Not people proof, but I hope the locks are complicated enough to thwart the raccoons.
I have one lock on the entry to the runs and another on the back door. I had these locks in my stash. I thought they would be smaller when I ordered them, but alas, they were not. They are better fitted for this application, and by attaching the chain I don’t have to search for the key.
I smoothed out the ditch for water inside the run, laid down some landscaping fabric, and placed stones.
This should help the chicks stay out of the mud, at least a little. Some of them were a little leery of it, though.
The runs are wired in! At least on the outside, which is to keep predators out. The division of the runs to make it so I can rotate areas will come later.
I installed the batteries in the automatic chicken door. Let the testing begin! And of course there is a storm coming through tonight. Oh well, you can’t win them all.
The chicks love being able to go out whenever they want!
To keep the rush of water from flooding the chicken runs, I’m working on swales around the perimeter. I dug down in front of the door and put in a step, like a little bridge. The original step was slapped together in a heavy rain from scrap. Because of the way it was constructed (fast and sloppy), it was getting more and more unstable. So I made a new step. Still out of scrap wood, but with planning and measured cuts.
The previous step was also adopted by a toad as his home. I placed him up in toad home on the hill while I set the step, so I didn’t squish him. He must have been getting dried out because he was absolutely calm when I transported him. He will probably move back later. It is a dark damp place under the step!
Again. These poor chicks. It is for their benefit, and they don’t seem to mind. I do try and introduce small changes in increments so it doesn’t blow their little birdie minds completely.
This time I changed the food hanger into a roost. A couple chicks were flying up there anyway, so I hung the food and water over a little bit (that didn’t phase them long), and then lowered the 2x4s down to about 18″. The next project is to build a proper roost, with a method for collecting droppings. The real roost will go in the same place, and only be a little higher, so should ease that transition.
Critters and Craft 