It has taken 300% longer than expected but I can now confidently say our first chicken coop is done! Jason & Doctor Gaggi have been down in the coop for weeks - tweaking here, digging there, repositioning. A project Jason thought would take 2 days has damn near killed him - he banged his nose with a sledge hammer, split his lip open with the back of the hammer & smacked his forehead on re-bar...in the final 3 days! In classic Dott. Gaggi form, he declared with a wiry grin, "At the end of your arms instead of hands, there are hammers." This might in fact be true- But the end result looks great and I know the chickens will be happy!
We have the only coop on the road with poured cement around both doors, re bar reinforcement and welded joints! We recycled old materials found on the property; door, shelves, trees - you name it, we used it! The only thing we purchased was the fencing.
There is nothing more that the foxes would love than a chicken dinner - so the entire coop needed to wrapped in fencing from top to bottom! We asked a neighbor whose chickens roam free without a fence how do they keep the fox away? Matter of factly PierAngelo answered: "Oh no, we don't. Last year they killed all my chickens & the ducks!"
Jason learned a thing or two from this:
1. Do not stare at the welding torch without proper darkened glasses.
2. Have a plan on paper- It will save a lot of time and frustration. Nothing is worse than having to rip down a days worth of work.
Jason & the Doctor are confident the chick-a-dees will be happy in their luxury digs - at 5.5 meters by 4 meters -there's plenty of space for 12 or so chickens to sleep happily & then free to roam about the property all day!
A BIG grazie mille to the good Doctor for all his help on yet another project on the farm. Now all we need are the chickens...
I am so jealous... to have your own chicken coop is quite a luxury.. all those fresh eggs!
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeletePoor Jason, I hope he's ok. That's a great accomplishment! You guys are very lucky to have the Doc's help
ReplyDeleteJog well done! I'd love to have my own chicken and although we have the land and 2 huge barns, I'm sure my barn cats would make be more then happy with chickens on the property!
ReplyDeleteComplimenti on the coop, and kudos to Jason for sticking with it; good thing he isn't Edward Scissorhands! Chickens! We had a 'flock' of 4 and it was heaven. They are extremely entertaining to watch. Enjoy!
ReplyDeletevery cool - my parents raise chickens - NOTHING like those farm fresh eggs. poor jason - hope he heals quickly!
ReplyDeleteSuggestion: Get Isa browns for chickens. They lay twice more than any other brand, and are quite intelligent too!
ReplyDeleteThe injuries don't look like anything that two....or three glasses of wine won't cure. Or at least make you feel better.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are a hoot! Chickens are fun but ducks are a riot! We had Isis and the Duck Brothers for a couple seasons... then the coyotes got a bit too friendly, or the ducks got a little too slow from eating all the bugs! I agree with Russ... no injury a couple glasses (Bottles) of wine couldn't cure! Better have plenty when we arrive. Ciao
ReplyDeleteYou are my heros! And teachers as we would like to do this one day. Now, I am not so sure. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is my dream. You inspired me now.
ReplyDeleteyou guys are awesome! thanks for the great comments! We are so excited to pick up the chickens - we're doing it tomorrow!!
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ReplyDeleteGorgeous!I lived in ITAlia in the early 90's......I now live in California and wish I was back there.I have a shop called the HEN HOUSE!I will be a regular to your blog.......
ReplyDeleteThey call me LA CONTESSA!Thats right.Not a real one just a want a be!All my Best.....Elizabeth