My very first window...I made the others just like it, only smaller. They all have plexy glass instead of real glass.

My very first window...I made the others just like it, only smaller. They all have plexy glass instead of real glass.

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Nest box that opens from the front. I will be adding a handle and wooden latches to keep it closed.

Nest box that opens from the front. I will be adding a handle and wooden latches to keep it closed.

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Still working on the inside.

Still working on the inside.

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Painted the inside (except for the ceiling)

Painted the inside (except for the ceiling)

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The last window is in. I hand-made all the windows and the door.

The last window is in. I hand-made all the windows and the door.

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Coop door leading to the run.

Coop door leading to the run.

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Nest boxes and dividers. I used quarter round on each side of the dividers as "bookends" so the dividers can be pulled out for easy cleaning.

Nest boxes and dividers. I used quarter round on each side of the dividers as "bookends" so the dividers can be pulled out for easy cleaning.

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Small roost bar. I will be putting in another one above and behind that one.

Small roost bar. I will be putting in another one above and behind that one.

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The front is finally done!

The front is finally done!

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Still working on the front.

Still working on the front.

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*

*

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The coop door is in and hooked up to a pulley system. I will eventually be getting an automatic door opener.

The coop door is in and hooked up to a pulley system. I will eventually be getting an automatic door opener.

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A close up of the fence panels. The light colored wood is just some 1x's used to give the appearance of cabin chinking. I will use 1x3's for that part. I will paint those boards the same color as my chinking on my cabin. I will post more updates as the transformation progresses.

A close up of the fence panels. The light colored wood is just some 1x's used to give the appearance of cabin chinking. I will use 1x3's for that part. I will paint those boards the same color as my chinking on my cabin. I will post more updates as the transformation progresses.

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I decided to go with a thick plywood on both sides since I built the nest box and will be adding a window to this side. I will also be siding the coop with some dog ear fence panels I found at Restore for $1.00 a piece. I bought all 58 boards in case I want to use any left over boards for other things. The bottom shows how I will be using the fence panels to try to make it look as much like my cabin as I can. They are not nailed on-I was just curious as to how it will look when finished.

I decided to go with a thick plywood on both sides since I built the nest box and will be adding a window to this side. I will also be siding the coop with some dog ear fence panels I found at Restore for $1.00 a piece. I bought all 58 boards in case I want to use any left over boards for other things. The bottom shows how I will be using the fence panels to try to make it look as much like my cabin as I can. They are not nailed on-I was just curious as to how it will look when finished.

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A little more progress.

A little more progress.

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I tried to use as much of the old lumber as I could, but the majority of the boards were rotten. I think I ended up using 2 of the original boards. Other than that, I put up all new lumber. I also wanted more room in the coop, so I extended the back and did away with the part that sloped on the back. I still need to do work around the foundation to the 1-2 feet I added, but the coop is much more spacious now.

I tried to use as much of the old lumber as I could, but the majority of the boards were rotten. I think I ended up using 2 of the original boards. Other than that, I put up all new lumber. I also wanted more room in the coop, so I extended the back and did away with the part that sloped on the back. I still need to do work around the foundation to the 1-2 feet I added, but the coop is much more spacious now.

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The inside...I can't say any more about THIS mess.

The inside...I can't say any more about THIS mess.

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The back of the original coop. I am not sure why it sloped down like that unless it was to shelter the chickens. At first I thought it might be an external access to the nest boxes, but it wasn't

The back of the original coop. I am not sure why it sloped down like that unless it was to shelter the chickens. At first I thought it might be an external access to the nest boxes, but it wasn't

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Here it is...the original chicken coop-before any renovations. It does have character though. LOL

Here it is...the original chicken coop-before any renovations. It does have character though. LOL

