The chickens are now happily ensconced in their new run. It's not quite finished, and still needs a roof, but I was fed up of them being inside the stable block, so while Peter was away and I had visitors to help me, we nailed some mesh around the top to discourage acrobatic foxes and herded the chickens to their new home. It's extremely solid, and built mostly from recycled wood and mesh we had lying around. The walls are eight foot high, and there is mesh dug into the ground all the way round so I hope it will be safe (fingers crossed). We moved their house in here too, so they have somewhere warm and dry to sleep at night, and since these pictures were taken we've added some corrugated iron for shelter during the day until we get the roof on. We did have to add some extra impromptu shelter during the storm that ripped down the greenhouse - not exactly picturesque but it kept them relatively cosy during a day of wild winds. We're settling into a nice routine. I let them out of their house first thing in the morning, do a very quick clean out of their coop, and top up food and water. During the week I then leave for work, and either Peter will let them out of the run in the afternoon for an hour, or I'll let them out for an hour later if I get home before dark (which probably won't happen now until after Christmas sadly). At the weekend, I usually let them out of their run in the morning, and they maraud around the garden pecking things and generally getting in the way. Sometimes they come running when I whistle. Sometimes they don't, but they often respond to the clang of the feed tin lid. After they've been out for an hour or so, they often start to congregate near the run again, so I take the opportunity to give them some corn as a treat and shut them back in. Three of them tend to hang around together, and never go far, but Hermione is a wanderer. She's likely to be the first to get eaten if there's a sneaky fox around. I've had to retrieve her from the top of the drive, and from half way across a field. I can't be cross at her though - it's less than two months since she went outside for the first time and there's a lot to take in. Sometimes, to tempt them back in, I sit inside the coop myself. It often works - they associate me with treats, and will come and peck at my fingers and sit on my legs until I oblige. I talk to them, and imagine they know their names (although I know they don't really, and are just responding to food). It's only been eight weeks, but I can't imagine a life without chickens now (although I would appreciate a lie in occasionally). We've got our first night away coming up soon, and while we'll be gone for less than 24 hours, and while I know they'll be safe in their run, and cosy in their house even if the door isn't shut, I can't help but worry a bit. We're already making plans for chicken sitters if we go on holiday next year.
Might have to make sure the visitors know where the treats are kept though.
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Hello!Sit down and make yourself comfortable. I'm Jenni, and I write here about our new foray into country living, which includes growing food, knitting, baking, wandering around the fields, and seeing which local cafe serves the best cake. Categories
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