The Chicken Coop

The original coop I had planned just wasn't happening!
I found this playhouse at Lowes.com in Santa Clarita. Loi was generous enough to not only pick it up and haul it down in his truck for me, but then put it together! It took about five very hot hours; there were lots of small pieces to attach.
The girls are enjoying it outside now. After carefully stapling hardware cloth in the windows, and heavy chicken wire at the top sides (hens need lots of ventilation), I *think* it's predator-proof, especially from nasty raccoons. Next up on the agenda is finishing the chicks' run; this is the stick frame to the right of the coop.


Here is half the large trench I dug out from under the coop/run area. I put the chicken wire down, then refilled the trench with dirt. Securing the sides of the wire up onto the coop wood will keep the predators out. They won't be able to dig underneath and get into the chicks.
They enjoyed looking for worms that might be unearthed in a shovelful of dirt. They have grown, and no longer look like downy little chicks. They are bonafide (albeit small) chickens.