My little nuggets are growing up fast. It's been about a month since I began making their coop, and I'm happy to say that, aside from the vinyl siding and outdoor pen, it's done!
I framed out each wall individually and carried them out to the base in the backyard to install. Amazingly, everything fit.
I then notched and installed the 2x6 rafters and put the tar roll and tin on the roof first first to protect from rain.
With Ilya's help, we installed the 6x3' back window so the girls can have tons of natural light and see the sunrises. He insulated the coop while I hammered the boards on the outside and even built the entire nest box since I was at a loss on how to do so. We then tyveked the coop to weatherproof it.
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| Hubby's insulation and nest box |
(The metal roof sticking out was just a temporary shelter for Ilya so he could work on the nest box since it had started raining..)
I spent another week ply wooding the inside walls, installing 1/2" metal mesh to the inside of the windows and vent to keep predators out, installed the perches and chicken walk, and put the lip and divider on the nest box.
Then, on 6/7... the big day came. EVICTION TIME!!!
The girls are about 4 weeks old now, and they had quickly outgrown their little brooding box. They were starting to squabble with each other more and more, the tension was palpable.
They got bucket-rides out to their little outside pen, and they probably thought this was just another ride to the pen for recess.. Little did they know this was their last bucket ride to adulthood.. or chickenhood.
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| Bucket O' Nuggets |
Their unleashing into the new coop was met with much flapping around and rejoicing. They spent a good half hour exploring everything and are much happier now. And momma is too, it took me an hour to clean the dust and fuzzies out of the porch, and it'll probably smell like a barnyard for another couple of weeks.. Totally worth it.
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| Freedom! |
