Update... Chickens, everywhere...

Living way out here in the woods, there are things that need done each year. The firewood needs to be chopped and stacked, the house needs to be weatherized, the garden space needs cleaned up, and so on. This year, for some reason, we decided to get chickens. I was unawares of "chicken-math" before the wife picked up a couple-12 <cough> chickens. Then four more... so far. 

While I like chicken, especially nuggets, these are the "laying" type of chickens, meaning they are not for the smoker, the stove, the oven or any other thing that turns them into food. Besides, the wife already named them. Which apparently means they are people now. 

The crappy part is that I don't like eggs unless they are in other foods. This isn't so bad, those foods include but are not limited to CAKE! And even though one of the chickens grew a penis and started yelling at the break of dawn, there are still over a dozen more chances for me to get said cake. 

Now, here's the problem, the tiny coop we got before the "chicken math" happened was not even close to being large enough for all of the chickens which means I had to make something to house them while they got bigger and bigger. So, I had to build a larger coop. Now keep in mind, this is more of a "chicken mansion" than a coop. 

One of the reasons you all haven't received those sweet, sweet updates and weekly posts, is because I have been far too busy building that coop. 

Let me explain. I didn't just go to the big box store and buy a bunch of 2x4s, poultry netting, and metal roofing to build this thing. I didn't buy some plans and do some week end warrior shit to make it happen. This isn't a coop that came pre-fab. This is from the ground up.

I got up, I got my saw, my kit, and my safety gear. Then I wen out into the woods and found a couple trees that needed to go. I dropped them. Then I dragged them back to the shop, put them on the sawmill, and cut them to length. I drew up some plans and got to work on a robust and secure chicken coop that will last 20 years or more.

Keep in mind, we have bears and cougars up here, so my chicken coop looks a little more like a chicken prison. But it's all for the good of the flock, to keep them safe from these guys, who have been within a hundred feet of our house on a number of occasions:

"Boo-Boo Bear"

"Snaggle-puss"

So my chicken coop needed a little something more. In this case flood lights, solar powered fans, five gallon feeder/water buckets, reenforced foundation (wire netting under it), and half inch rebar on the windows. Oh yeah, and 15 insulated laying boxes inside. 

Bottom line: These Chickens have a more secure house than I do. 

It's been a trip to make something from a ground up. From raw resources to finished product. The hardest part was dealing with "green wood" which shrinks as it ages. I think I got it solved though. Anyway, the coop part is done, now for the chicken run to keep those little bastard "dinosaur-birds" happy. The coop part is done, and I give you, what is known in our house as "The Pink Poultry Club". 

Cheers!