In the 17th and 18th centuries, Hausbarns were a common sight throughout Germany- but especially in the Northern areas of Ostfriesland (East Freeland) where my great grandfather Heinrich hails from.
The hausbarn was a blend of personal living quarters and areas for livestock, feed and farm equipment.- hold that thought.
Early December the water started freezing in the chicken coop. Now that is a problem because it costs about a dollar a day to run the water heater and we only have four chicken- one rooster (The Colonial) and three hens- Joy, Lori and, and Emily ) We’re only getting 2 to 3 eggs a day which makes for some very expensive eggs.
Well there is a room under our front porch with a door that goes directly into our basement. When I was down there last month I was struck by how warm it was - the passive heat of the sun coming through a 3ft sq window made the room quite comfy.
hummm, I thought to myself..this would make a great place to keep the chickens.
It’s not really part of our basement….
Hausbarns are a part of my heritage…
if I could just convince my wife………
Wife getting her first peek @ our new boarders…
The thermometer outside the morning of 12/9/2009
Picture of the apple crate/ turned egg nest
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Update 1/1/-2010 3 weeks later.
Well, my wife reluctantly agreed to go along with the idea on two conditions- smell and safety- as long as she didn’t smell anything and there was no danger to something igniting.
I have to believe we are enjoying some of the freshest, most convenient farm eggs of anyone I know. This morning the thermometer registered 15 below zero F. which is – 26 C. The chicken waterer was froze this morning even in their solar heated quarters. I’m thinking I might need to let the chickens come up stairs and hang out in the kitchen today…..if I could only convince my wife






















