Our next project is the hen house! We acquired an unused dog house and I am in the process of deconstructing it. I will then take an inventory of materials, and make a plan for the hen house and chicken run - very exciting! I already injured myself getting some of the boards off with the drill, so I'm off to my usual good start!
We hope to build something that looks like this from the lumber:
Chicken House Update:
This is what I finally came up with from the free lumber from the discarded dog house:
I flew by the seat of my pants on this project for the most part. I really didn't have a written plan or drawn schematic, and now after months of use, I wish I had thought it through a little better. The large door should have been like the one in the picture above, outside the chicken run. Honestly, what was I thinking? Well, obviously I wasn't thinking. It is a hassle to clean out the coop because now I have to go in and out of the chicken run, thus risking one of the girls flying the coop, so to speak. Oh well, hard lesson learned, that is if I actually have learned from it. I also wish I had taken more care in the roof, to make sure it would shed rain better. We don't get a whole lot of rain in SoCal, but when we do, it can be quite a down poor. I have found why it is so important to use roof flashing under the shingles, and I should have extended the upper roof about an inch more over the egg box roof. When it is raining and I life the egg box lid (roof) water gets into the nesting box. My poor girls have been subjected to my lack of carpentry skills.
Apparently, I'm a better duck house builder! This little hen cottage is only temporary as I intend to purchase my dream chicken mansion. More on that later!
Apparently, I'm a better duck house builder! This little hen cottage is only temporary as I intend to purchase my dream chicken mansion. More on that later!
Oh, here is a side view of my coop, where the clean out door should be, but isn't! Oh well, live and hopefully learn!