Cluckingham Palace

It all started with my modest little coop that I ended up adding on to.

(because of chicken math- you go to get 2 chickens, end up bringing home 4).

But our modest little coop was turning 8 years old,

and it just wasn't in good shape any more.  

Wood began to rot, and it was time for a replacement.

So we headed over to the local big box hardware store,

and 3 large carts later, we started the new 8x10' shed for the chickens.

Big E and I spent some time checking out some of the sheds at a local retail shed lot.

We took measurements and made notes on what we liked and didn't like.

Mostly I took notes on what I liked and didn't like.

And then the work began.

We used pressure treated lumber for the pieces closest to the ground and

put those on top of cinder blocks to help prevent rot.

One the floor joists were done, we laid out the floor.

Then we started the process of putting up the walls

and the roof trusses.

It was a whole family effort.

My son in law, grandson, son and mom all helped get it completed.

We had a deadline of the beginning of November

because I already had 3 new Guineas coming and had purchased 

early bird tickets for a local chicken swap

hoping to score some more birds.

 

Wasn't too long before we had the T1-11 siding going on

and the plywood being put on the roof.

Once the shingles were on, we only had to build a door, 

nesting boxes and roosting bars to be fully functional.

We used the 2 small windows from our old coop to put on the front.

We have plenty of roosting space and nesting boxes for additional birds.

I now keep 50 pounds of feed in a metal trash can in the coop.

We also used the old PVC feeders from the old coop only now they are completely inside the coop

instead of being on the outside.

The waterer made out of a 5 gallon bucket with side nipples is also kept in the coop.

We have a sliding door that we can raise and lower without going into the coop or run. 

It works on a rope run through eye bolts that can be tied to a cleat on the side of the coop to keep it open.

We weren't able to build the permanent run before the weather changed, 

but we've utilized the existed fencing, some netting and T-Posts 

from a temporary run we had to make a run they can be safe from 

most predators during the day.

At night they're all locked up tight in the coop.

We still have some finishing touches to do.

We plan on installing 3 more larger windows (18"x22") 

on each of the other walls to provide more natural light and ventilation in the summer. 

I'd like a small loft built to provide an area to store the 

bales of shavings and straw to keep them up off the floor.

I also want to install linoleum on the floor to protect the wood from moisture

and make it easier to clean and disinfect when needed.

And of course, we need a secure run.

We finished just in time for all the new birds.

I call the shed

Cluckingham Palace. 

So far it houses 3 Guineas King Richard, Beatrice and Eugenie,

the 4 original hens- 2 Barred Rocks Louise and Bertha, the Light Brahma Daisy and the Naked Neck who is still unnamed.

I've added a blue laced red Wyandotte, a standard white silkie,

an orange and white Satin Silkie named Beaker, a bantam silkie named Fuzzball, 2 Salmon Favorelles- one named Jaws the other nameless, an Ameraucana still unnamed and a black bantam cochin my friend had to rehome who we think is going to be called Raven Lucretia.

She's kind of a bad ass. 

I have 3 more pullets coming in a couple of weeks:

another Ameraucana, another Light Brahma and a Blue Rock.

I'm sure there will be many more chicken posts to come in the near future along with some updates about things around the house.

We've been pretty busy around here!

New Chicks

Here are the new chicks who are 

at the moment

nameless.

The 2 Golden Laced Wyandottes are to the left and right

with the Cuckoo Maran in the back.

Hopefully they'll grown to be excellent egg layers!

Raising Peeps Vs. Buying Hens

I've been a chicken owner for a few years now, and I've both raised my own chicks and purchased pullets and laying hens that were coop ready.  Each has its pros and cons.  Buying coop ready pullets or hens that are already laying mean all the hard work has been done and you'll be getting eggs pretty quick.  Raising chicks is a lot of work. They're messy and their brooder requires constant cleaning.  I can't even describe to you the amount of dust they create in the weeks that they live in your home (or wherever you keep your brooder).  Despite all that, my personal recommendation would be to raise your own chicks.  Seriously. 
I came to this conclusion last evening when I went to close up the coop for the night.  As I walked out the back door, the 2 hens that I started as chicks this year (the only 2 out of the flock that I raised myself), came racing towards me.  You might assume they only do this because they hope that I might have some type of food, but they do this every time.  They follow me down the barn, they come running to me when they see me and they come when I call them.  Not only does this make me feel loved (it doesn't take much), but it also makes it easier to check them for any signs of illness or injury.  And if there is a need to treat them, it's easier to do that as well not only for me, but a little less stressful for them.
So if you're thinking of getting your own chickens, I highly recommend raising them yourself if you have the ability.