MedicNoMore
In the Brooder
- Apr 7, 2020
- 2
- 16
- 13
Are you hearing Eminem? I am far from Shady but I am back! I started so many years ago as a project with the kids, life exploded, spiraled, and crashed. I left the house and the chickens we had to couch hop for a few months before settling down and rebuilding my life. Work as a firefighter/paramedic as many of you know is not going to make you rich, and takes a toll on the body and mind. So what does a Salty old medic do? He goes to nursing school! All the while, I found a new life, and with it, new chickens! We built a coop a few years ago that was enough to fit the group, and did not cost us any money really. I used old re-purposed building materials, had folks lone me tools and even had some shingles donated to the cause. It was so nice to have our own eggs, and these girls crank them out! We have 5 Buff Orp's, and 7 Wyandottes (we had 8 but a raven decided to leave a carcass with no head on it in the pen).
This year we decided to upgrade the coop, nursing school is over, nothing but a test between me and my next career (I am excited and terrified at the same time). A few days off and some building materials and we were off! We picked up an 8x8 shed kit from Lowes at the end of last year for a steal, plus, your veterans discount applies to every purchase! We offloaded it in a snowstorm, covered it with some tarps and waited for this weekend.
I overbuilt the 8x8 floor with PT 4x4's, a 2x4 joist system, and 3/4 PT plywood. On top rests the 8x8 shed. I have to say that this is one rugged rig! It went up easy and is sealed up quite well for stick built kit construction. I had a roll of roofing asphalt for another project and we were able to close in the roof, just yesterday I added the nesting boxes, a slide up pop door, and a hopper feeder, all HUGE upgrades from the old coop. Added a few windows to allow the natural light in, and used small trees to create roosts, just like the trees in the yard.
With all the excitement we closed the doors on the old coop and waited. We continued to wait. We watched from the house as the girls lined up on the old ramp to the old door...we had to catch them all and put them in the new coop. Today they were in and out, I showed some of them where the nesting boxes were and sure enough, they laid! Night two, they are on the ramp again. I just walked in the door and needed to get to the most reliable sources and find out what else to do!
The food in in the coop, the roosts are in the coop, the coop is like the Taj Mahal compared to the old shack.
I did some research and I can see the point of locking them in for a few days...It is in the low 50's during the day here in Maine, and we are expecting some snow in the next few days, no better time than now! Should I put their water inside as well?
It is great to be back among old and new friends! I will have some pics of the new palace tomorrow as well as some of the girls if they will strike that pose!
This year we decided to upgrade the coop, nursing school is over, nothing but a test between me and my next career (I am excited and terrified at the same time). A few days off and some building materials and we were off! We picked up an 8x8 shed kit from Lowes at the end of last year for a steal, plus, your veterans discount applies to every purchase! We offloaded it in a snowstorm, covered it with some tarps and waited for this weekend.
I overbuilt the 8x8 floor with PT 4x4's, a 2x4 joist system, and 3/4 PT plywood. On top rests the 8x8 shed. I have to say that this is one rugged rig! It went up easy and is sealed up quite well for stick built kit construction. I had a roll of roofing asphalt for another project and we were able to close in the roof, just yesterday I added the nesting boxes, a slide up pop door, and a hopper feeder, all HUGE upgrades from the old coop. Added a few windows to allow the natural light in, and used small trees to create roosts, just like the trees in the yard.
With all the excitement we closed the doors on the old coop and waited. We continued to wait. We watched from the house as the girls lined up on the old ramp to the old door...we had to catch them all and put them in the new coop. Today they were in and out, I showed some of them where the nesting boxes were and sure enough, they laid! Night two, they are on the ramp again. I just walked in the door and needed to get to the most reliable sources and find out what else to do!
The food in in the coop, the roosts are in the coop, the coop is like the Taj Mahal compared to the old shack.
I did some research and I can see the point of locking them in for a few days...It is in the low 50's during the day here in Maine, and we are expecting some snow in the next few days, no better time than now! Should I put their water inside as well?
It is great to be back among old and new friends! I will have some pics of the new palace tomorrow as well as some of the girls if they will strike that pose!
Glad you joined.
