The last time I posted about our chicks they spent afternoons on our porch because the coop was not complete. They were also still chicks then…

Porch time was messy.
I still refer to them as chicks, although they look much more like chickens now. Maybe chicklettes?

The girls are getting big!

Hammer, hammer, saw, saw…
My love used all his spare time in between many work trips to finish the coop. He did an amazing job. He made it exactly as how I designed it! Then I painted it. I wanted the coop to be as close to our house color as possible, but the last owners didn’t leave a paint can behind. So I picked ‘Barn Red’ – lo and behold it matches our house!

Barn Red
The coop was finished, but we had a problem. The challenge:
The coop was in the garage, 500 feet from where it needed to be under an old firewood storage shelter. My love built ‘coop skis’ and with the help of a friend he towed the coop safely to its spot.

Coop relocation process.

Ditch digging.
Then we needed to enclose the space with chicken wire and predator-proof it. I dug an 8″-10″ ditch around the perimeter. My love installed the chicken wire and I installed a ‘hardware mesh’ as a skirt around the perimeter and into the ditch. This is to prevent raccoon, fox, and other hungry critters from digging in for a chicken delight. We started the wire installation and ditch digging around noon and we didn’t finish until after 9PM. WITH NO BREAKS. We stapled the last bits of the skirt and introduced the chicks to their new home by flashlight.

Before: 10’X20′ firewood shelter.

After: Coopacabana!
They spent the first three weeks confined to the run: Scratching, lazing in dust baths, learning to perch. Then Ruby decided to dodge past my feet one evening as I came in to check on them. She started eating grass, scratching, finding bugs, hopping and I figured it was time to “cut the chicken cord” and let them free-range.
Between fox, hawks, other natural predators, and a neighbor’s dogs who are routinely loose and have killed several of our other neighbor’s chickens, we don’t plan on allowing them to free-range all the time. Instead, I’ve been free-range training them and only allowing them out of the run when myself or my love are nearby. I’ve never had to do this before so it was a learning process for me too! The quail and chickens I had when I was growing up were always confined to their run so we never had them loose.

Run, run, run, scratch, scratch, scratch!
I have free-range trained them for a week now and they are pros! If you’re curious how it’s done, here are the three basic steps. I’m pitching an article about the entire process, so hope to have more to share at greater length in the coming months:
- Food. Remove their food sources 2-3 hours before their free-range time. When you are ready to get them back inside, show them their food and have them follow the food back in.
- Time. Start training an hour or two before sunset. They are naturally inclined to return to the coop at dusk.
- Treats. A friend told me to use mealworms. A month ago they could care less about mealworms. Now they impatiently peck through the treat bag trying to get them! I sprinkle treats in areas that we want them to spend time, and reward them we they return to the coop.
This morning I was reassured why this ‘limited free-range’ lifestyle we’re creating for our chickens is for their best interests. I was turning the compost pile during their playtime and they were only 5-10′ away from me – then they ran back to the coop. I looked around and noticed this guy:

Copperhead Snake
Fortunately, one of the other convenient items the last owners left behind is an obnoxiously long old rake. It was perfect for picking this guy up and dropping him off far in the woods. I imagine he might return. If so, he’ll go for a car ride further away next time.

Close to the run!
OMG, that snake was poisonous, Tara. I raise chickens and live out in the country as well. He WILL be back for your chickens and eggs. Best to put him out of his misery now before he capitalizes on you not doing so. Yes, chickens are great for letting you know what’s going on. You learn to read what they are saying. I can tell when there’s an overhead threat or one close to the ground, when they are laying and when they are just talking. It’s a fun world raising chickens. Been doing so for 7 years. And the eggs are so yummy! Good luck with the brood.
Thanks, Hope! I am worried he’ll be back. Fortunately, it will be a few months before they start laying. We will install an electric fence this weekend. Hopefully he’ll find easier prey elsewhere! If I see him or another again I think I’m going to box it up and drive it to another county. Can’t bring myself to harm them even though they are nasty. Glad I found it outside the range of our dog’s electric fence!
When you complete the coop and run, sprinkle DE (diatomaceous earth) completely around the area. Snakes abhor DE as it gets between their scales and it hurts/cuts like sandpaper. Same goes for bugs/mites. There are mixed messages out there for putting DE in the coop. It’s great for keeping bugs off the hens, but some argue it’s not good for their respiratory systems. I love raising chickens!
🙂 Thanks, Hope! Will do.
It’s fascinating to read and imagine but I wouldn’t survive in the country 🙂 I’m crossing my fingers for an apartment/house by the beach in the future, not too far from the city.
Aw, the real ‘country’ starts just a mile from us. Extremely rural! A friend who lives out there says when you ask someone about their property you ask them how many squares they have–as in square miles! Lol I love living on the gateway–we have the privacy and nature balanced with fantastic restaurants and civilization. Your future apartment by the beach will be amazing. Fresh seafood and inspiring landscape=win.
Now I want the beach house even more:)
And apart from the snakes (isn’t even Indiana Jones afraid of snakes, surely it’s allowed:)), your living conditions look lovely! 🙂
YES, Dr. Jones is afraid of snakes. So funny that you mention that. Last night we watched the old episode of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” with Harrison Ford – definitely check it out on YouTube. ::swoon::
Will watch it:) And great minds think alike;)
Pingback: Lately I Have Been… | Write Naked
Pingback: 3 Tips for Agro-journalists | Write Naked
Pingback: Pay It Forward Series: Animal Welfare Approved | Write Naked