CHICKENS

A while ago we decided that we want to become more sustainable as a family... that means growing a lot of our own food, and raising some animals that can function as both pets and producers. The logical first place to start was with chickens. So one weekend I built a coop in the big side-yard behind the garage. I had to buy a lot of the lumber, but I was able to reuse a 100 year old window and one of the hideous awnings that I pulled off the front of our house. Turns out the awning made a pretty cool roof. Thanks to Uncle Dirty for his help building the coop... although I don't think I'll ever let that guy near my framing gun again.

The Coop: the ramp is on hinges- it swings up and bolts shut at night so the hens are completely safe inside. The compartment on the left side holds 2 laying boxes, accessible from the outside via a small door so the eggs can be collected without entering the coop area.

The red window, salvaged from a remodel I did a few years ago on a turn of the century house.

Our first hens "Baiyoon" and "Bindap", named by our 1.5 year old son Hank. By the time we got them I had enclosed the 6' by 15' coop area with a six foot tall chicken wire fence secured down by 4x4 and concrete "deadmen." That should keep the coyotes and coons out, but just in case the Hawks decide to drop in I covered the whole thing with heavy duty bird mesh stretched over the top of the wire fence. So far, no problems.

Our 3 pullets, "Newspaper," "Zebra," and "Boromir." They should start laying sometime around June. Two Plymouth Barred Rocks and an Ameroucauna.

Boromir chicken is pretty dumb. In fact, they all are. But they are pretty gentle and Hank has a great time herding them around with a stick in the backyard. When we are home we let them roam the property, eating bugs and weeds and fertilizing the lawn. Between the two older hens we get 6-10 eggs a week, but once the pullets start laying that should more than double and we can begin to give fresh, organic, truly free range eggs to our friends or even sell them.