With temperatures above 50 degrees today, we decided to take the chicks on a field trip to see their chicken coop! I packed all three into a cat carrier, and walked them out into the yard. At first they were scared to come out of the carrier, but the bold Olive Egger led the way. …
We did it!
This morning the chicken coop was approved for occupancy. The visit from Marc Howell, Ferndale's building inspector, was short and sweet. He immediately said it was a sturdy structure, and well weather-proofed. He asked about underground barriers, and I explained that we had buried cement pavers. If rodents or any other vermin make their way …
“Pretty much, almost, exactly.”
After two days of work in the wind, snow and sub-zero temperatures, we are about 95 percent complete with the coop. Our friend Eric showed up Saturday afternoon with pre-cut window frame pieces and a Tupperware container filled with lemon cupcakes (a gift from his wife Char). After settling in, and eating some shepard's pie …
Chick supplies, and customer service surprise
Piece by piece it's all coming together. Today we received a delivery from Mills Fleet Farm containing three wood nesting boxes for the hens. Technically, we only need one or two for three birds, but I'm hopeful the chickeneers in Ferndale will unite to eventually lobby to increase the number allowed in our flock. Plus, …
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Prepping for chicks
While we still things to finish on the coop, today Matt and I refocused on our incoming chicks. With the chicken coop inspection a week away, and chicks expected at the end of February, we figure things are about to start moving fast. We realized we had no choice: It's time to start multi-tasking our …
The doorway to victory
Still in my pajamas, I joined Matt to trudge out in the snow and ice to install the hen house door. And with the last screw put in a hinge, we have an almost-finished chicken coop! We still have an assortment of small details that we need to tend to before the girls arrive, but …
Victory and defeat
The day started out with great optimism. We were going to finally build the hen house door. When we walked out to the coop to take final measurements, we were met with a flood in the run. As the weather warmed, bringing rain storms to melt the foot of snow out back, it transformed our …
Inspection date set!
It's official! We will have the chicken coop inspected Jan. 29. Yesterday I received a call from Ferndale City Hall asking when I planned to submit my permit application. I was confused since I had just filled out paperwork in October. She politely explained that I had submitted for 2013, and it is now 2014. …
Mystery snow prints
As Snowmageddon descends upon Detroit, Matt and I decided to carve out a run for our dog Charlie in the back yard. While I was doing some maintenance shoveling, I stopped to admire the chicken coop. As I stepped closer, I noticed a bunch of paw prints inside the coop. Instantly I was alarmed. I …
Installing the door
So we installed the door. I'm impossibly excited about it.It looks awesome. I mean, we had an idea it would look good, but now that it's in place, it just looks so official. We really have a chicken coop in our yard!!The install only took about 10 minutes. We already had screwed one side of …
Chicken Scratch Fever 