Last week, I bid at a silent auction on a chicken house here in Harrisonburg, and ended up with the coop! Some friends and I are helping to pay for it together and we’re keeping it in the backyard, near the vegetable and herb garden. It’s a really nice design, made of cedar and a reused window complete with an aluminum roof to keep the chickens dry. There’s a roosting space and a hole cut in the floor for their droppings (aka super rich nitrogen fertilizer for the compost pile and veggie beds). It’s quite heavy though and cumbersome to move, so it might not be a mobile tractor style house. Unless we put sticks on it and move it like one of those throne-y things you see in movies. 
The space below could house a tray of sorts which could slide out for access to the droppings. I will hopefully post some photos soon of the coop, pre-chicken, and then again once I get some chickens. I’ve been spending a lot of time lately doing research on all things chicken, talking to some folks in town with chickens about their varieties, what supplies to get for food and water, and potential disease preventatives. There’s a motion here now (only needs 3 of 5 votes on the town council) to allow chickens in the city limits (though many already keep them, illegally I presume). Austin, TX does, along with many other urban centers. I’m excited about this venture which will contribute to the permaculture model of the garden, incorporating animals into the mix. Of course, they will also provide me and my pals with fresh and yummy eggs
Coup de Chicken
