It started out last month as just a quick repair job. Harsh conditions caused a break in the chicken coop roof. After replacing the one corner last month, it was decided the whole roof would need repair before winter came. This should have been a simple one day project. Sadly, as in most projects, this was not the case.
Bright and early Saturday morning, I climbed a ladder wanting confirmation for the decay. I had originally thought, due to the location of the hairline crack, the break was from the above tree branches. Much to my dismay, this was not the cause. It was just the plastic sheeting degrading. Plastic sheeting probably was not the best choice but it allowed for the most light and was load cheaper than metal/aluminum. Metal sheeting, however, will rust over time, too. Plus, the cost difference between the two materials still results in in plastic being cheaper. That is with labor costs aside.
What broke down the plastic sheeting so quickly? Nothing dramatic, I promise. Have you guessed yet? It affects everyone, everywhere, not just Plan473.
It was the sun. The sun has caused the hairline cracks. The multiple hairline cracks have resulted in water inside the coop. Water + poop laden pine mulch = GROSS.
Two and half years ago the panels were installed with screws and rubber gaskets to offer cushioning as to not crack the paneling during installation.. With time, the gaskets adhered themselves to the paneling. What was a one step process to install was now a three step process to remove.
The Planner removed and collected the screws. Once the screws were removed, putty knifes were used to pop off the rubber gaskets. Gaskets were then reattached to the screws for later usage. Too much knife pressure and gaskets went flying. The panels, like the gaskets, adhered themselves to the coop and thus required the usage of the putty knife to pop off. Too much knife pressure and brittle sheets shattered into shards and went flying.
Larger pieces were given to the Kid who broke into small pieces inside the trashcan. This was found to be the least messy way. Even still, shards would fly out of the can and onto the ground. Shards of plastic will be collected from around the coop for months. I predict the chickens will probably try to eat shards. Ugh.
What started out as a quick replacement of the plastic sheeting resulted in a total scrub down and decision to repaint. The inside was repainted once last year during the winter and is in desperate need of a fresh coat. The coop is in need of some major renovations and now is the time to knock a few of those off the list. First things first, the coop has to be fully scrubbed down from top to bottom.
So with the cobwebs removed and the dirt and grime cleaned out of the corners, just the coop's back wall was painted.
Time was running out for both the me and the chickens, thus we plowed forward. The rest of the coop will be painted tomorrow. Painting it seems does not keep a chicken from her eggs. One of the newer hens had business to attend to and was not going to let a little fresh paint stop her.
With the sun setting, the new washable back wall was installed. Using a shower liner from the hardware store, this new wall will hopefully allow for easier poop cleanup in the future. No longer will the poop build up on the back wall of the coop and in the corners of the 2x4 bracing. Now, if this works as planned, the poop will just slide down the wall to the mulch and easily swept out. No more sticky piles of poop stuck in the corners. No more using extra large putty knifes to remove. No more extra stink. Just clean sweeps with a rake over the mulch.
Sunday morning bright and early once again, we returned to finish the coop. Not having time for the floor to adequately dry, it was left bare over night. This was decision was done knowing it would be a mess in the am. Knowing and KNOWING are two different things. All these chicken do is poop. There are more piles of poop in here than 14 chickens should account for. Seeing this amount would lead a person to believe this was several days worth of mess. Not ONE SINGLE night.
So with the mess cleaned up and some dried remaining nesting box hay thrown in for protection, the renovations continued. The side wall and rafters were painted.
By lunch Sunday the renovations were almost complete. Hens once again were not deterred by the fact that their nesting boxes were facing the world instead of their coop. No where they deterred by people coming and going on ladders all around them. Their door was opened and shut as rafters were painted then again as panels were prepared. Nothing bothered them. Egging is serious business.
Before panels were finally installed, the winter doors were installed as a northern is expected tomorrow night. Today it is a 75. Tomorrow, get out your parka.
New panels were measured and fitted and then numbered for correct placement. Differences between old and new are astounding! Had I thought about it at the time, I should have a taken a side by side picture showing the coloring differences. But pictures were not the forefront of my thoughts as I was under a time crunch. It was well after lunch and I needed to leave for a trip out of town and wanted to get there before dark. Time was slipping away, quickly.
Salvaged screws and rubber gaskets were used. And in accordance with Plan473 and its mission statement of waste not want not, only a dozen new screws and gaskets had to be used. Not knowing the exact number of screws used, I am confident there are over a 100 total. Having to use only 12 new is pretty darned good.
With the last screw in, I marveled at the job well done. It may have taken longer than initially thought but the final results are worthy of the extra time. New paneling does wonders to a weathered coop.
Especially on the inside! The poor chickens were living in a dungeon. Rationally I know they only sleep there but I would like to think the egg layers would like to have some light on the subject. Living in a dark box is bad on the mental health. Everyone knows happy hens are happy eggs. No wait the saying is happy hens are healthy hens. Either way...
In the re-installation of the nesting bars, the Kid made this remarkable discovery. Chicken feet weathered bars. Standard yellow pine has soft wood and hard wood. Two years of chicken perchings have weathered the soft wood away. Every grain of the board has been exposed yet the board is smooth to the touch. Quite an amazing find.
Roosting bars in place, additional hay laid, and a new hen in the nesting box, the coop looks bright and shiny with it is fresh paint job, new back wall, and clear plastic sheeting allowing the setting sun fall coloring shine through. Job well done, indeed.