Our well went out a about 6 weeks ago. When the guys showed up the next day, one of them asked if we had chickens. Not yet, but they are on the list. Well out he pulls 2 RIR chicks. Said he was trying to get rid of them. So we took them. I then desired it would be a good idea to have a place to keep them. Since it was in the warmer season, days were hitting in the 90s. I figured a heat lamp would not be needed but rather ventilation. We converted my sons old toy box into a make shift chick pen. it had 2 sliding doors on the front that were at about a 45deg angle so I removed one and installed a screen. This still gave us access, and the door as well as roof, provided shade. This was fine for about a week, but then it rained. Guess what happens to particle board when it rains...
Anyway, here is what we put together. I saw the coops at the Family Center and Farm Supply Stores. Sorry, I am not paying $1200 for a 4x8 chicken coop. Not when I have a saw mill and enough material left over from builds and projects to do my own. So,
here is the 4x8 cedar chicken coop.
My son putting the finishing touches on the fence material
Interior with nesting boxes and perches
the girls in their new house.
I will get a few finished photos to add. This is to be a temp house. We are now working on the 10x12 that will be the egg house. Then this winter, I will be converting an old farm trailer into a chicken tractor for the spring meat birds. Since these two birds are really the first animals on our farm, I had to promise my son that they would get to die and natural death of old age. He said we can do what ever to the next batch.
Anyway, here is what we put together. I saw the coops at the Family Center and Farm Supply Stores. Sorry, I am not paying $1200 for a 4x8 chicken coop. Not when I have a saw mill and enough material left over from builds and projects to do my own. So,
here is the 4x8 cedar chicken coop.
My son putting the finishing touches on the fence material
Interior with nesting boxes and perches
the girls in their new house.
I will get a few finished photos to add. This is to be a temp house. We are now working on the 10x12 that will be the egg house. Then this winter, I will be converting an old farm trailer into a chicken tractor for the spring meat birds. Since these two birds are really the first animals on our farm, I had to promise my son that they would get to die and natural death of old age. He said we can do what ever to the next batch.
