It's been a busy few days but I've really got not much to say. Work has been hectic and I'm glad it's the weekend. Yesterday was another teenage game day here. 9 teenagers were hanging around all day (10 am to 8 pm!!) but it was loads of fun, even though I was at work for most of the day. We provided lunch and the rest of the kids brought other snacks for the day including 'heavy snacking' that they had for dinner. We really tried for not so much junk food as last time but I fear multiple bags of tortilla chips and doritos were consumed.
Today, I had some time to go to the holiday craft/farmers market in town. Amazingly enough, I bumped into the mom of two of the teens who had been at our house all day yesterday. She was one of the vendors, selling handmade soap and embroidery. The market wasn't too busy (the Hawkeye football game had just started) so we stood and chatted for probably 20 minutes. I'm thinking that here is a relationship to cultivate. She is also into real, sustainable food and evidently her husband was excited to hear that we've got chickens (they can't since they're in town and the chicken ordinance hasn't been passed) and wants to come see them. Maybe we'll have to have them out for dinner sometime. I'm kind of hoping that I can talk her into teaching me how to make soap.
This afternoon, V and I finally got the roofing panels up on the chicken run:
I carried and lifted panels into place and V fastened them:
Now just over half the run has a roof on it. The panels still let in plenty of light, especially through the two south windows into the coop, but will provide some shelter from the elements. We still want to put up some chicken wire over the top of the rest of the run to keep out predators- we have already noticed two of the big Rough-legged Hawks that overwinter here and I spotted an eagle yesterday and a great horned owl again at sunset.
I hope the chickens appreciate all this work done on their behalf.
Here they are, all roosted for the night... Except Magnus is wondering what I'm up to... coming in after dark...
Depending on the weather tomorrow, we'll try to put up the rest of the run covering. But J17 has an orchestra concert in the afternoon that we want to go to. And sometime I need to find some time to work on my apron!
Hi, wow you have been busy. I found your blog through another blog. Can't remember which one. Love your blog. :) I'd like to follow it. I have started a new blog it is just a couple weeks old. If you'd like to stop by the url is: http://throughthewoods2.blogspot.com I am having a lot of fun with it. And its great to meet new people and have comments on my posts. I hope you can stop in. And everyone else is welcome too. Take care, Janet
ReplyDeleteHi again, I forgot to mention that my ancestors are from Iowa..Red Oak and Washington. Are you close to either of those towns? Their name is Gemmill. And I have a lot of Jones that were from there too. Ok now I am done. :) Take care
ReplyDeleteThe heavy wet snow on Wednesday pretty much did in the wire over my chicken coop. I'll have to get some of that clear roofing and do it right this tme.
ReplyDeleteOoh that clear roofing looks great! We were going to do metal the next time we replace ours, but I think I like this better.
ReplyDeleteI love having a covered run, besides the safety, it stays drier (less smelly) and keeps my girls going outside more in winter, they are wimpy about walking in snow).
Snowgirl/Janet- Welcome! I'll definitely pop over to check out your site. We don't live too far from Washington- maybe 30 miles but the name isn't familiar.
ReplyDeletedr momi. We were worried about snow load even with the clear roofing so V made sure to build a pretty sturdy 'rafter' system under it. I can see myself out there now, clearing snow off the top!!
s- We've had it up for only a day but we had a shower overnight and it was nice to go out and have that section (and the pop door) dry. We've got some clear and some tinted but even the tinted lets in lots of light.
Judy
Your chickies are living in upscale accomidations, I must say!! Very nice!! They are all so pretty!! Why are they all sitting in one spot?? I thought they each had their on little nest, so to speak...but maybe that's from seeing chicken coops on cartoons...I know nothing about Coops!! lol lol ...debbie
ReplyDeleteDebbie- the only time the hens go into the nest boxes is to lay eggs. As birds, chickens sleep at night on branches up off the ground. I've given them artificial branches in the form of a roosting ladder. If left to their own devices free ranging chickens will roost in trees or bushes if they're not in a coop. We heard from the former owners that their chickens liked to roost in the lilac bush.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I love it when I find new friends that are "homesteadish"! Love that header photo!
ReplyDeleteErin- it is fun to run into people with similar interests- especially with a built-in connection (children).
ReplyDeleteThe new header is was last night's sunset through what's left of the broom corn. I haven't pulled it yet. It has so many, many roots that I'm waiting for it to fully dry out so I can get it out easier. It's even worse than sweet corn stubble!
Judy