Because it sounded like fun, Andy and I decided that fresh eggs and beings that will eat scorpions, grasshoppers and other such critters would be a very good idea to have around the house. So we built a chicken coop recently for our new feathered friends. With the help of a pair of Colins (Smith and Bond), we took Andy's plan, made some improvements as we went along and voila! our very first chicken coop. I like to think it's a pretty good chicken coop. A great frickin' chicken coop, as a matter of fact. Especially considering that the lumber we used to build it all was found in outbuildings and other spots around our property. We spent under $30 constructing our fabulous little chicken house.

After a few months of having them around, we've lost two roosters and a hen. The roosters were presumably taken by critters, while poor Luann died eggbound. Life is cheap out in the wilds of Grey Forest.

The intrepid building team gets ready to go. Left to right: Colin Smith, Andy Wilson, Colin Bond.	Using a table saw requires skill and a hardhat.
Andy gets one side of the thing nailed down.	Colin B. uses his 'real' hammer.
Tori is the designated wire clipper and beer getter.	The casa de haenchen takes shape.
Consultations on a guillotine-style door into the coop continue.	Colin S. and Andy put together the hinged door on the back through which we'll collect the eggs.
Colin B. completes the guillotine door frame.	Colin S. shows off the guillotine door that leads into the laying area.
Andy tightens the hinges across the back of the coop.	Colin B. cuts up more plywood for the front door.
After cutting some cedar for a perch, Colin S. drills it in place.	Colin B. puts the finishing touches on the front door.
Andy applies hinges to the front door.	Tori pulls the wire tight to enclose the whole thing.
Andy staples the wire.	Andy and Colin S. apply the tar paper roof.
Andy, Colin B., Colin S. and Ceilidh with the finished product.	Colin's personal vision of the chicken chopper. Bad man!
Chicken Little was the first one ever hatched by Colin S. and the real chicken master, Bennett. Update: Chicken Little has been MIA for a few weeks now. No evidence of torture remained, so it's believed he's been kidnapped by the forces of evil.	Chicken Little and the head hen, Ivana.
Luann and Rosie leaving the house for a big evening of scratching around.	The friendliest of them all, Vivian, likes us very much already. She's really crazy about Andy.
Either Luann or Rosie, they're hard to tell apart.	Vivian follows us around everywhere.
Vivian and Tori.	Our new rooster is Sophie. Yes, an odd name, but it's harder to tell a hen from a rooster at naming time than you may think.
Update: we seem to have some critters in this area that really like to eat roosters. Sophie was found early morning one day recently, having given up the ghost after what looked like a valiant fight.	Vivian's finally started laying! Hers are the green ones.