Chickens, and things related

[bmac]

bmac built it himself and he did a great job of bringing an idea into reality.

There is no doubt that bmac has allot to be proud of in his chicken coop. Not just the fact that he built it, but even more importantly, this is the first building that he's ever built. Realizing that you can do something like this is a huge achievment.

Eddie

Thank you, Eddie.


Well, here's today's progress report. I made another trip to the lumber yard to pick up the shingles. I originally planned to use the same shingle that is on my house. But, they don't stock those and it would be the middle of June before they arrived. I told them to give me something close in appearance so we can move forward. The roofer will be here Thursday.

When I got home, I framed in the gable ends and cut out the T1-11. My wife picked up the octagon gable vents yesterday, so I got the holes cut out for the vents.

While I was doing this, my wife was working on the windows and doors. I got those from the salvage yard and they weren't in great shape. So, she has removed and replaced all of the glazing putty on the windows and painted both the doors and windows. Also, yesterday, she and my daughter finished priming the siding.

Tomorrow morning, if the rain will hold off, we are going to paint the coop. The girls used brushes and rollers to apply the primer and it took a long time due to the roughness of the siding. So, we're going to try our hand a using a sprayer to apply the paint.

I'll try to get some photos tomorrow.

 

[4720 OWNER]

I apologize to any ruffled feathers. Just stubborn old german ancestory.

The first batch of chickens i had in the shop for over a month in a small swimming pool. Had to get very creative to keep them in, finally just taught the dog to round them up! Turned out he could count!

 

[bmac]

No ruffled feathers here.


As my daughter has what might be strep throat, we couldn't go to church this morning so my wife and I painted the coop. Before we started, she blocked the windows and doors with plastic to keep the overspray out of the coop. We also painted the gable end siding that I cut out yesterday.

 

[bmac]

I then installed the gable vents (from the inside) and we put up the siding. Here's the outside and a picture of the vent from the inside.

Although there is still plenty of daylight left and the rain hasn't come yet, I had to call it quits on the coop today - other pressing issues.

Next up for me are either windows and doors or nest box. Roofer scheduled to come Thursday.

 

[Tororider]

Well I have eggs pipping in the incubator. Last night while watching the hockey game I noticed three. Before bed, I was up to six. Was still six this morning and at last check it is up to 11. I will try to post some pics in case someone is interested.

My sons think it is the coolest thing.

 

[EddieWalker]

Toro,

Nice to hear of your success and all the eggs you are getting. And yes, please post pics, the more the better!!!!

bmac,

The coop looks good!!!! I think the vent really sets if off and adds allot of appeal to to it. Not too bad on the color scheme either. LOL

Is your daughter going to landscape the area? Plant some flowers and maybe some other plants to attract snacks for the chickens?

Eddie

 

[bmac]

Is your daughter going to landscape the area? Plant some flowers and maybe some other plants to attract snacks for the chickens?

Eddie

Snacks or snakes?

My daughter selected the colors. In addition to the base color, the trim is a slightly off-white and the doors are fern green. We'll see what it looks like when we put it all together.

 

[EddieWalker]

Snacks.

From what I've heard, chickens love to eat bugs. Bugs like flowers and some flowering plants attract more bugs then others. I have two ducks and they do an amazing job of eating spiders, crickets and grasshoppers around my small pond. They never seem to stop hunting, unless they are asleep.

Eddie

 

[dooleysm]

My chickens love to eat bugs and just about anything else they can get ahold of. It's great fun to watch them try to catch a cricket or grasshopper. Worms they pretty much just gobble down without much fanfare.

I'm pretty sure my chickens would eat the flowers before they had a chance to attract any bugs though.

I occassionally catch one of my 9 week old chicks and feel around to see if they are eating size yet. While they are definitely growing, they wouldn't provide much of a meal yet. They might be getting up to the 'cornish game hen' size about now.

 

[tony123]

I'll second that. Landscaping would be destroyed before bugs knew it was there. Harder, woody stuff stands a chance, but anything soft and green is gone fast!

toro, don't hold out on those photos. For a "chicken" thread, we've got very few "chicken" photos!