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Wonky Old Shed

Wonky Old Shed to Perfectly Imperfect Chicken Coop

Posted on April 1, 2022April 1, 2022 by jennifer froese
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It’s a bit overdue, but I’d love to take you on a tour of our chicken coop! I’ve had a years-long dream to have chickens, and we were finally able to get them last spring. We ordered from Meyer Hatchery – an assortment of Dominiques, Easter Eggers, and Blue Orpingtons. We received them around the end of April, and they started laying around September/October last year. I don’t think it will ever get old going out to collect the eggs from our chicken coop!

mail order chickens
multicolor eggs

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Wonky Old Shed

We converted an old shed on our property into a coop with an attached run. My husband Dave and his dad both had some time off work the winter before we got the chickens, and they built out the inside of the shed. It was quite the process, as nothing in the shed was even close to being square or level. Our farmhouse (that we bought from my grandma a couple of years ago) was built in 1832, and I’m not sure exactly how old the shed is, but as you can see from the “before” pictures it’s pretty old and absolutely charming!

wonky old shed
wonky old shed
wonky old shed

While Dave and his dad were working inside the shed, they actually found some square nails that had been used. From what I found, square nails were made from around 1700-1830. They were commonly used in construction up until around 1880. So neat!

I added a shutter to the window where the chickens enter and exit the coop, made from salvaged materials that I found around our property. The boards I used belonged to a dog house for my great-grandpa’s dog Cleo from their family farm. I never got to meet my great-grandpa, but I love that a little piece of family history found its way to us and was able to be given a new purpose.

Here are some links for the beautiful shutter hardware that I used: Iron H-L Hinges, Iron Slide Bolt, Iron Shutter Dog

The Coop Interior

Inside the coop, the actual area for the chickens is around 8’x8’. There is also a storage area just inside the door that’s around 3’x8’. The storage area has been amazing for keeping extra feed, pine shavings, mealworms, and other supplies that we need to access often. We added four nesting boxes with a back that flips down. I love that you can get the eggs from the nesting boxes without going into the coop area.

nesting boxes

I built four wall-mounted PVC feeders (using this Sugar Maple Farmhouse tutorial), which have been so handy! We only have to fill them every week or week and a half. I’ve been so happy with how they turned out, and would definitely recommend it! I fill the PVC pipes with a canning funnel and a big feed scoop – it works great!

PVC chicken feeders

For the floors, the original boards were pretty warped and uneven, so Dave installed two 4’x8’ sheets of ¾” plywood. On top of the plywood, I added peel-n-stick vinyl floor tiles to keep the floor relatively easy to clean. I can’t find a link for the exact tiles I used, but here’s another great option.

peel and stick vinyl floor tiles in chicken coop
peel and stick vinyl floor tiles in chicken coop

The Run

I built the run later on in the spring after the snow melted. It’s 12’x16’ and 6′ high, with pressure-treated lumber on the bottom (where the frame meets the ground), and cedar for everything else. The coop and run are visible from our patio and our main entrance into the house, so I wanted to make sure it was pretty to look at! I attached 1” black PVC-coated welded wire mesh from Fencer Wire on the sides. For the top, I used chicken wire to keep the girls safe from airborne predators.

As you can tell in these photos, one side of the shed is significantly higher than the other. The frame for the run is 6′ tall on the side where the coop door is. On the other side, I had to shorten it by about 3 inches (it’s only around 5’9″) to make it fit beneath the roof overhang. You’ve gotta work with what you’ve got I guess haha!

After these photos were taken, I did also add ramps from the window into and out of the coop.

Here is a link again for these beautiful iron H-L Hinges (the same ones I used for the shutter).

Predator-Proofing

I recently added these solar-powered motion lights to the run as an extra safety precaution to scare nocturnal predators away. We haven’t had any issues thus far, but I’m not taking any chances. We also used these swivel-locking carabiners for the hasps on the interior and exterior doors of the coop and run. The swivel part of the carabiner is supposed to make it raccoon-proof.

Eco Wood Treatment

For the new cedar boards that I used for the run, I ended up finding a treatment to make them look aged. I wanted them to blend in better with the silvery, weathered cedar siding on the shed. It’s called Eco Wood Treatment, which is “a nontoxic wood stain, treatment, and turns all wood a high end aged look, with just one application, no need to ever restain, no maintenance needed.”

The product comes packaged as a powder that you mix with water. The minerals in the product react with the wood to create a kind of aged look, while also helping to protect and preserve the wood. When you first apply the treatment the wood doesn’t look any different. Over a few days and weeks, the wood gradually changes to create an aged look. I have been so happy with how it turned out and would definitely recommend it!

