Thursday, November 29, 2012
I wonder if we have some neighborhood pranksters. Julie found my outside water faucet turned on with water gushing out. Then it happened to hers. Then the chicken coop clean-out door propped open and the carabiners taken. Let's keep a careful watch, and maybe I'll rig up a motion-detector light on the coop. I think I have a spare in the basement. And we have to get another carabiner with a twist lock on it. Darn it!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Chicken Coop
Neighbor Nan had a pile of salvaged lumber that she was going to use to build a garden shed. But a chicken coop sounded like much more fun. The whole base and skeleton of the structure cost very little, but we did have to buy windows, some plywood, shingles and siding. We also had to buy all the materials for the pen. The end result is a nice coop for a reasonable amount of money. It was painted beautifully and looks lovely in its little backyard setting.
Neighbor Nan had a pile of salvaged lumber that she was going to use to build a garden shed. But a chicken coop sounded like much more fun. The whole base and skeleton of the structure cost very little, but we did have to buy windows, some plywood, shingles and siding. We also had to buy all the materials for the pen. The end result is a nice coop for a reasonable amount of money. It was painted beautifully and looks lovely in its little backyard setting.
The egg of it all.
It all started with a few casual conversations over the fence between neighbors. "Wouldn't it be cool to have chickens?" The more we talked, the more it actually sounded feasible. Four households with adjoining yards got together and began to have chicken meetings. One family had the perfect spot for it in their backyard behind the garage. Another of the neighbors had carpentry skills and a bunch of salvaged lumber. Others provided enthusiasm and research and the gathering of supplies. We all chipped in money to get it started.
The most difficult part of it all was getting licensed and inspected. After overcoming huge hurdles such as incomplete information, bad attitudes from city entities and a very hostile electrical inspector --we got our permit! The coop was completed by then, but as it was late in the season, we only found one place that still had chicks. The members of three households set off in two cars to Ramsey, Minnesota. There we picked out some six-week old chicks to bring back to St. Paul and start a new life under the benevolent care of the Coop Co-op!
It all started with a few casual conversations over the fence between neighbors. "Wouldn't it be cool to have chickens?" The more we talked, the more it actually sounded feasible. Four households with adjoining yards got together and began to have chicken meetings. One family had the perfect spot for it in their backyard behind the garage. Another of the neighbors had carpentry skills and a bunch of salvaged lumber. Others provided enthusiasm and research and the gathering of supplies. We all chipped in money to get it started.
The most difficult part of it all was getting licensed and inspected. After overcoming huge hurdles such as incomplete information, bad attitudes from city entities and a very hostile electrical inspector --we got our permit! The coop was completed by then, but as it was late in the season, we only found one place that still had chicks. The members of three households set off in two cars to Ramsey, Minnesota. There we picked out some six-week old chicks to bring back to St. Paul and start a new life under the benevolent care of the Coop Co-op!
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