Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: FREE Roost!

Michael and I decided the chickens needed a roost inside the run, so we used an old broom handle and wired it to the t-posts. It was FREE, works great, and they seem to love it. Every time I look out the back door one or more of them are up on there. Foghorn just hangin' out on the roost.Today the gang finally emptied their food bucket. It has been exactly two weeks since we originally filled it up. The coop is working out great so far. The only issue we have had involved the water bucket, and truly it wasn't the buckets fault. The building is not level, so you had to sit the waterer in the same exact position at all times for it to work correctly. We tried to add a screw in the bottom and hang it from the rafters but the screw must not have been centered, and that didn't work either. Dad found an old waterer he used when he had chickens many years ago and gave it to us to try. It is working, but it too has to sit in that one exact spot. Looks like we are gonna have to level the building up or fix us up one that can hang with it centered properly. Dad also loaned us a feeder he used for his chicks. We put it in with Crowbar. I think he is doing a little better. Hopefully all his feathers will be back soon. Gertie and Blackie wanted to know what we were up to. and what the chicks were up to. They were just hanging out in a little huddle hiding from her. I shared this post at Homestead Revival's Barn Hop.

Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: New Home!

We put the chicks into their new home around 5pm this afternoon. Michael, Mom, Dad, the boys and I sat outside until 9:30pm making sure everything went smoothly for them. We had a nice time talking about Dad's adventures with chickens as a child. Dad seemed to approve of the run, so I think it is going to work out fine.

 If you look closely at the pics you can see little yellow things at the bottom of the run. Michael used tent stakes to hold the wire down.  It really worked out. There were only two weak spots when he finished. We used bricks to hold those down until we get a few more stakes tomorrow.  He used twelve today.

Foghorn checking out his new run.

Gertie came to see what all the commotion was about.

Then Blackie joined the fun.

The kids were so excited to see the chicks exploring. Bailey was pretending to throw a stick at the dogs for sniffing the chicks and D was screaming No!!! They are so comical. {He didn't really throw it}.

Gertie came down to my chair to say Hello.

Blackie and Slinkie aren't the best of friends. Slinkie gets along with the other goats, but I suppose her and Blackie are too much alike. They both try to rule the roost. They were about to go round-n-round. Sophie stepped in and showed Blackie that she couldn't mess with her best pal. One bark and Blackie took off like a streak.

I guess they decided they didn't like Sophie being so bossy, they left.

Sampson came out to check out the new chick house. See him hanging out under the chair? Surprisingly he didn't try to get in there. He has been pretty calm around the chicks, but I'd say if he could get his paws on them they'd be gone.

I glanced down the drive and I caught Bailey throwing dirt into the air. Boys will be boys I suppose. Of course, being the mean Mommy I am, I told him to stop and I made him wash his hair twice tonight. He wasn't happy with me, but I bet he wouldn't like grit on his pillow tonight either.

Ah.. the joys of being a Mom!

Michael purchased two packs of tent stakes that had six in a pack at Walmart for $2.88 a pack. So holding the wire down will cost us less than $10 once we purchase another pack.

Cheap Way to Raise Chickens: Building the Run Part Two

Michael and I worked outside on the run all day long. We both have a nice sunburn to show for it. I totally forgot about sunblock until it was too late. Man it was a scorcher out there today. Well over 90 degrees and no shade to be found.

I figured out quickly that Michael and are not carpenters. We had a horrible time with the chicken wire. I mean horrible. It was so lumpy. No matter how hard we tried we could not get that stuff straight. Oh well. The sides and top of the run are now ready for the chickens, but we need to work some more on the bottom. We may have to use some boards, blocks, or even some logs around the bottom. The wire touches the ground, but the chickens could scratch out or something could dig in the way we have it now.

Any suggestions?

Oh and this pic really doesn't do the lumps justice. It seems to disguise them. As long as the chickens are safe, I guess I am OK with ugly.

Next we cut a hole in the side of the building and put a board going out into the run so the chickens will have easy access during the day. We plan to fix a door of some sort to close at night.  See Sophie sniffing around the outside? She couldn't figure out why she couldn't get in.

As the sun started to go down, Michael and I were covered in blood, sweat and tears. Look at the back of his shirt when he was getting the chickens fresh water.

My fingers tips were blood red from attaching the top of the fence to the sides with fencing wire.

The boys got caught trying to make a "booby trap" out of the extra wood.

Dalton decided that it was hard work making a "booby trap" and he needed a drink.

After I tell him that he really shouldn't drink straight out of the jug, this is the face I got. He proceeded to whine and say "You never let me make booby traps or drink from jugs. I never get to do anything."  Shame on me. I am such a mean Mommy.

He didn't have to whine long. Peaches came to the rescue.

Overall, it was a productive day. Even if the run is ugly, Michael and I have sunburns, and my youngest son thinks I am a mean Mom.

Michael purchased the poles at Lowes for $4.09 each. We bought 6 but only used 5. We will return the unused one the next time we are down that way. The chicken wire was $29.99 for a 48in x 50ft roll at Tractor Supply. We based the size of the run on the amount of extra money we had to spend on building supplies. It ended up being 4 ft by 13 ft. We also purchased a bag of chicken feed for $13 something, but quickly found out that you can get  it for $8 a local vendor. Michael used wire and nails we already had, and borrowed my Dad's saw for to cut the board and hole in the coop.