Chicken Coop Remodel

The chickens roosts where the arrow's pointing.

Last month I discovered a pile of feathers next to the perching section of the chicken run, but no dead chickens. The next morning, I found a another pile of freshly plucked feathers. This continued for about a week with feather piles accumulating inside the chicken run. Every morning when I fed the girls their breakfast, I discovered more feathers. Some of my girls were developing bald patches on their bodies.

A new mystery...what was attacking the girls in the middle of the night while they slept? How could a predator attack the girls but not get close enough to eat them?

I have a theory about the crime, but no proof to back it up (I would be a terrible police officer!). I think that rascal of a raccoon, who broke inside my coop earlier this year, has been climbing up the chicken wire and grabbing the chickens through the wire. The chickens fly away, but the raccoon is left with a fist full of chicken feathers in his greedy hands.

The safe, enclosed roosting area of the coop. These hens definitely have a better survival instinct than the bird brains that roost in the chicken run.

I have about 10 chickens that were perching (sleeping) WAY TO CLOSE to the chicken wire separating the outside world from the chicken run!!! Being the bird brains they are and EXTREME creatures of habit, they continued to perch in that one weak spot of the coop despite being attacked every night.

Just in case you were thinking I'm neglecting the safety of my flock, I have a nice, safe, enclosed perching area for the chickens to roost safely, most of them sleep there...but about 10 of my hens refuse to sleep anywhere but outside in the fresh air. They think this makes them tough like eagles, haha.

Chicken Coop Remodel

To protect the hens and save his damsel in distress (aka me!), my husband went to the lumber store and built me a custom roosting area inside the chicken run far away from any reaching raccoon hands (creepy little predators!). The roosting bars almost look like monkey bars at the playground.

While he was building, the chickens immediately loved the new bars. They would perch on the bars while we held up the 2x4 planks of wood, nailing them together. I'm so thankful for all his hard work, especially since this is my husband's fourth time rearranging roosting bars for me. A girl's coop is never quite finished!

When my husband and I completed the rebuild, my daughter gave me the biggest compliment...this coop looks like a home. I totally agree! The girls have plenty of space to swing, perch, climb, and lay lots and lots of eggs. I'll be using the playhouse (in the back right corner) for my broody mamas this spring so they'll have a safe place to sit on their eggs for 21 days, but still very close to the rest of their flock.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter with your family and friends! He is Risen!!!

Thanks for reading my Country Squawk,

Kelly