Our first experience with chickens was about 6 years ago when our twins were only a year old. It was their first Easter and their grandparents decided to get them chickens! They were so tiny at the time and they really didn’t care for them. As a matter of fact they screamed when the chicken were set in their laps. Eventually they came around and we raised those chickens for about 3 years until unfortunately a fox got them. The chickens actually became really stubborn and didn’t want to go in their coop at night. We had another baby by then and with 3 kids under 2 years old adding more chickens wasn’t something we really wanted to do at the time. We sold the coop and called it quits. A few years later when we were finally ready to get back into the homesteading game we decided to build a critter proof coop. It was actually really cute, we built it under a tree house that the kids always played in. They were excited about getting chickens and being able to watch them while playing up above. I wish I would have taken a picture. Just about the time we finished the coop something in our lives changed and we decided to move.
Now that we are all settled in at our new place and all the fences and fields are fixed up for the cattle we can start working on other projects. At the top of our list was of course a chicken coop and run. I have done a ton of research and looked on Pinterest for inspiration a thousand times so I knew exactly what a I wanted. Our coop and run will be in with our garden area where we are also building raised beds. It will be a few weeks before its finished, I mean usable. I don’t know if anything will ever be “finished” around here. I like to change things up too much.
I have been checking weekly to see the chicks were available at our local Tractor Supply and it just so happened the day that all four kids had a dentist appointment they chicks had finally arrived. So far none of our four children have had any cavities and usually when we are finished with their cleanings I’ll get them a little treat. So of course I thought this time what is a better treat than chickens!! After they all received their good news of being cavity free we headed start to the store to get their reward. These sweet little farm kids were so excited. I love how much they love animals. They made sure to get the chicks everything they needed and when we got home they introduced the them to the dogs. So now the race is on to get the coop finished. Hopefully I’ll be able to do an update soon and show you around the garden and chicken coop.
