Chickens coop.

Well the coop was finished yesterday. So today Jess and I got to work modifying it for service as a chicken coop. We Primed the bare wood and built an inside door and wall. Tomorrow if the weather is good we will finish the painting if not we will pick up some flooring plastic and finish installing wire on the wall.

Progress

Well taking the week off of work is turning out to be productive already. We got our old truck towed away. It was a great old truck but I just didn't have the time and resources to bring it back to life. I guess it was truck-triage. Also got a decent mowing done on the yard and am trying to dry some of the longer grass from the ditches for use as straw bedding. The process that I am using is too time consuming for larger use but I think it is showing itself to be an option if I improve my method. The Chickens continue to grow fast as weeds. Good thing we are having a shed built today to convert to a coop.

Memorial day

Well it is Memorial day already. So much to do now that summer is here. It is easy to get caught up in the planting and planning. Just the same though I feel it is important to stop and remember the servicemen who bought our freedoms with the dearest of coins.

Why?

The other day my wife told me that people at her work asked her why we were raising chickens. I figure that is as good a reason as any to explain what we are doing here. I am not entirely sure where or when I started to take an interest in self-sufficiency. I know that I always enjoyed the outdoors, always wanted to explore the woods and rivers. I have always been fascinated by growing and living things. I guess that in a big picture way of looking at it I was always heading down this path. So why chickens then? Well we were ready for livestock and our acreage is to small for sheep or cattle.

Projects update

I figured now that the chickens have a new home I should update you all on the status of a few other projects. The Dandelion wine for 2007 is off to a good start. We also ate radishes from the garden tonight for dinner. Also the hops have survived and are starting to grow up the twine. The only failure we have had this spring is the raspberry transplants. And on top of it all we finally got some rain today, gotta love that.

Chickens moved out today

Well Jess is much relieved as the chickens are no longer taking up residence in our kitchen.
We moved them in to the chicken tractor today and plan to keep them there until their coop is built next week. They are doing a bit of hop flying already at only three weeks old today.

Chicken tractor is finished for now

Well the chicken tractor is finished for now. I plan to move the chicks into it for the next 2 weeks and after the shed is built I will move them into that. I still need to add wheels of some sort and plan to give it another coat of paint before it becomes a chicken tractor for real.

Chickens

Well the chickens continue to grow and and work on the chicken tractor continues. So far the tractor is fully built and just needs to be painted. I hope to post pictures of the painted tractor tomarrow. We also ordered a shed to be built on the property on Friday. Otherwise the drought continues. Looking forward to rain possibly a soaking rain later next week.

Chicken tractor

I spent the last 2 days working on a combination chicken tractor and brooder coop. I need to hurry as the chicks are feathering out quickly and are starting to try and fly.

First post

Well it is 1:oo AM, must be time to start a blog.