This little building was over on the corner near our house and I’m not real sure what the former owners had in mind to do with it but we decided to make it into a second chicken coop.
It seems to me that it took more work than it would take to start from scratch but what do I know? They had to take the metal off the roof because Steve, the builder, is a perfectionist. Then, because Steve, the builder, is a perfectionist, they took the trusses down and the posts and re-squared the little building.
New metal, new roof, new trusses, framed for doors on each end. This is actually going to be a chicken duplex because it will be divided and one side will be for bantams and one side will be overflow from the first coop . . the 6 Dominiques will be there for now.
Two windows are in now (though only one was in when I took the picture). Vince is going to take the wood from the bottom half of the back side (it’s kinda like barnwood) and frame up around the windows so all the wood will match on the front. On the back side, which is the woods side, he’ll build the nesting/laying boxes and use some other kind of wood. It will all be stained to preserve it and keep it looking like an old barn (vs. painting it).
He will have to fence a run for them and it will have to be divided too so the bantams and the full chicks don’t mix and cause my full size chickens to produce half size chickens.
I’m so hoping that by next weekend we can move the chickens over there and get them all out of the shop. What this all means though is that by the time they have food and water inside the coops and runs, I’ll have 6 containers of food and 6 containers of water to maintain. Whose idea was all this anyway? 🙂
All I have to say is . . one of these hens better lay some golden eggs! Since we paid Steve, the perfectionist, to build both these coops, we’ve spent more $$ on these Texas chickens than we ever imagined possible. We just thought we spent a lot on the Missouri chickens!!
Dora, the quilter says
The good thing about all the $$$ is that you are now farmers, so those $$$ qualify as business expenses.
I’m sure it will be great to have it all done so that you can really enjoy your chickens.
JudyL says
Nope, we’re not one of those kinds of farmers. In order to deduct the expenses, we would have to show a real effort to be making $$ off the farm and we are not doing that. It’s a hobby for us and we have no intention of ever making money off the farm so we don’t qualify for deductions for a business expense.
Mary Jo says
Those better be some good eggs! Nothing is as good as a fresh egg from your own chickens. I grew up on eggs (as well as lots of other things) from my grandparents farm and the fist time I ate store bought eggs I couldn’t believe the difference in the taste!
Helen Koenigl says
LOL – was just thinking that NEXT year you will be staying away from the tractor supply store!!!! Those adorable baby chicks DO grow up! Sorta like babies who grow up to become (gasp!) teens!
Cathy S says
It will all be worth it the very first time you taste one of your very own home fresh eggs.
Myra says
I am so envious of your chickens and your garden — at least the bi-products: eggs, fresh tomatoes, squash, green beans, watermelon, etc., but not the hard work!!!
I know you have layer hens, but are you also going to have pullets? There is nothing like farm fresh eggs AND farm fresh fried chicken!!
leslie cole says
beautiful blue sky
Deb Sarhan says
Had to laugh when you said a duplex for the chickens. When we had more land and less kids – we used to raise rabbits. I had worked out some blueprints that made 5 rabbit hutches from the same lumber with very little cutting involved – only had to cut 2 of the 16 foot boards into pieces – the other 4 were left whole. Mesh screening, and I had homes for my rabbits within hours. Then dh decided he could do better – and built them a duplex – but not side by side …. top and bottom. I asked him who was going to bathe the poor rabbits that ended up living downstairs ….. silly man. Love hearing the chicken stories again …. one day when my kids grow up and don’t need me so much, we’ll have land and animals again….
Angie says
I’ve wondered since the start of the chicken purchases—what are your plans for all the eggs? I pass a “Egg Stand” on the side of the road on my trips into the west county. rural area. It consist of a large wooden table. An ice chest filled with cartons of fresh eggs. A locked money box attached to the fence post and a big bright red umbrella. A sign nailed to the table says “Fresh Eggs” $4.00 Dozen”. with instructions to leave payment in the slotted money box. You are on your honor with payments. I have seen several customers stopped there buying fresh eggs. I thought I would pass this on if you want to try something like this to sell your overflow of eggs. Which no doubt you will have with the amount of chickens you now have.