A Dream Chicken Coop

We've had the same old coop for about 25 years and for the last couple of years we haven't had any chickens, so the weeds have filled the run and the bugs have been multiplying like crazy.  I decided it was time to get chickens again, but I just hated the old drafty coop and worried about the chickens in the winter.  I decided to build a new coop, and if I was going to build it anyway, it might as well be fun to look at too.

Step 1: Demolition! Susan and I along with the grandkids and Robin's grands had a great time, especially Aidyn knocking the old one down and pulling nails out of the wood.  We wanted to use as much of the old wood as we could, although there really wasn't much that was good when all was said and done.

It took most of a day, but we had success and were ready to begin again.

 I didn't get a lot of pictures building the coop, but thanks to all those that came to help me get the walls up and the roof boards on.  Here it is ready to paint.

 The painting had to wait for the weather to cooperate, since we'd been having rain every day, but we finally got it done and here it is.

I can gather the eggs without ever going in the coop.

The west window (below) looks like this when it's closed....

 and like shutters when it's opened.

Here are the nest boxes on the inside.

We insulated so it would be warm in the winter and I won't have to lay awake worrying.

 And we got the roost in and spread some straw.

 It's move in day!!!

Time to Play Catch Up

I just realized that I haven't posted in a really long time.

So much has happened that I'm sure I won't do it justice, but I'll just do a quick catch up of some of the things that have happened.

Jon and Colleen had a baby boy born on Halloween in 2013 

Jairess is a wonderful addition to our family.

Jayd returned home from his mission in May 2014.

Everyone except Becky's family was able to be here for Jayd's homecoming, so we actually got pictures of 7 of our kids together, (something that never happens).

 Jarell Graduated from Snowflake High School in May also, Hurray!!

Jon and Joel got together and decided that Joel needed a dog, so we now have a German Shepherd named Grim that lives at our house.  

She is big and noisy, but very well trained and we have come to like having her around.

Jeremy and Jeanette welcomed a new little girl to their family and she is a joy. 

Since Jeremy and Josh's families have both moved to Snowflake AZ we find a lot more reasons to go down that way. Cecily's baby blessing was a fun opportunity to go visit all the grand kids and have some much needed family time.

We have had fun the last two years organizing a Renaissance Fair here in Blanding.  It has been a lot of work, but lots of fun.

Other than that we have just been keeping busy Dan selling his books, running to LTUE and other author events and me just running from one thing to another, sewing bluebird flour sack aprons, growing a garden and playing with the grand kids.  Life just stays busy.