The unlimited uses of a mudroom
Sure, you can use it to take off those muddy boots or snow filled clothes…but what fun would that be! Since we moved into our houses, our mudroom has had many incarnations.
Home to Day old chicks …and until they were old enough to go to the outside coop
Home to future barn kittens
The mudroom: Infirmary
Recently, we had a rash of illnesses. First, Bluebella the chicken was under the weather. We brought her in the house thinking she was either egg bound or had an impacted crop. Neither seemed to be the issue.
Then Oscar the barn cat became ill. A few days after his first trip to the vet for shots and to be neutered (Thanks Spay & Stay), he started running a super high fever. We rushed him to the vet and they gave him fluids and antibiotics. We needed to keep him away from Felix in case he was contagious so Bluebella went to the basement and Oscar went in the mudroom. He seemed to perk up with some TLC and then Felix began running a fever. Oscar went back to the barn to cheer up his buddy and with lots of fluids, wet cat food and lots of snuggles both boys seem back to themselves.
After days of no improvement, I tried to put Bluebella back in the coop but she just sat in the cold. Instead she went to the brooder box in the barn with a warming light. The cats sitting on top didn’t seem to bother her too much.
Bluebella in the mudroom infirmary 
Oscar in the mudroom infirmary 
The barn cats back home checking on Bluebella (or sun tanning)
The mudroom: Chicken Coop
Chicago is in the mist of a Polar Vortex. The chickens have done just fine so far this winter….still laying 2-3 eggs a day (even before the illness we thought Bluebella was the slacker at laying).
With temps predicted to be around -20F or lower, I convinced the hubby the chickens could not survive in the coop for those days. Always being the ambitious one, he was going to build a temporary coop in the barn. Instead, I suggested the mudroom!
A few modifications and the mudrooom…became a coop! I guess it helps our mudroom is really more of an enclosed porch so it’s brick and concrete. The girls are so content….we still got three eggs!
And even better…Bluebella finally perked up just before the temperature drop so she went in the mudroom too. She looks as good as new!
The mudroom before the Polar Vortex 
The Polar Vortex mudroom chicken coop 
It may colder than Antarctica outside, but we have fresh eggs!
What’s next for the Mudroom?
The hubby wants to turn it into my home Real Estate office, but again, what fun would that be? Who knows who will really need it next!
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