chicchic25
Chirping
We have 6 Isa Brown beauties that should be ready for move in next weekend! They will be 6 weeks old and other than a few fly away fuzzies on a couple of their necks they have their feathers.
This is our 1st time owning chickens so it's definitely a work in progress and learning adventure! I'm very grateful to my wonderful husband for putting up with all of my "changes" as this project goes along.
The coop itself is 4 x 8 x 6 with 3 nesting boxes and their run is 16 x 8. We used 1/4" hardware wire on the entire thing. A lot of the material was already on hand or donated. We had to improvise in some areas to make do but i think it turned out pretty good for a couple of 1st timers! We put blocks under a couple landscape timbers(much to my husbands disliking) as they were too short but then buried the rest for stability. Not pretty but functional.
I still need to do a lot of touch up painting..... mostly because of my many "changes" I ask of the hubby.
The roofing was donated to us by a local construction company! Score! You can't see in the pictures but we've cut out vents on this side just under the roof line and also on the opposite side.The over hang is only partially enclosed the rest is sealed over with 1/4" hardware wire for more ventilation. I planted lavender and mint next to the run, you can already smell their fragrance!
My husband is building a couple steps for me so I can get into the coop easier for clean out. I'm too short to hop up in there. lol
They've got a swing, 3 perches, a couple of logs to climb on, a hanging basket for treats and a hanging treat ball for some tether ball fun! Also, I built a box for them to dust themselves (filled with wood ash and dirt) that will go in the corner where they are huddled in this pic. I hung their waterer up but still have to figure out the best place for the pvc feeder we made. I used their little yellow one from the house as they were only outside for the day.
The pop door had to be reconfigured so it was easier to open from outside the run (still need to touch up/clean up the paint).
We put screens and locks on the 2 windows,insulated the coop and covered the walls with a type of hard plastic wall covering (don't ask me what the actual name is...this is where I pull the "I'm a girl" card and have no idea what it's actually called). I just know its at Menards in the wall covering section.
Now we just need their ladder to the pop door, get their roosts put inside and electricity finished and they can move in!!!
OH.... and also get the dog out of the hen house!! Guess he wanted to help dad insulate the coop! The other 2 boys would rather watch chicken tv than help out.
So that's what we have so far... I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there will be plenty of tweaks along the way as we are learning but it's a start. I'll post pics of the inside once complete! Thanks for taking time to look at our pics of our new adventure!
This is our 1st time owning chickens so it's definitely a work in progress and learning adventure! I'm very grateful to my wonderful husband for putting up with all of my "changes" as this project goes along.
The coop itself is 4 x 8 x 6 with 3 nesting boxes and their run is 16 x 8. We used 1/4" hardware wire on the entire thing. A lot of the material was already on hand or donated. We had to improvise in some areas to make do but i think it turned out pretty good for a couple of 1st timers! We put blocks under a couple landscape timbers(much to my husbands disliking) as they were too short but then buried the rest for stability. Not pretty but functional.
I still need to do a lot of touch up painting..... mostly because of my many "changes" I ask of the hubby.
The roofing was donated to us by a local construction company! Score! You can't see in the pictures but we've cut out vents on this side just under the roof line and also on the opposite side.The over hang is only partially enclosed the rest is sealed over with 1/4" hardware wire for more ventilation. I planted lavender and mint next to the run, you can already smell their fragrance!
My husband is building a couple steps for me so I can get into the coop easier for clean out. I'm too short to hop up in there. lol
They've got a swing, 3 perches, a couple of logs to climb on, a hanging basket for treats and a hanging treat ball for some tether ball fun! Also, I built a box for them to dust themselves (filled with wood ash and dirt) that will go in the corner where they are huddled in this pic. I hung their waterer up but still have to figure out the best place for the pvc feeder we made. I used their little yellow one from the house as they were only outside for the day.
The pop door had to be reconfigured so it was easier to open from outside the run (still need to touch up/clean up the paint).
We put screens and locks on the 2 windows,insulated the coop and covered the walls with a type of hard plastic wall covering (don't ask me what the actual name is...this is where I pull the "I'm a girl" card and have no idea what it's actually called). I just know its at Menards in the wall covering section.
Now we just need their ladder to the pop door, get their roosts put inside and electricity finished and they can move in!!!
OH.... and also get the dog out of the hen house!! Guess he wanted to help dad insulate the coop! The other 2 boys would rather watch chicken tv than help out.
So that's what we have so far... I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there will be plenty of tweaks along the way as we are learning but it's a start.
I'll post pics of the inside once complete! Thanks for taking time to look at our pics of our new adventure!