The first photo below is shortly after the Eco Wood treatment, and the second photo is a day or two later.

We also used Eco Wood Treatment on some of our unfinished pine supers for our beehives and it’s holding up great. Plus it’s about 500x faster than painting! You can put the treatment in a large, shallow container and dip the pieces instead of painting. I 10/10 recommend it!

My Favorite Chicken Supplies

Galvanized 2-Gal. Waterer
Heated Waterer Base
Canning Funnel & Feed Scoop
Mealworms (the best deal I’ve found for mealworms is on Amazon – almost half the in-store unit price compared to our local Runnings store)
Oyster Shells
Solar-Powered Motion Lights
Swivel-Locking Carabiners
Eco Wood Treatment

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    cedarandstonefarmhouse

    Jennifer Froese
    🌿 Living a slow, simple life in our 1832 farmhouse | western ny | 5w6 | the secret to having it all is knowing that you already do ✨

    Cedar & Stone Farmhouse
    It’s a bit overdue, but I’d love to take you o It’s a bit overdue, but I’d love to take you on a tour of our chicken coop! I’ve had a years-long dream to have chickens, and we were finally able to get them last spring.
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I just shared a blog post about how we converted this wonky old shed into a perfectly imperfect chicken coop last year! Definitely a labor of love, especially with the pandemic lumber prices 😅
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The link is in my bio if you want to check it out!
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https://cedarandstonefarmhouse.com/perfectly-imperfect-chicken-coop/
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#chickencoop #chickenpalace #chickencoopsofinstagram #cluckinghampalace #homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #farmhouse #weatheredcedar #cedar #chickens #chicken #farmfresh #farmfresheggs #country #countryliving #backyardchickens #growyourown #homegrown #countrywinter #winterwonderland #slowliving #simplelife #simpleliving #snowfall #winter #perfectlyimperfect #oldfarmhouse
    Despina's Anemone 🧵 Not sure if I have the pat Despina's Anemone 🧵

Not sure if I have the patience to complete another cross stitch project ever again 😂 Just wanted to give her a permanent spot on the grid lol

#avlea #avleafolkembroidery #crossstitch #stitch #needlework #handmade #dmcthreads #dmcfloss #folkembroidery #xstitch #despinasanemone
#crossstitchersofinstagram #puntodecruz #pointdecroix #crossstitching #crossstitcher #crossstitchland #crossstitchlove #crossstitchpattern #crossstitchkits #crossstitchkit #crossstitchdesign #crossstitchlover
    #ad I received the most beautiful items from @Long #ad I received the most beautiful items from @Longaberger last week! I have been such a fan of Longaberger since basically the beginning of time, and I remember going to many Longaberger parties with my mom and aunts and grandma when I was growing up.

Everything that Longaberger makes is such amazing quality, and so many of my pieces have been passed down to me from my grandma and my mom, or they are treasures that I’ve found at the thrift store. Longaberger baskets (and their beautiful pottery) are amazing, heirloom-quality pieces that can be handed down through the generations.

I love being able to look on the bottom of the baskets to see the signature of the person that made it along with the year. Some of my baskets are actually older than I am! I love to think about someday when I can pass my favorite baskets on to Evie to use in her home. 

A couple of the items Longaberger sent me are in their newer colors that I had never seen in person before - Pewter (the Recipe Basket), and Pale Grey (the Baking Dish Basket). The newer colors are SO beautiful! They are a little bit updated, but still a timeless addition. As you can see, they fit right in with our old farmhouse!

I think my favorite piece is the Recipe Box - it is so pretty and practical. I love that you can set the recipe card on top and easily glance at it while cooking. It would definitely make a beautiful housewarming or bridal shower gift!

What’s on your Longaberger wishlist? I’ve been eyeing up their adorable Easter baskets! Also check out their feed for the cutest little jadeite Easter bunny you ever did see!

@longaberger offers the opportunity for anyone to become a stylist and be part of a modern sales program! You can learn more about it here: https://longaberger.com/pages/longaberger-family-sales-program

#Longaberger #Longabergerstyle #LongabergerPartner #marketbasket #longabergerbasket #longabergerbaskets #longabergerpottery #heirloom #timeless #farmersmarket #homemade #homemadebrownies #fresheggs #recipebox #freshflowers #tulips #browniebatter #batterbowl #farmhousekitchen #oldfarmhouse #simpleinteriors #doingneutralright #buffalo #buffalohomes #716 #simplekitchen #feedfeedbaking
    We're excited to announce that our family will be We're excited to announce that our family will be growing a little bigger this year! Baby Froese is due at the end of August and we can't wait! Evie is going to be the best big sister 🥰
    Happy Thursday! It may be snowing quite a bit here Happy Thursday! It may be snowing quite a bit here in NY today, but at least we're one day closer to spring 😂🌿

I planted some flower bulbs in the fall, and I can't wait to see them bloom this year! I chose some giant allium, crocus, tulips and daffodils. For some reason I really don't like planting bulbs AT ALL, but I always try to remember that my future self will thank me.

