Monday, March 29, 2010

Rainy Day Plans


The chickens have been locked up for a week and now because of the rain and the fox they will be penned until at least Thursday.

The photo shows the fenced area adjoining the chicken pen. Kristine and I would like to cut an opening in the anchor fence and build a secure doorway that would allow access between the pens.

Secure is the operative word. I'm not at all sure I will be able to build a secure enough door. I will need something that will stand up to raccoons and possibly bears. The fox and other predators would have to dig in, but the raccoons and bears could climb in (and have climbed in) the other pen because unlike the chicken pen it is not roofed with anchor fencing.

So, I need to roof the other pen with fencing or put on a solid roof to make the pen secure. We were originally thinking that if we put in a door then the chickens could use the other pen in the daytime and we could lock it up at night.

It all gets more complicated as I plan out the steps I need to take. I keep hoping I will come up with an idea that will simplify the process. It can't be too difficult because I am the one who will be doing the work.

I found this site when I was looking for tonics and enjoyed reading the recipes and stories.

Chicken update: The hen is eating, drinking and the wounds seem to be healing. Not closed yet.

Molasses update: I had two teaspoons of molasses yesterday. Two too many evidently because I couldn't sleep and had a migraine episode. I will wait a few days and then try a half teaspoon and see how that goes. The molasses does seem to pack a punch. Too much sugar? Or?

(March 29, 2009)

[6 eggs today]

~:>
Smiles

10 comments:

diane b said...

You certainly sound motivated again. Something must be working.

Jen said...

Hope you come up with something for the pens... you gotta lot of predators to worry about... I'm really glad we dont have that many to worry about, yet! I got worry about the hawks and every once in awhile a stray dog. Good Luck...

Jen's Farmily said...

You wouldn't think building something for chickens would be so difficult, but I know how much we had to think about when we built our outside-area-coop. How high to go up, how deep to go down... darn chickens!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Good luck on finding the solution to keep your flock locked up and safe!! Bears though?? Wow!

Hope the headache has gone away!!

DayPhoto said...

Your rain is heading our way. Red Flag warning are out for this afternoon.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Alettesiriane said...

Are the bears a bit small?You sure have alot of animals around.Have a nice Easter.

John Going Gently said...

i think some of my hens could have had coccoid due to the wet!....

are u worried about it?

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Our sheep lady put netting over her duck pen to keep the hawks away but that probably wouldn't keep the bears and fox's away..
Mom and Dad go to the dump sometimes too. Mom calls it a date since they usually stop at Starbucks on the way. We just enjoy riding along. There are great smells at the dump.. he he

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

lisa said...

I will have to try that molasses. I still haven't quite got the nerve yet to try it in the coffee.

Little Messy Missy said...

Glad to hear the chicken is getting better. Sorry about the migraine.