Glenda is one of the chickens at our ranch, and she had previously been living in a coop we built when we moved onto the property. The coop was sturdy enough to keep larger predators out, but unfortunately mice and rats were able to find their way inside. We did what we could to try to strengthen the integrity of the coop, but it was obvious that it was just too old and needed to be replaced. When the rats started to actually go after Glenda, we realized we had to scrap it completely and build something better for her.
We had a small coop set up in the sheep pen but it was small, Volunteer Leslie and her husband Charlie tore that out and repurposed much of the wood and screen and created a larger coop for her. They also repurposed some wood from a shed in the back of their house for the bottom of the shed to keep the sheep from trying to get in, and to keep our other chickens, Eddie and Willow, from fighting with Glenda through the screen.
Another one of our supporters, Margot, donated a small animal house that we modified for Glenda so she would have a safe place to sleep. She seemed to enjoy perching on the wooden dowels we put up in the other shed, so we put one up for her now, and we are planning to make her a little swing as well!
It took the entire weekend to put it all together, but once we were done, Glenda had a safe place that is rat and squirrel-free!
Many thanks again to Leslie and Charlie for all of their hard work and for donating their time (and supplies) to help make a safe place for Glenda!
- We took the small coop out of the sheep pen and leveled the area to prepare to build the area for Glenda.
- The first step was to frame the area.
- Charlie and Leslie working on the shed.
- Charlie fitting the door to the frame. We were able to repurpose the door from the old coop.
- Leslie helping to put on the door.
- Andromeda inspecting the small house we put in for her bed.
- Charlie standing in front of the finished shed!
- Glenda checking out her new digs!
- Glenda hanging out on her perch in her new home!