Coop, Roost and Nest Construction

**Last week was full of twists and turns.  I didn’t post at all, so am trying to play catch-up with our daily happenings and our Easter celebration.**

The view of the ‘coop’ door and windows – it’s a nice sunny south facing building.

  
Last Monday, Eric, Dash & Zeke, with a bit of chatter ‘help’ from Graham, constructed a division in the barn to house our flock of laying hens.  The original area was too large, so we constructed a temporary wall.  It’s crude, but it will definitely serve us well. 
 
Dash, Zeke and I built the roost (wood structure pictured above) last Tuesday.  I used a circular saw for the first time in my life … yep, I’m not afraid of power tools.  It turned out pretty good.  We used lumber we had at the farm, so didn’t have to pay anything extra.  I wouldn’t have chosen to use 2x6 lumber and create such a heavy roost, otherwise.  Again, it will suffice and meet the needs of our small flock. 

Then, the following day, the 4-Hole hen nest (above) arrived and Dash put it together by himself.  He helped his dad hang it in the coop that evening.  They also hung the feeder and spread out the bedding to prepare for the hens’ arrival.
 

Nest Construction

 
My mom brought a dozen laying hens when she came on Holy Thursday.  We put the hens in their new home after dark; they’re calmer at night.  We were all excited – to get the hens and to see Grandma/Mom!  This coop will serve as the hens’ temporary home until a permanent coop is built in the barn.