finished the run today! (and just in time too - babies went out)

[jemagsy]

Hubby and I finished the last of the coop today - we put the overhead wire up on the run so there would be no death from above for the babies.

We also took the girls out (now 5 weeks old) and are letting them stay overnight. They did amazingly well this afternoon... although we had one escape (inside the barn) during transport. Chris got to learn how to chase chickens lol.

We put them out in the coop with pine shavings and water and food. However after about 1 hour they made their way outside into the run and chased bugs and dug in the dirt and ran around chasing each other enjoying the good ole' outdoors.

Here's our setup: we have a very small 4' w x 8' l x 4' h coop and one wall has just chicken wire and an open hole out into an enclosed run (the coop sits inside the enclosed run) with buried wire sticking into the ground about 3" to 4" deep (I know its suggested 6" but our soil is EXTREMELY rocky and we did good to get this deep).

Anywho. Girls decided to sleep in the run on the dirt all huddled near each other (just like they do every night) in the run. I know they can get back up in their coop cause I've seen them back on the ramp... I think they just want to sleep in the light cast off by the street lamp though. (Its pretty dim but bright enough to make sure you don't step on any snakes, etc).

Chris and I are so nervous and very excited. I'm just hoping they're all in one piece tomorrow or I am going to feel *horrible*.

 

[chickflick]

Gosh, I couldn't sleep at night unless I know my chickens are locked up tight in their coop! Just last week I remembered I forgot to close up the pop door and went out at midnight to close it. I hope they are ok in the morning! Aren't you worried about predators....like snakes, weasels, etc?? Good luck...

 

[jemagsy]

Well we had one possum out earlier and I scared my sweet darling city boy husband 'cause I went and grabbed the .38 out of the gun cabinet.

He (not my husband) was eating our adult/free-ranging hen's food and ate her eggs this morning (didn't see him eat the eggs but did see him eat the free-ranger's scattered pellets). I seriously doubt he'll come back tonight as I shot right over his head... if he does (the security lights are right outside our window) he will not get the comfort of a live-cage trap tomorrow.


UPDATE
Okay well I lied I didn't have the heart to kill it last night; especially since it was only messing with the food and ran away when I got near it. Ugh I would have felt bad if he got in the coop/run though. However, I did go scoop the babies up & put them in the coop. They fussed a little but stayed in there the rest of the night.

I am going to go get a trap today and put it out this afternoon for our friend the possum. I'm also going to make sure all the food gets put away at bed time every night.