When we moved to bucolic Bucks County , Pennsylvania , 6 years ago , one of the first thing we did was name our dimension the “ Almosta Farm . ” It was a routine of our humour evince through there since we had five wienerwurst ( three Gallic bulldogs and two pugs ) but no other animals — only a dream .
betimes last outpouring , we settle as a family to dive into the world of chickens . fortuitously , our elderly neighbor were looking to pare down on some things , one being a 10 - by-12 - foot previous storage shed that had n’t been of use to them for many geezerhood .
It was structurally sound , and we had to have it moved . But we thought we could make it our Almosta Farm biddy house with a chip of hard body of work and modifications .
Building Better
We did all the mending , rebuild , construction , retrofitting , painting , etc . ourselves on weekends or evening as weather permitted . We instal a whole new roof with a corrugated one , total a Modern window for increased cross - ventilation , added better top venting and construct new shutter and matching door .
We also built a wooden wild leek for in effect access , separated the inside into two section so there were human and chicken sides , installed an automatic doorway and hand wrapped 2 - by-4s with sisal hemp Mexican valium for roosting legal profession .
I even purchase an old hutch top at Goodwill for $ 35 and , with some carpentry modifications , paint and touch theme was able to make an endearing nesting box for the Lady to gift us with their beautiful eggs . I then create all the ramps out of lumber rubbish that were laying around my shed and make a storage field as well on the human side to aid with nutrient prep and storage of supply .
learn more : Is there such a affair as the “ perfect ” chicken cage ?
Home Is Where the Hens Are
On the other side , I used some flea market finds for seating so we can advert out with the ladies and chatter in their crystal pendant - lit home . The running play is a bit temporary for now , just a metal one purchased online , but we have vulture - proof the entire setup .
We ’ll build a wooden one next spring and add an additional run on the other side .
I placed an order with Meyer Hatchery for a batch of spring hatching , so we have a May deadline in our mind . Our flock had get down modestly with our four Golden Girls . However , chicken math being what it is , we now have multibrooder setups . As they say : If you’re able to number how many chickens you have , then you just do n’t have enough !
I guess that may stop up being our Modern family mantra here on our short “ Almosta Farm ” heaven .
— Brooke , Nick & Tristan Henningsen , Doylestown , Pennsylvania
This article in the beginning appeared in the March / April 2023 matter ofChickensmagazine as a “ Cool Coop ” lineament . Have a cool coop you ’d wish to share?Email us a short write - up ( ~250 to 500 words ) about your poulet coop along with a few image tochickens@chickensmagazine.comwith the subject lineOne Cool Coop , and admit your name and mailing address . ascertain outChickensmagazine for current prize and contest rule .
