Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska

Chicks Moved Out

The chicks are very happy in their new home.  Three of them are 7 weeks old and the other two are 5 weeks old.  I set them up a spot in the storage side of the chicken coop, separate from the adults.  They have about 20 square feet in there.  I hooked up a light for them with a 60 watt bulb - mostly for light, but the heat will help at night when it gets cooler.  The temperature outside today was about 64 degrees, so they didn't really need the extra heat during the day.  That side of the coop only gets light through the little window in the door, so the extra light will be good.

Making progress on the fence for the chickens.  Yesterday I dug two holes and today I dug 1 1/2 holes.  That leaves just 4 1/2 holes left.  I bought all the lumber for the fence and began staining it today too.  I will feel good when the fence is finished - see all those big rocks I've been digging out?!

Chicken Coop Yard

It is really hard work digging holes in the ground we have since it is so rocky!  My body is feeling it today.  Yesterday I marked where the fence will go with a string and stakes.  I marked out where the fence posts will go and where I will dig holes for the pier blocks.  I bought one fence post to see how sturdy it is in the bracket and it is pretty good.  It does move a bit, but nothing else is hooked to it yet.  I think once the top and bottom of the fence is attached it will be quite sturdy.  I dug (well, redug) two holes and decided that was enough for one day!  :o)

Here is the first fence post installed.  It will be cut down to the height of the fence, which I think will be 5 feet.  You can also see the string line marking where the fence will be and all the pier blocks waiting to be buried.  You also see the rocks I pulled out of the holes.

 Here is a shot on the other side of the coop.  The yard will be three times as large as the coop and should give them plenty of room to roam.

The little girls (still in the house) got new litter last night.  I have become tired of changing newspaper so often and they needed to get used to what will be in the coop, so I switched them to the pine shavings.  They were really scratching around and flinging it everywhere!  They also kept knocking the waterer over and the litter was all wet.  So I rigged up some chain so I could hang it - turned out pretty good!  Can't wait until they get to move out and I can clean my desk off!!  They are 4 weeks and 6 weeks as of yesterday and I want to wait until the littler ones are 6 weeks....so two more weeks and we will start the transition!!

Moved Chickens and Now They Aren't Laying...

It has been two weeks since we moved our friends chickens from their home to ours.  There are 9 chickens and they are 2 years old.  Eggs have been sporatic - about one per day for the first 4 days, then nothing, then one per day for the past three days (7 total).  They had been laying great before we moved them.

Has anyone moved a flock before and how long until they settled in and gave you eggs?  Could my nest boxes be not dark enough?  I was thinking if that was the case, they would just pick a darker spot to lay.  Any thoughts are welcome - thanks!!

All In a Row...

I thought this was so cute - the chickens all up on their roost (except the little baby girl). 

The little baby girl is snuggled up in the warm corner.  I changed the lightbulb down from 150 to 100 watts tonight.  Need to be saving more on the electric bill!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 20

More painting today - done with that until the fencing is moved, then I can finish the front of the building.  I worked on digging holes for the fence posts - dug 2 more, so now there are 3.  10 to go...  It is really hard digging, very rocky, so it is taking me about an hour per hole.  Here are some more pictures...

I've been focusing on the coop and not tending the garden as I should be.  I have done some weeding, but there is always more to do.  The potatoes are getting big enough to start mounding with dirt, so I'll do that this week.  The onions are looking great and I will start harvesting some for green onions.  The beets are doing great also.  This nice weather sure helps.

The red current bushes are just loaded this year - I think I'll actually have enough to make jelly!!!

No eggs today - we had just 4 last week.  I guess they are still adjusting...  Heather said maybe the nest boxes are too light and they need them to be darker.  So I put some burlap in front of two of them.  Not sure what they will think of that...but it is worth a shot.

The little girls are doing well - they were all lined up on the roost last night, but I didn't have my camera handy.  It is so cute to see the little ones up there with the bigger ones!  Today I took the two bigger ones outside for an adventure.  We just sat in the backyard in the sun.  They had a good time - stayed close to me - pecked at the weeds and the bugs.  They weren't quick enough to catch the flying bugs, but found stuff on the ground to munch.

