Poultry Pavilion Facelift

 

The Poultry Pavilion was originally, many years ago, one of those long, open-front, machine sheds that was fairly common throughout the Midwestern farm landscape.  By the time we arrived at the farm in 2004, a pit had been dug in front of the machine shed and a lean-to attached so that the building could serve as a hog finishing/confinement facility.

Needless to say, we did not want hogs confined at our farm, so we asked that the hogs be removed (and they were - eventually) and we slowly, over many years, adapted the building to work with the Genuine Faux Farm's needs.   

The building now touts a room for turkeys and a room for hens.  In both cases, the rooms open up to pasture on the north side of the building (you are seeing the south side in these pictures).  Eventually, a brooder room was put together next to the hen room.  Most of the material used was reclaimed lumber, windows and doors from other parts of the farm.  In other words, it's not the prettiest bit of construction one has ever seen in the world.

But it works.  We've had multiple flocks of birds started as chicks or housed as part of a flock in this building over time with a reasonable amount of success.  We had the main roof replaced when a windstorm decided the old one wasn't good enough any more.  We added access to electricity at some point several years ago and we finally got that pit filled in last year.

For those who don't know, filling that pit was a BIG deal.  This cement lined hole was about 120 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 to 9 feet deep.  It was perpetually filled with water and our anxiety regarding walking over it was increasing as the cement slats that covered it deteriorated.

Things have settled a bit since we had it filled, so we need to add a bit more fill.  But it is difficult to complain much about now that neither of us is worried about walking (and working) out there as much as we had been.  And we have a solid surface to begin addressing the lean-to itself - which has fallen into disrepair (of course).

We actually have a vision for this project that will start with the eastern-most fifty feet of the structure.  You see we've been getting tired of the extra work starting seedlings in our farmhouse's basement creates for us.  So the plan is to tear down the existing lean-to.  Or at least help it with the process it seems intent on doing all on its own.  Then, for this section at least, we'll frame out an area for a seed starting greenhouse.  

As with all projects that work with an existing structure, the list of issues and considerations is longer than we might like.  But, this seems like the right idea for our farm right now.  We will start with this section and then consider what to do with the remaining seventy feet after we figure out all of the issues for the first fifty feet.

It won't get done to do us much good for the 2023 season.  But, maybe it will make some of the growing on the farm more doable in the future?  Stay tuned - we'll report as progress is made.  But, be patient, it's a bit cold out there to do much with it right now.