As it turns out, even if I spend seventy-two hours laid up in bed, mostly incoherent, my brain still doesn’t stop thinking about building things. And the thing that has been etching itself on the inside of my skull for the last few weeks is how in the hell I’m going to build a chicken coop. Which you know evolved into a chicken-coop-slash-greenhouse because why build one simple structure when you can make it twice as complicated?
The part that was eating at me was that I’ve been mostly occupied with how to build this thing fast and right. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but this is going to be a permanent structure on the property, so I’d rather take my time building something superfreakingawesome instead of “as quick as possible.”
Like maybe I want to build a turret. Or a stone foundation. Or a drawbridge and a moat (take that coyotes).
Which puts me in quite a conundrum because I’ve got six nuggets living in my spare bedroom right now who ain’t getting any smaller…
So, in the midst of my fever delusions, I had an idea. (I know, right? The ideas I have when my braincells aren’t swooning from the heat are borderline crazy, so this should be good….) Here it is: Why don’t I build two chicken coops?
I mean, seriously what is stopping me from building two chicken coops? I have a lot of tools, a burning desire to build some stuff, and a barn that is easily 4000 square feet in which to store… basically anything. Even a spare chicken coop.
So that settles it. I’m building two coops. First, I’m going to start with a little chicken tractor and run (based off a Martha Stewart version that cost a whopping $1500, which I’m guessing I can build it for under $300 in materials.)
Hoping I can knock it out in two weekends or less, and that will give me a couple more months to work on “the big coop” without the pressure of full-grown chickens living in the house.
And since I’m moving full-steam ahead with outdoor projects this weekend, I’m also planning to knock out half a dozen of these babies.
That’s right folks. Spring is in the air, and I’m about to get my garden on, big time. I actually saw some 1″ cedar fence boards at Lowe’s when I was buying nugget-box supplies, and at $2.50 apiece I think I can build 3×6 raised beds for around $30 each, instead of the $150 it cost me to build the ones at Memorial.
I am going to be making a lot of sawdust this weekend, and it feels so good to be back.
12 Responses
Cool! I hope the energy you have stays with you, I was exhausted just reading!
Woohoo! Two chicken coops. Girl, you are bananas. But in a good way.
And I wish I could do some planter boxes, but my dog would dig them up in about 30 seconds and ruin all my plants. So goes life sometimes.
Sounds like a great weekend. We built most of our planter boxes from free wood we found on craigslist and and inexpensive wood at home depot and it was hours of enjoyment.
My sister’s coop, which she built, is a similar design.
When she replies with pictures, I’ll send them on to you, so you have some other points of view! She has an organic farm so moves the coop around so her “girls” will help enrich the soil.
That coop is awesome!! I wish I could have done nuggets. And maybe a goat!
You could probably save a little $ and use the wheels off of one or two of your million spare wheelbarrows!
Can’t wait to see the finished coops!
Kat – I found this and thought of you – beer can shingles! http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/chicken-coop-made-beer-cans-and-salvaged-parts.html#mkcpgn=fbth1
Ooh, can’t wait to hear about those raised beds!
We loved our chicken tractors, but they didn’t work very well with the sprinkler system. Ever heard the phrase, “Mad as a wet hen!” Wet, mad hens don’t lay eggs. I can’t wait to see your finished coops, I’m sure they will be awesome!
Looking forward to seeing your creations as well. Will you be sharing the plans (and measurements..) with us?? I really want to build a coop, and get me a couple of nuggets.
I can’t wait to see your coop. So… all I wanted for mine and Aaron’s anniversary was chickens. Ya know, since we live right in the middle of the city. And he got me some. Holla. http://interiorsbykenz.com/chickens-in-the-house/
But yeah… we keep fighting on what kind of coop to build. He REALLY wants a tractor. I really want something like this:
http://pinterest.com/pin/219832025533747200/
So yeah, I’ve got that fight I need to win. Good luck with your sawdusting.
Good luck on your project. Looking forward to seeing your post on this when it’s done.
Its funny we kept chickens as kids but Ive never been brave enough to do it with my own kids, my eldest is desperate for us to as they are doing a farm project at school, if I could have a coop as fab as that I think I might just give in
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