Well, yesterday I set about to use up those scrap 2x4s, determined not to have to buy any, and made the frame/studs for the tiniest chicken coop on the front range! :) I have 4 little chicks that are outgrowing their tote in the breeze way and need an outdoor arrangement. I did it! The frame work is complete and I did not spend a thing! The only thing that I need to buy at the moment are screws because I ran out, one short so I found a long enough nail to do the trick. (it's called making do with what you have on hand)
Last night we took a family walk down those two blocks again in search of boards for the sides. What a gold mine! He was cleaning up the place, loading up a trailer with sundry items that were begging me for a better life! I now have the siding, the shingles, some things that-I-forget-what-they-are-called to use for a feed trough, and what makes me shiver with glee are the weathered panels of privacy fence that are now proudly hiding "out back" waiting my eager hands and brain! I've been wishing for old barn boards for all those lovely things I see around but can't find any without having to pay dearly for them. Now, I have stacks...FREE!!! I told Nev that my only problem is that I have so many now that in my happiness of mind, I can't think of what to make first!
Back to the chickens! My goal is to construct a well made, look-nice-enough-even-to-city-people, nearly expense free chicken coop and I nearly have it accomplished! My dear friend says she has the wire I need for the run so I even have that covered! I am ecstatic! I don't have any picts yet but perhaps when I get to the next faze I'll remember my camara.
For now, I need to go clean the church house.
How exciting! Oh...I'm so jealous of your sweet chickies but they look like they are in good hands! I haven't posted how to make a chicken coop but plan to soon. Our first six chicks grew up in a four foot homemade snake cage. Then we transformed the guinea pig box by putting a lid and legs on it. Finally we broke down and built a portable chicken coop. My teens had a great time.
ReplyDeleteI have a video that I will post soon of visiting my friends in Austin and they let me hold and pet one of their hens.
Good for you that you scrounged so frugally! I'm impressed! That's how I'd do it if I didn't have a big enough stash for wood.
Have you raised chickens before? If not, let me know if you have any questions. My friends call me the 'chicken lady'.
Donna, I love how you make me feel like I've known you for years! I do believe you would be one of those ladies that I refer to in my heart as "another one of my moms". I've not raised chickens myself but my "real" mother has had chickens all my life at home. I stayed away from them then because they did not appeal to me at all when there were 50 in a hen house! But this is a fun way for me to start, with only 4. I think we have 1 rooster but still can't tell? I'll be sure to remember you if I run into trouble! :)
ReplyDeleteYay for you! I'm still gonna make a "house" of some kind one day, just to prove I can! (Marv thinks I can't) :) Have fun with your chickens. Mine need butchered but will have to wait another week.
ReplyDeleteI am seriously considering turning my old garden spot into a chicken yard. I, too, am scrounging for srap lumber to build a small house. I wasnt going to get any again, but hey - if I have a goat, I may as well have some chickens, right?! ;-) I'm gonna paint my coop, so the different colored wood doesn't look so...scrounged. ;-) Now if I can only convince my dh to allow a nice, big, dog! lol!
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