Welcome to a little behind-the-scenes tour of where the animals hang out here on the farm!
We’ll start with a peek at the ponies’ setup, then swing by the chicken coop, check out the outdoor catio, and finish up inside the kitty playroom.
If you haven’t met the whole crew yet, you can find all their stories in the post, Meet the Animals.
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EQUINE HOUSING
THE BARN
Let’s start with the equine—because honestly, they run most of our property.
They’ve got a 30×32 barn with a pink, purple, and soft blue interior, plus a small stall that can be heated in case of a health emergency or those extra-cold farrier appointments.
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.jpg "Pink Horse Barn")
%20(1).jpg "Hay Storage")
There’s also a dry lot, approximately 18,750 square feet, divided into two spaces so we can separate them if needed.
One side has access to a small lean-to, and the other opens to the main barn.
We’ve built hay stations designed to keep hay off the sandy ground, and I can easily wash these spaces with the garden hose.
The grass pasture—about 2.25 acres—is used for grazing mostly in the early mornings or late evenings, when sugar levels are hopefully a bit lower.
The flower garden is also now in the corner of the pasture, so I have a pretty spectacular view when watering, weeding, and flower-picking chores happen.
We also have a fun firepit spot and a little table centered in the pasture that's perfect for evening fires and lunch date picnics.
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At the back of our property, we’ve kept up some simple trails where we take the ponies for walks.
It’s Cedar’s favorite spot—she loves a good farm-night stroll.
I also keep in magical with fairytale surprises.
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And lastly, we have the most adorable little trailer that we restored for hauling when needed.
But honestly, we usually just pay the extra for farm calls, so nobody ever has to leave the farm.
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NEXT UP—the chicken coop!
Our coop is an 8×10 barn-shaped shed.
It’s had a few different paint jobs and designs over the years, and I’ll be honest: the little one-foot overhang I added to the front, thinking it would be a cute porch detail, mostly just collects poop.
But luckily, it has a rubber mat over it, so it’s easy enough to spray off with the hose.
The lean-to on the side is one of the chickens’ favorite spots.
They hang out in the shade there—and, hilariously, like to admire themselves in the side mirror.
My favorite feature is the DIY feeder setup: just plastic gutters screwed to the back and side walls.
No feed dishes to pick up when I mow or clean around the coop—game changer!
As for the interior, the nesting box used to be attached to the wall, but I moved it right down to the ground.
Now I can actually pull it out and pressure wash it when I do a full clean.
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The coop sits inside a 50×50 chain link enclosure, but we leave the gate open during the day so the chickens can free-range the property as they please.
And honestly, everyone seems to prefer those bottom boxes anyway.
The coop sits inside a 50×50 chain link enclosure, but we leave the gate open during the day so the chickens can free-range the property as they please.
KITTY, KITTY!
Lastly—yes, we know it sounds a little wild—we have both an outdoor catio and an indoor kitty playroom!
Here’s why: we have seven cats, and even though we live on six acres, we’re right off a scenic byway with heavy traffic.
Sadly, we’ve had cats hit by cars in the past.
And while six acres seems like plenty of space, not all of our neighbors appreciate surprise visits from our feline crew.
So, we built a 10×20 outdoor catio that the cats can access 24/7.
Inside, they have their very own 13×20 kitty playroom filled with all their favorite toys, scratchers, and climbing spots.
Of course, they also have full access to the house—but the playroom is a lifesaver when we have guests over, need to make dinner, or just need a moment without a cat underfoot.
It’s easy to close them into their own space, and we never feel guilty because all seven have plenty of room to roam and relax.
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Not gonna lie—we used to use XL litter boxes, but then I had a brilliant idea: turn large plastic totes into litter boxes.
The cats love them, they’re way cheaper, and the outdoor ones don’t get soaked when it rains.
Cheap, easy DIY—highly recommend!
Thank you so much for stopping by Farm Dust and Paint today.
It means the world to me and my little farm.
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XOXO, Emily
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Equine