RedTailRanch6
In the Brooder
- Apr 28, 2015
- 32
- 1
- 34
Okay...perhaps "Open during construction" is more accurate, but the ladies are moved in.
I will try to keep the words to a minimum, and just send along some pictures.
I just bought a house in the Santa Cruz mountains, and the day after close I bought 7 delightful chicks (Barred Rock, Dominique, Ameraucana, White Rock, Naked Neck, Silver Wyandotte, Buff Orpington). I owned chickens in college and have been missing them like crazy.
About 30 yards off my back door, across a flagstone patio, was an old shed next to the path leading down the creek. I decided it would be the perfect location for the coop.
When working on clearing up the shed, I realized it was REALLY well built (I could walk on the roof at 200lbs) and decided to try to utilize it for the coop instead of demolishing it. After a bit of clean up (rat poop and garbage galore) and some hacking/sawing, I halved the coop to make it better fit the needs. (their covered porch overlooking the creek is way nicer than my view)
Having experienced pest issues in the past, I knew I needed to fence in the entire run, including underground. So...I shoveled a few hundred cubic feet of dirt.
I found some decent lumber on sale, and set to work sealing it and placing the posts in concrete.
The lady also did a great job painting the shed.
And after way-too-many hours of putting in chicken wire, we were done! (seems quite uneventful when reflecting, but it was a LOT of work.)
But of course, the work is never done. After realizing how much they loved to sleep in the wisteria, I added some branches inside the house for them.
And after the lurking bobcat and raccoon outside the run, I decided they needed to remain locked in the house at night (not just the run), so I built a more permanent door.
And now I am working on the window with window frame and sill. It never ends, but that is half the fun.
After that comes the pub sign and a nice comfy chair for me to drink beer and hang out with the Eggcelent Ladies.
I will try to keep the words to a minimum, and just send along some pictures.
I just bought a house in the Santa Cruz mountains, and the day after close I bought 7 delightful chicks (Barred Rock, Dominique, Ameraucana, White Rock, Naked Neck, Silver Wyandotte, Buff Orpington). I owned chickens in college and have been missing them like crazy.
About 30 yards off my back door, across a flagstone patio, was an old shed next to the path leading down the creek. I decided it would be the perfect location for the coop.
When working on clearing up the shed, I realized it was REALLY well built (I could walk on the roof at 200lbs) and decided to try to utilize it for the coop instead of demolishing it. After a bit of clean up (rat poop and garbage galore) and some hacking/sawing, I halved the coop to make it better fit the needs. (their covered porch overlooking the creek is way nicer than my view)
Having experienced pest issues in the past, I knew I needed to fence in the entire run, including underground. So...I shoveled a few hundred cubic feet of dirt.
I found some decent lumber on sale, and set to work sealing it and placing the posts in concrete.
The lady also did a great job painting the shed.
And after way-too-many hours of putting in chicken wire, we were done! (seems quite uneventful when reflecting, but it was a LOT of work.)
But of course, the work is never done. After realizing how much they loved to sleep in the wisteria, I added some branches inside the house for them.
And after the lurking bobcat and raccoon outside the run, I decided they needed to remain locked in the house at night (not just the run), so I built a more permanent door.
And now I am working on the window with window frame and sill. It never ends, but that is half the fun.
After that comes the pub sign and a nice comfy chair for me to drink beer and hang out with the Eggcelent Ladies.
