A home for the hens

Everyone around here is excited about the rehab of the chicken coop!

This old building has been through many transformations, and as good as I can guess, this will be its third time to serve as a home to a flock of birds.   Its also been a woodworking shop, an antique store, a dog run, a hang out for my Jr High school age boys, and lately, a storage shed..

Now, back to being a chicken coop!

When I used this for an antique store, we ran electricity out to it, put on a new roof and painted it all a barely there, blush pink. I think the ladies will enjoy nesting in that flattering color. They will feel so pretty in the ambient lighting and soft pink walls.

(we still need to hang the feeder, right now, its just sitting under the bench.  If we tried to feed them there, they would argue over access to the goodies. And it needs to be hung up so it doesn't get pooped in as much. They will be pooping in it no matter what, but higher is better)

We've provided a couple of mirrors so they can check themselves out. I hear that chickens enjoy looking at themselves. 

There are also lots of roosting materials, an old lawn chair, and branches screwed to the walls all around like a jungle gym.

The old painting on the wall is simply for their enjoyment.

A couple of chandeliers that no longer work were hung up for more roosting, and for lighting, I hung a ceramic lamp with a cracked base that was laying out in the shed.

The bench we built  to set the nesting boxes on is just the right height to store bales of straw.  They slide right under it, and don't leave space for the hens to roost (and poop) on the straw.

No ETA on when the girls will be moving in. But we are set and ready to welcome them to their new home.

The building has two sides, the long, narrow one that the ladies will be calling home, and a big square room next to it that the cats like to hang out in.

This side is where we keep lawn furniture in the winter, supposedly. But other things tend to accumlate too.

I've valiently tried to not let things pile up in here, but I'm glad I let a few things slip, because this is the place I raided to find the pretties for the coop. Nothing nice, just some old beat up stuff too nice to toss and I'm glad it had piled up there for me to dig through!

I'll let you know what the girls think of it all when they move in.

Comments

[Shabby Jen]

I love it! But I think you should let the other 2 legged chicks stay in it when they come visit. A few little pieces of furniture and I think it would be oh so charming! But your little feathered chicks are going to love it also! have fun! Post us some pics when the girls move in! bock bock!!

[Linda P.]

Karla, I love this tour of the roost, and I love how you called your chickens "ladies"! How nice of you to give them such respect, despite their unfortunate indiscriminate pooping habits. Ha! Their abode is fit for the queenliest of fowl.

These will be the most spoiled shabby chic-kens around! ; )

[lisa]

Karla,
That is the most unusual (and I mean that in the best way) coop I've ever seen! I can't decide if it's a chicken coop or a B&B. I thought perhaps at first you were making a bunk house for Birdsong girls.
Well I know the little ones will love collecting eggs & preparing them into wonderful meals. How fun!
See you soon.
Lisa

[Karla Nathan]

Id probably be smarter to spend my time prepping for the birdsong guests instead of the feathered guests! If I dont get the studio cleaned up, maybe we can have classes in the shed.

Sent from my iPad

[Karla Nathan]

Thanks, Linda! Well, Im kind of dreading all of the hard work of taking care of our newest family members so I wanted to make it as pleasant as I could. Pretty surroundings always make me feel better. Plus, happy chickens lay more eggs, so we wanted lots of comfy perches and plenty of space for the ladies. I hope they like it!

Sent from my iPad

[Beth Leintz]

Do Dorkies and hens get along? Twinkle and Agnes look pretty curious about what's going on.

[Janet Ghio]

I can't wait to see it full of chickens! The first photo of the dogs and the cat is just darling!

[Claudia]

I love your hen house and I know the ladies will too. Your fairy babies will love it as well I'm sure. You make life so fun and interesting no matter what you do!

[Marilyn Parker]

Karla ~ Love seeing the new home you've prepared for your ladies. My girls's home is rather industrial in comparison! Can't let them see your pictures! Chickens are so much fun to watch and we love the beautiful brown eggs we gather each day. It (kind of)(almost) makes the poop clean up easier.
Marilyn in Missouri

[Tracy Boyle]

Karla, I'm so jealous that you are getting a coop! I asked hubby for one and he vehemently denied me! Enjoy the girls because I know the "girls" will enjoy that coop!

[Rochelle]

too cute - chickens should have the finer things in life! see you soon at affaire at tiffany's!
rochelle

[YokkoBears Bears with a HEART]

The ladies will love it, and I really like the painting in their new house, it makes it a real HOME.

[Karla Nathan]

Lets just hope the fur babies dont chase the feathered babies too much! I want the birds to roam free and eat bugs.

Sent from my iPad

[Sheila R]

Love your chicken coop. I know the "girls" will too!

[Laurie]

Too much fun! I think all your animals are super excited for the new additions! I can't wait to meet your kitties!

[Folk Heart]

How is it that our paths have yet to cross? We are most certainly kindred spirits, cut out of the same cloth. Your chicken coop just knocks me out! So reminiscent of my own "Coop de'Ville" from the 80s. It was very chic, or is that chick? But never once did I think of adding a chandelier. I bow to you, my hero!

[Cindy Roberts]

Love all the "beat up stuff!" Treasures abound in your space!