Chicken Coops for Sale in Storm Lake, Iowa
Chicken Coops for Sale in Storm Lake, Iowa
A Recycled Chicken Coop – Part 2
Yesterday I about how we picked the old building to remodel into our chicken coop. We also started building the run but the ground froze before we could get all the posts set. Ah the joys of a Wisconsin winter! Since we couldn’t work on the run any more, we moved on to the building itself. I’m a list/classify kinda gal so I like to think of the work in phases.
Recycled Chicken Coop Phase 1: Destroy
Recycled Chicken Coop Phase 2: Rebuild
Recycled Chicken Coop Phase 3: Details
So we jumped right in with Phase 1. We slipped on some face masks and gloves, grabbed the snow shovel and started cleaning up the raccoon poop and broken pots. We also removed the two old broken windows. The third window was in good shape so we left it. (And by “we” I mainly mean Josh. I forget where I was, but I’m sure it was very important to miss such a fun time.) I arrived on the scene just in time to take a photo. (Hmm, maybe I was out buying a camera since this is now in the ANC time period: After New Camera.)
Once we got it all relatively nice and clean, we made a huge mess by ripping the cardboard wall coverings down. It was pretty yucky because the board had gotten wet and was a little soggy and gooey.
Next we pulled down all the old siding on two walls of the building. Most of it was rotten and in pretty rough shape. We even removed the door because of the raccoon pet door (AKA: huge hole) in the bottom.
Before
After
Everybody helped!
Both sides done
And with that, Phase 1: Destroy! was completed.
Now we move on to Phase 2: Rebuild. We scored two big storm windows off Craigslist for $10 each so Josh built frames for them. Here we are testing the first one to make sure it fits. Being newbies at this sort of thing, it’s always hit or miss. Sometimes we amaze ourselves and sometimes, well, it ain’t pretty. So we held our breath and fit it into place.
Success! Sometimes we can read a tape measure! (And in case you are wondering, yes it is on backwards. My dad pointed that out as soon as I showed him this photo. I’d like to say that we knew that but, um, we didn’t. We thought it wouldn’t matter but for drainage purposes you shouldn’t just turn them inside out. Live and learn, right?)
So we removed the test window and then covered the two bare sides with tar paper that is normally used for roofing. Now, I’m not sure if that is exactly what we should have used (again, newbies!) but I got it from someone on Freecycle for FREE so that’s what we went with. (I also got a few bundles of shingles with the paper. We need to re-shingle another building here on the homestead. Gotta love Freecycle! If you don’t know about it, check it out .)
After cutting out the windows and door areas from the black paper, we went shopping on the homestead again, this time for siding. Now, our lives would have been easier if we just went to a real store and bought something new. But in the interest of money-saving and world-saving, we wanted to use whatever we could from the farm. We had two buildings to work with. First was the old chicken coop and the second was an old building behind the barn. A previous owner had already removed the siding from one wall of building so we figured we could too.
The result of previous siding shopping trips
What we removed
I don’t know how we would have done it without our little nail puller. Even though it took us a long time, it was worth it. Not only did I save some money, but I am glad that these buildings were able to still be useful. Both the old chicken coop and the building in the photos were part of the original homestead over 100 years ago. They have the remains of plaster and molding in them. You can see where stairs and woodstoves once sat. It’s easy to imagine a child climbing the stairs to their bed in the loft or a woman cooking over the big stove in the center of the room. Since their glory days, they have been used as houses for chickens, hogs and lambs. That kind of rough life has taken it’s toll on the buildings.
The old farmhouse where the stairs once led up to the loft
It makes me sad that they have gotten so rundown so I’m glad that we can make them useful again, even if it is only in a very small way.
The next two weekends were spent taking down siding from the old buildings, cutting them for the new coop and putting them up.
Our workstation - professional looking isn't it?
We had to work around the snowstorms but we finally got it done! Once we permanently installed the windows, it looked like a REAL building! Imagine that. We were pretty proud of ourselves since we really had no clue what we were doing.