I also am planning to grow some dahlias for the first time this year, so if you have any favorite varieties send your recommendations my way! 🌸💐
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #minimal #cozyminimal #interiors #simple #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #instahome #instadesign #interiør #homedesign #westelm #westelmroc #westelmstyle #westelmhamilton #hamiltonsofa #livingroom
    Well, hello! There are a few new faces since the l Well, hello! There are a few new faces since the last time I introduced myself! I’m Jen - a wife and mom of an (almost) 2-year old girl named Evelyn Iris. We live in Western NY. I’ve lived here my whole life, and my husband Dave moved to the area when he was in elementary school.

I’m a pharmacist by profession, but shortly before my daughter was born I switched to working just part-time to have more time to spend with her. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and I know how lucky I am to be able to be home with her so much.

I’m a major homebody and LOVE to work on home projects and decorate and garden. We bought my grandma’s house a couple of years ago, and are madly in love with it - a charming, old 1832 saltbox farmhouse. I chose the name Cedar & Stone Farmhouse based on the house, with its cedar siding and the old stone walls that run along the property.

We started keeping bees about 7 years ago at our last house in the suburbs, and are now up to five hives here at the farmhouse.

We also recently started keeping chickens (a lifelong dream of mine!) - we have Dominiques, Easter Eggers, and Blue Orpingtons. We also have one guinea hen (it's a long story, but we started with 10 and sadly have only one left after some coyote attacks).

I’m a type 5 on the Enneagram (a personality test), specifically a 5w6 - also known as “the troubleshooter.” I tend to be very introverted and analytical, and usually do a ton of research before starting anything new (library books, YouTube, google, etc. are definitely my friends haha).

If you’ve taken the Enneagram quiz, I’d love to know your personality type too!
    Brought some of the outdoors inside today 🌿 I j Brought some of the outdoors inside today 🌿 I just love how these branches fill the space above the shelf in the kitchen! This beautiful stoneware pitcher was a @martins.mercantile vintage find!
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #simpleinterior #minimal #cozyminimal #interiors #simple #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #thrifteddecor #instadesign #interiør #unlacqueredbrass #kitchen #farmhousekitchen #simplekitchen #insideast #vintagedecor #farrowandball #oldfarmhouse #slowliving
    The cutest little laundry helper 🥰 ⠀⠀⠀⠀ The cutest little laundry helper 🥰
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I got this pretty laundry basket recently after deciding that if yet-to-put-away laundry is a permanent part of our decor, it might as well look nice while sitting there! The fullness of the laundry basket seems to wax and wane like the moon, but somehow is never completely empty 😅
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #minimal #cozyminimal #cozy #interiors #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #instahome #instadesign #interiør #homedesign #oldfarmhouse #simplefarmhouse #simplefarmhousestyle #wardrobe #oldfloorboards #monstera #amishbaskets #🧺
    My little office corner! It is usually never this My little office corner! It is usually never this organized tho 😅
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I finished a little project last night that I've been wanting to do for such a long time.. I painted my desk chair! I used Fusion Mineral Paint in "Coal Black." It gives such beautiful matte finish and was so easy to work with (plus is zero-VOC). I've done a lot of painting over the years, but I have to say I think I've converted to the Fusion Mineral Paint fan club! There are not a ton of shops that sell it, but it's your lucky day because @buffaloroad_hd hd now carries it at Martin's Mercantile!
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If you are local to the WNY area, you have to check it out at @martins.mercantile (62 Main Street in Akron NY). The grand opening is this Saturday 11/20 from 10am-4pm! You don't want to miss it. They will have door prizes, live music and most importantly food! There are so many amazing vendors to check out, and you can get so many things crossed off your Christmas shopping list (all while supporting small businesses!) #shopsmall Plus you can pick up a jar of our raw honey and maybe some beeswax candles while you're at it - they make great host/hostess gifts for all your holiday get-togethers!!
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #minimal #cozyminimal #cozy #interiors #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #instahome #instadesign #interiør #homedesign #fusionmineralpaint #beforeandafter #coalblack #oldfarmhouse #simplefarmhouse #simplefarmhousestyle #homeoffice #officecorner
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