The new coop

Ranger · 07-03-2007

The chickens and turkeys are feathered out now so it is time to get them into the new "poultry house" it started out as a shelter / coop and has turned into a building.

He has taken on the roll of “protector”

I decided that I wanted it to be usable for the next 20 years and big enough to comfortably raise the birds fairly easily. We have been doing this with varying amounts for 20 years, so I have knowledge of what will help and foreseeing situations.

The new place is 10 feet X 32 feet and six feet high inside. It had to be secure enough to keep out predators (coyotes etc.) but well ventilated and easy enough so if we want to go away on a trip someone can easily water and feed them.

The town we live in is a farming community so our property is zoned residential / agricultural, there are various property line set backs to follow, but the structure do not fall under any building codes, but you do need a permit. They do have state requirements as to enough space and cleanliness, an inspector will come by once a year just to look at the housing. So by next weekend (goal) they will move into the new home.

The chickens (25) are all egg layers and they should start about September and will continue for 3 or more years.

The turkeys (10) will keep until Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is a lot of work and expense right now but subsequent years the whole process from brooding baby chicks.

Although the shelter seems quite large they will fill it out and I will be adding some meat birds to the flock. The coop is actually almost hidden behind a trellis of American Kiwi vines and when they find something to attach to they grow right to it. The tree is actually being taken over by the vine.

View from the house.

This is the other end of the yard / garden

TAPPY · 07-03-2007

Nice spread you got !!!! We always had little chickies and rabbits when we were growing up, but my Mom would make me give them away when they got big. Said they were going to live on the farm (yeah right) !!

That is cute that your dog is on guard !!

Are those day lilys ????

Ranger · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Nice spread you got !!!! We always had little chickies and rabbits when we were growing up, but my Mom would make me give them away when they got big. Said they were going to live on the farm (yeah right) !!

That is cute that your dog is on guard !!

Are those day lilys ????

Yes, day lilys are all over the place as well as:
Hosta, Bee Balm and Lilacs

Wider view

More Bee Balm near Corn

Iris has gone by now

We've been doing clam shell paths

TAPPY · 07-03-2007

Wow - love all your garden and flower pic's. If I did not work full time I would love to have more animals and a big garden. (maybe when I retire)

Ranger · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Wow - love all your garden and flower pic's. If I did not work full time I would love to have more animals and a big garden. (maybe when I retire)

My wife and I both work full time as well, thats not even the entire garden area.

Sol · 07-03-2007

I love your garden!!!!! It is so cool how you set up your tomatoes with the marigolds. I love planting these two together.

Bee balm is wonderful. Its smell is so nice and it draws so many butterflys and hummingbirds..

TAPPY · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

My wife and I both work full time as well, thats not even the entire garden area.

I am lucky if I have time to mow the yard. I did plant a bunch of day lillys this year and they seem to be doing well.

What all do you grow ? Lets see some more pics !!!

Love the purple Iris in your pics (I think that is what it is) - they grow wild down here.

Sol · 07-03-2007

I forgot to mention the coop!!! Nice structure!!!
I like the pictures of your dog walking through the garden. We have garden dogs also.

MWC · 07-03-2007

A very pretty spread you have there!

I am saving this link so I can have easy access to your coop design.

Ranger · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWC

A very pretty spread you have there!

I am saving this link so I can have easy access to your coop design.

I will add more as the coop progresses as I said the birds will be in there by sunday, although there is a lot to do there is getting to be easier to see where I'm heading. None of this was on paper, all think and do.

Here are more of what we do.
A lot of tilling

The area near the trailer is where the coop is now

**SunKneeMarie** · 07-03-2007

Wow, very impressive! I'm very envious... we're in the process of annihilating our annual summer crop of flowers... quite the black thumb I sport...

Ranger · 07-03-2007

Asparagus was started 20 years ago and comes up every year

Gooseberries are just ripening right now

Rad Raspberries Aug. / Sept.

