The ladies seem to be adjusting to their new home and are happy to be here. They came from a larger group of chickens, and I think they will like their extra space and room to roam. Ariel appreciates the mirror.
They've been up on their perches too, and even like the chandeliers. I'll have to get a picture of them on one.
Sugarwings tends to think of the coop as her playhouse, but it hasn't been covered in poo yet.
Soon, it will be much less appealing to hang out in.
Ariel, Small World, Unicorn, and Mator don't use their nesting boxes yet, though. The eggs (yep, we already have egg production starting the first day!) are nested under the table holding the boxes instead of in them.
We started with 4 Rhode Island Reds, and have room for lots more, so will pick up a variety of different kinds of birds later on. We found these on Craigs List for six bucks a piece, and the farmer met us halfway from his place in the country to drop them off.
I'd really like to get some that lay those pretty blue/green eggs.
And I look forward to the time when I can let them have the whole yard to play in and find bugs. For now, they are penned in till they adjust.
The other animals will need some adjustment time too. Twinkle and the cats have been pacing along the fence trying to find thier way in to properly greet the new arrivals. I have a feeling that Twinks will need to be locked up whenever the ladies are having a promenade around the yard.
Or the birds won't be surviving very long. I'm not sure about the cats. Can a cat take out a hen? I know they want to.
We were told that our coop could hold 50 chickens comfortably, but we aren't interested in doing that. Maybe 10-12 at the most. I don't want so many that I can't get to know them!
Wow that has got to be the best hotel for chooks ever!! Beautiful, wouldnt mind camping there myself..
Posted by: Sonya | May 19, 2012 at 02:50 AM
Oh how fun!
Posted by: Lisa | May 19, 2012 at 07:42 AM
Beautiful!
Fun!
Posted by: Jorgelina | May 19, 2012 at 07:57 AM
That is pretty much the best chicken coop ever!! Oh my gosh how pretty and fun!
Posted by: Lori | May 19, 2012 at 08:07 AM
Yay for the arrival of the ladies! Have you prepared Sugarwings for the eventual covering of the house with a grand layer of poo? Poor Sugarwings!
Don't you wish there was a way to reason with our animals sometimes? "OK, ladies, See this box right here? This is 'poo corner.' Here and only here. It'll make this place a lot more pleasant for us all. Got it? Great!"
I hope all goes well with the new residents. : ) Looking forward to hearing of their adventures.
Posted by: Linda P. | May 19, 2012 at 08:07 AM
lol! that is what i am afraid of. getting to know them. i feel like i couldn't eat their eggs or heaven forbid bake one. lol. love the pics. i love chickens and roosters. have the theme in my kitchen. french country with hens. looks great at your coop.
Posted by: jeanine mayden | May 19, 2012 at 08:15 AM
They seem to love it so far. And we are getting lots of eggs
Sent from my iPad
Posted by: Karla Nathan | May 19, 2012 at 09:15 AM
Adorable CHIC COOP for your hens. Your idea of colorful egg-laying hens would be fun. I've seen blue, green, yellow & brown eggs. Are there any that lay pink eggs?
Posted by: Tami Hacker | May 19, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Karla ~ Love seeing your new girls. You will like when they can roam free. NO bugs will be in your yard. Of course the flower beds may suffer. I've put chicken wire down and covered with a thin layer of mulch, that seems to be working for now. We also put golf balls in their nest boxes to get them started laying there. Enjoy!!
Marilyn in Missouri
Posted by: Marilyn Parker | May 19, 2012 at 10:35 AM
New Chickens!! How exciting and they have such a fancy coop, not country chicks at all!
Posted by: Francy | May 19, 2012 at 12:40 PM
Too much fun, Karla! 'Love the photos! I'm not sure about the cats either -- but I wouldn't want to take any chances!
Posted by: Laurie | May 19, 2012 at 02:11 PM
Love the photo of Ariel looking in the mirror, great.
The "girls" will love it at your house,
it all looks so nice.
They have a nice home.
It will be great if they can be free in your garden (later).
Posted by: YokkoBears Bears with a HEART | May 20, 2012 at 02:38 AM
Cutest pictures or your "chicks". Love the one where Sugarwings and the chicken are looking in the mirror. And those overalls are perfect!
Debra
Posted by: Debra Ganas | May 20, 2012 at 07:30 AM
It's nice to be back. Between three weeks of travel and two weeks of Gypsy-hospice and work re-entry, life's been pretty rugged. It's good to be back posting travel (and goodbye Gypsy) posts. This one makes me smile.
Posted by: jeanie | May 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Happy Days are Here Again!!
Wish I had a chicken or two. I gave the last eggs to Ted and my son for breakfast this morning as I ate peanut butter toast!
Jill
Posted by: Jill | May 20, 2012 at 08:01 PM
Love your coop Karla....... I think the chickens will be fin with the cats. The chickens can defend themselves pretty well. I laughed out loud when you said Sugarwings thinks of it as a playhouse now but it hasn't been pooped in much yet. It won't smell too inviting either on a hot summer day. Too cute ...all of it. Good luck with your hens !
Posted by: suzeeez | May 21, 2012 at 01:41 PM
Love your chic coop, chandeliers and all! My mother loved Rhode Island Reds. We had a fenced "chicken yard" for them to roam around outside their coop. I believe they clipped the wing feathers some to keep them from flying out :) If you get a rooster, he'll guard his girls from the cats & probably scare little Twinkle away. Also good as alarm clock!
What fun you'll all have with your new pals!
Posted by: Jane | May 22, 2012 at 10:27 PM
Karla, I love having hens. Make sure that sugarwings washes her hands and keeps them away from her face. When My daughter was her age, she got salmonella from being in the coop and touching the eggs.
~elaine
Posted by: Elaine L. | May 28, 2012 at 12:02 AM
I love this! So open and airy too.
Posted by: Kathy B. | August 13, 2012 at 04:50 PM
Wow I love this place I’m sure all your little ladies are so very happy.
I can’t wait to move to Virginia to set all my girls up there new place.
Posted by: Nancy clementi | September 11, 2018 at 03:16 PM
Chickens can be wonderful to have around! Good luck to your ladies in their new home.
Posted by: Karla Nathan | September 11, 2018 at 04:08 PM
I absolutely love looking at your chicken pen it is just the most wonderful thing ever and I would like to create this as I have just bought a cottage in France in the country with a swimming pool and want to get started with the chicken run if this virus eventually goes from the world. Would you mind me asking what color white paint that is what shade of white and what make it is please
Posted by: Hayley | March 25, 2020 at 02:27 PM
Planning a coop is a happy way of getting through this! My walls actually are a pale pink. It was leftover colors mixed together and applied with a spray gun to get into the cracks easily.
Posted by: Karla | April 09, 2020 at 09:20 AM