One of our first homesteading experiments on our half acre was getting chickens and building the chicken coop. We decided for Michael’s birthday, soon after moving to the homestead, we would go check out a local family who sold chickens and we came home with five. We were hungry for fresh eggs everyday.

I immediately checked out Building Chicken Coops for Dummies from a local library and we re-purposed and salvaged materials to make ‘the minimalist’ design.

Nearly one year later it has been such a joy and quite an experience! We began with five baby chicks, and one dog attack and one hawk attack later we still have four egg laying hens; one of which had a difficult day with a bird of prey.

Dozens and dozens of eggs later we are beginning to entertain the notion of keeping meat birds. Once the little ducklings are finished brooding and get settled into their new home, it is possible there will be a new lot of baby chicks to care for at the homestead. Stay tuned…

Happy homesteading!