I have been on a mission lately. Within the next year I would like to buy a plot of land, (a little slice of heaven I will call Harley farms) to grow vegetables and raise chickens. I know I may sound like I am loosing my marbles, but I have a great desire to put my hands in the ground and contribute to what I put on my plate. Evidence of this journey has been shown in this post, gardening-getting back to basics and here DIY-container gardens. And word on the street, it’s rewarding!
On my journey to getting back to basics, I have been knee deep in research. I am a designer for heavens sake, not a farmer. If the world were to end tomorrow I can give you one hell of good-looking tent, but don’t count on me to grow tomatoes, at least not yet. But don’t give up hope! I am a survivor, and if nothing else I’m a good communicator so we can at least talk someone else out of their tomatoes!
Ameraucana chicken
On today’s journey we are going to talk chicken coups. From what I have read, it seems that BantamBrahmas are a favorite type bird. For practical people who just want a basket of fresh eggs, opt for Red stars or Rhode island reds. Leghorns are popular in the Tennessee area and if you want fancy Martha Stewart birds opt for an Ameraucana, they lay Easter egg colors!
The biggest challenge I have faced, or rather dwelled way too much on, is the chicken coup. Most simple farmers throw up some chicken wire, cinder blocks or a dog house and call it a day….And it looks something like this:
Chicken coup
Ummmm……..did I mention I am a designer? Somehow I just don’t think this is going to work for me! Thank heaven’s for the internet. It saved my fluttering heart/panic attack and brought me back yard chickens! Here you will find loads of chicken information and these beauties:
Fancy chicken coups
Now this is more like it! A chicken mansion, the birds may be living better than the homeowners!
Chicken coup
Chicken coup
Cluckingham Palace
Chicken coup
So why should you have a quaint little home for your chickies? Happy chickens that are kept warm and fed well produce these for you to eat!
Chicken eggs
Yum! Ooooohh……Ahhhhhhh!
Now I don’t know a thing about farming. But I do know a thing or two about bribery, and begging. And it just so happens that I am in good with a farmer goat who lives in Montana, and her name is Pricilla. She’s ornery and very full of herself, and I will probaby want to strangle her, I mean hug her, but don’t put it past me to pay her off with some tasty spinach, carrots and apples to learn a thing or two about farming!
What are your thoughts about chickens? Love em’ or hate em?
Images: kk, back yard chickens, Heather bullard
About Amanda Gates
I am willing to keep chickens only if I have chicken homes as fancy…Harley Estates would be a grand place with you as designer farmer! xo
You know I will help you as much as I can but I will warn you about stinkin’ chickens….they POOP everywhere. And I do mean everywhere so those beautiful coops you have pictured – they will stay beautiful for all of about 2 hours. Then they will be covered with poop. Unless you want to be out there shoveling said poop on a regular basis.
And if you don’t plan on your chickens reproducing the publicist suggests you don’t get roosters. They are mean. She has the scars to prove it. She does love her garden, though
Such a fun post, AB. I gotta ask – is that a DRYER in the first chicken coup image? Oh my god.
Let us know how that chicken-raising goes. I don’t think you are losing your marbles. It’s smart to know where your food comes from these days. Have you watched Food Inc and King Corn? Life-changing films.
I just died and went to chicken heaven! i have been wanting to build a chicken coop for years. You just convinced me. I designed a chicken coop for a Hamptons client, gave her a couple of books on “collectors ” chickens” and had so much fun with the project. i grew up on a vinyard in France, and we had a large outdoor aviary and …a chicken coop where exotic chickens paraded in their feathery splendor. I may just try this in Connecticut, in a more modest way though…