Summer Project

 It's been a super duper busy few weeks... work is insane, and Dad and I have been pushing to finish the coop. It's an 8x12' structure, split into two 6x8' sections, each with its own run. We finally got the first half done enough to move the birds in. And let me tell you... moving them was quite the task!!

Before I tell that story, here are a few pictures of the coop and run. There are a few more finishing details - for example, I hope to cut my own wooden shingles and put those on for the siding. But you can see the basic idea. 

Here's the run. It's got a roof over it so the dirt won't turn into a muddy mess like the last coop. There will be a second, adjacent run to the right of the screen door; I just need to add hardware cloth and a bit more framing.

Inside the run:

The front of the building. We used an old ping pong table top as part of the wall, lol:

Oh, and see that sign? I made it. :D Here's a close-up:

Here are a couple interior shots:

So I waited until it was pretty dark Thursday night to move the birds, because they tend to be a little calmer when it's dark, and will readily settle down for the night. I had two roosters and 8 hens to move from the old coop, as well as 26 chicks and one adult hen to move from the chick pen. The adults I carried down one at a time. A couple were pretty sure I was going to murder them, and screamed like they meant it!! 

Red Rooster has always been pretty skittish, and the move apparently pushed him over the top...he shoved his way out the door when I was bringing a hen in, and ran off into the woods. I managed to catch him fairly easily, and decided to put him in with the other spare roosters instead of back with the flock. Big Roo, by comparison, is very chill and easy-going.

So then it was time to move the chicks. They were still quite flighty, even in the dark, and were way in the back of the chick pen, hard to reach. So I busted out one of my favorite yard sale finds - a fishing net! 😂 

I fished all 26 chicks (and Mama) out of that pen over the course of time. I managed to catch between two and six chicks per trip. 

I was so glad when that was over! It took me a whole hour. 😯

It was too dark for pictures that night, but here's a picture from a couple weeks ago demonstrating the use of the net with an errant rooster. :P

And here are the birds exploring the coop the first morning! Lol, it's already looking a lot less clean - they love to scatter their food everywhere.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Toasty Day!!

 Today was SO hot! Lol, I admit that in the middle of winter, when I was chipping ice and climbing over frozen gates, I did some casual peeking at real estate in the south ... but on days like today, I feel like I'd be happiest somewhere like Alaska or far northern Maine. :P

I stuck to mostly quiet activities today and stayed in the shade. The dogs spent most of the day under the porch in holes they've dug in the cool dirt. 

Here are a few scenes from the day. My flower garden by the front gate... it's doing fairly well, though the rose bushes have small leaves, which I'm guessing means they need some fertilizer. The Salvia is very happy, though!

The nest in the new chicken coop has occupants now. I caught a quick glimpse of Mama, and I think she's a Sparrow.

Once the front of the house was out of direct sunlight, I puttered at putting up more of the siding, and got the boards on the front finished. The battens will still need to be added, as well as wooden shingles on the upper part.

Here's Bartholomew out ruling his domain. 

Pretty flowers in the old goat field.

And here are the chicks...look how big they're getting!! :D 

 I hope everyone had a good Monday!