Quote:
Sorry, I do not mean to hi jack here
but
Darlin I just got here and read your post. My heart goes out to you. I am not an experienced builder either. Neither am I very strong. I always did plan on having chickens
but I did not plan on getting old and having a stroke.
I got my four chicks in March. In May, I had a small stroke and was schedule for immediate surgery. I live by myself
who was going to take care of my babies? They were still in the house and rapidly out growing their brooder.
So before surgery
I quickly slammed together a Fort Knox for them. I, by myself
me
.and
I all by my lonesome.
Its not that anyone else wouldnt help
.they were just all working and had their own families to worry about. They were kind enough to come over every day to check on my flock and feed my other animals and that was a god send for me. I had food and water already setup for the birds, all they had to do was count four little heads and report to me that they were still alive.
I was in the hospital for more than a week.
I have raccoons here in the city and I had to make sure that my four girls were safe when I would not be here. Fortunately, I guess I did "good" because this has worked very well ever since.
The PEN, it aint pretty. But money and strength are very scare right now, however we do prevail.
I let my sweet big fat butt girls out every morning. They crack me up. People think that chickens are stupid and not very smart
ohhhhhh
but they are. Because of my unconventional building method
they have to enter from the top of a two-foot high run and not a side entrance.
The last few nights as the sun slowly sets in the west
.my little darlings come to the back door to harass me. It is about six oclock and they want to go to bed. Its night-night time and they are tired and want to go to the safe place to sleep. When I go outside, I find Jessie, the Jersey Giant, clucking to herself and pacing back and forth in the pen. There is no food or water in there yet until I set it up for the night. She is ready for bed.
I go outside and start putting the water and food back in the pen. Then Binkie and Sheba, who are both Australorps, run and get in the pen with Jessie. Lazy little Morgan, my Partridge Cochin, also known as Miss fuzzy feets, wants me to lift her up and put her in the pen. Once in the pen, they all stand there looking up at me for the treats that they know are coming. I have to watch all this and keep the giggles to myself. What good babies I have.
I intend to upgrade their digs and I will try to make it look as nice as I can. However, their safety is my first concern. Soon they will be able to walk and enter the pen from ground level and not have to jump in from the top.
I wish you the best of luck on your building efforts.
They are awesome and I say, awwh I wish I could have one...but there is no way...Im not a fancy woman...
