Hardware Cloth

More work on the coop today. 

Hardware cloth is not fun by any means. 

It catches on everything!

But it is great stuff for chicken coops and runs. We put it on this wall temporarily-where the nest boxes will eventually go (chicks don't need them right now). I painted the lower part of the studs so that no more painting will need to be done inside the coop after the chickens move in. Stinky oil paint is not so good for them. I can finish the boxes elsewhere beforehand and just install them when it's time.

Looking in through the newly installed inside door. There's hardware cloth on it too.

The boards on the floor are to (hopefully) keep the pine shavings where they belong.

The roost is installed. It may be a bit high for the little ones right now. Might have to make them a little step plank to get up there...

We're hoping to introduce the chicks to their new home before the holiday weekend is over. 

Crossing our fingers!

Chicken Therapy

 The baby, next to the largest of our chicks. She's got major Uglies this week. 

One of the Polish checking out the camera amidst the dinner feeding frenzy

Mr Tom, aka "Fried", is about double the size of everyone else

Very curious tonight

Huh?

Bad hair day every day. (S)he kept trying to sneak out on me.

I'm serious about the therapy. They are great stress relief!

See? You had a good laugh too, didn't you?

We Have High Hopes

...For good summer eating...

 We planted the garden this past weekend with:

tomatoes, potatoes, onions, leeks, lettuce, brussel sprouts (we're going to try them anyways), beans, zucchini, yellow squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, beets, and hopefully some carrots in there too.

We're already enjoying the rhubarb and asparagus, and the raspberry canes are coming back strong!

 I've never seen this vine before, but it's good down to zone 2. Called "Autumn Revolution" and produces some kind of orange-like fruit.For birds though, not human consumption!

I also picked up a few "Tinkerbelle" lilacs. I'm hoping to beautify the outside of the chicken coop a bit. Why not have some flowers in the garden too?

Lazy Sunday

 Lil' guy zonked out in the middle of the laundry

 

Peekabo

Zoned out/in on something else!

March's snow leftovers

 Snowzilla about to attack the small snowman.

Chickens!

 End of the first week at home

 We ended up with Red Stars, Polish, Silver and Gold-Laced Wyandottes, Auracaunas, and others that I can't think of right now! Plus the Broad Breasted Turkey.

 Cute little fuzz butts, aren't they?

About a week and a half later, in the Uglies stage. Almost makes 'em cute!

Our turkey is getting a little neck!

Gold laced Polish:

 

Later in the week: Strawberries!

 Nap time

Feathers of the turkey and a Red Star

These are from two nights ago:

Funny acting Polish

 It's a roo...!

 Our baby (two weeks younger than the rest) has taken to sleeping on the turkey at night. The turkey has become the little one's bodyguard lately too. Way cute.

And my all time favorite pic from a few weeks ago. Hard not to laugh at this turkey:

Sorely Neglected

Sorry for absolutely no blogging for so long. I knew that it had been a long time, but didn't realize this long! Oy.

So here is what we have been up to this past month:

 

8 x16

 The main coop area, looking to the right when you enter. The metallic stuff on the floor is actually a sheathed insulated board. It is on top of the original floor sheeting. Then we topped the insulated board with another layer of plywood.

Standing in the main coop area and looking towards the entry door and "people" area. The nest box area is going to be on the dividing wall.

 

 The outside trim.

 

Wall sheeting finally up. We insulated the walls and ceiling before.

 

 Interior paint is done. Still need to put another coat on the trim though.

 The nesting boxes will be painted a dark indigo. Just the primer right now.

Flooring.

Yup. It's a big chicken coop. 

For these little kiddos: