BERT'S COOP CONSTRUCTION

MY 4-H  PROJECT

BY: BERT

        MY NAME IS BERT.   I LIVE IN LOUISIANA.   I AM 11 YEARS OLD AND IN THE SIXTH GRADE.

        MY 4-H POULTRY PROJECT IS FOR EGG PRODUCTION.  IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES UNDER COOP PICTURES.   I HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO.  IT TOOK 3 DAYS OF WORK TO DO TO SET UP THE CHICKEN COOP.   THIS WORK BEGAN ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 AND ENDED SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2004.

        I HAD TO CLEAN A PART OF A BARN ON THE LAND NEXT TO MY HOME.  MY GRANDPARENTS OWN THE PROPERTY MY CHICKEN COOP IS ON.  I HAD TO MOVE A LOT OF METAL OUT OF THE AREA I WILL BE USING FOR MY PROJECT.  MY MOM USED THE WEED EATER TO REMOVE THE WEEDS SO THE COOP COULD BE BUILT. 

        ALL OF THE MATERIALS USED IN BUILDING THE COOP WAS DONATED SINCE IT WAS OLD WOOD AND STUFF OTHER PEOPLE HAD BUT DID NOT WANT ANYMORE.  I HAD OLD CHICKEN WIRE GIVEN.   

        MY MOM HELPED ME COLLECT THE WOOD, MEASURE IT, AND THEN MARKED WHERE I NEEDED TO CUT.  WE TOOK TURNS CUTTING THE WOOD WITH A HAND SAW.  I CUT THE WOOD TO BUILD A FRAME AROUND THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE AREA TO CLOSE IN THE COOP.  THE CHICKEN WIRE WAS STAPLED TO THE WOOD.  THE DOOR WAS MADE BY PLACING A PIECE OF WOOD FROM THE BOTTOM RAIL TO THE TOP RAIL.  MY MOM, PAW PAW, AND I TOOK TURNS STAPLING THE WIRE BECAUSE THE STAPLER WAS HARD TO USE.  I STAPLED THE WIRE TO THE WOOD AND THE EXTRA WIRE BECAME THE DOOR.  MY PAW-PAW SHOWED ME HOW TO BEND THE WIRE AROUND A PIECE OF WOOD TO MAKE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.  THE WIRE IS HELD IN PLACE WITH STAPLES.  THE DOOR STAYS CLOSED BY A NAIL AT THE TOP OF THE WIRE AND BOTTOM.  BY LIFTING THE WIRE OFF THE NAILS, I CAN GET INTO THE COOP. 

           INSIDE THE COOP, LOTS OF BUILDING WAS NEEDED.  I HELD SOME WOOD AGAINST THE WALLS WHILE MY PAW-PAW PUT NAILS IN PLACE.  HE LET ME FINISHED HAMMERING THE NAILS IN THE WALL.  THIS BOARD ALLOWED A SHELF TO BE PLACED ON IT.  THE SHELF WAS HELD IN PLACE BY ANOTHER PIECE OF WOOD ON TOP.  THE NEST BOXES ARE DRESSER DRAWERS MY OTHER PAW-PAW GAVE ME.  THERE IS A BOARD FOR THE HENS TO HAVE A LADDER TO GET TO THE NEST BOXES.  THERE IS A BOARD FOR THE HENS TO STAND ON.  MY PAW-PAW HAD OLD CHICKEN FEEDERS AND WATERS HE GAVE TO ME.

        MY MOM TOOK ME TO THE AG STORE TO BUY HAY AND LAYING MASH FOR THE CHICKENS WHEN I GET THEM.  THE HENS HOME IS READY FOR THEM.

        SO, IN CLOSING, I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH IT.  I WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS AND MY GRANDPARENTS FOR HELPING ME TO BUILD MY CHICKEN COOP.  I AM VERY PROUD THAT ALL ITEMS NEEDED IN BUILDING THE COOP WAS DONATED.  IT HELPS PROTECT THE WORLD BY RECYCLING OLD STUFF.

I HOPE YOU HAD ENJOYED MY REPORT.   THANK YOU FOR READING IT.