Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[babyfoot]

Sorry you lost your pecker

Beat me to it, ROFL!

 

[Bens-Hens]

We are the proud new old owners of a 2.4m x 2.4m cubby house on stilts!

I borrowed a friends trailer today and ALicia and I just stopped in to have a look to see if it was what we wanted. The site was a demo site and the destruction is due to roll in next week. The guy said "help yourself, I will be there at 3 to pick up the cash" Luckily I had my tool bag and so I got to it, pulled it all down and loaded it into the trailer while Alicia was picking the kids up from school. When the gent showed up, I asked him for a lift with the heaviest part and he was off.

When Alicia got back with the kids they were in 'little boy heaven' I party ruined house, so much they could look at hahahaha, mum was after them non stop as I was tying down the load, "Stay away from that....that has nails in it....don't go over there.... put that down" and so on and so forth. After 10 minute we were on our way with the new coop in tow, quite literally. I then got to hear about what the boys saw and how they imagines a big wrecking ball bringing the place down.

Got home later afternoon and unloaded, by tomorrow it will be standing, then to give the surface some oil, and paint the inside, roosts and nest boxes and an entry ladder.

THEN, it can have new guests.

I will share some pics as the action unfolds.

 

[mamahen1980]

Sorry about Mr Pecker. Good luck on the coop, as handy as you are I'm sure it will be great and the girls will love it.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Anxiously awaiting the pics! Poor Mr. Pecker. At least Sav won't have to share the new palace with another roo. My 8mo old fav roos don't do much crowing. Bruno is still learning the piggyback, lol. Gives up easily when they walk away - or in Rhoda's case, pecks him in the head for looking at her. He makes this "whoot-whoot" sound whenever one of us humans approaches. Took a while to figure out who was doing it. My sf girl scared me a few days ago, had a bubbly swollen lower eyelid. After worrying about all the types of contagious infections it could be, it turned out to be an irritating scratch on the edge of her eyelid. I just love those faverolles. Hopefully Sav will give you some wonderfully sweet chicks.

 

[Bens-Hens]

We are part way through this project. Got the main building up today, some repairs and two roosts done. Also got the first coat of exterior oil on too which made a nice difference, but it needs more and the chicken budget is pretty much exhausted after some ply, screws and the oil. After paying $150 for the building we have about $30 in the kitty, so might see how we can stretch it.

We were looking at using milk crates as internal nest boxes in this coop, but they look a little on the small side for our LS's so I might start to track down a few 20l plastic buckets as they look like a good recycled item to suit our needs.

Tomorrow, need to pick up some more oil, paint the inside (I have about 15l of white left over from work, so white it will be!) I also need to look at the legs, as they are sturdy but look warped or crooked so that will need to be fixed up as well as fit two vents to the upper sections and look at a side pop door to allow the flock to get from coop to run.

Please remember, this was pretty cheap, and it has seen some better days, The first coat of oil went on after these pics.

Inside, a nice piece of Jarrah and a natural branch below the windows. The windows have split perspex sliders, they are on teh floor. I will probably put mesh on the inside of the windows too.




The old doors were trashed, so I made some new ones from thicker outdoor ply with a jarrah border. Should be able to open the top door and do a head count and egg check without having to go in.

I also was missing one of the little patio parts as the previous owners had a slide to one side. I moved the steps to the side and had to make another barrier. Does not really match but it was free! Also see the sag in the roof. I tried to correct it but the timber screamed "touch me again and I will snap" so we agreed to leave the bow in until I find something fresh to replace it. Lets call it 'rustic character'



This is the side that faces the neighbors and the run. We will put a door way with a ladder in the bottom left corner with some sort of wire tube to get the flock to the run. I wanted it further away from the run (as it would be ideal to be right up against it) as we have a yellow passionfruit vine growing there and it needs the sun. So some sort of tube will be made.


This side faces the morning sun, has a window and points away from the two closest neighbors.


The run as it is, the two passionfruits have grown really well, and the grape I planted (left of gate) has really taken off this summer too. I salvaged some tin roofing that was in reasonable condition so the patch work roofing on the run now will be replaced soon, then they will have 3/4 solid cover, and the rest is open for the vines to grow into.



In other news, the family that had the poorly chickens on the mend, bought two pullets. The BA of the two was found passed away yesterday morning. The owners said she was fine, walking eating and drinking the afternoon before. She was bigger and younger than the rest of the flock though, and was constantly picked on. The remaining Maran is a little more subtle and backs away from confrontation so she seems less stressed.