Chicken Coop Project - Day 19

I have finished up the trim work over the past few days and yesterday I decided to paint since the weather was sunny and warm.  So I got it all setup and painted the colors I had chosen...

I decided that I wasn't happy with the colors.  The main color turned out too light and the trim color was too purple.  So, today and went back and picked colors again.  It was raining this morning, but cleared up in the evening.  Out I went to paint again...

I am much happier with the colors.  I got three sides completed with the main color, and half of the front.  The other half will have to wait until I move the chain link fence.  I got just one side done of the trim, by then the sun had gone down and the little no-see-ums were eating me up!  So hopefully I can finish that tomorrow.  I also want to dig some more fence post holes.

Chicken Coop Project - Day 18

I finished rigging up the chicken door on a pulley so I can open and close it from the storage area.  Turned out pretty good I think.  It slides up and down in the channel I made.  The other end of the rope is secured to a cleat.

I added another branch right in front of the nesting boxes to help them get in and out of them easier.  They are really digging that already.

I have been feeling bad that their outside yard is so small, but a new larger fence is in the works, just takes a little time.  So in the meantime, we fashioned a cover over half of the yard and bird netting over the other half.  Tonight I also moved some bushes next to the fence and covered some with plywood so the dog wouldn't bother them so much.  Hopefully they will like that better. 

The ramp we built seemed like it may be too steep for them, so dad brought over a longer board and it seems to be working better.

I've been working on the trim on the building too. 

What's left to finish:
Trim work - around door, around windows, far side of building
Windows - finish scraping old paint, redo some of the glazing
Fencing - dig holes for pier blocks to hold posts, build fence...
Paint!!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 17 - Move In Day!

Today was move in day for our friends' chickens who will be spending the summer here.  I think the 9 ladies are making a good adjustment.  I was worried that the roosts and the nesting boxes were too high, but when we put them in the coop a few made their way right away up to the roosts.  Then later I saw two girls in the nesting boxes - two in the same box that is.  Guess I don't have to worry about the boxes being too small either.

We brought their feeder and waterer, so I got those hung up and filled and the chickens were very happy about that.

My dad helped me most of the afternoon.  We went to the valley and picked up a dog run second hand that I figured would work perfect for my temporary fence until I build a bigger area for them.  It is very sturdy and would stand up to a bear.  Dad thought we ought to put a cover over it to protect the chickens from the hawks and bald eagles that are around here.  So we fashioned a cover from pvc pipe and a tarp.  It will work for now.  And the chickens can go outside and not get all wet if they don't want to. 

I had worked on the chicken door last night and we made a ramp for them today.  Seems to work for them although most of them take a shortcut and fly up to the top.

Hopefully tomorrow we will be repaid for all our hard work with some fresh eggs!!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 16

And today we have windows!!!  My dad cut out the openings for me to install the windows.  The windows are recycled ones I got for free from a garage sale.  They need the old paint scraped off and some of the glazing re-done.  I think I want to get them painted before I install them.  Right now I just put them in to see how they look.  Boy they sure let in alot of light!!  Dad also cut out the chicken entrance.  I think I will rig the chicken door on the inside to slide up and down so I can control it from a distance with a rope and pulley system...we will see.  I also got a little done on the trim and flashing.  Pretty soon you will see chickens in there.... :o)

The chickens are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 weeks old now.  I decided to bring them some worms.  I brought in 3 worms and some green stuff for them to peck at.  They are so funny to watch - when one gets a worm she will run around and the others run after her, kinda like playing keep away.  So after those 3 were gone, I was feeling bad that they each didn't get a worm.  I went out to the compost pile and took little scoop of the dirt and a few more worms and put the dirt in their cage.  Gosh, there were all sorts of little bugs and crawly things in just that little scoop!  I think they had fun picking and scratching through everything.  I think the littlest baby got the most little goodies from the pile while the rest were playing keep away.  I was definitely entertained.  Can't wait to see what they do when they get to go outside!

