Jungle Gym Chicken Coop

After two years of reading, researching, talking about and obsessing over chicken keeping, we finally convinced DH to get chickens. So we are turning the the tower of this jungle gym into a chicken coop with attached covered run.

This tower has lots of character, but that makes it a little more difficult to just cut plywood and boards to fit. Luckily, DH is McGyver, so he did all the calculations to fill in gaps where boards are different lengths, widths and thicknesses, and the odd shapes at the roof peaks. When we get the boards at Lowes, we'll have them cut to length and height, so all I have to do is stain them, and DH can install.

We will screen in the tops of the side walls, and the triangles at the roof peaks for ventilation, with custom sized plexiglass "windows" to allow light as well.

We decided that the coop should be shorter for stability and mobility. DH wants to be able to move it around the yard for mowing, and move it closer to the house in winter for convenience. I like this idea.

So,we took off the picnic table/bench, the awning frame above it, and the 2 x 4 boards that secured the base. We gently laid the structure on it's side and then cut 2 feet off the legs. This left it at a height of 16" off the ground.

Then we reattached one of the stabilizer boards back into place at the bottom of the frame. DH use the board's pre-drilled holes to line it up and reattach the board at the bottom of the newly cut legs.

We screwed the other board to the front side of the coop about 3 feet up, to provide a framework for attaching the run, and as a framework for the sliding pop door. BTW, the door will slide sideways, not up and down.

So far we have spent a total of $70 for this coop, on plywood walls, stain for the boards, hardware cloth for windows and the run, 2x4s for the run, as well as deck screws. We still need plexiglass for windows, and cedar shingles for the roof, as well as a floor--probably linoleum. That's another trip to the home improvement shop, and another Saturday's work. Right now, I'm so excited; I love it when a plan comes together.

Weekend #2 We took advantage of 2 days of unseasonably warm weather to stain the boards we'll use for the walls, and then to cut and put them in place. We made a few adjustments to the design, to include more light and air flow, and hopefully an easy cleaning access.

The left side of the tower would make the perfect place for interior nest boxes. We found the angled stakes for anchoring the swing set worked perfectly to frame the space where the hinged nest box lid will go.

The opening beneath the nest boxes (where DH's legs are hanging out) will be closed with the boards from the table and bench we removed. It'll have a cute rustic look, and the little door will allow access to the coop if we need it.

Next warm weekend we'll finish the windows, screens, roof, doors and nest box lid, and then build and attach the run. It's almost time for chickens!

Hope In The Midst

In the space of three weeks, a friend and neighbor died of ovarian cancer; a sweet former co-worker and friend lost her battle with breast cancer; and my aunt died after suffering for years with rheumatoid arthritis.

I sent Clint over to the neighbors' with home cooked food and home made cards from the girls. Clint would call to check in, see if they needed anything. They were battened down for the storm, but it was good to come up every once in a while for air. Then we learned that her cancer had spread; she had come home with the understanding that further treatment would only prolong her life by months. She died within two weeks.

Another friend and former coworker had been battling breast cancer for years. I had sent her meals and desserts, prayed for her, got lots of updates from mutual friends and thought she was handling this thing. Then I found her obituary in the newspaper.

It just didn't seem real.

All this was going on as I spoke almost daily to my mother, who was then finishing her second, and beginning her third chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. My mom has such a positive outlook, such a faith that all will be well, that I couldn't tell her about my two friends; it might have set her back. My mom's dealt with nausea, loss of hair and appetite, weakness, going from insomnia to hardly being able to stay awake for days on end. She's had shots to combat low white blood cell count, and fluid injection to remedy mild dehydration. She's taken pills to battle constipation only to turn around and deal with bouts of diarrhea. It's been a constant struggle to feel normal, to feel like eating, or sleeping, or waking up, talking. And yet she's had the most positive attitude about it all.

"Three down, one to go," she said after the last treatment. "Next week I'll start feeling like eating again."

She'd lost 7 lbs in one week. How can I do anything but listen and cheer her on? I can't even think about what these women have been suffering. My mom has shown me such strength and grace. I couldn't possibly have a better role model, a real hero.

She was sad that she couldn't travel to Florida for my aunt's funeral, or to Pittsburgh three weeks later for the memorial service.

"I'm sure they'll understand your reasons, Mom," I told her. "I"ll give them your condolences."

I think a lot about my aunt, and about my cousins and their grief. I remember all those family reunions growing up, and visits to their house, about her infectious laugh. I remember Aunt Ginny and Uncle Joe at our wedding, and when she and my cousin came to visit after Maisey was born.

It still doesn't seem real.

My mom and I talk about her plans for the spring--home projects, gardening projects. She wants a riding mower so she can cut her own grass, take care of her own yard. It seems as good as any goal to achieve.

"Make your plans Mom; be ready. Spring will be here before you know it."