- Mar 6, 2011
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Gave away my flock a few months ago
The 15 year old coop was in serious need of some work that I just couldnt bring myself around to doing. It served us well but it (I mean, I
) suffered from a few design flaws. When I built it, bending over to clean it out or catch chickens wasnt a problem
but that was 15 years ago! We also get standing water occasionally during the summer. A good foot of it if we get a hurricane!
Im waiting for a delivery date from the hatchery. (OEGBs this time.) So I got a good start on a new coop this weekend.
A few years ago, I rented a machine to cut into a hillside in order to create a flat spot for an above-ground swimming pool. I managed to get the pool up, but the machine broke down before I could spread out the dirt I was digging out The resulting dirt pile has been driving my wife nuts ever since.
Yesterday, I got out there and knocked the top off the 6ft pile, and got it down to about 2-1/2ft, with a nice flat top, big enough for a 10x10 dog kennel. Now I have a hill instead of a pile. Mamas happy, and if this sucker floods, weve got bigger problems!
I plan on roofing over the whole thing, and building a free-standing, three sided shelter with perches and nest boxes, inside the kennel. My first coop was open ended, and it seemed to work better in our climate. I put down some 2 wire mesh under the base, to keep my Beagles out, and the chickens in. (Ive never heard anyone talk about their chickens digging out of the run, but Ive had it happen.)
Next... The old coop will go out to the curb for the trash man, a few pieces at a time.
Im waiting for a delivery date from the hatchery. (OEGBs this time.) So I got a good start on a new coop this weekend.
A few years ago, I rented a machine to cut into a hillside in order to create a flat spot for an above-ground swimming pool. I managed to get the pool up, but the machine broke down before I could spread out the dirt I was digging out The resulting dirt pile has been driving my wife nuts ever since.
Yesterday, I got out there and knocked the top off the 6ft pile, and got it down to about 2-1/2ft, with a nice flat top, big enough for a 10x10 dog kennel. Now I have a hill instead of a pile. Mamas happy, and if this sucker floods, weve got bigger problems!
I plan on roofing over the whole thing, and building a free-standing, three sided shelter with perches and nest boxes, inside the kennel. My first coop was open ended, and it seemed to work better in our climate. I put down some 2 wire mesh under the base, to keep my Beagles out, and the chickens in. (Ive never heard anyone talk about their chickens digging out of the run, but Ive had it happen.)
Next... The old coop will go out to the curb for the trash man, a few pieces at a time.
