Fortunately, the hen house is large -- a converted shed -- and with just four hens and two roosters, there was plenty of space. But, still, even with windows, its a dark and dreary place to spend days on end. They were warm and sheltered, but we still felt badly for them.
Brett bought wood and panels of wire fencing so he could extend the cover. He put in posts, wood framing, and the painstakingly cut the wire panels to fit around the tree and under the hen house eaves. He worked on it everyday last week, that it wasn't raining -- so, maybe half the days. Christmas Eve day was icy cold and cloudy, but it didn't snow. Brett hauled out his tools and finished up the cover while I prepped food for our open house that afternoon.
When he finished, we opened the door and the chickens came scurrying out into their yard. They happily pecked and scratched, stretching their legs, before returning to the shelter and warmth of their house.
It was a great gift for both the chickens and for me. The cover looks great and the hens are safe and happy.
Brett can do anything! It looks terrific....what a setup.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours! The chickens seem happy to be out.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they're much happier. Merry Christmas to you and Brett and all the critters.
ReplyDeleteNo more worries! Yay Brett!
ReplyDeleteI'm always so impressed with everything Brett comes up with. What a great carpenter/all-around handy guy he is! Sorry to hear about your chickens though. They don't stand much of a chance around a Bobcat. We've inherited 14 chickens from our neighbors, who moved and left them behind. :( We are totally unprepared for this endeavor, but what's a person to do? Can't let them starve. My hubby put up some boxes/nests with hay high on the inside wall of our shed. At first they were spending nights in there, but have moved somewhere else and we don't know why. We feed them every morning in the round pen, and they're down to 9. We have coyotes and lots of hawks. I witnessed one chicken meeting her demise from the talons of a hawk. Fast!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Annette!
I've always liked the look and feel of having free range chickens, wandering around the ranch, pecking and scratching, with maybe a few chicks trailing behind a hen. Unfortunately, the area we live in is still wilderness and between the hawks, coyotes, bobcats, skunks and racoons -- chickens don't stand a chance unless they are in a totally enclosed area.
DeleteWonderful Christmas for one and all (chickens)!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, albeit belated...
I'm working over here, so it doesn't really feel like Christmas much! lol
I love it! Those chickens don't know how lucky they are, and now you can start to replenish your flock in peace. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete