I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

The building of the coop has begun!!!!! Woo Hoo.

Things have been busy all Spring and Summer, we are just now being able to concentrate on chickens.

I was very excited when the floor system went down…..

The next day the front wall was built…

Then it really started taking shape.

Billy designed this coop.  I think it is going to be soooo cute when it is finished.

This wood siding has a ” log”  look .  Too cute!  It will look similar to the building by the gold fish pond…only different…ha.

Billy was trying to explain to me what it would look like so he could make sure it was what I wanted.  However, I am not real good with being able to visualize buildings.  Size always messes with me.  I usually tell him to walk it off so I can get a mental picture.  Or ask him to show me another building that is comparable.

I suppose that is why I get so excited when I see it taking shape…because it is THEN that I really start seeing the whole picture.

Now when it comes to decorating….I usually have LOTS of ideas floating around in my head.  I can’t always make it look like my mind sees it…but I have fun trying.

I bought a chicken book months ago….I am learning that I still have a lot to learn about chickens.

Also about protecting the flock from predators.   One article talks about the different critters that will be a problem and how you can know what you are dealing with if you see certain things after attack.  If you find a bird with its head and neck missing, the killer may be an owl.  If you find just feathers scattered near a fence post, the thief could have been any flying predator that perched on the post prior to its attack.  Then they tell about Bobcats, they will bite off the head and leave puncture marks on the neck, back and sides.  Raccoons usually just go for the guts….Pretty gross huh?!?  Fox, Coyotes, and snakes just run off with the whole bird.  I suppose that is the food cycle of life.

I really hope I do not have to encounter all those things.  However, a rattle snake was in the road right in front of the coop just the other day.  He had about eight buttons or rattles on him.  Yikes!

This is a hawk that Billy was able to take a picture of from his truck on Saturday.  It is rare that you can see one this close.  He is pretty, I have a feeling that hawks and owls are going to be around more and be hard to deal with.  I probably won’t think he is so pretty with one of my chickens in his grip….flying away into the sunset.

I will have to concentrate on ways to protect them the best way I can.

Meanwhile I am excited about the day we get to have FUN picking out our girls!

I have been saving my egg cartons for months.   My neighbor said she would tell me how to Pickle eggs.  I have several gallon sized pickle jars ready for that as well!

For now….we just have to finish the coop….

It shouldn’t be much longer.  I will post more pictures as we continue to make progress!