December 29, 2008
Merry Christmas!
This should be the second to last post regarding the Chickdominium. We have made great progress, and on Christmas Eve, the chickens moved in to their new abode. They do not have a pen, but it has been so cold and rainy, we figured they would appreciate a more cozy, rat-free environment now, rather than later. I have continued to spend my days working on the coop in Annie's absence. Everything seems to take me longer than it should, but we now have gutters, acrylic windows (completed before we moved the chickens), and the poop deck for the chickens to strut across on their way to the new pen.
I chose the acrylic windows so that they could get heat and light during the winter. I know... it is just a chicken coop, and they are spoiled. However, I thought this would help extend their laying time through the winter, and I do not want them to freeze when the temperature drops below freezing as it has in the past couple of weeks. As proof of their comfort in the new coop, we have had five eggs. I thought that the transition would upset them too much to lay, but there you go.
The storage area has turned out really well.
We can store two bales of straw in the straw bin (lower left). The feed bin (also lower left, but... er... lower) can hold 100 pounds of feed and about 15 pounds of oyster shells. On the lower right is an access panel to the waterer so we can clean it when necessary. The large cooler on the right stores the water. I plumbed it so that we can plug in a hose on the outside of the coop, open a valve, and fill the cooler. The cooler then gravity feeds water to the trough, which has a float valve to shut it off at the right level. I had a similar system before, but had to carry buckets all the time. This will be easier, and of course the cooler is twice as large as the bucket that I had in the old coop.
There are two access panels that stretch clear across above the food and water areas. These are to provide access to the nest boxes without having to walk in to the poop area of the coop. Granted, Annie loves to go in to the coop, and I understand why. Frankly, it is rather soothing to listen to the chickens when they are comfortable and happy. I walked in today and Lila Bird immediately 'assumed the position.' Originally, I found this endearing. After my friend Bruce told me that it meant that she expected me to mount her, it began to sicken me. At any rate, the chickens clucked contentedly while I looked around at how they were doing in the coop.
They have adapted beautifully. Lila Bird and Mickey both perch on the roosts mounted on the right. Mickey prefers the high bar. Unfortunately, Minnie likes to roost on top of the nest boxes, which are now covered in crap. I may need to build something to deter her from that activity...
At any rate, the coop is looking beautiful. I know it is much more than is necessary, but it has taught me a lot, and I like it... So, bite me.
Crowing...
This should be the second to last post regarding the Chickdominium. We have made great progress, and on Christmas Eve, the chickens moved in to their new abode. They do not have a pen, but it has been so cold and rainy, we figured they would appreciate a more cozy, rat-free environment now, rather than later. I have continued to spend my days working on the coop in Annie's absence. Everything seems to take me longer than it should, but we now have gutters, acrylic windows (completed before we moved the chickens), and the poop deck for the chickens to strut across on their way to the new pen.
I chose the acrylic windows so that they could get heat and light during the winter. I know... it is just a chicken coop, and they are spoiled. However, I thought this would help extend their laying time through the winter, and I do not want them to freeze when the temperature drops below freezing as it has in the past couple of weeks. As proof of their comfort in the new coop, we have had five eggs. I thought that the transition would upset them too much to lay, but there you go.
The storage area has turned out really well.
We can store two bales of straw in the straw bin (lower left). The feed bin (also lower left, but... er... lower) can hold 100 pounds of feed and about 15 pounds of oyster shells. On the lower right is an access panel to the waterer so we can clean it when necessary. The large cooler on the right stores the water. I plumbed it so that we can plug in a hose on the outside of the coop, open a valve, and fill the cooler. The cooler then gravity feeds water to the trough, which has a float valve to shut it off at the right level. I had a similar system before, but had to carry buckets all the time. This will be easier, and of course the cooler is twice as large as the bucket that I had in the old coop.
There are two access panels that stretch clear across above the food and water areas. These are to provide access to the nest boxes without having to walk in to the poop area of the coop. Granted, Annie loves to go in to the coop, and I understand why. Frankly, it is rather soothing to listen to the chickens when they are comfortable and happy. I walked in today and Lila Bird immediately 'assumed the position.' Originally, I found this endearing. After my friend Bruce told me that it meant that she expected me to mount her, it began to sicken me. At any rate, the chickens clucked contentedly while I looked around at how they were doing in the coop.
They have adapted beautifully. Lila Bird and Mickey both perch on the roosts mounted on the right. Mickey prefers the high bar. Unfortunately, Minnie likes to roost on top of the nest boxes, which are now covered in crap. I may need to build something to deter her from that activity...
At any rate, the coop is looking beautiful. I know it is much more than is necessary, but it has taught me a lot, and I like it... So, bite me.
Crowing...