Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

good morning,
I will give you a run down of my past year.
I had both hips replaced and my pacemaker battery died, So I had to get a new pacemaker in Jan. I am good for 9 more years with it.
No garden last summer. However, nephew Dan helped me plant some things. 2 pear trees, 3 apples, 2 cherries. We also planted a large bed of rhubarb. It grew right up to freeze. I have enough planted that I figure I can steal one stalk from each , enough to make at least one pie.
I found a great source for cold hardy grapes. I bought 6 plants. Potted in gallon pots and full of roots. We had one arbor built but I planted four of the plants in another row. If they show sign of growing this spring, we will make another arbor.
The new asparagus grew all summer. They will require some major weeding and fertilization .
I had the tractor fixit shop pick Ollie up the day before Thanksgiving.
He is still there. We suspect a blown head gasket. Lots of water in the oil.
They were busy with combines and large equipment. I told them I want him back for spring plowing.
We want to plant corn this year. I will have a few tomatoes. but that is about all .
we have no birds or animals. We had to put Frankie down. She got so crippled and painful. she was old for a large breed dog.
Maremma.
Last spring a doe had triplets in our front yard. We wonder if she or any of the offspring will come back this spring.?
They hung around until the apples were gone.
I almost forgot. My garlic turned out just great. In the fall I made a wooded frame and planted the best cloves. I made a tubful of lesser cloves, too.

So sorry to hear about your dog. It's awful to lose a loved one.

 

[CapricornFarm]

The pole barn has a roof on it now. Yesterday hubby did the work while i supervised him.

 

[jvls1942]

The pole barn has a roof on it now. Yesterday hubby did the work while i supervised him.View attachment 3050653

I like metal roofs. all of my buildings and coops have metal roofs.
In the city limits of Wausau, Wi. they do not allow metal roofs. How stupid is that ?

 

[Molpet]

This winter all I do is watch TV. I am about all caught up on it.
I don't understand the current music. Now I know how my dad felt about our music when we were teens.
I have not been to a movie in forty years. maybe more.
I don't know any of the current movie stars. or singers. all the ones I did know have died of old age.
when did you retire ? do you find that you have less time to do things now ? lol

I took early retirement July 2012.
I have totally lost any time management skills. LOL I don't get much of anything accomplished

I like metal roofs. all of my buildings and coops have metal roofs.
In the city limits of Wausau, Wi. they do not allow metal roofs. How stupid is that ?

City folk think tin roofs are redneck.... along with poultry and front yard gardens

 

[jvls1942]

the city council are the crazy ones.
I'LL bet that not a half of a percent of the people could tell you what color their neighbor's roofs are.

 

[jvls1942]

The robin has been snowed upon three times and then some. come on spring, already.
I have a turkey in the freezer. Thinking of roasting it for Easter
I am going to cut it all up before putting it into the Nesco. Having it carved up will make it easier to serve at the table..
I don't know how many people will be here. anywhere from 2 to 11.

 

[Molpet]

The robin has been snowed upon three times and then some. come on spring, already.
I have a turkey in the freezer. Thinking of roasting it for Easter
I am going to cut it all up before putting it into the Nesco. Having it carved up will make it easier to serve at the table..
I don't know how many people will be here. anywhere from 2 to 11.

Hard to know how much to cook.

 

[jvls1942]

Hard to know how much to cook.

cook it and they will come . lol
either we will have left overs or lots of left overs.

 

[jvls1942]

I am wondering, are any of you involved in that nasty weather down south and up the eastern coast ?
We have been lucky so far. Just rain and then snow, and then rain and then snow. cold nights and not so cold days
Had to plow snow only twice. I hired it done since my tractor is in the fixit shop.

 

[JackVinehopper]

Rule of twos....
Make it twice as big as you think you need, walk in....
Put in twice the amount of ventilation you think you need.
It will cost twice as much as you planned.
It will take twice as long to build as you thought it would.

If this is your first flock build coop first, then get chicks.
Since you built it bigger build in a in coop brooder/chicken jail.
Dirt floor for DLM

Gary

These are the ones I discovered on my first build last year:

Put in twice the amount of ventilation you think you need.
It will cost twice as much as you planned.
It will take twice as long to build as you thought it would.