Sorry it isn't a better picture, but they just wouldn't hold still!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 15

And today we have a front door!!!  It is so cool - it even opens right  :o)  The window in it opens so that will help with ventilation in the coop.  I had to cut the bottom off to make it fit in the opening and was a little nervous...  I measured and re-measured and re-measured again.  But it fit on the first try - yea!!  It's almost time for chickens now, just have to figure out the fence...  I bought paint tonight for the outside and another color for the trim...but you will have to wait to see what colors I picked  :o)  My friend Holly gave me some paint also, so that will go on the inside.  I hope the chickens love their new home!

Clover checked out the chicken coop and decided it would make a great dog house!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 14 (and garden pics)

Yea!!  I installed the metal roofing today, so I feel like I'm on the home stretch now.  There will be trim that goes around the coop right under the roofing that will cover up the extra tar paper and I'll need to put some flashing on the sides, but I think it is coming right along.  The roof sections are 16 feet long, about 4 feet longer than I need, so Dad is going to come and help me cut it off to the right length.  I also need him to operate the sawzall to cut the window and chicken door openings since I'm not checked out on that tool yet.  (Hi Rod!!  Hope you had a good night at work - talk to you tomorrow!)

Here is the inside where I have framed for the windows.

 Here is the veggie garden with (front to back) peas, strawberries, potatoes, onions, beets, red currents and raspberries on the left:

Tomato plants in the greenhouse:

A baby cucumber!

Peas next to the greenhouse and rhubarb and raspberries:

The cabbage are looking healthy:

Carrots are up and ready to be thinned some:

And there is Simon enjoying the evening sunshine!

Today has been a full day.  I made time to can some pinto beans and I cooked a big pot of them as well.  The canned ones will go up to Rod.  I cooked some burger with taco seasoning and wrapped up some burritos for the freezer - we will see how those turn out.  And I cooked some rice to freeze in serving size portions.  Whew!  I'm headed to bed - have a great night!!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 13

We added 2 chicks to the flock on Wednesday.  They are so little, it is funny to think that the other 3 were that small just two weeks ago!  I have had to put the lid down on the cage as one of them has figured out how to fly up and perch on the edge.  Here are the two new babies - a buff orphington and a light brahma.

On the building project, progress was slow this week due to the rain.  Today was nice, so after I finished our monthly grocery shopping trip and sent Rod's food up to Skagway, I worked on the coop the rest of the day.  I finished securing the blocks between the rafters.  Then it was up on the roof and getting the tar paper stapled down.

Tomorrow may see some metal roofing up on that roof!!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 12

It decided to rain today and rain it did!  Off and on all day and tonight - but there were a few breaks and the sky cleared off for awhile just in time for the sunset.  My dad helped me secure a tarp over the roof since the water was leaking in between the plywood.  So I moved all the tools inside.

I decided to work on the inside door.  Had to cut it down since it was too tall - it was a recycled door from a remodel project at work, so I didn't feel bad cutting up a free door (thank you Holly!!).  Got that done and stood the door up for the moment of truth - did I measure right?!?

Well, it fits PERFECTLY.  Dumb luck I think  :o)  The door opens and closes well, but the top part doesn't open by itself very good, so it needs a shim somewhere, I just need to figure out where...

Here is the other door which will be the outside door...

Chicken Coop Project - Day 11

I finished the interior wall between the coop and storage room.  There was alot of measuring and cutting smaller pieces with angles and notches and so I'm very proud of myself on how it turned out!!

Here is the doorway between the two rooms:

And here is the nest box/egg collection door:

At this rate, we may be ready for paint by the weekend 

Chicken Coop Project - Day 10

When I was getting ready to go out and work on the coop project, I looked out the window and saw a bunch of smoke.  Looked like someone down on the beach was burning something...but I wasn't sure.  Then I heard the sirens of the fire trucks...I figured I better figure out what was on fire.  I called my dad to see if he was home since he lives on the beach, but he was in the valley.  So I drove out the highway to see where it was coming from.  It wasn't on the beach like I thought, it was further down the harbor on the point, about 1/2 mile from our place.  Lots of smoke...  There isn't a road out to those homes, just a trail so I don't know how the firemen got out there.  Not sure if it was someone's home or what, but I hope everyone is okay.  Didn't hear anything on the news, maybe tomorrow.

