The Coop: Part 3

We worked really hard on the coop this past weekend, hoping that we might complete it, but building things takes a lot longer than you’d imagine (especially when you are both novices). Of course, we had to make the ritual weekend trip to Home
Depot—we tried to keep it short, but there's something about building supply stores that turns men into shoppers that rival any woman in a shoe store.

Mr. Man did get the roof finished. We used a solar gray polycarbonate, which will allow light through, but shade the coop somewhat at the same time. It seems chickens are much better at tolerating cold than heat.

We also managed to get the hen house framed and the hardward cloth up on the ceiling and on the front and sides of the coop. There is enough open space between the roofing and the ceiling for ventilation and can also be used to dry herbs.



















Mr. Man had to dig a trench a foot deep around the perimeter of the coop so that we could bury the hardward cloth to keep out
predators and pests (e.g., rats), we are hoping that the cats will help with this potential problem as well.



















After we got the bottom and top pieces of hardware clothup, I had to sew them together with wire so that there will be no openings.



















It was fairly cool while we were working on Sunday with occasional light rain. Marley, wanting to hang with us, but feeling cold and not liking getting wet, finally made a nest in some hay under a piece of plywood leaning up against the fence.



We still have to take down the fence panels to get the hardware cloth up in the back of the coop, but Mr. Man started putting up the siding. We’ll finished this up this weekend too.

Last night we had an unexpected cold snap and we had to rush home to cover the garden. Luckily, all seem to have fared well.