I wasn't nearly as prepared as you. I bought property with the goal of creating a hobby farm, and ended up with some amazing neighbors. They "gifted" me 21 chickens and asked me to raise 2 turkeys in return. Long story short I purchased a coop online that was advertised as being much larger than it was. It was a nightmare and I ended up losing one chick to a rat, one to splay leg, and one for unknown reason. We were in a panic to build something large enough and predator proof. It's still a work in progress, but at least they're safe.
I grew attached to all of them and it broke my heart to have to give the 2 turkeys back. I was even more heart broken to learn that all but 5 of my flock were roosters. I tried for days to find a new home for the roo's, the only taker was someone who I'm sure turned them into dinner but I didn't have a choice and all I can do is hope that what little time they had on this earth was one filled with love and joy.
So, thank you for giving me the inspiration to "pretty up" their very utilitarian "Coop in the Swamp".
Thank you! I try to do as much as I can for the dear girls, and make their life here - as happy and as safe as we can! They are such good little hens, and give their all... so... We do the same and it's a joy!
Thanks! I would have included the farmer who custom built the coop for me, but... he did a rather shabby job and it took my husband a lot of time & $ to fix/repair the errors in the coop, which is why I kinda omitted the builder's info. I won't plug his business of building coops - but also, don't want to hurt his reputation... so I left that info out as I can't recommend him. For example, I had nails and super long screws that had no reason to even BE there... sticking out in the nesting boxes... & screws sticking out under the coop where the girls would go to be in shade... they could have cut themselves, and I'm talking DOZENS of nails & screws... randomly piercing out all over. It was bizarre. Their safety is important to me. The nesting boxes were all various sizes... not evenly spaced...and the walls between the nests were loose, wiggly and crooked... which my husband fixed as well. The metal tray that slides out for 'easy cleaning' under the roosts, in the coop... is 5" too short so I have an area of 5" that i can't reach to clean, which we still have to fix. I would NEVER recommend that builder to anyone. In retrospect, I wish I'd gone to Horizon Structures in Amish Country.
But I honestly didn't realize when I posted the page about my coop... that it was suppose to be something I built myself from scratch. I'm a musician... not a builder... haha. So that wasn't going to happen! The details on safety, convenience and herbal supplements in the chicken's herb garden was my contribution to the coop... so I just talked about that.
REALLY nice! The article tells, in fine fashion, how this chicken lady adapted and personalized a custom-built coop. There are lots of notes on safety and predator proofing, and some good tips on functional decorating and landscaping. This one's a "keeper!"
I like the safeguards you added to the coop to keep your flock secure. Beautiful job of personalizing with all the decorative touches. Thanks for sharing your photos and info on how you made this coop your own!
I like the decorations and accessories you added. Makes a peaceful setting. That collie sure likes to get in the picture. He should keep the predator count low by his constant attention to the girls.
Thank you! Yes, our Border Collie does a very good job of surveillance, and runs like lightening out to the coop but slows down his run, about 15 feet before he's right up to the chickens, which is great because he doesn't scare them. Thank you for your kind words - I do try to make it a calm, comfortable, safe haven for the girls, and try to make their lives as lovely as I can.