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Tuesday 27 March 2012

Chicken Ranching on a VERY Small Scale!

First, I bought a chicken coop from the local farm supply store. ~




Then, my sister and brother-in-law came to help assemble it.  It's modular so there is no cutting, just tying to  to follow the non-existent directions and screwing things together.  ~


This roofed section over the nesting box lifts so you can gather the eggs.

There are perches and and the floor slides out to remove the droppings. ~


It has a built in run so my ladies don't escape and I don't have any "fox in a hen house" scenarios. ~


It's adorable!  The only problem is.....it's really, really small.  I was told it should hold about twelve chickens.  It will hold two!  Four chickens would make me the official owner of a battery farm!

Sooo.....now I am planning an addition to the coop.


Oh, and remember how I planned on obscuring an ugly shed with it?  I'm thinking the neighbour has the last laugh. ~



Go ahead and laugh at my miniature chicken coop!!!

32 comments:

  1. At least there is only one of you, so for daily use...enough eggs? maybe? It looks sweet anyway.... xo wendy

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks Rosemary. I do think it's cute but it's sure not practical!

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  3. I can't tell from the photos, but maybe you are thinking that each chicken needs more space than she actually does.

    Keep us current with the chicken story!

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    1. Seriously, this coop is the size of a rabbit hutch. Two chickens will freeze to death in a Canadian winter so I have to make it bigger and get up to at least four.

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  4. Yeah, I agree with having two chickens...there is no way you could have twelve in there without there being problems. It will be nice to have fresh eggs won't it? Good luck!

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    1. Especially since my daughter is famous in Canada for lobbying to end battery chicken farming!

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  5. Oh geez. Don't you hate that when you buy something expecting one thing and it doesn't measure up. It IS super adorable though. About your neighbour's shed, could you decorate the back of it? Maybe put up some outdoor chicken sculptures or something on theme? :)

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    1. It would have to go with the big whale weathervane he has on top!

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  6. Maureen ... I am not laughing ... I love it. Wish I had one, but don't think I have time to tend to chickens.
    Blessings,
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures.

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    1. I thought I was saving myself the trouble of figuring out how to build one. Now, I have to figure out how to build it bigger.

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  7. Personally, I think it is pretty darned cute! And the shed acts as a backdrop-kind of a vignette all on its own! xo Diana

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    1. I think you are all telling me to "embrace the shed". I'll stop whining about it! lol ~ Maureen

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  8. I think it's adorable too, but so far just a 'room for two'. They need an extension, like a run that you put on the front of a rabbit hutch !

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    1. Can you send your fella over here to add on to it? I'm really not focused enough to be using my skilsaw!

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  9. my hat's off to you and your ambitions! ever read Betty MacDonald's The Egg and I? A must.

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    1. Not only have I read the book, that movie and Shenandoah were our favourite family movies when I was growing up. We never missed them when they came on TV!

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  10. It's just so darn cute Maureen! I love it reminds me of my Grandmother's chicken house.

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    1. Do you think a tiny curtain in the little window is too much? You know I have to decorate it!

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  11. Replies
    1. Thanks! We'll see if the chickens think so when I pick them up at Easter.

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  12. Thanks for visiting my blog and saying such lovely things! I'm following you back via linky. I want a chicken house and a rabbit hutch! Good luck with yours!

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  13. hahahaha... okay, Im not laughing at the coop but how you wrote about it! Love me some humor. yes, That looks like it'll hold only 2.

    I'm so searching for a little coop for my guinea pigs. In India you dont find anything easily. love the coop though.

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    1. You are too laughing at my mini coop. It actually would be a nice size for a guinea pig house. lol

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  14. I actually quite like the shed... is it yours or your neighbours. maybe you could move the chickens in there :-)
    but your lovely chick place is big enough for two! chickens are (so far) the easiest pets i ever had. they do there own thing during the day, making the loveliest little glucking noises, and they bring themselves to be at night. mine are living in my daughters playhouse, double-insulated, as my man is fond of saying. he wasnt too happy when the chickens moved in...
    i love that you have an imaginary friend in namibia! :-):-):-)
    i am your cyber chick
    have a wonderful week

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    1. The shed belongs to the neighbour. I'm really only complaining about it because it is one of 3 he erected that cut off my view. I was thinking of garage sales for a playhouse that I can use for an addition! Shall we do 'imaginary' lunch some day?

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  15. Well you did dare me so I am giggling! Love that you're getting chickens - they'll love their swanky new digs.
    Kelly

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    1. Note to self - Kelly takes things literally. lol

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  16. Lynn @ www.etsy.com/2becherished30 March 2012 at 11:14

    I don't care that it is small. 2 chickens are perfect to start with.

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  17. Well I think it's very nice looking and cute. Love to see your chickens in it.
    Pat

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    1. Thanks! I'll probably pick the chickens up from my daughter on Easter weekend.

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