Latest chicken adventure...very pic heavy...

[MontyJ]

Today was the longest day of chicken chores so far. I knew I had to get the CX out of the small brooder and into something larger. So, I decided to finally get the old shed repaired and convert it into a chicken coop. I got up early and headed off to Lowes. On the way back I stopped at TSC. Finally, the moment I was waiting for...CX on sale for $.99 each! I was hoping for $.75 but I wasn't going to wait for them to come down any more. I bought all they had left, which turned out to be 20. Now I really had a problem. Twenty new chicks and nowhere to put them. Fortunately, I was planning ahead while at Lowes

I got home and put the new chicks into the temporary box I used last time and put them under a lamp in the bedroom. Time to go to work:

The shed was in pretty bad shape. Most of the problem was with the doors and the front area of the floor:

I tore the front off and removed the rotten floor and joists:

Then I replace the rotten joist and floor:

Next I framed in a new front wall and covered it. I was running out of time so I threw a quick door together and hung it. I'm not worried about a chicken door just yet:

I installed a two bay brooder. One side is for the new chicks, the other for the older CX chicks:

Now to add some chicks:

and the older ones:

All told, it took 12 hours from start to finish. Everyone is much happier. The layers have their own brooder and don't have to fight the giants for their dinner. The older CX have a lot more room to move around, and the new babies have plenty of room to get started. It was well worth the trouble

 

[lesa]

WooHoo! Nice job! The chickens will be very happy in there! That was a great days work... Keep us posted on your progress!

 

[shadetree]

Good days work.

New roof and some ventilation in the front may be in order. Are you going to let these monsters run outside?

Have you considered Fermented Feed? It is said it increases protein by ~12% and decreases odor immensely along with gut health. Go to BYC under meaties and look at Beekissed's information on Fermented Feed for more information.

Looks great. I look forward to watching your progress.

henry

 

[ninnymary]

A job well done! It looks nice and spacious. Aren't you glad you got it done?

Mary

 

[RidgebackRanch]

Well done! Time goes fast when doing stuff like this. In the long run it's always worth it.

 

[thistlebloom]

Productive day Monty! Looks like the weather smiled on you too!

 

[RidgebackRanch]

Amen to that! And having the right tools makes everything much easier too...

 

[bj taylor]

great work monty. really nice shed. you're so smart to create two brooders like that.
i'm wrestling w/one brooder. i'm going to get some babies on Monday. I have yet to get their brooder lined out. I think I've decided on the dog crate. i'll wrap it so it won't have drafts. delawares/buff orp/wyandottes - it'll be good.

 

[Carol Dee]

 

[journey11]

They all look snug and happy in their new home.