The Chicken Shed

It started with our find on Craigslist.  This little shed/playhouse was right around the corner from our home. Cute, tin roof, good price.  Perfect.

We knew the stairs would have to go.  We couldn't understand why the family wanted to sell, especially since they had two small children.

The minute we put it on our property, He-Man decides it's too nice for a coop.  He puts up a mock extension to get an idea of what it would look like if we expanded the size.

And so the building begins...

... one side for a coop, another side for lawn equipment storage and the original center area: a garden shed.

The balcony rails will be recycled for the porch railings.

This is the back view.  On the left is the coop with a clean out door under the roost, a ventilation window and then of course, the regular door.  The center section (under the round window) is the garden tool (rakes, hoes...)and feed storage area.
The double door area to the right is the lawn equipment section (mower). 

This is the front view.  A small side note here: see the corner brackets on the porch?  I bought those more than five years ago and stored them with a coop in mind.  It's so great to finally see them used.

Doors going up in the back.

Once all the doors and windows were in, the chickens were released from their huge converted refrigerator box to the coop.  I had read from chicken blogs that the easiest and cleanest material in a coop was white sand.  It's a desiccant that dries up the poop and keeps their feet clean.  I rake out the dried poop from time to time.  So far, so good.

This is basically the finished product of the outside before the vegetable garden beds were planted. 

Then came the chicken run.  It had to be tall enough to walk inside so when the time came to clean it, there would be no problem.  It also had to be 100% totally enclosed to protect against predators.  This is the front view...

... this is the back view before the chicken door was put in.  I had saved some big limbs from our lightening-struck oak tree to be used for seating and perching by both humans and chickens.

I think this is their first time venturing outside.  I imagine they are thrilled since they've lived in our laundry room for one month or more.  Then the coop for another month or more.  

And this is one of our family favorite past times: sitting in the run and giving the chickens treats.  We're very exciting people!  I call it "Run Fun".  I added the hay to give the chickens something to scratch through while looking for bits and bugs. 

Once again, I just have to thank He-Man.  I never dreamed my simple request for a chicken coop would become this fantastic chicken palace.  We love it. 

Love From Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine 

and Hens

(plus one rooster).