Garlic almost ready, the scape are pickable now

Ranger · 07-03-2007

Strawberries these are year old plants

We put in 100 new plants this year and by cutting off all the flowers and runners this year frustrates to plants, next spring will yeild bigger crop.
Flowers

This is coming down the hill to the coop location

TAPPY · 07-03-2007

You really do have a nice place.

What do you do with all the flowers and veggies your grow ???
Just enjoy it (can) or sell them ??

We did a garlic crop one year and braided them into wreaths.

Ranger · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPPY

You really do have a nice place.

What do you do with all the flowers and veggies your grow ???
Just enjoy it (can) or sell them ??

We did a garlic crop one year and braided them into wreaths.

We do sell some and that is the goal to at least do the local farmers market.

07-03-2007	#1 (permalink)
Ranger reposado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 40 miles south east of Boston Posts: 1,456	The new coop The chickens and turkeys are feathered out now so it is time to get them into the new "poultry house" it started out as a shelter / coop and has turned into a building. He has taken on the roll of “protector” I decided that I wanted it to be usable for the next 20 years and big enough to comfortably raise the birds fairly easily. We have been doing this with varying amounts for 20 years, so I have knowledge of what will help and foreseeing situations. The new place is 10 feet X 32 feet and six feet high inside. It had to be secure enough to keep out predators (coyotes etc.) but well ventilated and easy enough so if we want to go away on a trip someone can easily water and feed them. The town we live in is a farming community so our property is zoned residential / agricultural, there are various property line set backs to follow, but the structure do not fall under any building codes, but you do need a permit. They do have state requirements as to enough space and cleanliness, an inspector will come by once a year just to look at the housing. So by next weekend (goal) they will move into the new home. The chickens (25) are all egg layers and they should start about September and will continue for 3 or more years. The turkeys (10) will keep until Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is a lot of work and expense right now but subsequent years the whole process from brooding baby chicks. Although the shelter seems quite large they will fill it out and I will be adding some meat birds to the flock. The coop is actually almost hidden behind a trellis of American Kiwi vines and when they find something to attach to they grow right to it. The tree is actually being taken over by the vine. View from the house. This is the other end of the yard / garden

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

07-03-2007	#2 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 14,931	Nice spread you got !!!! We always had little chickies and rabbits when we were growing up, but my Mom would make me give them away when they got big. Said they were going to live on the farm (yeah right) !! That is cute that your dog is on guard !! Are those day lilys ????

07-03-2007	#4 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 14,931	Wow - love all your garden and flower pic's. If I did not work full time I would love to have more animals and a big garden. (maybe when I retire)

07-03-2007	#6 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 9,661	I love your garden!!!!! It is so cool how you set up your tomatoes with the marigolds. I love planting these two together. Bee balm is wonderful. Its smell is so nice and it draws so many butterflys and hummingbirds..

07-03-2007	#8 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 9,661	I forgot to mention the coop!!! Nice structure!!! I like the pictures of your dog walking through the garden. We have garden dogs also.

07-03-2007	#9 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,829	A very pretty spread you have there! I am saving this link so I can have easy access to your coop design.

07-03-2007	#11 (permalink)
SunKneeMarie character encapsulator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 26,295	Wow, very impressive! I'm very envious... we're in the process of annihilating our annual summer crop of flowers... quite the black thumb I sport...

07-03-2007	#12 (permalink)
Ranger reposado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 40 miles south east of Boston Posts: 1,456	Asparagus was started 20 years ago and comes up every year Gooseberries are just ripening right now Rad Raspberries Aug. / Sept. Garlic almost ready, the scape are pickable now

07-03-2007	#13 (permalink)
Ranger reposado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 40 miles south east of Boston Posts: 1,456	Strawberries these are year old plants We put in 100 new plants this year and by cutting off all the flowers and runners this year frustrates to plants, next spring will yeild bigger crop. Flowers This is coming down the hill to the coop location

07-03-2007	#14 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 14,931	You really do have a nice place. What do you do with all the flowers and veggies your grow ??? Just enjoy it (can) or sell them ?? We did a garlic crop one year and braided them into wreaths.

register to remove these adverts