Happily Ever After...

We've decided to have chickens...five of them (though i'm hoping to slip a 6th one in there). This charming outbuilding is just aching to be filled with something alive and wholesome. The children and I rolled up our sleeves, pushed our hands through a jungle of cobwebs and began to clear out the old brick shed. The door creaked open like a haunted house as we made our way into the tiny space. It was a mess! Fencing posts, bags of concrete that had seen entirely too much moisture and a lovely plastic file box filled with old paint brushes and black murky water with a tie dye pattern of oil on its surface.

After pulling out bricks, old pieces of wood and swept the debris away we decided it was time to think about the birds. We found a roll of chicken wire in one of the grassy areas being held captive by a tangle of blackberry vines. After we pulled it out and discovered no rust to be found, we set about making plans!

The large hole on the front of the new Chicken coop would be covered in chicken wire and plywood would be semi-attached 2/3 of the way up. Removable so that in warmer weather it could be stowed away. Nesting boxes and a perching shelf have been carefully designed on paper with things around this old farm that were piled into corners and sheds.

Soon we'll be finished adding shavings for the nesting boxes and hay for the cold brick floor, the door will be flung open and we'll go to the farm shop and pick out our five (OR SIX!) birds! ...being England...we better be on the watch for a fox in the hen house. (More pictures tomorrow)