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.
Since I didn’t need the brooder table I made (since I built a cabinet in the coop instead), I have been using it as a work table. It is really nice because I made it counter height. The shelf is for nest boxes (when I get around to making them, it is on the list), but now that the chicks have access to nearly the whole coop and are flying higher, I needed a solution for the table top where I could use it, but the chicks couldn’t.
So I built a roof for my table. The siding is at a 45 degree angle so the chickens can’t perch on it, and are on hinges so I can open it. The sides are covered in chicken wire to also help keep the chicks out of it.
I can prop it open it to have access to the top for weighing chicks and tending wounds, but can close it so I won’t find poop deposits there.
And, just because, here is a video of chicks eating cucumber.
The chicks were able to go out their door for the first time!
We have wire up almost all the way around the runs, and the main doors are in and latched. It is enough complete that we felt OK letting the chicks use their own door. (They are getting heavier and harder to carry outside!) The door we bought opens when the sun comes out and closes when it gets dark, but we are not ready for that yet, so I just propped it open today.
We stayed with the chicks, because the top of the runs is still open. Hawks and cats could still get in.
Sophie, our outside cat, saw the chicks out today, but now there is wire between them! Yay!
Critters and Craft 