Feathered Landingss Chicken Coop Tons Of Progress Pictures

Feathered Landings
Est. February 2009
Here we go...

We started with the chickens, bad idea on our part. Kind of like putting the cart BEFORE the horse. Had I known this in advance I would have 1st - Checked local and state laws on owning and housing chickens. We got very lucky and are not breaking or "bending" any rules that I can find-WHEW!!! 2nd - Built the coop. Chickens grow VERY fast. It takes time to build a coop like ours. 3rd - Bought the chickens.

This is the future location of our chicken coop. First, we need to level the ground. We used 5/8" gravel to fill and level because here in WA dirt just turns to mud, not very good for a solid foundation. Plus, once compacted, the rocks are almost like cement but a lot cheaper. Two yards of gravel came to about $60.

Pressure treated posts cemented in the ground.

Waiting for the cement to dry in spots.

Most of the framing is complete.

This will be the inside of the coop - 4'x6'. On the right, a low-e sliding window with a screen. On the left, the framing for the nesting boxes. We used marine grade plywood flooring. This will prevent odor and moisture from being absorbed into the wood and help it last longer.

We used the marine grade plywood for the nesting box floor too. Then added a door to access the nesting boxes and someday eggs-YEAH!!! As you can see, the weather is so unpredictible in WA. Within 24hours it was sunny, rained, hailed, snowed (5 1/2 inches) and then was sunny again - CRAZY!!! Watch, the minute we're done the weather will be sunny and 70` for weeks!

A "test run" of the run. Looks like they BOTH like it. The run will be 11'x6'.

Three of the four walls done. Under the nesting boxes is the chicken's door to the run. We built it so it will double as the ramp too, with hindges and a lock.

The fourth wall is done, YES!!!

We double fenced the bottom 3' with chicken wire and metal fencing and the top 3' with just metal fencing. I've seen both bobcats and coyotes in our yard, so we're going to do our best to keep them out. Eventually, we want to dig a trench around the bottom and fill it with cement in case they decide to try to dig. We thought about burying the fencing in the ground, but if we ever need to replace it, it'll be a really big pain to dig up.

Time to add the chickens and guinea fowl (the guinea fowl is a long story...don't ask). They finally have the room they deserve but I don't think they know what to do with it yet. They mainly stay in the coop, come out for a second or two, then run back in?!? Oh well, maybe over time they'll like being outside more.

My daughter thought it would be so funny to put the chickens on my lap as I was painting. We're both true country girls now!

All painted with one round of trim. Next on to the roof and the rest of the trim. More pics to come, check back soon.

Starting on the roof.

Trusses arn't any fun at all!!! Very time consuming. We ran out of brackets, so time for ANOTHER trip to homedepot.

Our BIG, little helpers.

I took the kids to Grandpa and Grandma's, went shopping and came home to this, YEAH!!!! Jason worked so hard all Friday and Saturday. He is doing an awesome job!!! All the trusses are done, with the exception of the one needing paint-minor stuff, and we're just waiting for the rain to quit again so I can help him get the plywood up.

Closer pics of the front...we decided to go with wire, instead of T1-11 siding, above the run door. I think it looks much nicer and fits the "style" of the coop design better. I'm getting so excited because we're almost done.

Plywood's up, cut, and ready for tar paper and shingles.

Tar paper's on and the vent's in. Ready for trim and shingles.

We painted the trim before we put it on, makes it a lot easier. Also, we put in a metal drip rail. It helps protect the wood and gives a really nice finished look to the roof edge.