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My first nest box build...I was pretty impressed that the instructions were so easy to understand and the pictures helped a lot! I think I am going to change the hinges to bigger ones just to make it more sturdy when opening the door. The project went pretty smooth other than trying to figure out how to notch out the side of the board I put on the wall that butts up against the nest box. Trying to notch it out with my Sonicrafter resulted in a trip to the UTC for a tetanus shot since I sliced my finger right down the area where the fingernail meets the finger. I didn't have to get stitches though because the cut was so straight and precise. They just used Dermabond liquid stitches to close it up. What a day that was! Made me second guess taking on this project. Here is the link for the nest box plans/instructions. http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2011/03/10/external-nest-box-plans/

My first nest box build...I was pretty impressed that the instructions were so easy to understand and the pictures helped a lot! I think I am going to change the hinges to bigger ones just to make it more sturdy when opening the door. The project went pretty smooth other than trying to figure out how to notch out the side of the board I put on the wall that butts up against the nest box. Trying to notch it out with my Sonicrafter resulted in a trip to the UTC for a tetanus shot since I sliced my finger right down the area where the fingernail meets the finger. I didn't have to get stitches though because the cut was so straight and precise. They just used Dermabond liquid stitches to close it up. What a day that was! Made me second guess taking on this project. Here is the link for the nest box plans/instructions. http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2011/03/10/external-nest-box-plans/

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Another view of the nest box being built. I had to use very thick plywood because the plans call for the highest point of the sides to be 18". After four straight days of rain, I noticed one end of the access panel door has swollen and I will be replacing it with a piece of wood. since the height is just a little over 8". I will also be replacing the narrow strip above the access panel with wood.

Another view of the nest box being built. I had to use very thick plywood because the plans call for the highest point of the sides to be 18". After four straight days of rain, I noticed one end of the access panel door has swollen and I will be replacing it with a piece of wood. since the height is just a little over 8". I will also be replacing the narrow strip above the access panel with wood.

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Beginning steps of my external nest box for easy access to the eggs. This was another idea I got from an internet search. I have always said, if I can "Google" it, I can do it!

Beginning steps of my external nest box for easy access to the eggs. This was another idea I got from an internet search. I have always said, if I can "Google" it, I can do it!

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My door-almost finished. It is clamped here since I used wood glue under the cross boards. I also have to run boards down the side, but my lumber got wet and I have to dry it out first.

My door-almost finished. It is clamped here since I used wood glue under the cross boards. I also have to run boards down the side, but my lumber got wet and I have to dry it out first.

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nursedm111

Chicken Coop Transformation

Which came first? The chicken or the coop? In my case, the chickens. Thinking I would have enough time to find a coop before the girls were ready to go outside, I went ahead and bought them at our local Southern States. 3 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes (which turned out to be Golden Laced-not what I wanted).
Anyway, all the coops I looked at were WAY overpriced for their size, so I decided I would build one. I was going to build a coop made from pallets, but couldn't find any in our area. My ex-husband offered me his grandmother's old coop (probably 50-60 years old). I told him I really didn't want it because it was in such poor shape, and to be quite honest, an eye sore.
He brought it to me anyway, after two more weeks of not finding any other coop I liked and could afford. I think he just wanted it out of his back yard. LOL
He had to flip it on its' top to haul it up here. I thought the thing was going to fall apart when we turned it right-side-up.
This coop was bolted on a metal frame. The lumber inside was perfectly good, and very strong. The wood boards on the outside? Rotted at the bottom and not in good shape at all, so I decided to just use the frame and remodel it with new lumber.
It has been a long process as it has rained, and rained, and rained some more for the last two weeks. My chicks are getting huge and they are still in my house in a small chicken hutch. I know they need more room and keep hoping the weather lets up and I will be able to start on the project again soon. I am posting before pics of the coop, and pics of the progress we are making (which isn't much).
My idea is to make it look as much like my cabin as possible. I can't have an eye sore chicken coop in my back yard! So I have been researching all the chicken sites for ideas to transform this chicken shack into a log cabin coop. I am enjoying it-other than the weather. There is something to be said about the satisfaction of completing a project like this-plus, I enjoy doing things like that.
So here are my pics. I will post more pics as I continue the remodel. I think my girls will love it once it is finished.
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