Weekend

We finally finished the chicken coop! The chickens had gotten far too big for their temporary roost we had made them. Well, they weren't actually too big except for they all want that top roost and therefore step on each other to get that certain roost spot!
We also made their nesting boxes. 6 nesting boxes they get. They say one box per ever 4-5 hen. I have 19, so that should be plenty. And regardless of how many nesting boxes you have, apparently they always fight over the same one...
Jed had some idea for their roost plus a little shelf like thing along the inside of the coop. That way it's more room for them which they'll need in the winter.
I'm so glad I married such a handy man! He did such a good job I think he should go into the chicken coop making business. Ha!
 And then yesterday I white washed the inside of the coop. White washing is essentially painting everything white. However, because of the ingredients you use, it will kill mites, lice, and other bugs that like chickens. Plus it makes things easier to clean and brightens up the coop!
I mixed hydrated lime, borax, salt (dissolved in water) and water. It's super runny and messy but that doesn't matter. At first when I painted it, I could hardly tell I had painted it. But once it was completely dry, it was pure white! Magic stuff.

                 

Before white washing. 

 I should really take some pictures today, as it's had all night to dry. And be pooped all over. There are a few spots that I have to touch up and still paint.

   

Whitewash just put on the walls

Just about dried

Just about all dried. That yellow spot above will dry completely white. 

            

Enjoying their new roosts. And the rafter. Gr. 

Weekend

This weekend was a good one. A little extra sleep in time due to blinds finally in our windows, a nice breakfast, and the day spent outside!

It seems as though on lots of Saturdays, something involving cows always interrupts the day. Thankfully, that wasn't (directly) the case this Saturday! 

I've never had a bad Costco grapefruit!

Dug up a ton of roses 

just passed out

I'm getting quite good at catching chickens. 

 It was a gorgeous day, as usual! I"m loving the warm springs here. I spent all of yesterday outside, got my first burn, and plan on being outside for the rest of today! 

West Side of the coop

North side

We finished the exterior of the chicken coop! Finished the siding, and something else we put up but I don't remember what it's called. The stuff on the corners. Maybe it's just called corner metal? 

East side

South and west side

We had hoped to start on the roosts, but a little fire started and we had to go deal with that for a while. The chicks are fighting crazy over the top roost! Kind of funny to watch actually. They can somehow squish 8 of them on the higher roosts. Apparently, the top roost usually is for those of the top of the pecking order. My smallest chick is always always on the top! Sucks to be the ones below because they likely get pooped on all night long.  They can easily fit on the roosts, if they learned to use the bottom ones! Hopefully this weekend, or next, we can make their permanent roost! 

These pepper plants want out

Mornings aren't his favourite

Moving the Coop

This weekend we were Finally able to move the chicken coop outside. It was supposed to be warm from now on (I'm just hoping) and it was semi-dry outside. We (and by we, I mean Jed) attached a chain to the coop and Bob towed it out with the backhoe. Chicks inside! I had wanted to have a run set up for them outside so they don't have to be inside while they move the coop. But you can't really have an attached run with no coop...

Seeing some natural light for the 2nd time (sad, I know!)

attaching a chain

After their little road trip

Let them out for a while...still not used to it...also doesn't help that the ground was muddy+damp!

 I have since then added a little run, put some chicken wire up against the pig panels, and gave them a ramp to come out their own personal door! I will post pics of that eventually.