Can't "Flew the Coop" Now!

Another fall project that we've been working on is the construction of our chicken coop. We started last week by building the base (10'x12') with 2x6 lumber and chip board. We set the base up about a foot high on cement blocks. We also insulated the floor using Styrofoam insulation. We made the frames next. We made space for 4 windows, 2 in the east and 2 in the west. We made an insulated door that's 2'x6'. We got the chipboard hung on the outside and tonight we got the "rafters" in place and the chip board sheets in place on the roof. We still have to vapour barrier and insulate the roof as well as the walls which in hindsight could have been done in a different order... but, since the weather is getting colder and snow could be expected pretty well anytime, the roof needed to get on. We have to cut out the smaller door for the chickens, build the run, shingle the roof and trim and paint the building, but the main structure is up, which is the most important part. According to one estimation, a chicken needs 4 square feet, so with 120 square feet we could keep up to 30 birds! That would work out to a lot of eggs. We also have the run to build which will give them more space yet. Unfortunately the birds wont be free range, because of high traffic on the roads, but they will get rotation around the yard, and freedom in the garden in the fall. If only I had them this year, then I would have to manure my garden!