My apologies for being a little late with my introduction. Unless it's a corporate event, I really don't know how to introduce myself to a crowd without it sounding too generic so, please bear with me.
(Ahem, ahem)
Hi, my name is Lisa. I live in southern Wisconsin and my family have been chicken keepers for generations. I too happen to be a chicken keeper and have kept chickens all of my life. Okay, perhaps, not ALL of my life. There was this one time...
For 25 years I had an 8x8x48 covered run with 2 attached coops, one on each end. For me, it was the perfect setup. Unfortunately, for the last 3-4 years of its existence it was in pretty rough shape. I had planned on building a new one but year after year something unexpected would throw a wrench in the spokes and then I'd have to say to myself, "I'll build it next year for sure." Approximately 3 years ago I received a job promotion that came with a travel requirement and some really cool perks. My boss was pretty darn happy with himself for giving it to me, he had no idea I had chickens at home to tend to...and now I was going to be away from home for days and sometimes weeks at a time. This time around there wasn't going to be a "I'll build it next year for sure." Not only was I not going to build a new coop but sadly, I had to come to terms with rehoming my entire flock...okay, so maybe not the ENTIRE flock, I did keep two. Both "Lucy" and "Ethel" were 11 year old Marans and very close to my heart - too old to rehome and unlikely to survive winter in the old coop without extra warmth from the flock. With no other choice, I brought them inside. Needless to say, they got to live in the lap of luxury for the remainder of their lives (RIP my lovely, sweet, sweet girls). No time for chickens due to a job that kept me away from home pretty much signified my end to chicken keeping for at least the next 15 years... or so I had thought.
A little over a year ago I received another promotion and was told that instead of traveling, I could opt to work from home!! While my boss was still talking about the requirements and perks I completely zoned out, to this day I cannot tell you what he said after my ears heard the words "work from home" because in my mind I was thinking..."hmmm, I'll keep it simple this time and build a small coop for just a couple of chickens. I'll put it on wheels so I can move it around the yard...what color should I paint it? Omg, what breed of chickens do I want? Good Lord, did I keep the feeders? What the hell did he just say? Holy s**t snap out of it, Lisa!"
I really did have the full intention of building a small coop BUT (uh oh, here we go) somehow it ended up 8x8x16...not huge but I'm definitely not moving it around the yard anytime ever. It's got 6 nesting boxes for ummmmmm, just a couple of chickens? Well, I did end up getting just a couple of chicks...then I got a couple more...and I really, really, really NEEEEEEEED just a couple more. And incase you're wondering...yes, of course I'm planning to enlarge the coop! Did I say small? Silly, silly me! I'm going to add a 8x8x32 section to the run with another coop on the end. Did someone say 8x8x48...??? You bet!
I built it THIS year for sure! (Hairtoss) I'm baaack
PS. During my time as a "chicken-less" chicken keeper I continued to lurk BYC to try to fill the void and many of you with your stories, experiences and pictures helped me to do just that. Thank you, sincerely. Now that I am once again a genuine chicken keeper, I decided it was high time I joined this community.
(Ahem, ahem)
Hi, my name is Lisa. I live in southern Wisconsin and my family have been chicken keepers for generations. I too happen to be a chicken keeper and have kept chickens all of my life. Okay, perhaps, not ALL of my life. There was this one time...
For 25 years I had an 8x8x48 covered run with 2 attached coops, one on each end. For me, it was the perfect setup. Unfortunately, for the last 3-4 years of its existence it was in pretty rough shape. I had planned on building a new one but year after year something unexpected would throw a wrench in the spokes and then I'd have to say to myself, "I'll build it next year for sure." Approximately 3 years ago I received a job promotion that came with a travel requirement and some really cool perks. My boss was pretty darn happy with himself for giving it to me, he had no idea I had chickens at home to tend to...and now I was going to be away from home for days and sometimes weeks at a time. This time around there wasn't going to be a "I'll build it next year for sure." Not only was I not going to build a new coop but sadly, I had to come to terms with rehoming my entire flock...okay, so maybe not the ENTIRE flock, I did keep two. Both "Lucy" and "Ethel" were 11 year old Marans and very close to my heart - too old to rehome and unlikely to survive winter in the old coop without extra warmth from the flock. With no other choice, I brought them inside. Needless to say, they got to live in the lap of luxury for the remainder of their lives (RIP my lovely, sweet, sweet girls). No time for chickens due to a job that kept me away from home pretty much signified my end to chicken keeping for at least the next 15 years... or so I had thought.
A little over a year ago I received another promotion and was told that instead of traveling, I could opt to work from home!! While my boss was still talking about the requirements and perks I completely zoned out, to this day I cannot tell you what he said after my ears heard the words "work from home" because in my mind I was thinking..."hmmm, I'll keep it simple this time and build a small coop for just a couple of chickens. I'll put it on wheels so I can move it around the yard...what color should I paint it? Omg, what breed of chickens do I want? Good Lord, did I keep the feeders? What the hell did he just say? Holy s**t snap out of it, Lisa!"
I really did have the full intention of building a small coop BUT (uh oh, here we go) somehow it ended up 8x8x16...not huge but I'm definitely not moving it around the yard anytime ever. It's got 6 nesting boxes for ummmmmm, just a couple of chickens? Well, I did end up getting just a couple of chicks...then I got a couple more...and I really, really, really NEEEEEEEED just a couple more. And incase you're wondering...yes, of course I'm planning to enlarge the coop! Did I say small? Silly, silly me! I'm going to add a 8x8x32 section to the run with another coop on the end. Did someone say 8x8x48...??? You bet!
I built it THIS year for sure! (Hairtoss) I'm baaack
PS. During my time as a "chicken-less" chicken keeper I continued to lurk BYC to try to fill the void and many of you with your stories, experiences and pictures helped me to do just that. Thank you, sincerely. Now that I am once again a genuine chicken keeper, I decided it was high time I joined this community.
