Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Grand Unveiling of the Almost-Done Chicken Run!

Farmer B is interested in the chickens, but it's no secret that they're my pet project. He loves animals and is quite pleased we've got chickens, but I'm the one who looks after them. Even though I wear the grand chicken poobah hat around here, Farmer B is the one who spent a good part of August building an awesome chicken run for my chickens just because he's that kind of guy. I should mention that he considers himself to have zero carpentry skills, doesn't particularly enjoy this type of thing and barely gets any time off work. That's what makes this extra special.


Luckily for me and the chickens, an ER visit for a splinter in the eye
didn't dissuade him from finishing the project. And the 100+ degree "feels like" temperatures of a hot Florida August didn't cause him to throw in the towel. He kept on plugging away out there in the yard while the chickens looked on and dammit if he didn't build a chicken run all by himself!


Funnily enough, he built the entire chicken run without the use of a level or plans. He had a sketch on a piece of paper and some power tools and somehow it all came together. The chickens now have a wonderful 6 foot tall, 8 foot wide by 12 foot long chicken run. It's attached to their coop and has two little perches that they so far refuse to use. We still have to dig in the fencing into the ground at the base of the coop to make it predator-proof and Farmer B has big plans for the roof that involve shingles and large sheets of plywood, but those projects are on the to-do list for later this month. Oh and there's the several yards of construction sand for the flooring that will be delivered once this is all finished.


Farmer B even built a cute little pop door in the side of the coop that opens up into a skid-proof ramp. When I open the door in the morning all three chickens shoot out of that opening like three bullets, never touching the ramp on the way down. This has made looking after the chickens so much easier!


Am I the luckiest chicken-owning wife in the world or what?

9 comments:

Jeff Vandiver said...

Farmer B is a good man, enduring the August heat building that for ya. Didn't use a level, huh? He must have a good eye (the one without the splinter). Can't wait to see those raised beds later!

Darla said...

I should say you are! Your husband should be very proud of himself...and let him wear your hat every once in awhile. LOL

Lo said...

That is a great chicken run kate!!! Farmer B is awesome!! Cant wait to see the finished project! :)

Dani said...

Awesome job Farmer B! :)

Kelly said...

Congrats to the girls on their new digs, and a pat on the back for Farmer B!

Christa said...

Nice chicken run!

Erin said...

It looks fantastic! My husband was sitting next to me so OF COURSE I had to link back to your eye splnter post and he was wincing all through it!

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Great job!

art said...

How many chickens in your flock?

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