Also, my boys school is hatching chickens and they have asked for some help setting up a coop, so we will scrub down out smaller one, a fresh coat of paint and donate it to the school.

Finally, a BIG hi to Satay for when she gets here

 

[ozexpat]

We are part way through this project. Got the main building up today, some repairs and two roosts done. Also got the first coat of exterior oil on too which made a nice difference, but it needs more and the chicken budget is pretty much exhausted after some ply, screws and the oil. After paying $150 for the building we have about $30 in the kitty, so might see how we can stretch it.

We were looking at using milk crates as internal nest boxes in this coop, but they look a little on the small side for our LS's so I might start to track down a few 20l plastic buckets as they look like a good recycled item to suit our needs.

Tomorrow, need to pick up some more oil, paint the inside (I have about 15l of white left over from work, so white it will be!) I also need to look at the legs, as they are sturdy but look warped or crooked so that will need to be fixed up as well as fit two vents to the upper sections and look at a side pop door to allow the flock to get from coop to run.

Please remember, this was pretty cheap, and it has seen some better days, The first coat of oil went on after these pics.

Inside, a nice piece of Jarrah and a natural branch below the windows. The windows have split perspex sliders, they are on teh floor. I will probably put mesh on the inside of the windows too.




The old doors were trashed, so I made some new ones from thicker outdoor ply with a jarrah border. Should be able to open the top door and do a head count and egg check without having to go in.

I also was missing one of the little patio parts as the previous owners had a slide to one side. I moved the steps to the side and had to make another barrier. Does not really match but it was free! Also see the sag in the roof. I tried to correct it but the timber screamed "touch me again and I will snap" so we agreed to leave the bow in until I find something fresh to replace it. Lets call it 'rustic character'



This is the side that faces the neighbors and the run. We will put a door way with a ladder in the bottom left corner with some sort of wire tube to get the flock to the run. I wanted it further away from the run (as it would be ideal to be right up against it) as we have a yellow passionfruit vine growing there and it needs the sun. So some sort of tube will be made.


This side faces the morning sun, has a window and points away from the two closest neighbors.


The run as it is, the two passionfruits have grown really well, and the grape I planted (left of gate) has really taken off this summer too. I salvaged some tin roofing that was in reasonable condition so the patch work roofing on the run now will be replaced soon, then they will have 3/4 solid cover, and the rest is open for the vines to grow into.



In other news, the family that had the poorly chickens on the mend, bought two pullets. The BA of the two was found passed away yesterday morning. The owners said she was fine, walking eating and drinking the afternoon before. She was bigger and younger than the rest of the flock though, and was constantly picked on. The remaining Maran is a little more subtle and backs away from confrontation so she seems less stressed.

Also, my boys school is hatching chickens and they have asked for some help setting up a coop, so we will scrub down out smaller one, a fresh coat of paint and donate it to the school.

Finally, a BIG hi to Satay for when she gets here

what a bargain!!!!


knowing you, the final product will be perfection


i love it!!!!

 

[scottcaddy]

We are part way through this project. Got the main building up today, some repairs and two roosts done. Also got the first coat of exterior oil on too which made a nice difference, but it needs more and the chicken budget is pretty much exhausted after some ply, screws and the oil. After paying $150 for the building we have about $30 in the kitty, so might see how we can stretch it.

We were looking at using milk crates as internal nest boxes in this coop, but they look a little on the small side for our LS's so I might start to track down a few 20l plastic buckets as they look like a good recycled item to suit our needs.

Tomorrow, need to pick up some more oil, paint the inside (I have about 15l of white left over from work, so white it will be!) I also need to look at the legs, as they are sturdy but look warped or crooked so that will need to be fixed up as well as fit two vents to the upper sections and look at a side pop door to allow the flock to get from coop to run.

Please remember, this was pretty cheap, and it has seen some better days, The first coat of oil went on after these pics.

Inside, a nice piece of Jarrah and a natural branch below the windows. The windows have split perspex sliders, they are on teh floor. I will probably put mesh on the inside of the windows too.




The old doors were trashed, so I made some new ones from thicker outdoor ply with a jarrah border. Should be able to open the top door and do a head count and egg check without having to go in.

