Chicken Coops for Sale in Lillian, Texas
Chicken Coops for Sale in Lillian, Texas
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 Yard Ideas in Lillian, Texas
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Lillian Texas" 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 Lillian Texas chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Lillian, Texas With the significant boost in chicken maintaining there has actually been a just as big rise in the array of fowl paraphernalia for sale. Poultry real estate is a situation in factor. It's likewise a traditional example of the great old bandwagon being jumped on as numerous prospective fowl real estate experts pitch a selection of lodging asserting to be the ideal remedy to your chicken real estate demands. Commonly the price looks appealing, your diy-chicken-coop-planshome looks appealing, heck also the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look eye-catching. Certainly they understand a professional chicken house when they see one? There are numerous economical and nasty cages flooding the market. I know this as I've tested a number of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run directly with one when the feed pail showed up. The result was nothing but an expensive stack of firewood and a tiny group of bemused and currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Setup in Lillian, Texas
Usually these standardized designs are created of fast grown lumber - come the initial decline of rain they swell, leaving you either blockading a doorway that will not shut, or tearing the door furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking occupants. The very first warm and comfortable day means the wood dries out and also fractures, the really felt roof covering bubbles and also boils, and also come nightfall the hens refuse to enter. This is not as a result of their frustration at the decline of their as soon as appealing building yet due to the fact that the hovel is now a haven for, and also most likely abounding, the chicken caretaker's bane, red mite. Add the fact that it said on the blurb that it would match four big hens when that equipping density was based upon the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, as well as what are you left with? A few hinges and also some kindling. A suitable coop for thee to 4 birds need to cost you around ₤ 300 though this could rely on whether you elect for a cost-free standing house or one with a run attached. Presuming you are varying your birds in a huge area and also the pop opening door allows sufficient for the breed you maintain, then the major demands of housing come down to three points which will certainly specify the variety of birds the house will hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. Most types of chicken will perch when they go to roost in the evening, this perch needs to ideally be 5-8cm broad with smoothed off edges so the foot sits conveniently on it. The perch should be higher than the nest box access as chickens will likewise naturally seek the acme to perch. A perch below that will have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is by the way when they generate the most poo) bring about soiled eggs the following day. They shouldn't nonetheless be so high off the floor of your house that leg injuries could possibly happen when the bird gets down in the morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in little breeds this is obviously less), plus if more than one perch is installed in the house they ought to be more than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their next-door neighbors yet are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird ahead. Preferably the house must have a the very least one nest box for every single three birds and also these need to be off the ground and in the darkest area of your house. The house needs to have adequate air flow: without it then condensation will develop every night, also in the coldest of climate. Be aware, air flow works with the concept of warm air leaving via a high void attracting cooler air in from a reduced void - it's not a collection of openings on opposite walls of your home and also at the same degree, this is what's called a draught. If you have a house with a run connected then the factors above are still true, but you must also think about the run dimension. The EU maximum legal equipping thickness for a totally free variety bird is (and also allow's face it, among the motivations for keeping some chickens in your home is perhaps improved or far better welfare) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird each 4m made even. Take a close take a look at several of the deal houses - it could well be your house has the best perches, appropriate air flow and ample nest boxes for a sensible number of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized item of ground to spend the day on? And so as the stating goes, "you obtain exactly what you spend for". You might think you've got hold of a bargain, but you and also your flock can rue the day you did. Acquisition the best house and also it will certainly last for a few decades, if not longer provided the right therapy. In the long run your fowl as well as your poultry keeping experience will be much the better for it.build coops
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