The girls.....

We brought Donna, Ms. Claus and Nana home today- they are a little skittish but will adjust fine, I am sure. The only issue we are having is that one of my Shih Tzu's wants to eat the chickens and actually got into the pen with them and it was not a good scene. I felt really bad for the girls but we were able to ambulate through. Here are a couple of pictures.

One step closer to opening for business.

Here are a few shots of the new coop. I just need to attach the gate and arrange the nesting boxes and roosts. Then, pick up some ladies.

As you can see I recycled a playhouse- built it up on some fence block so we could also have a concrete floor. The nesting boxes and roosts I built out of some birch and they are 12" cubes with a 4" lip. The roost I think I am going to use a branch of eucalyptus or mesquite, I haven't decided yet. The posts for the little yard are some Eucalyptus that I scored off of Freecycle. To my luck someone cut a 70' tree down and I was happy to take the wood off of their hands. I bought a few new corrugated metal sheets to provide additional shade and then fixed chicken wire overhead and used the existing Palo Verde to affix it to. I wanted it to be as natural as possible for them and safe, too. I am proud to say that 99% of this little project was created from scrap, recycled items or things that I have found along the way. The boys have been helpful and are very excited to bring some ladies home- so far they are choosing the names Ms. Claus and Donna. Where did they even come up with that ?

Coop Completion Nearing

I am so excited!
Well, I have somehow managed to transform our son's little tykes log cabin into a kick ass hen house! Patting myself on the back for now. I just need to finish the nesting boxes and stick some hens in there and hope I don't kill anything. The kids have been very helpful and SO excited to bring Ms. Claus and Donna home to lay some tasty eggs for us. NOTE: THESE WILL NOT BE MEAT CHICKENS....
Pictures to follow at some point