BOK, Motherscratcher

The chickens (as seen above on April 30) have moved from their little corner of the garage, where they and their odor were quickly outgrowing their confines, and into a space in the corner of the big garden.

We considered for about two seconds the notion of building a chicken coop ourselves, but we quickly dismissed that idea when we realized it would entail nothing short of building a chicken coop ourselves.

As luck would have it, though, we Know A Guy who has an extra little shed at his place, and he'll be happy to give it to us if we come help move it.

It's so nice to Know A Guy.

I just have to pause here and point out that we are not summa cum magna at the whole homesteading thing.

Sure, JC put some 80 tomato plants into the ground over ther weekend. And yes, he has planted potatoes, brocolli and onions. And I have planted herbs with which to season our harvest. But that presupposes that there will ever be a harvest to begin with.

Meanwhile, we've got 14 other acres as high as an elephant's eye that need to be brush-hogged. And me? I don't believe I would be able to pick out a brush hog in a police lineup unless it was wearing a snout and a T-shirt that said, "Brush Hogs Do It As High As An Elephant's Eye." And even then I might second-guess myself.

All I'm saying is that, if our first few months here are any indication of our farming skills, then if the shit ever goes seriously down, we'd better Know A Guy.

Such as the guy who has the shed, the offer of which we were lucky to receive.

Unluckily for the chickens, however, we have not yet been able to clear the calendar time to go get the shed. And yet we had to move them out of the garage.

We thought about putting them into the existing garden shed, but two considerations stopped us.

1. It is close enough to the back porch, swingset and planned barbecue seating area that their Essense de Poulet might interfere with playtime and parties.

2. One day when JC went in there to scope it out as a possible chicken coop, an attack mouse leapt onto him then scurried away.

So the existing shed belongs to the existing mice, and we have no desire to feed them our eggs.

We thought about building a lean-to - surely we could do that much. Or maybe they would be OK with a really sturdy box turned on its side to offer shelter.

If only we had something that was light and portable, yet weather resistent and - maybe most importantly - either disposable or bleachable once we got the shed and no longer needed this temporary chicken housing.

If only...

Comments

[peripateticpolarbear]

hilarious. Have you thought about adding window boxes? play ones?

[moreena]

Do they have dress-up gear in there? Those are the photos I'd pay to see.

[An' Backy]

Mommer's concern for your chickens continues. She told me to remind you that "Chickens can fly! That's why you need to surround that coop with chicken wire at least six feet high, and even then, some of those banty hens can just take off!" She also said she's glad you're experiencing country life, and then she threw her head back and laughed the cold laugh of one who grew up a sharecropper's daughter. She may have rubbed her hands together in glee, but I'm sure I'm mistaken about that. Heh heh!

[B.J.]

HAH! Love the chicken coop. I wish I knew peeps with chickies to give them this advice - for it is perfect!