I never recall I ’d ever say this … but I now have a chicken coop in my backyard ! And not just any chicken coop . Atikicoop !
My guy and I have been working on it off and on for the last five weeks … putting in a few hours here , a few hour there , taking a week off … and we finally finished it last Monday . Just in time for our new chickens to move in on Tuesday !
We build the tiki henhouse and run with plenty of room for our three girls to stretch along their wing out , as we ’re not always interior to let them free - range during the day .
The coop itself sit inside an wrap run , with a ladder lead up to the daddy room access , and a sheltered area underneath for food and water .
Inside the cage , the wall are paint a semi - gloss yellowness and the floors are lined with linoleum for gentle clean - up . A roost hangs above a poop tray , which is also lined with lino . All the lino canvass slither right out for a good rub - down .
We put kiln - dry out , intermediate - coarse pine shaving on the primary floor of the coop , and diatomaceous earth in the quarter tray . The diatomaceous earth is super absorbent material and maintain odors down . Every other solar day I sieve dirt out of the tray with a small litter scoop .
A triangular cutout serve as an open daddy threshold , giving the hen gratuitous approach in and out of the coop . They wake up with the sun and gather themselves in at night . Since they ’re locked into the run , a closing door on the henhouse was not necessary .
Another triangular cutout lead to the egg snug , which I ’ve line withplastic nest pads .
I roll in the hay — they calculate savage , but I ’ve study that crybaby wish to remain their tushies on these matter . The plastic restrain tinge and insect at bay , and the “ drainage ” hole allow muck to descend through ( to a linoleum - lined floor ) . When the girls are ready to lay , cleaning the nest will only involve a quick spray of water supply from the hose .
Two windows give interbreeding - airing inside the cage . We even build in an “ attic , ” which we ’ve distinguish the biddy have sex to sit in and look out the window .
In keeping with the tiki root word , the ceiling of the hencoop is covered with banana fronds from our trees ( and vinyl group pool liner underneath to prevent leaks ) . As the fronds age we may have to replace them , but luckily we have a neverending supplying in our garden !
The bamboo from our garden was used as lath to trim the edges of the coop and total an extra level of security over the hardware cloth . We also tie long stalking together with jute twine just for looks .
I love the way the bamboo is already starting to exchange gloss and look more weathered .
On the side of the coop , a large room access swings undecided for access to the egg box and a storage area to hold tool , nutrient and treats , and other supplies .
In front , a marvellous door leads to the run , and beside it are an access code door to the hencoop and a door to the feeders .
The rill is covered in fine grained , wash plaster sand . Combined with a little diatomaceous earth run down into the surface , it ’s one of the tidiest options I ’ve find for a running that sits on dirt . We had a big rainstorm the day after we loaded in the Baroness Dudevant , and it dry out out quick . It does n’t get soggy or moth-eaten . And speaking of , the chicken do it to luxuriate in a dust bath !
We treat the run as one big litter box , which makes poop patrol somewhat soft . doubly a workweek I go in with a kitty litter soap and scoop out all the muck . I utilize a long - plow scoop with a very broad back talk ( almost 6 column inch across ) . Since I ’ve never had computed axial tomography , I did n’t even know they made scoops this large — you could blame up Godzilla ’s dope with this affair !
The hen love to perch on the twisted manzanita subdivision we bestow back from my mother - in - law ’s backyard forest in Mill Valley . Adouble suet cagehangs above the branch , which we fill up with fresh fruit and veggies from our garden for the hen to peck at all Clarence Day . We also put in a couple of San Miguel River stones , which we scavenge from ourSouthern Colorado route trip .
Underneath the coop are the water boy and feeders . The waterer was made from a recycled grim water supply jugful that we painted over , allow for a windowpane so we could check the water level well . We screwed in an automatic drinking cupful , which refills itself from the jug as the hen fuddle .
The main feeder is ababy pig creep feederthat allows simple adjustment of the feed flow . I keep the menses at a low-down level , which minimizes waste . Twosmaller feedershold grit and oyster shield , all do free - choice .
The girls seem pretty happy in their unexampled habitation . Now I just require to start collecting some kitschy tiki decor to complete the look !
So there you have it — the Garden Betty tiki coop ! If you want to know the nuts and bolts of how we actually built it , stay tune for mynext mail …
