The Royal Treatment

I do believe our hens are enjoying their life at Poultry Palace. What's not to like?

Each day there is a fresh supply of food and water in addition to time outside the coop for picking weeds and bugs in the garden. And let's not forget the little treats like dried mealworms and fresh earthworms.

Security at the coop has been increased with the addition of wire attached to the perimeter and buried underground. This should deter predators from digging their way in. We want our girls to be safe.

Now there's bathing inside the coop as well as out in the garden. You know, it's the little luxuries like a bowl of dirt that make a chicken happy.

And when the hot summer weather hits we're prepared with an insulated cooler that we'll keep filled with ice water to keep our hens cool and comfortable.

One day Queenie, Princess, and Duchess will show their appreciation for this royal treatment with a gift of fresh eggs. One day.

First You Need A Coop

By the time John proposed the idea of keeping chickens, he already had a coop kit picked out. We ordered the Round-Top Starter Chicken Coop, with all the options, from Urban Coop Company.

Our order was shipped in two large boxes. One was so heavy it was impossible to lift. I don't know how the FedEx guy did it, with a dolly, I guess.

Since we were out of town when the boxes arrived, our wonderful neighbors somehow wrangled the boxes into the house for us (without the benefit of a dolly). They certainly deserve some of our first fresh eggs!

Okay, let's see what's in the box. This was our Christmas present to each other. I let John do the unwrapping.

All the pieces for the coop and main run were in the heavy box. The second box contained the optional run extension pieces.

"Thanks, it's just what I wanted!"

It was a cold and wet day, but the sun came out briefly just as John began assembling the first pieces. It was symbolic of the happiness I could tell he was feeling about this project.

My job was to read the instructions, locate the right pieces, and take occasional progress pictures. The instructions were well written, but the part numbers and letters weren't stamped on the pieces, which meant I had to keep referring back to the parts photos. It got a little confusing at times.

"Read that part again. Are we doing this right???"

We did actually assemble the run extension incorrectly (our fault for not reading the instructions all the way through), and had to take those pieces apart and rebuild it. But, in the end it all came together nicely.

On the next day, which was New Year's, we picked up three pretty hens from Blue Star Ranch and got them settled into their new home. The hens deserve their own post, so I'll introduce you to them next time.

For a sneak peek, check out the sidebar.