The Front Porch Swing

[luvblues7]

 I was going to post the pictures I took of what we got done on Motel Chix today, then I took a little time and scrolled back a few pages, where I saw Luv's setup.  Um, let's just say I'm doner 'n I was yesterday and leave it at that.  What an amazing build you have!  We just have a coop.  But we worked awfully hard, under some pretty nasty conditions, so I'm pretty proud of what we've accomplished.

Blooie thanks for the pictures. Things look like they are really coming together. I am so excited for you. I want to thank you for including all of us in this building project. It feels like we were invited into your life and made a part of your family. Sharing in the building of your coop is what renewed the excitement of when Don and I built mine. I know that mine was built just for me because Don loves me and gave of his time and hard work to make it just the way I wanted. I can tell that your Ken has done the same for you. This is your new coop built just for you just the way you want it because he loves you. What blessed women we are my friend. Enjoy your new coop it is BEAUTIFUL.

 

[Beekissed]

You're right, the roost is too low and we knew it was when we put it up. But it's just screwed in that spot temporarily because we weren't sure they'd use it yet as high as it will finally be. It will be moved up as soon as we know they're using it. I plan on having a poop board under it, and it made more sense to only have to install that once, after the roost is in its final position. We assumed that for the first few days they are outside, and with the weather being so doggone cold yet, they'd be more likely to huddle together in the litter than use the roost at night anyway. We can move it up anytime, then install the poop board. The pop door height was a suggestion from the deep litter forum where they talked about having it elevated above the level of the litter at it's deepest. He just got it a little too high. <sigh> When I saw how high off the ground he had it framed, I just bit my tongue. He was so tired and cold I didn't have the heart to ask him to do it over and figured I would just find a way to make it work. It's all about compromise sometimes, ain't it? Teehee

I'd wanted another window all along. Ken said we didn't need another one, but I just now had him read your post and he's agreed that you're right. (Bless you - we've argued about that second window for days!) Our strongest blizzard winds come from the north and northwest - the huge expanse of wall you were talking about - and they'll slam into that north side especially hard and drive every snowflake through any crevice there like a fleet of Mac trucks. It's not unusual to have 4 inch snow drifts inside the garage from wind driving it in under the door, which also faces north. I can see the benefit in a huge wire covered hole on that side, but we'll really need the ventilation in the winter as well, when they are spending more time inside, and that's the time I worry about - finding that balance between good ventilation and dangerous winds howling through. I suppose we could block it off in winter, but then that kind of defeats the purpose.

Could we maybe put a second window on the west wall - the wall where the roost runs across now, and then move the roost across the solid north wall, without any opening there for winds to come through? You can see how thick the lilacs will be to the west, so there would be plenty of shade against the hot late afternoon sun. The vent we bought to install is 24"x24". It's going on the highest point of the east wall - at the top between the pop door and the people door. So the west window would be directly facing and lower than the new vent, which should create cross ventilation. We'd leave the window open or partially open most of the time, closing it only on the worst days. Do you think that would work? We also drilled 2.5 inch holes every few inches into the soffit, covered with screening to keep out nasties and prevent wild birds from deciding to set up house. We hadn't done that yet in these pictures.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate your help!

Give your husband a huge hug for me...he's a dear!!! Not many men...well..you know....you married him and chose him above others, so you know his finer qualities. Covering a large window for winter use is as easy as stapling up some 4 mil. plastic and you are done. I like to leave a gap at the top of the window and at the bottom to allow airflow still but blocking the largest gusts, while still allowing light in. If you want to get really fancy, as the old farmer did at my last coop, he built frames for plastic and then you could just put them into place over the huge windows and turn a piece of wood on either side to keep them in place~like big, plastic covered storm windows. Love those old farmers and their practical ideas!

Your deep litter won't get much higher than 10 -12 in., so the pop door doesn't have to be too high...but since he already made that one you could either utilize it... or make that into a little ditty box/drawer/shelf space with inside/outside access that will hold all your chicken stuff...zip ties, pliers, gloves, castor oil, extra light bulbs, etc. You'll be glad you have one of those when you are out there needing something and don't want to run to the house or garage to get it.

I think your idea about placing the window where the wind doesn't blow is an excellent idea and I'd keep the roosts where they are...this will allow for cool roosting in the summer and lots of light coming in for the winter. Just cover with plastic for winter winds, leaving gaps for ventilation at top and bottom and you are golden.

This is sooooo exciting!!

