Welcome back to Patina Farm!
We are still pretty dusty around here, but the gardens are moving along.
I thought you might enjoy seeing how the chicken coop is progressing...
My ladies are happy to be dust free today... The Hanley Gold gravel now covers the floor of the coop. I've dusted the gravel with food grade diotomaceous earth. D.E. helps to keep the gravel and chicken droppings dry and pest free.
We installed a ceiling fan (from Lamps Plus) to keep the gals cool on those hot Ojai days. Hens take "dust baths", so I will be filling the galvanized tub with dust and D.E. Using the D.E. on their bodies keeps the mites at bay.
You can also see the grape vines in this image. As they grow, they will provide treats as well as shade for the hens.
My hens love to keep busy. They enjoy digging in the dirt in the pots, hopping in and out of the coop (from My Pet Chicken), and jumping up on the various wood stools. I also give them corn, lettuce as well as their chicken feed to nibble on during the day.
The potting area is on the other side of the coop. There are two large storage closets on either side of the sink to keep the chicken supplies safe from predators.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of our coop! As always, please feel free to ask questions in the comment section of this post.
Happy Week!
xo
Brooke
