*Update with pics on pg 4* Advice on Nest Boxes Please :)

[ginger c.]

looks great!!!

 

[krcote]

Magnificent!

 

[bryan99705]

Looks great, might want to raise it a little so a skunk or opposum doesn't move into the nice dark spot underneath

 

[WKYChick]

Thank you all for comments and suggestions!

Yes, the inside beams are a problem so I thought about stapling foam padding around the beams and covering the foam with fabric, to give some protection when you misjudge and raise up too soon

Since we are going to have to trench near the run I am going to dig down and bury wire around the house, DH thinks the way he flushed the metal to the ground nothing can get under it but yes they can if they are determined enough too

the kennel that was given to us is 10' tall panels, so I have been playing around with how to get the most out of each piece, some of the panels will be roof for the run, we are also going to wrap the top of the run with chicken wire to deter large flying predators and to keep the hens in

Partly covered run, sorry I couldn't get the best shot of it but this is how I am going to lay the extra panels over the run then put a layer of wire over the panels

The kennel is beat up and missing some links so we are securing all the places with wire

When I get it all the way I like it I will try to post better pictures of the top of the run, we are putting the floor in today and yay!

 

[MetalSmitten]

lookin good

side note - is that a burning bush in there? i think they're toxic if so. if not, please ignore

ETA - for those who have never heard of it and may therefore think i'm crazy asking about a burning bush: http://www.djroger.com/burning_bush.htm

 

[WKYChick]

MetalSmitten: thank you for the info, yes they are burning bushes but we have had chickens and burning bushes together for almost a yr now and never lost a hen, they don't bother the bushes at all, they just lay under them for shade, it may be the berries that might be toxic but ours never berry up, I'll double check tho cause I may be thinking of another bush but anyway, we put 2 burning bushes in there cause they love the ones by the house, I have never seen them peck or eat the bush. Again thanks for the info, I am looking into other things to be able to plant in and around the run for the hens to enjoy

 

[MetalSmitten]

okay, just checkin

some chickens can be good about not eating things they know are toxic hehe. glad to hear that yours seem to fall into that category.

 

[WKYChick]

MetalSmitten: I really do appreciate you bringing up concern about the bushes, I didn't realize that burning bushes do produce berries, I will keep an eye out for ours to see if they do, berries are too tempting to a chicken so if they do produce a berry I will replace the bushes with something else

out of all the yrs of having burning bushes I never paid attention to berries, we are going to plant chicken friendly berry bushes this fall

I forgot to protect my tomatoes and beans

and found my pullets have decided they love my barrels and have literally kicked out all my beans and flattened my tomatoes

 

[Cadjien_De_Louisiane]

 

[vivan88]

looks fabulous! That is so cool! Great work!I'm new here！Let‘s share all good things with each other