A local contractor rehabbed the shed, salvaging what wood he could, and rebuilding the structure. I drew up plans for him to add a chicken run, including a 3-D model with dimensions. Our new neighborhood has raccoons and I wanted something heavy and sturdy for our flock.
Construction took about four days with three tough guys on the job. After day one, our backyard looked like the shed exploded. Some wood was able to be salvaged, but most was rotten.
The contractor added some nice venting along the roof. Along with the two existing windows, the girls should be able to get some nice fresh air into their coop. People can be overly concerned with making the hen house air tight, but it’s actually healthier for them to get fresh ventilation.
Stay tuned for updates later this summer as we get the hen house finished and paint the shed. There are so many major changes planned for this soon-to-be-garden. It already feels more like home to have the girls happily settled in their new digs.
Want help with your own garden? I’m a landscape architect, and I design residential gardens in Portland: edible landscapes, native plantings and outdoor spaces that pull you outside. See my work at Renee Wilkinson Landscapes.
#agchat #urbanag Chicken Coop Shed Combo http://t.co/CdF3JtgDPZ /by @HipChickDigs
RT @hipchickdigs: Here is our nearly finished shed/chicken coop for the new homestead: http://t.co/LIzgtzSsK7
Hi Renee – how is the smell in the shed? We’re consdering doing something similar, but others have warned the chickens will stink up the entire place.
The smell is not so bad, as we change their bedding weekly. But the dust! Goodness, it gets everywhere – through every nook and cranny on their hen house and into the shed.