The Chicken Story Begins

Chickens - we currently have 8 hens. It is a new endeavor we took up about a year ago because we inherited a great chicken house from some friends (Amy and Chris), who were moving to Oklahoma.

The "house" was put on a trailer by my husband and a friend. Then it was moved in the dark (very slowly) about 3 miles or so to our house. They backed it into the backyard, somehow got it off of the trailer and deposited it as close to the back of our unwooded property as possible. Considering they estimated it weighed over 1000 lbs., that was no small feat.

Later, Paul took his SUV and pushed the bumper against the house until it was somehow right in place. I don't remember the details now - but we also lifted it up to set it on cinder blocks. I have no idea how he and I accomplished that. But, we now have a house for chickens. What next you say? Now we needed a fenced in area to keep them safe at night. Something to surround their little house made of cedar shingles.

It probably took about 3 months to get around to the project of building the perimeter fence. Justin (his son - 23 at the time) and he spent at least a weekend with hammer and nails and chicken wire - putting the contraption together. We also used chicken wire on the floor area to keep snakes out and put fishing line running across the top in both directions to keep hawks out of the area.

Another time I will tell you why it didn't work at keeping snakes out - but that is a story for another day. For now, I'll just let you know that the perimeter is up and looks great. We spray painted it black. We probably should have put a protective layer over that - but honestly, we were worn out from the project and haven't gotten back to it since.

I have since learned that chicken wire is not the longest lasting material and we should have used something else instead. Oh well - there's always next time. In life, you sometimes have to learn as you go. Going with the information you're given at the time.

Hopefully I can post some pictures of our babies to show you. For now, I'm signing off. :)