DIY project – The Gardening Blog

The much anticipated and prepared for Hen House and Chicken Run happened this holiday!! I so wanted to make a real Hen House for “the girls” because the reclaimed area has left them with no real home of their own – just a makeshift place that was only meant to be temporary. I was lucky to have the help of my many-talented hubby – the one with the real skill – and the time to build it during the holidays!! So all the photos with me in it – don’t be fooled! I am just the rookie! But nevertheless, I did pull my weight – I drilled and hammered and sanded and painted and lugged and assembled ….whew! This was a really big project. I’m exhausted!! I guess you can see by the photos 🙂

[one_half]The big start![/one_half]

[one_half_last]All measured and ready for drilling[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Preparing the sides[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Assembled and sanding[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Grinding the windows straight[/one_half]

[one_half_last]View of sides-big hey?[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Me inside with “the girls”[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Starting to look like a home[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Painting of primer coat-whew![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Assembling on site the next day[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Painting the interior with Wall n All[/one_half]

[one_half_last]First coat done![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Now the outside! A bright red![/one_half]

[one_half_last]First coat done! Nearly there![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Waiting patiently![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Now for the windows[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This one large enough for me to clean inside[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ta da! Love the final outcome![/one_half_last]

This is the Chicken Run fence …

I decided to keep to the rustic look and “plant” dropper poles as fencing rather than build a chicken wire fence. The new area is right in the back corner of the back garden – part of the Meadow area. The chickens like it here and there is plenty of shade and stuff to scratch!

[one_half]Droppers just stuck in the ground[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The girls seem quite happy here[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

I am so happy now that this can be crossed off my New Year’s “To Do” list!! We just have to get the area spic and span and the house kitted out with feeder and watering hole and the bedding. Maybe a picture or two on the inside walls 🙂

Do you have a New Year project? Please share it!

Happy DIY-ing xxxxx

I am so amazed at how we, my hubby and I, have been able to get this new area as part of our garden again. It was the chicken run for so long and now we are going to take it back!! We erected a new wall and now in the sequence of photos you will see the taking down of the temporary (was up for at least 4 years) shade cloth.

[one_half]Shade cloth coming down![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Looking from back garden[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Another angle[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Reclaiming a big area[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The chickens will get a new run[/one_half]

[one_half_last]So much stuff going to the dump[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Hannes taking out poles[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Starting to look like something[/one_half_last]

The new area is now cleared and cleaned and ready to be merged with the back garden. We want to keep this area clean and zen-like. Can’t wait to relax in this area. We have kept 2 poles that we will use to span a grass roof for shade. This will be nice. Now to order the stones !! We still need to get the ground a bit more level first. Can’t wait to show you the new area.

Happy Gardening xxx