 

[Beekissed]

Blooie thanks for the pictures. Things look like they are really coming together. I am so excited for you. I want to thank you for including all of us in this building project. It feels like we were invited into your life and made a part of your family. Sharing in the building of your coop is what renewed the excitement of when Don and I built mine. I know that mine was built just for me because Don loves me and gave of his time and hard work to make it just the way I wanted. I can tell that your Ken has done the same for you. This is your new coop built just for you just the way you want it because he loves you. What blessed women we are my friend. Enjoy your new coop it is BEAUTIFUL.

X 2! I'm about as excited as Blooie on this coop...it's like we are right there watching the build and I love it!

 

[Blooie]

Blooie thanks for the pictures. Things look like they are really coming together. I am so excited for you. I want to thank you for including all of us in this building project. It feels like we were invited into your life and made a part of your family. Sharing in the building of your coop is what renewed the excitement of when Don and I built mine. I know that mine was built just for me because Don loves me and gave of his time and hard work to make it just the way I wanted. I can tell that your Ken has done the same for you. This is your new coop built just for you just the way you want it because he loves you. What blessed women we are my friend. Enjoy your new coop it is BEAUTIFUL.

Silly girl, you all ARE invited into my life - convoluted as it is - and I'm proud to have you! I have to tell you what just happened, just after I read your post.....Ken came into the kitchen after his shower and we were talking about making the changes to the coop. Ever have one of those moments where you're just so tired and so relieved to be almost at the end that you tear up? Well, I had one. I just looked at this amazing man who has done so much for me, and I couldn't even express what I was feeling. I felt even worse when I saw him rubbing Icy Hot into his hand and taking an Aleve while he was talking to me.

He's done all of this despite a knee replacement, stage 4 Sarcoidosis, pernicious anemia, and a few months ago he had major surgery on his index finger and thumb. They fused his right index finger joint right at the nail end, left the middle joint alone, put a total replacement joint at the point where his finger attaches to his hand, and then scraped the third knuckle of his thumb, took a tendon from his arm, coiled it, and tucked into that space to act as a cushion. So none of this has been easy, but he's out there everyday.

I gave him a hug and said something about how good he is to me. I asked him why he didn't quit, and say we'll finish it when we finish it. "Why did you keep going? We could have quit before now. I feel terrible about pushing you so hard about this stupid coop." And this is when the tears really came down, because this was his answer:

He rubbed my cheek and said, "Don't you know by now that if you said you didn't like the color of the sky I'd try to change it for you?"

 

[Blooie]

Ken's right hand.

 

[Beekissed]

That is about the single most romantic thing I've ever heard in my life! That he is out there working on that coop in the cold and rain with all those things wrong with his body is the most romantic gesture I've ever heard of.....he's just too good to be true, you know that? Give him a huge hug for me and tell him that even the disillusioned Bee is ready to admit that there are men out there worthy of obeying, loving, and working alongside of and I'm glad I didn't die before I heard about some of the men married to you wonderful ladies. Never knew such men existed 'til now.

I thank God for such men as this!

 

[Blooie]

Romantic? Ken? Well, he did just get out of the shower. Uh-oh.

I know - believe me, I know that he's pretty special. He says that for 26 years I followed him all over the country, never being able to have a career, just a series of go-nowhere jobs, raised the kids mostly by myself, collected drapes and curtains instead of nic-nacs, left my friends and family behind in South Dakota and only saw them every few years, and always made a home out of a house. So he says now that he's retired it's my turn to be taken care of. I won't argue with that logic - after all, he is the head of the family!

 

[Triple Willow]

I have to brag on my (boyfriend) honey too. He built me a coop/run, even hired somebody to help him. I still don't know the total cost because he wouldn't even let me pay for it all - and he doesn't even like chickens. I couldn't even help because my knee was too messed up at the time. God did send me a good one too. I love him and he is a blessing to me.

 

[Blooie]

I have to brag on my (boyfriend) honey too. He built me a coop/run, even hired somebody to help him. I still don't know the total cost because he wouldn't even let me pay for it all - and he doesn't even like chickens. I couldn't even help because my knee was too messed up at the time. God did send me a good one too. I love him and he is a blessing to me.

I

That is so sweet! You are absolutely right to brag about him.....didn't the Good Lord smile on us!!!

 

[Triple Willow]

I

That is so sweet! You are absolutely right to brag about him.....didn't the Good Lord smile on us!!!

Yep, I know He sure did on me.