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Are you all tired of reading a garden blog solely dedicated to the preparations for chickens? I promise plants are coming but this is currently what takes up all of our time. Our son-in-law layed the linoleum for the coop floor this past weekend. Ryan actually does this for a living so expert help is always appreciated! I must admit he lays tile and hardwood more but that wasn't in this chicken house's budget. Maybe the next coop:-D
After the flooring was in we started the 'droppings table'. This is a handy dandy little bench below the roosts that will catch all the night time droppings. That way they won't foul the wood shavings on the floor so fast. It will also make it easier to use a large putty knife to scrape the droppings into a bucket to add to the compost pile. I had planned to paint the OSB on the inside but we used the smooth side out and I am now out of time. I don't really think the chicks will know the difference.
And finally a picture of the roosts in place above the droppings board which Doyle added linoleum to for ease of cleaning. He is really a thoughtful guy. I still need to rub the roosts with used motor oil to combat possible leg mites but that can wait until I have some used motor oil. The chicks won't be needing the roosts for at least 3 weeks so I think I have a little time. The big old feeder is ready and the light will be plugged in first thing in the morning. The chicks should be here via USPS by 8:45 a.m. tomorrow. I have to work but Doyle promises to take lots of pictures. I hate to miss out on all the fun stuff. We have 30 pullets on their way and I will update you all as to how well they survived their trip. I hope as well as the meat chicks did. My fingers are crossed.
The final question I still have to find the answer to is what to landscape around the coop with. Is there any such thing as chicken proof flowers and shrubs? They will free-range on the days I am home and I want them to keep the bug population down but I don't want to spend time planting things they will likely eat. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. The chicken house is located on the edge of the little orchard we have been planting for a few years so I thought foundation plantings might be nice.
That is the nicest chicken coop I have ever seen, although my exposure is very limited! Looking forward to the landscaping aspect of endeavor!
ReplyDeleteWow, the chicken Taj Mahal is really coming along! It's not boring silly! Chickens are part of gardening in the country.
ReplyDeletePlant Lady
You guys are very thorough and prepared. It sounds like things are in place and you are ready. I can't relate to this, personally, but I find it interesting and admirable. I really hope you'll have great luck with this entire project. I know you'll keep us informed and show photos of the pullet chicks;-) Good job, Heather!
ReplyDeleteWow what great chicken digs! I love these posts they are so informative.
ReplyDeletePS - I have an award for you on my blog. Please check it out.
-Jackie
Have you ever heard of Mary Jane's farm near Moscow, Idaho? Check out her website. She has wallpaper in her chicken coop. Her birds are very happy. hee hee
ReplyDeleteI would be a little hesitant about the motor oil, if you are wanting to raise organic chickens.
oh man!! i need your coop! what a great job! i've been wanting to expand our's. for some reason, all but 2 of our 16 gals like to sleep on top of the nesting boxes...haha i bet if their roosts were as nice as your's they'd be more inclined to sleep there..;)
ReplyDeletereally cool! am off to read more from your cyberhome..:) thank you!
Oooh lah lah! Can't wait to see pics of your chickens.
ReplyDeleteI need to see how that droppings bench works! Amazing coop you've got going on there!
ReplyDeleteI have no experience with chickens other than their presence on the dinner plate so I have no landscape proof suggestions! One thing you might think of to make the compost dropping scrapping easier is just laying newspaper down, or some sort of paper product on the dropping bench to catch them. Then all you would have to do it dump it paper and all into the bin. You may have already though of that though!
ReplyDeleteWow- this sure is nice. I am moving to Idaho. And I plan to live in your chicken coop. Can't wait....it will be fun! Nice pad your little chicks will have there!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. I'm sure the chickens will love their fancy new home. It sounds like you've really done your research. Can't wait to see pictures of the chicks!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a coop! And, as always, I'm enjoying how well you have documented the project.
ReplyDelete-Amy
P.S. Do I have a deal for you on used motor oil...free!
What do you mean, apologizing for chicken posts, Heather? Chickens rule!!! To think yours even have a tile floor. Talk about the life! I love the idea of a droppings bench, too. We put straw and/or shredded paper under our roosts so it's easy to clean out and makes for instant compost. What kind of chickens are you getting? As for landscaping, urk. Unless it's woody and possibly evergreen, I don't know of anything chickens won't eat. I'll be waiting with bated breath to see if anyone has some suggestions!
ReplyDeleteWe're thinking of planting a hops vine near our coop for shade and also because chickens enjoy the hops flowers. Hop is a tough plant so I'm hoping it will make it. You might do what Green Frieda does, put a hay bale outside the coop for a while. The chickens might have so much fun with it they won't bother any plantings.
ReplyDeleteYour coop is absolutely beautiful and I'm glad you post about it so often. Can't wait to see your pullets.
chicken coop...please, thats like a Chicken Penthouse!!! Those chickens are living better than 75% of the world. I am not getting tired of seeing it at all. I love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so exciting! I love seeing all the progress you have made!
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you my chicken house story. We, My husband of probably ten years at the time and two girls, moved to five acres in southwest Washington. I wanted chickens and my husbans never did anything halfway. Anyway he built me a chicken house along the same line as yours. Friends would come over and comment on luxurious our chickens had it. We enjoyed many chickens on our table as well as eggs along with many wonderful stories. Eventually it was just my husband and I and we decided to not have chickens anymore. Well I looked at that wonderful building and as a surprise my husband made it into a studio for me. So you have done well and look forward to many years of enjoyment. and they taste good too.
ReplyDeleteSandy
OMG - I'm so glad my chicks aren't able to read or use a computer, because they'd be exceedingly jealous of your chicken house. We've just started converting a stall of our small barn for the purpose, but there certainly won't be a linoleum floor: plain concrete for my lot. I think yours is looking great - well done, and I hope your chicks all arrived safely!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool. I've loved catching up on the progress. Can't wait to see them tomorrow. I'll be sure to check in when I get home from work.
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