Recently he did Have to replace the upright 4 corners. They had worked for some time, but were deteriorating. The new 4x4s were from Lows. The hubby is great! He gives me a had time about the birds, and even calls me , "Ellie-May," but he also helps me with his ingenuity when I come across a new problem to address in the greenhouse or coops. We are never truly bored,as there is always something to do. Think I need to remove all of the birds in the muddy run and rake it out to put seed down. I I almost cried looking at the birds covered in mud out there today. I wonder if I could put them all in the garden for the day, and move them back to the house tonight (not the run). I guess this mud thing bothers me so, because of anaerobic bacteria and such. The water foul fall to that more than chickens, but still.I will let you know, and all recycles materials? That sounds interesting! I love recycling stuff, mostly because it's free!
This is inside the new coop that was built last year. Only some recycled materials, such as perches that were a part of the trampoline, the storm door, and hardwood trim from pallets.
This is the outside. The first time I walked out and viewed the top, I told him it looked like Noah's Ark. I will look for a picture of the water well that he built, and the outside works to the drain. I don't know where those pics are. You can see part of the water coming in the house in the picture above.
This is the inside of a box that we move weekly. It is made with reclaimed 100 year old wood, and chicken wire. I am thinking of redoing the wire with something stronger soon. We keep young so they can huddle, or Small groups, like the silkies that are in it now. He has built a run off of it that is not attached more recently. This is a 2 year old picture. The run has wheels and is made from an old grapevine.
This is the old reclaimed box and new grape vine run put together. I just took these this week. Chris with his new silkie babes from the auction last week. A bi thank you to (5pinkbunnies) for chuck! He has taken right to these 4 new little girls. He also gets along with the bantam golden sea-brights that are not big enough to set in the hen house yet.
This is the original chicken coop. The aluminum roof was purchased new, but all perches, reclaimed wood, water heater funneled floor, and old heavy duty dog crates. The roof is nailed to hardwood pallets. Even the fence and gate were recycled. He was very proud of this coop. In the spring the plastic gets removed; as needed, as well as the heat lamp that was used the first winter. You can see the bucket for catching the poo when it is hosed out from the back. I only have one of the original first 6 pullets today (Dot). This cop is now on the Northeast end of the property. and is divided up the middle with 2 runs off of it. Run A, and B.B is the one that needs to be dried out! It has been moved twice. Only the 4 uprights have been replaced, but he did turn the floor around to catch the high nitrogen guano from the outside. The last time it was moved he took it apart and put it back together. We were concerned that the coyotes had loosened some of it trying to get in it in Feb. They don't make dog crates like they once did. Our over grown pup has torn her's up!
NOW! old coop being re-installed with new uprights in the 4 corners, and 2 new runs, with matching gates banking the sides. The large hen house is off to the right. The hen house has 300+ feet of 6 foot high run for the ladies to forage, and take sand baths. So no matter how much my hubby gives me a hard time.... He IS my enabler!
The roll of wire in the pic above is for smaller runs and brooders for transition next spring... I am also thinking of using the extra room that as been used for storage for too long!!!
