The Coop at Cody Cove

One of the initiatives started by our friends/landlords Barbara and George was a neighborhood chicken coop.  There are 4 families that have put time and effort into building and caring for chickens so that we may all have fresh eggs!  Our team of builders were my husband Jay, our landlord George, and our neighbors Skip and Bob.  Barbara, Jean and I all worked together on clean-up, setting up the compost, and assisting in the building of the coop. Everything, with the exception of some of the plywood sheets and chicken wire is made from found materials. We began in August - we chose a spot partially shaded by a large oak tree that used to be a horse pen, so it is already fenced in:

Step 1: It all starts with weeding and clean-up!

Step 2:  Pick the location and start digging post-holes!

Step 3:  Add posts so as to fit the floor

Step 4:  Cement in posts and add joists 

Step 5: Added posts for the run, the base for the nesting boxes, and supports for the roof

Our primary builders: My husband Jay, our neighbor Bob, and our landlord George (doing his excellent chicken impression) - (Skip managed to escape all our photos!)

Step 6:  Installing the tin roof

Step 7:  Add walls and install windows.  

Jay working on the Interior

Step 8:  Attach wire and gutters, make ramp for chickens, and paint!

Notice the door and steps (from an old hot tub/pool)

The outside access to the nesting boxes, though not pictured here, these now have latches for each door to deter intruders.  

Inside the nesting boxes - now each one has wooden eggs  - notice the roost to the left (that one isn't used often).  

So there you have it!  It took us about 2 months to put together, but with each of us putting in time, we have successfully built our coop at Cody Coven - everyone did such wonderful work!  Now the next big step... getting chickens! :)