April, 2008

We've been working between rainy days to finish the chicken coop.  Meanwhile, the chicks have outgrown one plastic tub and two large cardboard boxes.  At three and a half weeks old, they're spending their warm sunny days outside in a hastily constructed temporary run.  And, of course, the girls have named every one.  The curious one on the left is "Dotty", an Ameraucana.  A Wyandotte is in the background on the right (can't remember the name).

Four chicks, from left to right: A white(ish) Ameraucana that we originally thought was a Buff Orpington.  That's why we have four Ameraucanas and only two Orps.  Intended to get three of each but misidentified one.  This one is named "Becka". An Ameraucana named "Cleo", short for Cleopatra because of the Egyptian looking eyes. Dotty (Ameraucana). Unidentified Brown Leghorn.

A Silver-Laced Wyandotte.  Don't know the name.

"Cleo", with "Lucy" the Rhode Island Red in the background.  On the far left, obscured by the netting, is one of the Buff Orpingtons.

Finally!  The finished coop.  I still have to improve on the latches to hold the doors closed and maybe install some handles.  The small roof sections on either end above the nesting boxes are hinged but they ended up too heavy for the kids to lift.  Because of that, I added the hinged wall panels on the sides.