779 Chickentropolis
on Mar 13 in General by DanI’ve always had a tendency to err towards obsession, but the past couple of weeks or so have seen my manias taken to extreme proportions. To say I’ve become preoccupied with poultry would be an understatement.
I’ve been eating, sleeping and breathing chickens.
Not only do I have my lovely chicks to fawn over, but I’ve also embarked on a mammoth chicken coop construction in the back garden. Anyone who was around this blog a couple of years ago may remember my last flurry of activity in the garden, and so will know that in no way could I be described as a master carpenter. What I lack in skill, however,I more than make up for in incompetence.
But never the less the coop and run is just about finished.
It may look a bit funny. In fact on surveying my handywork Kerry very accurately pointed out that there is not a single right angle or parallel line on the monstrosity. But I’m pretty sure it’s not going to fall down and all the wire is buried to a depth of 12 inches, which I’m reliably informed should keep the foxes out.
This morning a very nice tree surgeon from Stephenson Tree Services, Huddersfield kindly dropped off a huge pile of wood chips for use on the run floor. And all for the price of a couple of pints as opposed to the £50 odd quid it would cost me to buy them from B&Q. Bloody marvelous!
Now all that’s left to do is a few finishing touches and pop the chickens in it. Unfortunately they aren’t quite old enough to go outside yet, and they won’t be until we come back from our visit to Wisconsin in April. They are growing at astonishing speed however, but are still in the cute fluffy stage.
We eventually managed to hatch out four chicks from the eggs we incubated. However as that is unlikely to result in the four females and no cockerels that I want in my flock I went out and bought a few more chicks from a local breeder (well, local-ish. She actually lived a three hour round trip away. I told you I’m obsessed).
Our livestock total currently consists of 2 Light Sussex chicks, 4 Cuckoo Maran chicks, 2 Lavender Arucana chicks, and a single Welbar chicks. All of which produce more droppings than 10 fully grown Shire horses. I am unable to sex any of them as yet (apart from the Welbar, which is female); but due to my agreement with my neighbors any cockerels that emerge will swiftly be “sent to live on another farm”.
As my friend Rachel says, “if you’ve got livestock, you’ve got deadstock”.
Anyhow, here’s some photos of my handywork:
Look at the quality of that craftmanship
Before you judge too harshly remember that it’s not slapdash and dilapidated, it’s rustic damnit. Oh, and the 779 numberplate thing is something we got custom made for our last house, and it seemed a waste to leave it gathering dust in the shed.
Related posts:
- Hatching a plan
- A photo of a chick’s bottom
- In answer to Jeff’s question
- Where’s Wally the Chicken?
- Eggs
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I see this and suddenly I don’t think I’d mind being a chicken. Then I think about pooping out a football (relative size) every week and I’m okay with not being a chicken.
Its an amazing construction and it looks really safe, no really, I mean it, it really does.
Just one thing though…
Its up hill from your house, and it rains a lot where you live.
Are you sure you’ve thunk this through properly ?
Very nice. My brother hatched chicks last year and it was so much fun. Thankfully the girls favorite chicks turned out to be girls so we didn’t have to “send them to another farm” My brother has a sick sense of humor and he named the chicks after chicken recipes. Now my youngest refuses to eat chicken!
I want to be your next door neighbour. Really.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Just a little prick
Oh God Dan don’t let XBox live next door – you’ll never get a wink of sleep with all that banging going on.
I’m well impressed with the coop. Nice chicken shed too.
btw do you have one long back yard the length of the houses??? I used to live in a row like that in Gisburn – if you’ve ever heard of it.
gails last blog post..Red Noses
My kids would really like a treehouse. I would like an outdoor cage to stash them in on occasion. Let’s make a deal.
always home and uncools last blog post..First Day. Rest of Life. Blah, Blah, Blah.
Hooray for the family chickens!
I’m a little bit envious. My coop is only half built, and I don’t have the same level of obsession.
But I do like eggs and cakes, so I’d better get a move on.
Very impressive! So you’re the guy who still uses slotted screws.
Jeffs last blog post..Minnesota Fashion Statement
I would be well chuffed with that, I would have given up and let someone else do it.
Plus we haven’t really got a spot for a thing of such magnitude and rustic beauty.
SingleParentDads last blog post..Are You Looking At Me?
The next project could be a run for the guinea pigs and then you will be well on your way to having Slaithwaite’s first petting zoo, sure you could knock a hole in the wall so a few local lambs could pop over. PS I’m working on Archie for us to have the guinea pigs over when you’re in America! I’d have to work on the neighbours to have the chicks.
PPS – we’re well impressed by the way.
That’s jolly impressive! A Hilton for chickens – a Chilton? (I kill me!)
Anyway well done!!
Penelopes last blog post..Things that make you go “Squeeeee!”
you shouldn’t have posted that last inside photo, because from the outside it looks perfect!!
I just want to point out that if in fact I had built your chicks a home… well you wouldn’t have had to worry about foxes because they would have just flown the coop.
Therefore… you sir, are a master craftsman in my eyes.
NYCWDs last blog post..Cassie
You’re so modest. Great coop.
Whits last blog post..Slow Motion Weekdays Stare Me Down
Anon – Every week? I’m hoping they will lay nearly every day!
Gary – I shall check my insurance policy for chickencoop avalanches
Imperceptible – Amy’s named our chicks after people in her school I’m hoping no one overhears me discussing wringing the necks of her classmates or I might be in bother.
Xbox – The house next door to us might be up for sale soon. I’ll let you know when it comes up.
Gail – I’m not sure I understand the question. But basically our row of houses (about 15 of them) has it’s own shared private road, on the other side of it is a row of back gardens. Our’s is the biggest and most useable of them however due to the nature of the hill we’re perched on.
Always Home and Uncool – I wonder how much it would cost me to ship it over to you.
Oli – Obsession is always a useful thing. Unless you have something else that needs doing too.
Jeff – Looks like I am. Although I’m not sure where I got that one from. I’ve just been dredging the bottom of my toolbox.
Singleparentdad – I’m not sure anyone has an appropriate spot for a thing of such magnitude and rustic beauty.
Grandma – I shall drop the entire menagerie around to your house next weekend. I’m sure you can convert your bathroom to a rudimentary chicken coop.
Penelope – Due to the poor quality of that gag you are now banned from this blog.
Arjan – Trust me, it only looks good from a distance
NYCWD – If you built a coop in your backyard I think I’d be worried a little less about foxes and a little more about NY mobsters demanding protection from them. (I have a rather romantic idea of the windy apple).
Whit – Modest like a fox!!
Wait. That doesn’t work.
Modest like a mouse?
Are you sure you dont need planning permission for that thing??
Sams last blog post..Overpriced Cinema
From the written description, I expected a more Homer Simpsonish structure, but it actually looks pretty good from here. Pat on the back.
Holmess last blog post..How my interview went
I dunno mate, it looks like you did a bloody good job to me. Nicely done.
Kevin Spencers last blog post..SXSW 2009
You’re to harsh on your handiwork. That coop far surpassed my imaginings when reading the top of the post. It’s lovely! Chickentropolis sounds fun.
topchamps last blog post..TEETH
Wow! i am impressed! my mum used to keep chickens and I am sure they would have been as impressed as I am. Good work! What is your next project?