I worked on the coop most of the day and was by myself today.  Things went well.  I'm getting more confident with the skill saw - cut the plywood to finish off the wall with the doorway.  I secured all the plywood in the front - yesterday we just put in enough screws to keep it up so we could get as many walls up as we could while I had help.  Then I'll go back and secure everything really well. 

I cut pieces of 2 x 6 to fit in between the rafters on the front and back walls.  I haven't decided how best to secure them, so they are just loose for now.  Then I decided to tackle the roof!  I heaved a sheet of 5/8" plywood up on the roof and positioned it - got is screwed down.  Then it started to sprinkle...  so I gathered up all the tools and got them under a tarp.  I picked up all my scraps and put them under the coop.  Then it quit sprinkling.  So I marked a sheet of plywood to cut.  Then it started sprinkling again...  I really wanted to get the roof on - or at least set up because it is supposed to rain tomorrow.  So I went inside for awhile.  It quit again, so I hurried outside to cut my plywood.  Got that done and cut another.  Put those 1/2 sheets up on the roof and secured them.  Then heaved up another 2 whole sheets and secured them.  Whew!!  Basically got the roof up in 1 1/2 hours - that is alot of up and down on the ladder - I'm beat!!

So here is today's progress - front, back and side:

Now that I can work inside the coop, I will work on the doors, covering the wall between the coop and storage areas, framing in the windows, making a chicken door, and building some sort of fence for their yard.  The fence will be a challenge because it is near impossible to dig around here - too many big rocks/boulders.  So I will need to figure some mostly above ground method to secure the posts...

Chicken Coop Project - Day 9

And then came the walls!!  A couple friends came over for a bit today and helped alot with the walls, then my dad helped too.  It is really coming together now.  I'm pretty tired, so this entry will be short, but I had to show you a picture!!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 8

The bugs were bad tonight!  The little no-see-ums, no sunshine today so they were out by the hundreds.  Despite that, I was able to get the rafters installed - all by myself!

It is amazing to me how expensive wood is.  I bought 17 sheets of plywood and it came to $300!  Wow!!  So tomorrow some of it will find its way onto the walls of the building.

I have some figuring to do on how high the plywood should go - cover the rafter on the sides?  Between the rafters on the front/back?  All the way down the the bottom of the joists?  I also need to think about how to fill in the spaces between the rafters.  Cut blocking to go between or something...  I'm quite a ways from getting to paint yet.  I also have to think about their fenced yard...our ground is VERY hard to dig in because it is all rocky fill that was brought in.  I will probably have to do something on top of the ground to secure the posts.  You know a simple chicken coop really is quite complicated!  :o)

Chicken Coop Project - Day 7

The nesting box is in!  That was the big accomplishment tonight.  My dad has been helping me on the project now every night - I think he is looking forward to having the chickens around, but he won't admit it  :o)

Here is the nest box from the coop side.  It is 2 1/2 feet off the floor and 5 feet long.

Here is the back of the box that is in the storage area.  See the back of the box opens down for access to the eggs.

Here are the windows (garage sale - free item) that I want to use.  Need to figure where to put them and get them framed in.

Tomorrow I will pick up the plywood for the walls and the roof!  So far our weather has been great - hope it stays like this through the weekend!

Chicks at One Week

The chicks are learning to fly now.  They are getting more of their wing feathers and just yesterday I noticed tail feathers too.  They like to flap around, sit on top of the cardboard tunnels and I saw one of them perched on top of the waterer!

Chicken Coop Project - Day 6

Dad and Uncle Joe both came over and helped after I had the last two walls assembled - time to raise the walls! 

This angle shows the inside wall better.  The area to the left will be the storage room and the coop is on the right.  The nest box I built will be framed into this wall so that the door on the back can be opened from the storage area and you don't need to enter the coop to collect eggs.  That will be tomorrow's project.