Coop Update

Hazel is working still working on painting the coop. We need to get to HD to buy the contrasting color.

Great Job Jack!!!

 The construction is done. Jack, you amaze me. I love it.

As you can see, Jack tacked up a board over the window to keep the wind from blow right through the coop. The chickens are still young and need a little extra heat. We have the heating lights on in the night. A few more weeks and we can take the lights out.

 Now it's up to Hazel to get it painted.

 Here is the nesting box. We have it sectioned off for now. We will make it available to the birds when they are a little older and ready to start laying. I expect eggs sometime in September.

 Inside the nesting box. This is Temporarily where the light switch is. 

 Prepping for painting.

 I am actually using a solid stain. We chose Barn Red.

First coat. 

I think that I'm really gonna like this color.

First Full Night Out In the Coop

A Full Day's Work

 Jack got quite a bit done today. He got the coop door made and installed along with the hard ware and hardware cloth.

 The nesting box is on but Jack will encase it in bead board that we have left over from another project. The lid is put on with a piano hinge.

 The pop door is rigged with the string and pulley so it can be opened from outside of the coop.

Framing around the window, sandwiching in the hardware cloth.

The sun is just setting and Jack  is trying to get the tar paper on the roof before he quits for the day.

Jack Has Been Working Very Hard

The door to the run is on and I am impressed on how sturdy it is.

The siding is up and the pop door is installed. We still need to add the string so we will be able to open it from the outside of the coop.

Chicken ramp installed.... rungs are about three and a half inches apart.

Tongue and groove siding is up and next will be the coop door,
 window and  nesting boxes.

Checking Out the Coop

 Fluffy checking out the coop, making sure that Jack is doing it right.

 Right now, fluffy gets lost in the run.

 Shorty confers with Fluffy, it's looking good.

 The move in date will be here in no time. I'm thinking sometime in June.

 Jack and Jack Jr. putting more sand into the run.

Tonight I found Fluffy sound asleep with her head in the food, the little piggie.

Things Are Really Moving Along

 Jack worked very hard this weekend. Lots of sun, I'm glad he put on his sun-screen.

 We put some of the sand in, we'll have to go and purchase a few more hundred pounds. I guess we can use this as an awesome sand box while the sand is still clean.

 DGD loves it. She is hoping her daddy will build her one.

 Julia

So now all of the chicks have a name... Fluffy (Delaware), Black Jack (Barred Plymouth Rock), Rocky (Barred Plymouth Rock), Julia (Rhode Island Red) and Shortcut (Rhode Island Red). I'm thinking about going back to the feed store and getting one more from the batch to make our limit of 6 since the coop is so big. ~ Hazel

It's Coming Along

Piece by piece, moment by moment, the coop is taking shape.

~Jack

Chicken Obsession

Okay.... I'm not sure what is driving me to start collecting chickens, but it sure is strong. I have been thinking about it none stop, researching on the internet, talking to people about it and yes, even dreaming about it. I wonder if I am subconsciously worried about the State of California and it's economy and that raising chickens will give me a sense of self-reliance or maybe it's because I'm getting closer to being an empty nester and I need to make sure that I replenish my flock. What ever it is, I'm having a lot of fun and I think Jack is too. Yesterday I went to get my chickies. I met DD and DGD at Midway Feed where we picked out our girls. I got
  * 2 Barred Plymouth Rock
  * 2 Rhode Island Red
  * 1 Delaware
They are absolutely adorable! I am going to let the kids name them. Right now three are named, Fluffy (Delaware), Shortcut (RIR) and Black Jack (BPR). We just need to name two more tonight when the Grandkids come by.
~ Hazel

 Saying goodbye to the family.

 The Brooder

 Shortcut (RIR)

 Fluffy (Yellow Delaware)

 PeeWee, checking out the new members of the family

Killer and PeeWee welcoming the girls.

The Most Expensive Eggs in Town

Okay... after buying the lumber for this project, Jack has informed me that our eggs (if we ever get that far) will be the most expensive eggs in town. This project is WAY more expensive than I dreamed. I was originally thinking of getting a used playhouse and adding a little run to it. It would have done the trick, but THIS coop will be much sturdier and will last a long time. Nothing but the best for our little chicks.
~ Hazel

Jack decided to use pressure treated wood for the studs and the bottom plate and regular doug fir for the rest.