandelier (Yes, nothing is to good for "Our Girls") . . .I'm thinking wallpaper or contact paper that is easy to clean! The Girls love Bling -but, they sure are dusty! LOL . . . .

The hubsters added a"back porch" light ! This way we can see out there when we scatter treats in the early a.m. when it's dark and get the waterers re-freshed . . . . .

It took about two weeks for "Our Girls" to scratch, eat and get rid of the grass in the run -So, we opted to use pine shavings to ward of potential issues with all that mud! -Besides the needles drain really well ! But, sometimes we use straw -it seems to not break down quite as fast . . . . . .

See above . . .I knew that would be a mess just waiting to happen when the rain comes! See below! The pine needles are a cheap way to channel the moisture and add a lovely aroma to the run -if you know what I mean! These chicken are gonna makes us farmers yet!

I hope "the Girls" don't decide to lay eggs under the Coop! It wasn't easy getting underthere for me! But they seem to like the pine needles!

Till next time! See ya in your BackYards! On the way to find that wallpaper!

(Oh Lord, Trixie! Is he really going to go get wallpaper?! Yes, Marilyn -HE IS! LOL!
Well, wnt to the wallpaper store and wouldn't you know it I couldn't find the wallpaper I liked -so I found a vinyl tablecloth -easy to clean (dollar store 3.99) and stapled to the wall! I think it turned out pretty good!

And thanks to the hubsters,that fixed some windowsills for our "Girls" (below) . Marilyn kept leaving little presents on the windowsill for me(If you know what I mean) So, I didn't want that untreated wood ruined -So, why not cover it with Italian marble? Might as well put those handy power-tools to work right? So, thanks K -for cutting that marble for me! Home Depot had a piece of Marble tile for 4.99!

As Always, we are blinging on a budget!
Pictured below -Our girls are so comfortable in the coop -they don't want to get out, LOL

Fig I'd post a video of Trixie getting his crow on!

Finally got our first Egg-Child today! So proud, I guess now we can remove the golf balls, LOL

What a beauty ! We are so proud of our Girl!
Of course I had to show it up close and personal! Check out below:

I like to think I Co-Parented, LOL! We actually got "Our Girls" Approx three months ago, and four bags of feed later -here we are! And many treats also!
We couldn't be more proud!

And ,of course -To celebrate what Mother Earth has done we went shopping for a new Buddha (On clearance of course)!!!!
Still Blinging on a budget! As always!

It's hard to believe that "Our Girls" are producing so fast! We can't eat the eggs fast enough, LOL . . . Four Months ago Our girls were our Lil Chick-a-Dees -stinking up the house - not even ready to put in the Coop to roost -My, my, my they mature so fast!

My favorite Egg-child is the speckled brown one! (Yes I have favorites! LOL)
We couldn't eat the eggs in the above pic because my girls were on medicated "grower" food. Now that they are on regular laying feed -Now we can celebrate in the harvest!

This is Thelma -She is one of our shiny brown egg producers . . .. Giving us our last egg for today's breakfast!
Now off to the kitchen!

I love to showcase our egglets in a nice egg-collection wicker basket -and of course the hand crocheted doily adds that special Country touch! Just because us city folks are raising hens -doesn't mean we can appreciate the country too!

Eventhough "Mother Nature" provides the egg with protection with the "bloom" covering -We personally prefer to wash the eggs before preparation for eating -just because!

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Just look at that "farm-fresh" goodness in that cast-iron skillet! Yummy! This is where all the hard work between cleaning our coop, gathering feed and caring for our hens starts to pay off! Can't ya'll just smell the grease, eggs, salt and pepper sizzlin'!?

Ain't nothing like a good country breakfast with fresh eggs (that you know where they came from),big ole' biscuits laced with homemade apple-butter and real butter!

I cooked and my Partner got the first plate!?? LOL!
Breakfast by the pond! Doesn't get much better than this! We can hear Our Girls in the background also!

Oh well, now that all the "blinging on a budget" for the coop has paid off -back to work! LOL -It never ends. . . .

With Fall coming we changed the Coop curtains! (Yes the curtains are changed with the seasons! LOL . . .Do you like?? Actually, these serve a purpose . . .cutting down on the light in the Coop -may slow down the egg production. We have more eggs than we can EAT, LOL!

"Hattie B" is checking out the new nestbox curtains (below the windowsills). We decided to take the previous red ones down(they stayed too dusty!) So, the new ones are actually made from a vinyl tablecloth(for 3 bucks!) You know we "Bling" on a budget! LOL

We enjoy including "Our Girls" in with the design of our BackYard Serenity Garden also! If you haven't tried this -Maybe You should!
Fast fwd . . . ..Now that Fall is here -we got our first snow! Yes SNOW! And we just cant get our heads around the fact that it isn't Winter yet. But, it really adds a different type of beauty to your garden surroundings -and brings new challenges too! LOL, But we love Our Girls -so we press on! Check these shots out below:

This shot above is sideways (but we feel like we are on a mountainside from this angle! LOL!

Cmon Hattie B -the waterer is on the otherside of the run!!

Dear me -It looks cold out there ladies!

We are not even getting down there in that!

Finally some sunshine!

snow, no SNOW! really, Really, REALLY?!?!?!?

Hmmm,ain't this a bit early for all this frosty weather?!?!

Future coop/studio . . . .But of course this will have to be in the Spring!! Can't get much done in the cold. . . But we want to tie the KenJi Coop in with it somehow! But that's part of the fun with keeping chickens -always new ideas and things to do!

Update 4/2014 . .. Found more bling! Can't have too much, LOL! The picture above was in dedication of our Grandmother's -that loved Home Interior and Chickens of course!!

If the outside is pretty -the inside might as well be too!

Love this color for the Coop interior . .. .

The semi-gloss coat helps with cleaning the Chicken-Poo!

Marilyn Elaine -helping out!!!!!

Re-purposed drawers!

Those Girls will lay anywhere! Why not somewhere pretty and functional?!?!?!?

I got so darn tired of crawling under the Coop -maybe this will inspire to places to lay! Just drill holes in the drawers so no moisture will stay in there!

LOL, the nest-drawers appear to be working!

The girls sure are doing us proud -such pretty and good-sized eggs!

The two newest additions to our flock! Maude is the Spangled variety of the Appenzeller Spitzhauben, Clarisse is the Gold variety.

A room with a view!!! LOL!!!

Can't have enough Bling for the garden, LOL!!

Side view from were we added onto the run. A nice seating area where we watch Chicken-T.V., LOL!!!!

The other side of the The Girl's run! Now how can you have a Coop and not have a sign posted (3RD picture above) about those delicious EGGS???

Let's see what miracles are waiting in those nesting boxes!

Not quite an apron full, but it's early yet!

Just look at those beauties!

We discovered(or J discovered) there was an extra pair of unused curtains -so of course -DECORATE THE COOP, LOL!!! Afterall it is a good day for spring cleaning -or, decorating in this case!!