We started our adventures in yard chicken-keeping final summer season like so many individuals throughout COVID-19. I didn’t know I might quickly consider these feathered mates as family members.
“Loopy hen girl”—that’s what they whispered once I walked into the design heart the place we had our shed constructed a number of years in the past. I arrived with three pages of specs and a need to have a look at least half sane once I mentioned these plans have been for a hen coop.
Whereas my design plans have been specific, my targets have been easy. I hoped to include all of the issues that maximize effectivity, promote a wholesome dwelling surroundings for our chickens and be visually interesting.
Learn extra: These 5 funky coop designs carry some enjoyable to the flock!
Coop Day!
Inside just a few months, the customized coop arrived. We put in an computerized door, hung photo voltaic lanterns and made easy-to-clean dropping boards from corrugated plastic. I sewed hen material panels for the nesting packing containers, hanging them with a strip of Velcro for simple elimination and washing.
Synthetic turf squares within the nesting packing containers make these areas simple to scrub and maintain tidy. We put in {hardware} material on the open eaves, over all of the home windows and across the perimeter to safe the coop from predators.
Within the spring, we had our first broody hen. Earlier than her three good little chicks hatched, I made a customized brooder to suit securely within the unused area underneath the nesting packing containers.
Learn extra: Take a look at this tremendous deluxe Texas hen coop!
Shifting In
The transition to the brand new coop wasn’t the smoothest. For a number of weeks the hens laid their eggs all over the place however within the nesting packing containers. Lastly, the women began to embrace their new dwelling quarters. And we stopped seeing eggs laid on the ground and roosting bars all collectively.
The area on this coop retains my hen math in verify. We’re at most capability. As tempting as it’s so as to add to the flock, the well being of our chickens stays prime precedence.
We have loved proudly owning chickens greater than we might have ever imagined. The expertise has actually been a blessing for our total household. Like so many fellow chicken-keepers, I put on the “loopy hen girl” badge with honor! — Jennifer Kutchey , Manchester, Maryland.
This text initially appeared within the January/February 2022 problem of Chickens journal.
