Chicken Coop (and House Fire!)

We've been working on our chicken coop for the past 5 days.  Tim had the week off and I took 2 days off from work (Wed. and Thurs).  We had Friday off for Good Friday.  I thought we'd get more accomplished, but looking back, we did a lot!  First, we had to decide what kind of coop we wanted and how big.  Right now, we have 12 hens, but in the future...who knows?  I'd like to have some different breeds, not just for laying.  We decided our best bet would be to buy a 8'X8' garden shed.  We put an extra window in the back and we're cutting a chicken door in the side.  They will be able to go out the chicken door into the chicken yard.  We're using our extra dog kennel for the chicken yard.  We're putting chicken fencing around the bottom so predators cannot reach into it (mostly racoons).  We already enclosed the bottom of the coop with chicken fencing so no predators can dig under it.  We buried the fencing down about 1/2'.  We will be putting netting over the chicken yard so no sky predators (hawks) can get into the coop.  We also have coyotes and neightborhood dogs around here so we have to be careful with everything.  I've included pictures of our progress.  The girls should be ready to move out in a week or two!  They have feathered up so much in the past week...I'm shocked!!

I have to say my husband is the best, most amazing man!!!  He spent so much time, energy, thought, creativity, and HARD LABOR on this project...and he doesn't even like chickens (although I think he's coming around a little!).  Thank you honey!!!  I love you!!!

We chose to put the coop on the south side of our house.  It is on the side,

at the top of the hill.  It is in close proximity to the compost bins!! 

The bottom frame for the coop.  It was a struggle to level

it since it is on a downhill slope. 

Mieke helping Dad get the walls ready.

Whatcha' think??

And....3 of the walls are up!

Picking out the right nails

Capone liked to help....dig in the dirt!  (notice the black nose!) 

Actually he just liked to dig, eat sticks, and play with his basketball.

And...we have doors!  The coop will be painted barn red

with white trim.

Tim installed a window in the back for

ventilation (and so the hens can have a pretty view!)

Inside view

We will insulate the walls and ceiling in the fall

We still need to add more ventilation in the top

On Saturday (before Easter) while building we heard fire trucks very close. 

We ran through our back woods and looked at this scene down the hill one street away.  I

used my telephoto lens to capture these shots.  We watched a family's life go up in smoke.  It was

heartbreaking for us to witness.  They lost their entire home.

This is what it looked like in less than 10 minutes.  Several firetrucks were on the scene. 

So sad...(we are sure everyone is ok). 

Mieke and I installed cheap laminate tiles (peel and stick) on the floor.  This

will protect the wood underneath and will be a lot easier to clean up the poop!!

Roofing!

Looks good!  (needs some paint!)

Upper roost for the hens (piece of wood from a window

frame left over from building our house)

The beginning of our roosting ladder for the girls (it is finished now)

We buried chicken fence all around 3 sides of our coop to keep

out the predators.  It will be open on the chicken yard side so the hens

can go under the coop for shade.

So...now we still have to finish the chicken yard, make an automatic waterer and feeder, make nesting boxes, latch on the roosting ladder, paint the outside, make the chicken door and ramps, make steps, etc., etc., etc.....   Whew!!!  And time is running out because a few of our girls are almost ready to go outside!  I'll  have to take more pics and post them soon.  You won't believe how much they've grown in just a few days!!