Tree fell on my duck pen today

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah we dodge Ida by just getting rain, not like the last one where we had flooding and trees coming down. We had a high wind advisory last night but I think Ida went farther north of these mountains. Just getting the rain.
Hunker down

 

[RJKnott]

That’s the part that was crazy. We hardly got any rain. And no wind. Just a light drizzle. But I don’t know if we’ve gone more than 4 straight days all year without rain and I think the ground got just soft enough for the tree to topple over

 

[RJKnott]

Heh the pen was big, 400 sq feet so they had room. And they never wanted to leave it. Before a snapping turtle moved into my pond I would try to get them to come out and free range and they would go right back into their pen heh. We have a ton of hawks in the area and they felt safe in there I think

Might need to. We are looking into what’s needed to build a new run. But not sure where to put it. Have to clear the tree this week and see if any of the old pen is salvageable. Then will look at what we need and figure out where in the yard to rebuild. In the mean time the ducks are enjoying quacking at the dogs and our pet pig is in heaven. she loves the ducks and now she has her duck friends all inside with her

 

[KaleIAm]

Wow, that sound so scary. I'm happy that everyone is safe and unharmed! Good luck rebuilding!

 

[RJKnott]

New pen should be finished tomorrow. In the muddy area we extended our pond a bit into the pen for them to forage for bugs, worms, and have grated it off, buried some metal fence covered in hardware clothe where the water comes in under the pen to keep predators out, built a communal nesting area instead of individual coops

going to put pea gravel down on the muddy area and planted some grass seed on those dirt mounds in the back and that’s staring to sprout finally

should be finished by tomorrow and then we can move the ducks back outside thankfully. I love my ducks. I love them more from across the yard heh

 

[Miss Lydia]

That looks great! They will be so happy in their new pen. AND sounds like you will be too. lol

 

[DukesDucks]

Looks great. You obviously put a lot of time and thought into the new digs. Are you sure you won't miss them - even a little bit.

 

[RJKnott]

Looks great. You obviously put a lot of time and thought into the new digs. Are you sure you won't miss them - even a little bit.

Last pen was 20x20. This one is 40x22 feet. They have a lot of room to forage for bugs and worms and it should be good.
Wasn’t quite able to finish today. Have to shore up the netting area a bit and finish covering the top . But should get it done this week

I love them, but will be VERY. Happy to have them back outside heh

 

[RJKnott]

New pen is done
40 ft by 22 ft. Hardware clothe all around the bottom with a skirt 4 feet out from the pen on al sides to deter digging . Chicken wire in top half and for the ceiling

communal coop area secured with hardware cloth, chicken wire and plywood around the bottom and tin roof on top with any, even slight, gap covered with fencing

planted some grass to firm up the ground and pea gravel around the pool area to help with drainage. Had a storm overnight and the pen was not a muddy mess like the last one was even with just a fencing roof, and the tin kept the coop area dry

 

[Miss Lydia]

Boy, I bet they were as happy as you to get outside. Nice big area to play in. Looks great.

I hope you have the fencing on top secured down because if a raccoon etc climbs up onto it you want to make sure they don't end up inside.