Chicken Coop & Garden Tools Get Together

[PineRidge]

Hey guys haven't been around much lately since we started doing the home remodeling and such scene. Seems like now there just isn't enough hours in a day or days in a week for that matter.

Anyhow the wifey and I have had numerous conversations about garden tools and how they never seem to be found whenever they are needed.

Our second need is "fresh brown eggs". We had a TBN friend that moved away because of a job transfer whom was supplying us with eggs. Now we have this hankering for fresh eggs and decided to build a chicken coop/garden tool storage shed. Who says you can't have your eggs and eat them too?

After much forethought and scribbling on many little pieces of paper we came up with a game plan. And like all good plans is subject to change as we go along.

The footprint of the shed will be 10' X 12' overall. 9' X 10' of the footprint will be dedicated to the Coup De Grace and the remaining 3' X 10' will give momma a place to hang up the garden tools so they are all in one spot. HEY, it could happen.......

We like the gambrel roof so that's the game plan for now.

Did I say that we have absolutely no experience with chicken or eggs other than deep fried Colonel Sanders chicken and fresh brown eggs. But hey, we ain't to old to learn either.

We picked out a spot of ground with a pretty good slope located between the pole barn and the 57' X 150' garden perimeter.

We decided to use 4 X 6 PT lumber for the support. Did I say that using a 2-man post hole auger in 90 degree heat ain't no fun? I hope this is no omen but the 1st hole we punched hit dead on the underground water supply to the garden irrigation system ssshhhhhh, boy that hole filled up quick. My helper asked me if I thought it was an artesian well? From that point forward I have a new helper now.

We are open to all suggestions other than "shut-up". Can't say that we'll incorporate your ideas but just maybe......

Option A Was the 1st starting location for a corner post, the hole that leaked.... You would have thought that drilling through all that stone pictured might have made me quit and move on, no the water did that.

 

[PineRidge]

Here's a picture of the corner posts set in crete. We loosely fastened with deck screws the PT lumber to the posts to get the whole thing square. More permanent fastening will come later with large carriage bolts.

We will be moving slow with this project because of time constraints.

 

[Tororider]

Looking good! If you are looking for more info and some coop ideas check out the "Chicken and things related thread". Lots of good people with good info/ideas. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[Highbeam]

That's a terrible post hole machine design. The ones that I've rented have handles in the shape of an X which allows you to stand close to the engine and bang your leg with the arms to keep the engine from spinning. Your setup requires much more manual labor.

We jumped into backyard chickens about 17 months ago. The local stores only sell chicks in the spring and we got 5 figuring that like goldfish, a few would die off. THey all lived and now each one of them makes an egg each day. All brown eggs from Rhode Island Reds and Buff Opringtons (my fave). Nothing to it really. Keep them watered and fed and they will keep you supplied with eggs.

It is harder to screw it up than to do it right. Worst case is that you are out the 10 bucks that the chicks cost you.

 

[PineRidge]

That's a terrible post hole machine design. The ones that I've rented have handles in the shape of an X which allows you to stand close to the engine and bang your leg with the arms to keep the engine from spinning. Your setup requires much more manual labor.

We jumped into backyard chickens about 17 months ago. The local stores only sell chicks in the spring and we got 5 figuring that like goldfish, a few would die off. THey all lived and now each one of them makes an egg each day. All brown eggs from Rhode Island Reds and Buff Opringtons (my fave). Nothing to it really. Keep them watered and fed and they will keep you supplied with eggs.

It is harder to screw it up than to do it right. Worst case is that you are out the 10 bucks that the chicks cost you.

I'm with you on the post hole auger design as it does have the potential to beat one up pretty badly with the shorter handles. But it was loaned to us for free and it's hard to beat that price.

Normally if I have a good sized fence job to do we rent a auger from Home Depot. It has treads like a tank so it will go about anywhere. You stand on it, direct the machine where you want the hole punched and press a button. The machine does the rest including down pressure. We have a fencing job coming up next week where we will need to punch over 100 holes, guess which machine we'll be using.

 

[PineRidge]

With my other jobs going on we haven't made a lot of progress on the coop. Yesterday we finished about 1/2 the support structure before the rains came to Ohio.

 

[PineRidge]

Got up this morning before the day warmed up and finished the support structure. It should be adequate unless the better half finds some 300 pound hens to bring home.

 

[PineRidge]

In the course of home remodeling projects performed for others, I have started to collect a few used windows that we plan on using for the coop.

 

[PineRidge]

Looking good! If you are looking for more info and some coop ideas check out the "Chicken and things related thread". Lots of good people with good info/ideas. Keep us updated on your progress.

Tororider you were right on, I've been reading the thread that you suggested ("Chickens and things related") every day since you recommended it and I'm still not finished. Lots and lots of good ideas/information and lots of good links to hatcheries. Wish I would have seen the thread 1st and just posted my project there as it unfolds.