Two years ago I ventured into the realm of raising chickens and per usual I jumped in blindfolded with both feet. I bought these cute, fuzzy, little chicks. I had a brooder set up and what more would I need. They are so little, I'll have plenty of time to think about the next step. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, whew!! Them little, fuzzy suckers grew fast and within a few weeks were using their little feathered wings to escape the brooder and poop all over my computer room. Not cool man. The weather was warm enough so I constructed this pathetically sad, PVC, 4x4 frame and used zip ties to cover it with chicken wire.
While it served it's purpose, it didn't come without a few headaches. Namely wind. Anytime the wind blew over 5mph the little hennys relived the Wizard of Oz and would go flying in their tractor across the yard!!
Guess they know what lies over the rainbow.
Last year's hatchlings were treated to a much larger brooder and had the luxury of staying in the garage until they were big enough to introduce to the existing flock. Sadly, they were all eaten over the course of the summer my damn varmints. Think I'll join Yosemite Sam in the varmint hater's club. This year's chicks are a different story however.
Mr. Awesome© and I designed a right nifty tractor for the babies this year. It's created from 5 separate panels connected by hinges that will allow us to fold it flat for storage when the little ones are ready for the big move to The Poop Coop. The hardware cloth is painstakingly stapled to the inside and it is completely predator proof. We even boxed in one end to provide shelter from the wind and rain. Seeing as it hasn't stopped raining here in Ohio for the past 4 weeks, it was more than necessary.
Presenting....The Hen's Pen
I know it's crazy to say the chicks were smiling at us when we moved them into their new digs....but really they were!!!
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| Smiling...see!! |
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| Big grin!! |
Tidings from the land of smiling chickens.....
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