The work continues.

So this has nothing to do with my chicken blog but I thought that you would appreciate how talented my brother is. Just wait until Eric teached Seth to juggle. Can you say father son talent show.

So this photo of me is totally staged. Dad actually did the real hammeringOK, so my Dad is a funny guy. He came over today to help my enclose my coop. Of course being a man, he is willing to work for food. So, I was BBQ'ing chicken and he asked me if I would continue to BBQ chicken in the back yard after the chickens arrive and wouldn't that be cruel. HaHa Dad, but it did get me thinking. How would I feel is human and chickens roles were reversed, that is kinda sick. But damn that chicken was good. So, I have been a little delayed on my coop project. Partially because I'm lazy, but also because I have been out of town a lot this summer. I also have another vacation planned soon, so that will also waylay this process. I have been trying to figure out how to cheaply enclose the coop from preditors. Well I found a huge roll of hog wire at the habitat for humanity store for 10 bucks. I think it will work well keeping the chickens in and Indie out. So Dad and I figured out what supplies I need and he happened to already have most of them, so he will be back tomorrow to help me finnish enclosing it. Lucky fella has summers off.

Coop Decor

So I have the most fantastic big brother in the world. I had a little soiree on Saturday. Just friends, fire pit and chillin. My brother shows up with a fire poker and a board. And for those that know the Haynes clan, I'm thinking hm mm this won't end well. So I tell my brother that ah no I don't want to be branded for my birthday. But alas as usual I had my head in the gutter. The plan was not to brand me but to brand a chicken coop sign. What a lovely idea, well to give proper kudos, the sign was my brothers idea the branding was my sister in laws idea. And yes Amanda I know that your most likely looking at my spelling and grammar and cringing a little but I can't be perfect at everything:) So, I am still brainstorming the coop enclosure, but I think the chickens will be ready to come home to roost soon. If anyone has any enclosure ideas please feel free to send them my way. Jen

Prettiest Coop on the block.

So before I started this project, I did a little price checking on chicken coops. You wouldn't believe it, Most of the coops that I saw started at a low price of $500.00 if you can believe that and went up to as much $1500. Are you kidding me. Chickens only cost like $5.00. So, I went to the habitat for humanity thrift store.
So here is my price list.
Labor:Free
Dog house: Free
Punctured rubber camping bed for the roof: Free
Gallon of used paint: $5.00
Hinges: $10.00
Cabinet door: $2.50
2 old drawers for nesting boxes: $2.00
Used chicken wire: $10.00
Case of beers: $25.00
Total : $54.50
Watching Jen Haynes try to put together a chicken coop after a couple beers: Priceless

So the help continues and my coop starts to come together. Luckily I have a father with super Dad skills who enjoys coming over and helping with with my house projects. He hasn't actually said it but I know he's secretly thrilled that he is going to soon have some grand chickens in the family. I am going to be naming one of the brood after him. Hmm little Ted Junior:)

I decided to put them in the corner of the yard by the compost. I think that if I was a chicken that would be where I'd want to live. Besides who doesn't love waking up to the noise of clucking outside your bedroom window when you wake up. Dad says I'm nuts. I say Hmmmm your just now figuring that out.

Anyway, stay tuned. The adventure will continue. Unless Indie turns out to be a chicken hunter.

Smooches

Jen

The construction continues

Ok so our first step was to put hinges on the roof so that I can lift it up and gather my eggs from the nesting boxes. Luckily I had my Brother and Brian on hand to help me because we needed one person to hold the lid another to drill and the thrid person to fetch beers and supervise.

Hmm it looks like the beer supervisor is staying on task.

Ah yes, these boys sure are dedicated to the coop efforts.

So here is the escape hatch cut into the bottom. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but in retrospect. Hmmmmmmm

Lets start at the begining.

Ok , so I have been talking for a long time about getting chickens. I decided it was time to put my money where my mouth is so to speak. I thought that I would start blogging my experience that has been a method of trial and error.

So, the idea, I have this dog house that has been taking up residence in my back yard since I bought my house 4 years ago. The original plan was I would get a dog and he would use said house. Well I did get the dog but he hated the dog house. He preferres to sit out in the rain and whine instead. Here is the light bulb moment, wait for it, wait for it. You got it chickens.

I have been reading a lot about back yard chickens and fortunately for spokanites, our city codes allow three chickens per lot. I started doing some research and feel that I am fully prepared to take on this project. It was funny, once I started doing my research all of these rural chicken owners started coming out of the woodwork. There is a fairly large population of spokinites that raise chickens in there back yards. Who knew!

Luckily for me I have a Scientist, and Engineer and a Educator on hand to assist me on coop building plans. Let's faceit, I'm not the most competent person when it comes to power tools and hinges.