"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living.

The world owes you nothing.  It was here first."

-Mark Twain             

"What's the Scoop with the

             Chicken Coop?"          

Chicken coop frame and elevated base. Built from scratch.

So what came first? Chicken or the egg?  

In our case it happens to be the chicken coop!

 

& follow the adventure...

  

By Scott Lee

Let me invite you on an interesting and hopefully exciting first-hand adventure of raising chickens. It is my goal to share the good with the bad and what we learn along the way. We made the decision to raise chickens with the common goal in mind: "Farm fresh eggs!". My beautiful wife Nichole played a major factor in our decision since her family raised them when she was just a little chick. They say they make great pet's. Not a good idea if you also like farm-fresh chicken dinners! The chicken poop is also great fertilizer for gardens.(more on this later, once we actually have some) Plus my Father-In-Law, a retired Boeing engineer and machinist has this awesome set of tools and a thirst for building chicken coops. :>

Please note that family members are moving from mockery to encouragement and wisely assuming farm-fresh omelets in their future!  

Our story begins with sketches on coffee stained paper towels, multiple trips to the local home improvement store and finally the smell of fresh cut timber. Basic design plans are on the internet with some detailed plans offered for a fee. We were able to design ours simply from ideas we got viewing pre-built models. We used a combination of new and scrap wood and bought our hardware. This coop is a 4'x8' foot print, large enough to hold a dozen chickens. It sits elevated which helps keep pests out, improves airflow and adds to the longevity. The base is on wooden skids which will allow us to pull it short distances to a fresh location. (Note: One issue is this coop is as heavy as it looks so it will take a tractor to pull it!) There are 3 nesting boxes  accessible from the outside for easy egg collection (apparently they take turns), a main side door access, a window (you want some daylight to enter), ventilation, roosting bars, a small supply closet and a small chicken hatch in the floor for outside access. The base will eventually be enclosed in chicken wire with a connected but detachable enclosure for chicken's to move safely and freely outside.    

  

There are other decisions to make but if you answer yes to these questions, you just might be a future chicken farmer: 

1) Do you have enough time to devote to daily maintenance?

2) Is there a local ordinance against chicken operation's?

3) Is there enough space for the coop and a free-range area between your house and your neighbors? (We are starting with 12 chicks. We will likely end up with less as nature takes it's course.)

 

Raising chicks requires a heat lamp, good ventilation, food and water source, bedding and a safe enclosure (nothing gets in and nobody gets out). It is very important to keep the bedding, water and food fresh everyday and to wash food and water dishes with soap and rinse well. We are using a large sturdy box with tall sides. We were trying to have the coop and all the amenities ready to go upon getting the chicks so we can turn them out when they are ready. We should have the coop ready in a couple of weeks from now. We better. These little guys are growing faster than the US debt! 

 

Follow the progress on Facebook

 

Click here for course insights.2012 EVENTS

Scott Rice Customers... This is YOUR Day

Customer Appreciation Day!

Wednesday, May 9th. 3:30-6:30pm

Scott Rice Showroom

224 E. Douglas, Suite 100

Wichita, KS 67226

Allow us to offer our sincere appreciation for choosing us to serve your furniture and/or promotional product needs. Please make our acquaintance in a relaxed and social climate at our newly updated and inspiring 2012 showroom. Enjoy tasty appetizers and refreshments, re-connect with familiar faces and meet some new ones. (Non-alcoholic beverages also provided)

*We have some awesome gifts and door prizes for ALL customers and associates that drop by. Door Prizes include over $5,000 retail in chairs and other cool items from promotional products. Door prizes will be drawn at 6PM. *You do not need to be present to win. You just need to be a customer and fill out a drawing form. :>

PLEASE RSVP-Contact Shelley Moore at smoore@scott-rice.com or call at 316-771-5737.

Parking is located on the west side of our building in spots reserved for Scott Rice visitors or employees. Parking is also located on both Broadway and Douglas with building access from the east, south and west sides. 

*Bring a Friend!

Introduce us to a non-customer at customer appreciation day and you each receive a $20 Visa gift card. Spend it on yourself or reward a hard working employee. Your friends business will also be rewarded with $200 off every $2,000 spent on their first order with us up to a 10K order! Plus, they will walk out with a very nice gift and a chance to win a door prize!

*Details: 1) You must be a customer of Scott Rice Office Interiors-Wichita. 2) If you are unsure, call Scott Lee direct at 316-771-5723 or email at slee@scottrice.com to verify if you or your friends business is a customer or not. 3) Gift cards will be hand-delivered by a Scott Rice employee no more than 2 working days after the event. Limit to 3 gift cards per customer. 

Healthcare A&D CEU Event

Nurture: Adult Acute Care

Thursday, June 28th 2012. 11:30-12:30

Scott Rice Office Interiors Showroom

Nurture uses human-centered design research to investigate the role of the built environment, of family members in the clinical environment and the use of checklists in safe care delivery. Explore 6 design principles and thought starters for patient rooms, staff work spaces and respite areas.

Invitations will go out in June but you can read more about it. Just click here. We will be serving lunch. If want to be sure to secure a seat, send Scott Lee an email at slee@scott-rice.com.

Education A&D CEU & Educators Seminar

Classrooms for the 21st Century

(2 events)

Event #1

A & D CEU Class

Date: Thursday, May 31st 2012. 11:30-12:30

Scott Rice Office Interiors

This will be an interactive educational setting. Participants will be seated in the Steelcase Node chair (seen here) experiencing a variety of layouts & applications. Click here to download brochure.

Click here for course insights. RSVP-Please contact Scott Lee at slee@scott-rice.com or call at 316-771-5723 to reserve your seat. Lunch will be provided.

This class will be presented by Jim Moore from Steelcase.

*BONUS

 After the class concludes, and for those that choose

To enlighten themselves even further  

Jim will share some successful applications

Of this 21st Century classroom model

Make time to stick around

Your boss will be glad you did

Go back to your office with fresh ideas

And watch the boss flip their lid! 

Event #2

EDUCATORS SEMINAR-Classrooms for the 21st Century

Date: Thursday, May 31st 2012. 10-11am (time subject to change)

Scott Rice Office Interiors

*Invitations will be sent out or RSVP below.

Don't pass up this unique opportunity to glimpse into the classrooms of the present & future. Vast Steelcase research begs to ask you the question, "Are you maximizing learning in your classrooms?" You will experience the Steelcase Node chair shown above so you can visualize the very possibilities that can transform your classrooms.

RSVP-Please contact Scott Lee at slee@scott-rice.com or call at 316-771-5723 to reserve your seat. Beverages and snacks provided. Click here to download brochure. Click here for further insights.

*BONUS-Each school or education location attending will receive one free Node chair to use as you see fit. (More chairs can be made available for a 2-4 week trial period.)

IIDA Extreme Makeover

Thursday, April 19th. 5:30-7:30pm

Starkey Inc.

4500 W. Maple

Wichita, KS 67209

This years makeover focused on Starkey Inc. Starkey nurtures development and promotes independence of people with intellectual disabilities. Scott Rice Office Interiors was involved in donating these partially recovered Brayton club chairs and donating our designers, Leslie Ohlman and Katie McLaren to working the event registration table. We are very honored to be a part of the makeover and thank all donors of their time and money!