Coop deVille

The ADVENTURE BEGINS!! We left the local ranch-supply store the middle of March, with 5 chicks, heat lamps, feeders, waterers, pine shavings, and baby-chick feed. A week later we purchased 16 more chicks for a total of 21. The breeds we chose are Wyandotts, Delaware, White and Silver Leghorns, and Black Jersey Giants. They were so tiny, fragile and vulnerable. They lived in our dining room for 2 weeks until they drove us all nuts and they were moved to the garage. Matthew is making sure that Jinx, the cat, kept her distance. They are now a month old and have out-grown their box and another box had to be added. We are pitying their close quarters and something has to be done!

We've spent weeks pouring over books from the Library. We read about chickens and coop designs. We looked all over the Internet and found some fabulous sites!

http://www.mypetchicken.com/ This site gives great information on chickens

http://www.backyardchickens.com/ This site has about 450 coop designs.

Victor has gotten a brilliant idea and made a simple stand out of 2 x 4's with chicken-wire stapled to it. It is firm and is able to stand up by itself, creating a circle. We've put the pine shavings on the garage floor, hung the heat lamps, and now they are enjoying the added room. Victor even designed an A-framed Roost for them.

Victor bought some wood and adds it to a supply of barnwood that we were fortunate enough to be given. You can't see it in these pictures, but the wind is blowing bitterly.

March 25th.....

Well, it's now April 9th and it's snowing!! It will be another few weekends before the Coop deVille will be finished and the chicks can enjoy their new insulated home.

Winter in Montana lasts until June!!