(almost) final pics of new coop with green roof

[M To The Maxx]

 

[ericstac]

Can you see inside your coop from the inside of your house?

 

[franklinchickens]

Yes - my husband framed out an area about 9 x 24" and screened it with hardware cloth like the rest of the run. My office is right behind it so the 'viewing portal' is right at my window - I can see it when I'm working. The best time to see them is when they hop in the coop at dusk because once it gets dark, it's hard to see anything but they love to sit in it (he built a little ledge for them there) and I can see them watching me. During the day, I leave the coop doors open and I can see into the back yard.
Here's a pic of the inside - you can see the window to my office at the back behind the roost.

 

[mboreham1]

COME TELL MY WIFE FRUIT AND VEGGIES IN THE FRONT YARD IS AWESOME!!!

i needed to shout that, my aim is to get through a whole year without buying fruit and veg, i need that grassy area out front to make it realistic, plus the fruit trees to mature!

 

[franklinchickens]

Quote:
When we remodeled our house (added a porch) we had to remove a dead tree and put in some new plumbing lines. Since most of the front yard was ripped up anyway, we decided not to put in grass. We added a magnolia and then created a base with shrubs and perennials such as shasta daisies, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, etc. Then each spring, we pop in eggplant, squash, beans (we trellis up the fence), lots of herbs (many overwinter), plus we put a raised bed on the side of the house with tomatoes and okra. The squash (we do yellow, butternut & 2 kinds of zucchini) can take over the yard but it's not a big deal. Cracks people up when they come up the path - they say "did you know you have eggplant in your yard?". These pictures are from before the squash has taken over but you can see some of them starting. We love it but it does take maintenance & weeding to keep it looking nice but if done right - the longer you do it - the less work as things fill in.

 

[Organics North]

Love it!
ON

 

[franklinchickens]

Update to the green roof: My recommendation is to put screening on the roof until the plants are mature as the chickens fly on up there and root and eat the greenery and do dust baths and dig for worms since we used just about straight compost. We are giving up for the year and are going to replant come spring, then install a screen cover until we get good growth. They don't seem to like the herbs so that's what we're going to plant. They ate everything else except for one ground cover we put in.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Oh wow franklinchickens, that is simply amazing.

I absolutely love your yard too, bravo.

 

[JustDawn]

Love It!

 

[parkersmom120106]

That is adorable! I love it!