Category Archives: Chickens

A Hard Days Work

My parents and sisters family came to help us out today. We were able to complete a lot of work. One area we knew that needed attention was the electrical. The coop was going to be too dark for the chickens to get adequate light for laying eggs. My brother in law was able to complete the task in a half a day. We are so thankful!

The men hard at work.

The men hard at work.

Let there be light!

My Dad and Sister were able to get the area ready for the automatic door. It should fit right into place once it arrives. We completed the dividers as well. My parents had chickens when they were first married and brought some old supplies they used. We can’t wait to put the feeder and waterer to good use!

Measuring for the nesting boxes.

Measuring for the nesting boxes.

The dividers are up!

The dividers are up!

An old waterer and feed container from my parents.

An old waterer and feed container from my parents.

Here is a look at the basement brooder. I have read multiple blogs that recommend making a brooder out of cardboard. It’s easy to assemble and change as the chicks get bigger. I placed a tarp down, then the cardboard and on top of that painters tarp. I’m hoping we can carry the painters tarp right up the stairs and put the pine shavings right in the compost pile.

Brooder and supplies set up in the basement.

Brooder and supplies set up in the basement.

The boys were able to wear Joey out a little. We were so thankful for all the help today. Slowly but surely we will get the coop done. Only a few more days and the brooder will be busy!

You have to stop and play a little bit!

You have to stop and play a little bit!

 

 

Roof is on!

Today we only had a few hours to work before it got too dark. We decided on using Rubbermaid washing tubs as the nesting boxes so they will be easy to clean. All we need to do it create dividers, a roof, trim the fronts of the tubs down, and create a bar for the chickens to step up into.

Tubs for nesting box.

Tubs for nesting box.

We ran into the chicken wire that was already up when we bought the house, so we decided to help us remember it was there.

Don't hit your head!

Don’t hit your head!

The roof is complete. We will have some minor adjustments once the dividing walls are in place.

The roof is on, now to make dividers.

The roof is on, now to make dividers.

 

Joey stayed out to help us tonight, and is one tired pup now! We will keep researching chickens while Joey relaxes on our lap. Inside brooder work will begin this week with the temperatures dropping a little bit. Only 16 days until our 15 chickens will be living with us!!

This is one tired pup!

This is one tired pup!

Turning A Horse Stall Into A Chicken Coop

Today we began our next adventure. We worked on converting the horse stable into a chicken coop. Here is the outside. We are planning on making the fence poultry friendly.

 

Area we plan on using as a chicken run

Chicken run area

Chicken run area

Looking into the stall/coop from the chicken run area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The inside has a few items we will be able to repurpose.

Hitching post that we’ll turn into a perch or two

Former horse stall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brock used old lumber we had to create the start of the nesting boxes.

image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our plan is to be able to use plastic tubs for the boxes. This will allow cleaning to be a lot more efficient. Here is the platform for the nesting boxes.

Base for nesting boxes

Our next project is to make the roof, and partition the boxes with plywood.