I also was missing one of the little patio parts as the previous owners had a slide to one side. I moved the steps to the side and had to make another barrier. Does not really match but it was free! Also see the sag in the roof. I tried to correct it but the timber screamed "touch me again and I will snap" so we agreed to leave the bow in until I find something fresh to replace it. Lets call it 'rustic character'



This is the side that faces the neighbors and the run. We will put a door way with a ladder in the bottom left corner with some sort of wire tube to get the flock to the run. I wanted it further away from the run (as it would be ideal to be right up against it) as we have a yellow passionfruit vine growing there and it needs the sun. So some sort of tube will be made.


This side faces the morning sun, has a window and points away from the two closest neighbors.


The run as it is, the two passionfruits have grown really well, and the grape I planted (left of gate) has really taken off this summer too. I salvaged some tin roofing that was in reasonable condition so the patch work roofing on the run now will be replaced soon, then they will have 3/4 solid cover, and the rest is open for the vines to grow into.



In other news, the family that had the poorly chickens on the mend, bought two pullets. The BA of the two was found passed away yesterday morning. The owners said she was fine, walking eating and drinking the afternoon before. She was bigger and younger than the rest of the flock though, and was constantly picked on. The remaining Maran is a little more subtle and backs away from confrontation so she seems less stressed.

Also, my boys school is hatching chickens and they have asked for some help setting up a coop, so we will scrub down out smaller one, a fresh coat of paint and donate it to the school.

Finally, a BIG hi to Satay for when she gets here

Looks nice!! the 5Gal. buckets make a good easy to clean nest box. I use them and cut the lid in strips (about 1/3) and clip it on for a 3.5 inch lip in front.

Scott

 

[Fancychooklady]

Now see what you can do with a little imagination! Great job Ben. Aren't your boys just a little envious of the chooks new digs.
If you can get your hands on any, the best thing we did was to lay an off cut of Lino down on the floor.
The 20 litre buckets worked well for us, hubby drilled them straight to the wall and put straw in them. In the future plans you should consider adding an external nesting box. And what a nice gesture to donate your little hutch to the school. Good on you for helping to bring the joy of chickens into other kids lives.

 

[lindz8504]

Good job!!!!

This is what we are dealing with at the moment! We ended up with around 12 inches.... don't ask me to convert to metric! LOL

 

[Bens-Hens]

what a bargain!!!!


knowing you, the final product will be perfection


i love it!!!!

Thanks Oz, was pretty well priced, other I have seen were twice the price at least for something this size. Not sure about perfect, but it will be bigger, cooler and quieter than our last coop.

Looks nice!! the 5Gal. buckets make a good easy to clean nest box. I use them and cut the lid in strips (about 1/3) and clip it on for a 3.5 inch lip in front.

Scott

Cheers Scott, I had seen people do it that way, I saw the buckets for sale new for just under $10 each with lids, but I don't want to spend that sort of money on plastic buckets so I will hunt about and see what I can find. Second hand ones most likely won't have lids though so I might have to use a board to hold the straw in. WIll use your dimensions eaither way.

Now see what you can do with a little imagination! Great job Ben. Aren't your boys just a little envious of the chooks new digs.
If you can get your hands on any, the best thing we did was to lay an off cut of Lino down on the floor.
The 20 litre buckets worked well for us, hubby drilled them straight to the wall and put straw in them. In the future plans you should consider adding an external nesting box. And what a nice gesture to donate your little hutch to the school. Good on you for helping to bring the joy of chickens into other kids lives.

Yeah, the boys liked having a play in it wile I was working away. But I also know if we did buy them something like that it would be used for about a week and then we would have a garden ornimante. I am trying to ignore the guilty feeling lol.

Down the track when I can put together the materials, we will move the nest boxes outside to free up some more internal space.

Good job!!!!

This is what we are dealing with at the moment! We ended up with around 12 inches.... don't ask me to convert to metric! LOL

Ooooohhhh, SNOW! Hahaha, we don't get it here, first time I ever made a snow ball I was 26 and in another country! You and most of Michigan are probably sick of the stuff.

12 inches is a foot, a foot is u ruler and a ruler is 300 mm or 1 foot.

Today we have had a bit of a set back time wise. I spent some time at the school this monring with the kids and hung around for the assembly and then went to the hardware for some supplies. Alicia is really crook today so I have been keeping an eye on her. Also gives me a chance to come in from the heat (I got sun burnt yesterday which is a delight today to work with!)

Also left my spray gun at work, so it's painting weatherboard with a 2 inch brush...oh so slooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Only halfway through the first coat. Should be finished by next eon. Haven't even had a chance to look at the outside yet.