Hen House Media: Chicken's EVERYWHERE

What was once described by a client as a place with "...chickens everywhere," in reference to our offices has now become a description of my home life.

While in the midst of building a modest hen house for four chickens (and we only had two) this has suddenly become an insane venture to house six little cluckers, and all before time runs out. Why? because they are living in my house.

Oh, one turns out to be a rooster. ¿Did I mention that?
So, actually, I have six chickens, one hen, a partially built hen house and a house over run with these cute, but foul little fowl.

And now, the wife likes them to stretch their little scaled feet, so she lets them around the small, but functional house. And me, chasing them around with paper towel, oxy clean, and a nagging desire to get them back in their cage because "break time" is over birds... back to being birds.

Thankfully, my older child sees the madness and my younger child sees my panic as she explains that what they really need is little chicken diapers. That might solve everything.

Hen House - The construction, continues.

-B

Hen House: The Build

Hen House Media strives to "right the wrongs" of video production. By working with clients, we create a more synergistic approach to media, but enough of that. I am not here to pitch media and content creation.

I am here to show my exceptional skills as a Master Carpenter, Farmer, Blogger, and Chicken Owner. I figure, that if everyone is trying to be a video producer and post to the web, perhaps it is time I try to do everyone elses job.... Lets see how I make out.

Day 1 of the build:

I framed a nice chicken coop and plan to make a "chicken tractor" to move about my lawn. This will enable my birds to run with grass between their webbed toes. While I only have two at the moment, my wife plans to get two more.

Since I forget the type of chickens, I will have to report on them later... this is a crime and I am mildly embarrassed.



Dimensions:
So, I framed a 4' wide, by 3' deep structure, with the front 4' tall and the back 3' tall. Why? I dunno. I am the expert on this project, so I do what I feel like.


Actually, it made some sense at the time. A structure with four birds, a lamp for the coldest of days, a heated water tray for the same, a nesting box and a roosting bar. All tolled, I figure a base of 4x4 should be more than sufficient and the height is for safety of the lamp.

If anyone understands this, then you are probably more well versed than I am.

Specifics:

I want a sliding snap out tray for the bottom. This will hold newspaper. There will be chicken wire 2" above the "floor" so poop will fall through.

One side will have a sliding 1-1.5 foot door through which I will load food and water. It will slide and lock. Maybe plexi.... So the little buggers get light and I can see that they are not by the door trying to get out.... Thoughts anyone?

There will be ventilation screens at the top with flip down wood, covering. Can be propped open on warm days, shut on winter days.

Back will come completely off via snap latched. Why? Cleaning in the spring. That thing is gonna be way too dirty... will need to be hosed out I suspect. But then again, I have no real idea.

The back will also have a hinged backplate that accesses the nesting box. Eggs my friends, eggs


Ohhhhh, Bantams. I am raising Bantams and it just came to me. Small eggs, but good from what I gather.



Okay, looking down from the top. Front on the bottom. Here is the proposed layout.


Door is bottom center

Bottom left, water and food with slide door on the left wall to access

Straight back left to a little past center is nesting box. One big one. Behind that is a hinged door with clasp lock to access eggs.

The to right, against the wall, is the roosting bar.


Sound good?

More to Follow.

-B

Hen House: The build (Media)