The pumpkin pie was barely chilled from Thanksgiving, and we were back out in the yard working on the chicken coop. The decision to get out there was a painful one. Matt and I curled up on the couch, imaging the cold air nipping at our fingertips. "Can't we just wait until tomorrow?" Matt asked. …
The final stretch?
Seven hours of work in freezing temperatures got us ahead of the curve. Matt and I bundled up in ski pants, winter boots, hats and gloves ... and worked until the sun set in the sky. Two cups of hot cocoa and sheer hustle kept us from freezing solid. But the payoff was big. We …
Installing mesh
Wow, what a day. I'm really loving how I started out with the delusional thought that we'll come close to finishing the coop. And then reality kicks in, and we accomplished about half of what we set out to do. Such is life. Today, we *almost* finished installing the wire mesh on the chicken coop. …
Raising the roof!
The chicken coop is coming together ... with a little help from my friends. Today my grade school buddy Tom came by to help install the metal roof. I hired him a little over a year ago to put on the roof for my house, so I know his work is impeccable. When he offered …
Weekend warriors
Our weekend warrior project has proven to have staying power. After a second weekend of work, it appears we have at least one full weekend of sawing and drilling ahead of us. My hope is that we can complete the chicken coop before winter descends upon us. I really would like to have it wrapped …
Coop construction
After a weekend of hard labor, I am relieved and happy to report that the chicken coop is well under construction. Our hope is to have it completed after one more weekend of work. We started the weekend with high hopes (and a dozen Dutch Girl Donuts) but were quickly sidelined by a trip to …
Material girl
T-minus six days ... and then we start building the chicken coop! We've spent a bulk of the weekend buying materials. Even though I have a detailed list provided by the Wichita Cabin Coop designer, the task at hand is daunting. So far we have purchased screws, wood stain (color: Natural Sequoia), a paint brush, …
The permit!
"Wow! You really thought of every little detail." — Cool counter lady at the Ferndale City Hall permit counter. With that comment, I knew getting approved for the chicken coop permit was a done deal. And thank goodness. With all the planning and worrying, my nerves were shot! I'm glad to report that the counter …
The paperwork
After all of the worry, the paperwork ended up much easier than I thought. I picked up the official chicken coop building permit application last week at Ferndale City Hall. Right away, I decided the most challenging part of the proposal would be drawing up the actual site plan. But when it came down to …
Coop design
We're just unpacking from a weekend trip to Kalamazoo to see our friends Eric and Char. We had a wonderful time, eating, and hiking ... and talking all things chicken. The great news is that Eric agreed to help us build our coop. After looking at a photo of one that Matt and I like, …
Chicken Scratch Fever 