Our "new" siding and windows
That concludes Phase 2: Rebuild! (If only it were that simple and quick in real life.) And since you’re probably on photo overload, I’d better conclude this post for today. But I’ll be back tomorrow with Phase 3: Details. See you then!
Other posts that might be of interest:
Chicken Coop Blueprints in Storm Lake, Iowa
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Storm Lake Iowa" into any one of the numerous search engines and a wealth of information will pop up. This information will provide links to other websites that will be informative and will provide the right direction for finding Storm Lake Iowa chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Storm Lake, Iowa With the big increase in chicken keeping there has actually been a similarly large surge in the variety of chicken stuff for sale. Chicken real estate is an instance in point. It's also a timeless example of the good old bandwagon being got on as numerous prospective fowl housing specialists peddle a selection of lodging asserting to be the optimal solution to your chicken real estate demands. Frequently the rate looks attractive, your house looks attractive, heck even the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look appealing. Definitely they recognize a quality chicken house when they see one? There are many inexpensive as well as unpleasant coops swamping the marketplace. I recognize this as I've tested a number of them in the field, and also seen a ewe run directly with one when the feed bucket showed up. The result was nothing but an expensive pile of firewood as well as a little flock of bemused as well as currently homeless bantams.
Baby Chick Hatcheries in Storm Lake, Iowa
Typically these mass produced models are constructed of rapid grown wood - come the first decrease of rainfall they swell, leaving you either defending a doorway that will not close, or ripping the doorway furniture off in a vain effort to launch the squawking residents. The initial warm day means the lumber dries and also splits, the felt roof bubbles and boils, and also come nightfall the hens refuse to enter. This is not due to their frustration at the decrease of their once desirable home but considering that the hovel is currently a sanctuary for, and also probably crawling with, the chicken keeper's nemesis, red mite. Add on that it stated on the blurb that it would certainly fit four large chickens when that equipping density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also just what are you entrusted? A number of joints as well as some kindling. A suitable coop for thee to 4 birds need to cost you around ₤ 300 though this could depend upon whether you choose for a totally free standing house or one with a run affixed. Assuming you are varying your birds in a large room and also the pop opening doorway allows sufficient for the breed you keep, then the primary requirements of housing come down to three points which will certainly define the variety of birds the house will hold; perches, nest boxes and ventilation. Most breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they visit roost at night, this perch ought to preferably be 5-8cm vast with smoothed off sides so the foot rests pleasantly on it. The perch should be above the nest box entry as chickens will also naturally try to find the acme to perch. A perch lower than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is by the way when they produce one of the most poo) causing stained eggs the following day. They shouldn't nevertheless be so high off the flooring of your home that leg injuries can take place when the bird comes down in the early morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in small types this is undoubtedly less), plus if more than one perch is installed in the house they must be more than 30cm apart. They will certainly hunker up with their neighbors however are not that crazy about roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Ideally your home should have a the very least one nest box for every single three birds as well as these should be off the ground and in the darkest area of the house. Your house should have appropriate air flow: without it then condensation will build up every night, even in the chilliest of climate. Understand, ventilation works with the principle of cozy air leaving with a high space attracting cooler air in from a reduced void - it's not a collection of openings on opposite walls of the house as well as at the exact same degree, this is exactly what's known as a draft. If you have a house with a run attached then the points above are still true, however you must additionally take into consideration the run dimension. The EU maximum lawful stocking density for a totally free variety bird is (as well as allow's face it, among the motivations for keeping some hens in your home is potentially enhanced or far better well-being) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m settled. Take a close consider several of the deal residences - it could well be your home has the right perches, appropriate ventilation and sufficient nest boxes for a sensible number of birds, but will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized piece of ground to invest the day on? Therefore as the saying goes, "you obtain exactly what you pay for". You could believe you've grabbed a deal, yet you as well as your flock can rue the day you did. Purchase the best house and also it will certainly last for a couple of decades, if not longer given the proper treatment. Eventually your chicken and also your chicken keeping experience will certainly be considerably the much better for it.for sale build
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