This is what I asked a guy I found on FB to build for me. Actually, I met him through his wife, who I used to babysit for, which makes me feel so old. Anyway, I chose this because I wanted it done fast, light weight and nuthin' fancy. It's going to be 4' x 8' and I think that will be okay for just two chickens, won't it? It will have handles so Lissa and I can move it to diff parts of the yard and chicken wire underneath so nothing can come in under it. (Mr. Bob Cat wants them so bad he tried to sneak in the house yesterday.) Should they be walking on wire though? I could lay a piece of plywood or something in part of it so they can skip the wire if they want. What do you think, is this okay? Lissa wants to paint it and I'm scared of what she'll come up with, but, hey, it will sit in the backyard anyway. I plan to bring the little fuckers inside at night...forever. I'll rig up a sleeping cage in the laundry room. They aren't live stock, they're my little friends. Man, they want to go out side so bad, it makes me feel bad. I should have this by Wednesday. I hope the weather is nice. I can't wait to see them fly, they have real wings now and they're trying.
Also did some planting at the new old house last night. I put two trumpet vines in, one on each end of the front porch and I put a decent size little Blue Spruce on the bare corner in front. I also added a bunch of solar yard lights, I figured it might make the thieves and vandals think someone lives there now, But, they'll prolly just steal the lights. lol. Fuck. I am paying today for that planting. My back feels like fire, so, I'm takin' a break from physical work today. But I know I have to get the big stuff in soon or I might not be able to ever. Who knows? I have a ton of shrubs and trees to move. I am not leaving all my plants here where no one loves them. And the arbor, of course, but, that comes apart. Thank goodness.
8 comments:
Nice. I don't remember the space requirements per chicken, but that can be looked up online. Regardless, I think the size you mentioned is lots of room for the two of them.
As far as the wire bottom, I think that can be hard on their feet, but it will be over grass, so I wouldn't worry about it.
Does it have handles like a wheelbarrow on one side, and wheels (I think George used wheelbarrow wheels) on the other? That is probably what you want for ease of movement. Ours is probably 4 x 8, built in an A frame shape, without a bottom, and it is heavy. My husband replaced the wheels several times so that it would be easier to move.
I hope that it has a door into the nesting area for egg removal (!) and cleaning/replacement of nesting material, and that you are able to get into it in case of egg laying in the far corner. My husband bought a golf ball (I think) retriever at a garage sale, and bent the cup a little so we could pick up duck eggs that were laid out of our reach. It really came in handy.
It would be cute to have it painted! Ours is cedar shakes down to the ground over the covered area, and the rest of it is hardware cloth, so no fun painting for us. I would love to see pictures of the finished product with the chickies in it.
Christina
the best coops i've heard of are the rolling ones. My internet isn't working well at this moment or I'd send you some photos.
They have two wheels so you can move them like a wheelbarrow. No floor. Any size or shape. The girls get fresh ground daily and the fertilizer they leave is fantastic.
Wheels sound awesome, but, I must have something in the bottom. I know these animals around here. If there's no bottom, these chicks won't last a day. And if I leave them out at night, well, no. At night the big stuff comes out. I think chicken wire will be okay as long as it's on grass. I'll watch though. We love playing with the chicks, I do anyhow. They're funny as shit. I love throwing a grape on the floor and watching them play tag with it. If I give them each a grape they still ignore one grape and go after the other one. They crack me up. Do you really think they'll lay eggs? I remember how icky duck and geese eggs are, they layed them EVERYWHERE and if you missed any, peee yew. At least chickens like their nests for eggs.
I'd live to have a couple of chickens but city zoning where I am won't allow it, and you know they'd find out. There are "reporters" everywhere. There isn't even one park in this city where you are allowed to walk with your dog ON leash, let alone off. We have to drive a good distance to go to the park. Mikey tried agility twice now, and he's good. Does jumps, the A Frame and teeter totter as well as a tunnel already.
Ahh, you have reached a true milestone in home-steading. Good for you, this is awesome! I would love to have some chickens too, but I don't think that would go down very well living in an apartment.
Good luck with your sweet little chickens.
Border, I have now heard you can't have livestock in town. However, this is Guntown. If these stupid mofos can each own 6-12 pit bulls trained to fight and kill and let them run loose. I will fight the city. I will write articles for the paper WITH all the photos I have of this ungodly ghetto and it's inhumane inhabitants and I will ask, why all this is allowed, yet two chickens on the very edge of town are not? I will shame the city officials to the ground.
Kitty, sigh, don't ever be tempted while you live in an apartment. I love my chicks, but, they are dirty, stinky little shitters. The work is constant. I mean, constant. I can't wait until they can go out. I am hoping he's done with the coop today.
PS Border, there are goats in the junkyard one block away, have been for years and horses just two blocks from there. I saw fucking turkey babies running loose yesterday eating out of the grainery spills. If I'd had my coop, I might have stopped, but, no more birds in my house right now.
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