As a matter of fact decorating your chicken coop is TOO a thing as you're soon going to find out. But don't worry, if you don't have a coop all of this can be applied to a shed, backyard or garage too.
Surprise! It's one month until Christmas! I know. It happens every year. Nothing ... nothing ... nothing ... hmm ... Christmas is coming in the sort of far off, can't be bothered to think about it, distant future.
BAM!! CHRISTMAS IS HERE OUT OF NOWHERE! WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING?
What's next? UFOs? Parachute Pants? Easter? God only knows what's lurking around the corner.
If you're one of those people who thinks "A month??? Christmas is still AGESSSSSS away, you crackpot! Feel free to let me know when Christmas is *actually* close. Snort.", then I'd like to introduce you to Maureen.
Maureen thought a month was a long time until Christmas too. Ages! So she scoffed at people who were already getting ready for Christmas and forgot about it until 2 days before the big event. Out the door Maureen flew in a panic not knowing where to head or what to do first.
As it turns out it didn't matter because before she even made it out of her driveway Maureen fainted from the stress of it all and couldn't be revived by smelling salts until well past Valentine's day; worse than that, while in her coma-like stress state no one plucked Maureen's one chin hair and by the time she woke it was 3 feet long.
The end.
I'm sorry to tell you such a scary story but I want you to have a relaxing Christmas so I want to make sure you don't leave things until the last minute. I haven't yet decorated my coop for the season but I'll be adding something to it this week like I have in seasons past. I will not be waiting until 2 days before Christmas.
Here is everything that's good about classic Christmas decorations with the added sparkle of genuine chicken poop. Backyard chickens are always cute, but it takes a certain something to make what's essentially a litter a box, shine.
Yes. Garland can make anything, ANYTHING look fantastic - even chicken poop.
Ditto for bows. And this is coming from a very unbow person. I don't even like them on my running shoe laces.
Throw a sprig of greenery or a burlap bow on anything utilitarian outside like feed buckets. If you don't have a chicken coop add it to a shovel or broom handle by the door.
In the coop photo at the top of this post, all the decorating is done outside of the chicken coop, around the gates, framing the coop.
Below, the actual coop is decorated with lights, garland and swags which is the direct view I have from my dining room window.
Obviously you don't want anything flammable or harmful to the chickens going onto your coop. My chickens showed no interested in eating this pine garland. They were interested in the apple on the ground.
If you have a chicken coop (shed or other outbuilding) that you can see from your house why WOULDN'T you decorate it?
In the case of a chicken coop it's something you walk up to and see every day. And chances are you see your shed out of one of your house windows too so LIGHT it up. Put garland on it, a wreath, twinkle lights and bows.
This year you might not be seeing a lot of other people's homes. You might not have family around. You might not go to parties or dinners or restaurants and it might make you sad.
The very least you can do for yourself is give yourself a pretty, cozy, comforting view that you can look at the entire month of December donned in flannel, watching Netflix and drinking hot buttered rums while quietly laughing at Maureen.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Carol-Anne
Everything looks beautiful as always Karen! As an fyi - I was at The Bay @ Burlington Mall this afternoon and they have several of the Hudson's Bay wool blankets if anyone local is looking for one. Merry Christmas!
Larita
Oh, you and your dribbles of wet snow are so adorable.
-woman from North-eastern BC with FIVE FEET OF SNOW IN MY YARD.
Linda
oh! and what are you displaying in the plexiglass boxes? the girls? ;-)
Alissa Dasta Coletta
I bet she made those beautiful plexiglass boxes! Love!
Linda
FANTABULOUS!!!! Karen, where did you get those amazing candles in the wreaths? Are they from Ikea as well?
Karen
Linda - Thanks! I actually ordered the candles online years ago. I bought them for the house but they look wayyyy too fake and stupid for the house. So, I tried using them outside like this and they're workin' out perfectly. ~ karen!
Lori
I wish I could decorate like this!!! you do such a great job,and make it look so easy! Thanks for sharing
May you and yours have a Merry Christmas!!
Marion
Absolutely beautiful! I'm sure your chickens really enjoy knowing their feed an is decorated for the holidays. Love the front porch barrel too! Ingenious. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Olequiltbat
Eons ago we had a Hudson Bay Blanket, and for Christmas I made our 7 year old daughter a lovely winter coat (with hood) out of it. I know...bad mommy...right? But we were a young family with not
much money at that time...& it did look lovely on her. And years before that, when our son was 2 years old...I made him a whole winter outfit out of my husbands large kilt. Yep..if I see any lovely pieces of clothing or fabric...it gets swept up & used for other purposes if it hasn't been worn or used for awhile.
Debbie
I too love your chalk sign. It's a cutie. However my evil Christmas childs says in the ribbon at the bottom you should write in small letters NOT.
Diana
Hi Karen....
I confess... I`ve copied your winebarrel-decoration!It`s sooo
fantastic!!! Since I saw it (ähm last year?) I wanted to get it!
Yesterday I have completed it...
WWWWOOOOWWWW and thanx
Diana
Barbie
....and the coop literally takes my breath away!
Barbie
I love the touches of magnolia leaves you have dotted around. :)
Elizabeth Downie
I LOVE it! It's so classy looking. You have a great eye.
AmieM
Karen! When did you get snow? I'm not far away, in Guelph, and we haven't seen any of the wonderful white stuff in 3 weeks!
cred
Hey, do you still have snow there? We are in the Barrie area and have had nothing for a few weeks.
We're dreaming of a white christmas here. Here's hoping that with the snow, falls from the sky lovely fresh green garlands, wreaths, twinkle lights and red bows that distribute themselves as pleasingly as your festive outdoor decorations.
Elen Grey
I'm thinkin' I need a Christmas chicken coop! I love all the burlap you used. Gorgeous. Joy to you and your family, Karen!
Karen
Elen - I meant to mention that my best decorating investment this year was burlap. Yards and yards of burlap. It's about 0.39 a foot. I used it for swags and cut it into strips for making bows. ~ karen
Maureen
Merry Christmas, Karen. Thank you for a year of wonderful ideas and freakin' hilarious posts.
Ashley
I kind of hate you for how awesome all of this is.
Karen
Ashley - Understandable. LOL. ~ karen
SuzyM
Birch branches in a keg= Holiday genius!
Reg
Beautiful decorations Karen. It's nice that the chickens have pretty and festive decor too.
I have a Hudson's Bay blanket given to me as a wedding present 47 years ago. They're wonderful. After many many cleanings it finally got mangy looking so I cut it up and covered some pillows.
qtpuh2tme
So lovingly and festively inviting! ~:)