Nest Boxes Awaiting Eggs

Posted on January 5, 2009 by jkmcintyre


This weekend, cold though it was, the sky desisted in dropping precipitation, so out we went to work in the yard. Scott attacked shrubs and trees with pruning shears and I placed nest boxes in the chicken coop. The chickens won’t lay eggs for another month or more, but we wanted the nest boxes to be familiar by the time they do lay eggs – with the hope that they will use them!!


I built the boxes in the garage in November from scrap lumber. Following advice in the wealth of chicken literature, I made them 12″ deep and wide and 14″ tall with a 3″ lip, and I placed them 18″ off the coop floor. I decided to make the boxes easily accessible from the outside by jutting them out and sloping the lid.


Off came the back paneling of the coop, in went supports to cantilever the boxes beyond the coop frame. Boxes went in after some chiseling to mediate for the coop not being perfectly square (…hey, I’m not a professional). New paneling cut to fit, and she looked pretty good!


I still have to seal some imperfect joints against drafts, and shingle and paint the box, but I’m pretty happy with the result. Hope the chickens like it too…

Posted in chicken coop / run, DIY, eggs, nest boxes | 3 Comments

Drip…drip…drip

Posted on December 23, 2008 by jkmcintyre


The temperature rose above freezing today. Icicles dripped water from every corner of the house, and yesterday’s snow-packed streets today became the slush rivers of springtime in my childhood Ontario.


I convinced Scott to break after lunch and walk down to the park. I wanted to see snow on the shore of Puget Sound before it all melts away. As the surf crashed over the breakwall, salting the ice covering the concrete barriers that hold back the Sound, we took in the sight of driftwood and beach smoothed-over by thick powdery white. Tracks of birds and mammals – big and small – criss-crossed the blanket that finally dissolved at the high tide line. Cool.

…And then we played on the swing before trudging back home…


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MORE SNOW!

Posted on December 19, 2008 by jkmcintyre


This is so much fun. Yesterday as it fell in fat heaps so gently from the thick sky, I was reminded that I have X-country skis! Snap! Snap! and I am off on the streets and sidewalks of West Seattle. I skied down to Kitty and Jeff’s house for a tea, then back home again. The streets were quiet of cars and busy of people out having fun. People of all ages walking, sliding, teenagers in particular rendered children again by the unexpected.

My favourite scene from yesterday was when we walked over to the pub; several pairs of X-country skis and poles were parked outside leaning on either side of the door. Classic. The pub was packed with people and dogs and everyone, EVERYONE, was happy. I wish it was like this all winter.

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Snow in Seattle

Posted on December 16, 2008 by jkmcintyre


SNOW! Yes, in SEATTLE! It happens once a year, sometimes just for one day or night. Saturday temperatures dropped to below freezing and snow fell in lovely fat flakes through the night. For an easterner like me, it was heavenly nostalgia.

Sunday morning we tromped out to the hot tub to wonder at the snow from the heat of our cedar tub and see what the chickens would think of it all. They decided they didn’t like it. As the wind picked up and the snow piled thickly on bare branches began falling in clumps, one shrieky chicken flan out to the run and then disappeared back into the coop, not to return.

We’d built the run attached to the coop so the chickens could be outside in inclement weather, should they choose, but wind had blown snow across the floor of the run during the night and the chickens were having none of it.

Snow stops this city; we don’t have the arsenal of ploughs and sanders that you find in snowy cities, plus we have a lot of hills – some of them quite ridiculous. Mid-day Sunday we walked the 1.5 icy miles to ‘The Junction’ where we had an errand to run, laughing at the silly drivers trying to get around in their cars.

Monday I had to cancel my appointments on campus and worked from home, checking in on the chickens so they wouldn’t get too bored. I was also worried they might die of dehydration or exposure; it’s been cold. Highs have been just below freezing and plunge into the 20s F (-7C) at night. The coop is uninsulated with open venting all around the roof and their water kept freezing.


Besides the risk of boredom, the chickens appeared fine. They stayed in the coop all day Sunday and all day Monday. This morning they were interested in venturing outdoors. Before I knew it they were wandering on the frozen foot paths pecking at…stuff. Mostly they are hanging out on – you guessed it – the front stoop (poop) and drinking the snow from the planter boxes. Funny chickens.

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