Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

The roof is finished!! Okay, well, it doesn't have shingles, but it is done up to being tar papered! I also put hardware cloth up on the short end of it! Tomorrow, or at least over the weekend, I'm planning to finish the hardware cloth and get the fence up over it, including on the two remaining doors. Beyond that, the 3-ish inch space between it and the coop needs to be filled in to finish predator proofing, door stops need to be put up (to prevent the door from swinging in too far when closed), and obviously the doors need to be hung and have their latches attached to them. We're actually going to finish it in time!!

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So, I didn't get pictures of it again. But I will first thing tomorrow! I'm so worn out--we also went to the zoo this morning, since it's my last week off before the semester begins. I also wanted to get pictures with my cell phone of the ducks and chickens there, but they only had their rooster out and he was just barely visible. He's molting, so likely didn't want the paparazzi to see.

Anyway, here are two of their three white call ducks napping:

...And a Blue-Tongued Skink with a pile of dirt on his head.

 

[pattyhen]

You got a lot done on the porch I know that was hard work. I can't wait to see pics of it.

I saw the pics and I thought you had gotten some new ducks.

I love the calls they are so little and cute. The skinks pic is so funny I guess he was trying to cool down a little.

Thanks for the update and pics. Have a great day and don't work to hard.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Some pictures, sorry that took so long! Here is where we stopped yesterday, after finishing and tar papering the roof. Reuben is modeling beside it.

A closer look at the peak, or as close as I could get to it. I'm too short.

And a look at the ceiling and rafters inside.

Working on finishing predator proofing today, but it became evident pretty quickly that we would not have enough hardware cloth to finish, so I'm taking a break while mom runs in to get one more roll. I've already got a blister on my finger from cutting hardware cloth with snips. Is it done yet?!

 

[pattyhen]

It looks very professional. Rouben looks like he just got finished building and he's standing back admiring his work.

Thanks for update your almost done.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Haha, glad it looks that way, 'cause it sure seems like we messed up everything possible along the way! Didn't get much done today because right after I posted that, it started raining. :/ So we got a second door finished and hung, and I have the hardware cloth cut and ready to attach to the third door. I may get some more hardware cloth up on the wall before the end of the day, too, but that will depend on whether my legs stop aching before then! Too much running around over the past few days! At least I'll sleep well tonight, though.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Almost done, almost done, almost done! No pictures because I just got in from working, but we're almost done! One piece of hardware cloth left, and then the larger fence, and some latches on the doors! Actually, it would have been done except it rained part of the afternoon. Oh, well. Point is, it's ALMOST DONE!! And none too soon with the semester looming over us!

During the rain, I took some time to sit with the silkied Cochins in their quarantine space while I waited for it to pass. My, they are cute, and so tame already! Cordelia even hopped up onto my knee and perched for a while while I petted her! They were also fly hunting while I was out there, but no one could catch anything until finally Gus grabbed one out of the air. Instead of eating it himself, though, he did the tidbit chirp and let the girls have it! What a sweetheart! Ah, they're just so cute!!


Anyway, no time for me to rest just yet--it's time to close the coops for the night!

 

[pattyhen]

Yeah your almost done that is great.

Lots of hard work but it's going to be well worth it.

The silkies sound so sweet. The roos are so generous with the food. They are gentlemen .

Have a great day and I hope it doesn't rain there. We had rain all day yesterday just about.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

e It's done!!! e

I almost can't believe it! Seems like we've been working all summer on it, and today, the very last day, it's done! PHEW!!

Here's a bit of a tour around the place. First off, the view the girls will have when they wake up in the morning:

They have tree doors, one on each wall. This one is on the end, leading straight out into the chicken yard. The junky shade cover still resides her--but now that their porch is done, I might finally get rid of it.

This one goes to the left; it's more for my convenience than anything, so I don't have to go all the way around the outside to get to the pop door:

This door goes out to their free-range space:

The door that leads to free-range has a lock on the outside so that I can get in that way. The other two doors have locks on the inside.

We went with the non-swiveling locks for the inside so that the doors wouldn't have any leeway to be pulled on from the outside. When closed, it hardly moves:

Closer look at the peak. It's wired instead of solid so that I can tarp the walls in winter and still have plenty of ventilation.

Here's a look at the outside of the walls. 1/2 inch, 19 gauge hardware cloth on all of it, and 2x4 inch fence over the bottom half. The hardware cloth is attached with screws and washers so that the screws can't come through the wire. They're 7-8 inches apart and a little closer together on the bottom. We also covered the bottom beneath the floor so that the girls can't go underneath. I decided to go that route after some debate. In the end, crawling up underneath there to get eggs just didn't sound very fun.

Inside, this edge should get lots of sun once the leaves are off, perfect for wintertime.

I think later on I'll put up a perch in this corner so the girls have something to play on.

And I think that's about it. ...Yay!!

 

[pattyhen]

Well congrats and it really looks nice. Lots of room and very secure. Now that you have all that experience you can come and build me one. Just joking I bet your glad this is behind you now. You can sleep later that is a blessing in itself. Every morning when I wake up I say oh boy the ducks and chickens need to be fed and let out. No sleeping late when you have birds that depend on you.

Get some rest and thank you for the update and pics.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Wow it looks really nice! It's nice to have somewhere for the birds to go and not worry about hawks. I have a similar run and I can tell you it is so nice to be able to walk inside of it. And definitely put in the perch. I have one in the corner of my run and the birds love to hang out up there. Good luck back at school!