I don't have many building progress pictures as we've "lost" them somewhere on our computer.
1) My DH and sons starting the floor.
2) The exterior framed and enclosed.
3) The inside: people side on the left with the chicken side on the right - these are the start of the nest boxes from the people side.
4) The nest boxes from the chicken side:
5) This is just showing the inside floor of the nest boxes. I cut lino a little large so it would lap up on the sides. At this point I'm not permanently installing it but just letting it sit in there. It's made it very easy to pull out and change the shavings.
We have to put netting over the top and finish a few minor things here and there and it will be done! Hip! Hip! Hooray!!!!
6) The next two are of the fencing. I used 2x4 welded wire with 1" chicken wire buried 12 to 18 inches deep (we have hard clay so there were places we couldn't dig down as far) and tied up the side of the welded wire with metal baling twine. That's me in the second picture: notice the chickens laying down against my back and around me! Aren't they great ... and such helpers!
7) Since your "fortress" is only as strong as the weakest link, we knew that getting under the gate would be a weak point so we poured cement about 16 inches deep! Let's see the raccoons get through that!
8) Their roosts - which at this point I don't think I like. I think I'm going to make them equal height off the ground as no one will use the lower roost.
9) The people side of the nest boxes with the doors on.
10) The "locks" I use to keep raccoons out. I've heard that they can possibly open these so I have them four feet off the ground hoping that will keep the raccoons from reaching them.
11) Side view of the mostly completed chicken house. We have hardware cloth over both windows.
12) Front view of the mostly completed chicken house. Notice the 'patrolling' cat and dog ... waiting for an easy meal! Wait ... I mean protecting their friends the chickens.
13) The clean-out door on the back side of the hen house.
14) My chickens when they were babies and my son's cat (DK) waiting for dinner, or his 'boys' attention.
15) The chickens enjoying their yard. But wishing there was more grass.
1) My DH and sons starting the floor.
2) The exterior framed and enclosed.
3) The inside: people side on the left with the chicken side on the right - these are the start of the nest boxes from the people side.
4) The nest boxes from the chicken side:
5) This is just showing the inside floor of the nest boxes. I cut lino a little large so it would lap up on the sides. At this point I'm not permanently installing it but just letting it sit in there. It's made it very easy to pull out and change the shavings.
We have to put netting over the top and finish a few minor things here and there and it will be done! Hip! Hip! Hooray!!!!
6) The next two are of the fencing. I used 2x4 welded wire with 1" chicken wire buried 12 to 18 inches deep (we have hard clay so there were places we couldn't dig down as far) and tied up the side of the welded wire with metal baling twine. That's me in the second picture: notice the chickens laying down against my back and around me! Aren't they great ... and such helpers!
7) Since your "fortress" is only as strong as the weakest link, we knew that getting under the gate would be a weak point so we poured cement about 16 inches deep! Let's see the raccoons get through that!
8) Their roosts - which at this point I don't think I like. I think I'm going to make them equal height off the ground as no one will use the lower roost.
9) The people side of the nest boxes with the doors on.
10) The "locks" I use to keep raccoons out. I've heard that they can possibly open these so I have them four feet off the ground hoping that will keep the raccoons from reaching them.
11) Side view of the mostly completed chicken house. We have hardware cloth over both windows.
12) Front view of the mostly completed chicken house. Notice the 'patrolling' cat and dog ... waiting for an easy meal! Wait ... I mean protecting their friends the chickens.
13) The clean-out door on the back side of the hen house.
14) My chickens when they were babies and my son's cat (DK) waiting for dinner, or his 'boys' attention.
15) The chickens enjoying their yard. But wishing there was more grass.
