The Chicken Palace

So...we've been "winterizing" the chicken coop.  Perhaps "remodeling" would be more descriptive.  Ok, let's be real...our chickens now live in a palatial chicken palace.  Ready for the before and after?

Before...

This is BEFORE.  It was a little unnerving knowing the previous owners of our home lost their ten chickens when a pack of coyotes dug under the fence.  So we've been a bit nervous with the flimsy chicken wire. 

Another issue was that the box where the chickens slept at night (to be safe) was too small for them to be cooped up in all winter.  We also needed a heater (ok, "need" is probably a bit strong...we thought a heater would be wonderful for our beloved birds) and a light so the birds will continue to bless us with their egg-cellent eggs throughout the winter.  And, the ceiling had low hanging beams that were always bumping into.  Oh so many opportunities for improvement!

Enter...Brennen and his father Jerry!  The dynamic duo who remodeled the Super-8 into the Ritz-Carlton!

These two professional craftsmen usually work on kitchens and basements.  I told them they should start billing themselves as "Kitchens and Coops" after the bang up job they did in the Bendickson backyard. 

Check this out...

Now THAT's a chicken coop!  Isn't it beautiful?!  I can't wait to add window boxes in the spring.  And don't you just love the little chicken door? 

Come on inside...

The birds are loving their nifty new nest boxes:-)

And when the temperatures start dipping down, they will appreciate their "Sweeter Heater"...

Much safer than a traditional heat lamp.  AND, it is plugged into a "Thermocube" (you learn all kinds of things when you start poking around :-).  A Thermocube looks like a powerstrip, but it has a built-in thermostat which will turn the heater on when it gets down to 20 degrees...and off again when it hits 30.

They even got rid of those nasty head-banging beams so we can walk in without knocking ourselves out:-)

That's the latest.  The goats are growing babies (hopefully) due April 3rd and 5th.  The chickens have a beautiful winter home.  And Joe, the horse, has adjusted to Ashley's plan to whip him into shape. 

That's what's happening in our neck of the woods...how about you?