Washingtonians

[hallerlake]

Quote:
Fix them up and resell. Charge for delilvery.

That thought had crossed my mind but since I ain't got much of a mind it was a very brief crossing.

Forgive me. I have a talent for the obvious.

 

[Kaneke]

every so often this needs to be reposted .. from one list or another ...

*******

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

 

[broodytood]

Quote:

to the chatty thread! Sounds like you have your hands full of furries and fuzzies!

 

[cheryl98117]

Ok so I still don't know the sex of the baby. The receptionist at my last Dr.s appointment forgot to schedule the ultrasound for today. So I get to wait another 2 weeks. Should know on the 23rd. Happy late birthday surprise to me! lol I still feel its a girl, not sure why I feel that way, but I do. I was very bummbed out when I was told the US wouldnt be today, was quite excited to learn the gender of the babe. Anyways. Hope everyone is ok.

CL stay off that knee! I hate when knees go out! Oh so very painfull! take care of yourself lady!

Welcome to all the newbies! hang on cause we tend to fill a few pages a day! But you wont find better people anywhere else!

Ok off to feed some horses, and scoop some poo! See ya all later!

 

[Ogress]

Quote:
I have seen and greatly admired the winter shot of your coop before but that recent autumn photo is brilliant! Such a pretty coop - perfect for an urban or suburban setting. May I ask who built it? Do you have any interior photos?

I'd like to see pics of your "Illia" birds too. Mine are still having quiet time in the garage, but they're eating and drinking well.

Thanks, I like it, too.
I made a model out of copy paper and tape and showed it to my father, a retired contractor.
He laughed at me but said he'd help.
We build it out of scrap lumber and old pallets.
He helped at all the critical points such as cement work and making the whole thing square and stable.
For Mother's Day, my children gave me the hardware and roofing tiles.
I had tons of old white paint.
It's really a pallet coop with lots of "make-up" - kinda like me - I clean up okay

Do I have photos? Well, yes, millions!
But first, please remember that I am a CPA.
I reseached a ton before I made the prototype.
So, good with research, analytical, blah blah blah - but NOT a contractor!
So, first a wide shot so you can see where everything fits in.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_happy_hen_house.jpg
Here's a photo of me pretending to be a roofer. See the high quality materials?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_ruth_the_roofer.jpg
Next shot you can see the upper roost that sits in a notched 2x4.
Under that is a removable poop board with loose vinyl on top. This poop board slides forward for easy cleaning.
I think you can see that I have a vinyl floor that runs up the back wall of the coop. It's loose in front, tucked in by a lip board.
When I clean, I can lift the vinyl and clean everything, ending with a good dusting of DE, food grade, of course.
The nesting boxes are dark to make them more inviting. (A scrumptious leftover plum chocolate color!)
Can't see this but I attached the lip in front of the nesting box first on either side to a 1 inch block of wood so that there would be a 1 inch gap between the lip and the nest allowing for easy sweeping of the nest box litter into the main coop for clean up.
Electrical cord is enclosed in that round pipe which was grey until I painted it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_1.jpg
Here's the way I made a removable lip to help keep shavings inside the coop. It also hold the vinyl in place.
You can see the junk wood in this photo, too!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_2.jpg
The pop door is a piece of leftover acrylic that slides easily in simple tracks. The entire run is secure so the pop door doesn't have a lock.
I keep the water under the coop so the girls can't sit on it. Keeps the water so much cleaner.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_3.jpg
The pop door lifts with a simple pulley system. Here is a shot of how we ran the rope through the hardware cloth.
Keeps everything neat and tidy, just the way a CPA would like things.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_4.jpg
Then, of course, needed to secure the rope so the door stays up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_5.jpg
In the next shot you can see the pallet board construction.
We hung the feeder on a board that slides out. We used the hardware from an old kitchen cabinet. I don't know what the slider-outer-thing hardware is called. I hope it's clear enough in the photo.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_6.jpg
The floor directly under the coop is cement. On the storage side it's just cement. On the other side - the run side - it's cement covered with sand. (The rest of the run has harware cloth covered with sand.) I really like having supplies close by and secured from rodents. (of unusual or the usual size!)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_7.jpg
Extra ventilation window propped up with a stick that hangs handy.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_detail_8.jpg
More storage with adjustable shelves. There's a sheet of metal on the floor of this cabinet just in case rodents ever feel like making a try for the snacks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_9.jpg
A notched 2x4 in the run holds a branch or a 1x4 or 2x4, depending on the season.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_coop_details_10.jpg
And, lastly, since I clearly got carried away with this show and tell, I decided to add another favorite shot.
Obviously, I am not a builder, or a breeder for that matter.
Just a city slicker who loves keeping birds as does my daughter as evidenced below.
Seriously, this is probably way, way more than you wanted to see or read!
Thanks for letting me share.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_lily_and_the_chickens.jpg

I think you win both the prettiest and most functional coop awards! I love how you access the feeder! Do you cover the hardware cloth on the coop doors in the winter?

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Everbody's posting coop pics: this is the infinitely-unfinished Wyandotte Coop, north view and from the east. Complete with all construction stuff still in project status and not after residential cleaning. That's what you get when you're your own general contractor.

And yes, it has an eye. Funny story about two different people, two different days, with two different interpretations of my roof framing directions. Life is hard. On the other hand: art project!

PS must go pick up that piece of livestock panel now.

 

[Ogress]

Quote:
I got lucky, mine is July 4 so DH will remember.

Happy Anniversary!

 

[Ogress]

Quote:
Happy Birthday!

I only once skipped housework on my birthday, and of course, no one picked up the slack so it made the next day really suck! Dishes are much easier to clean when the mess is fresh.

 

[PitterPatterPalace]

Happy anni, CGG!
Happy B, TC & Cheryl!
Welcome newbies!

 

[broodytood]

Quote:
Hopefully the time will fly by!!!! Happy Birthday when it is your B-day!!!