I know what you all are saying about the hawks, we have them here too & I hate seeing them gliding around looking at what smorgasbord might be below, as in my chickens. Right before they left for the year we had two Mississippi Kites here too that sat in one of the trees & watched. My chickens were nervous while they were here, fortunately unlike the Redtail hawks they are migratory & left soon after. I have some hiding places here that my chickens like, big bushes that they can duck under if they feel threatened. I also got that pickup topper too that they can duck under now if they need to or go into the covered run, so I feel somewhat better that they can find cover if need be. My big rooster does watch out for his girls too & if he feels like anything is threatening them he goes after it, including my poor little Yorkie. Today she came outside & saw him up on the hill & hightailed it back towards me & safety. He has gone after her twice & now she's afraid of him, I don't blame her.
Today hubby & I had to go out in the cold & put a new tarp on the side of the run to replace the plastic that came down. Fortunately with his help it took a lot less time than if I had done it by myself. This should work out much better since it's heavier & it's the same kind I have on the north side. I was thankful to get it done before the rain hits the next two days. We went & got straw today too for the new pups coming next Sat. so they should have a nice straw bed in their doghouse to cuddle into. We stacked the rest of it in the chicken run up against the north wall, so that should insulate things some too. We put our wood rack in there this year since it's all covered in there to keep some of the wood dry to bring in for the woodstove. We haven't gotten another woodshed put up yet for it since we got new siding put on the house this summer & I tore down the old shed that used to be up by the house. Now I'm trying to get my feet thawed out, my toes go so cold out there!
Today hubby & I had to go out in the cold & put a new tarp on the side of the run to replace the plastic that came down. Fortunately with his help it took a lot less time than if I had done it by myself. This should work out much better since it's heavier & it's the same kind I have on the north side. I was thankful to get it done before the rain hits the next two days. We went & got straw today too for the new pups coming next Sat. so they should have a nice straw bed in their doghouse to cuddle into. We stacked the rest of it in the chicken run up against the north wall, so that should insulate things some too. We put our wood rack in there this year since it's all covered in there to keep some of the wood dry to bring in for the woodstove. We haven't gotten another woodshed put up yet for it since we got new siding put on the house this summer & I tore down the old shed that used to be up by the house. Now I'm trying to get my feet thawed out, my toes go so cold out there!
