Preparations have started

As part of the preparations for the planned new livestock arrivals, we arranged for a fencing contractor to come and make some changes to existing fencing in the back fields.

I’m sure I might have been able to do this work myself but the professionals are definitely quicker and the results are probably a lot stronger than my amateur efforts would have been.

The initial results in the back fields are pretty impressive for a single days work too but as they have the heavy equipment that obviously helps speed their work up.

Relocating the fence line
Relocating the fence line

The chickens will probably appreciate the extra space but to be honest this change wasn’t made with them in mind, it’s mostly to protect the solar panels.

Also the extra space we’ve claimed around the chicken houses by moving that fence line is already set aside for planting some fruit trees anyway!

Protecting the solar panels
Protecting the solar panels

When the fencers return this week they will be adding some new fencing in the woods to create two extra secure areas for pigs. Each new pen will be smaller than our original pig space (which we are keeping in place) but the extra pens will give us the ability to move different sets of pigs between them when needed.

For the moment when the picture below was taken the woods were calm and peaceful – that has no doubt changed in the meantime so I’m looking forward to seeing the results…

Before...
Before…

Further updates on the fencing – and the new livestock arrivals – will hopefully be available very soon!

Helping the chickens move house

It seemed such a simple idea this morning, I could close up the older main chicken house once they were all out and leave just the newer chicken coop open well before they put themselves to bed. Unfortunately this was not quite as straightforward as I had thought…

Old accommodation
Old accommodation

They’ve enjoyed this elderly but very desirable residence for some time and have had plenty of room lately as there are only the 10 hens and 1 cockerel in this group. Sadly the original “daddy” cockerel was found one morning over the Christmas break having died and fallen off his perch.

During the day they didn’t notice the housing change and as usual wandered off around the fields or occasionally in the garden too. However late afternoon required almost 20 minutes of chicken-herding, cajoling and arm waving to get the stragglers to finally realise that I was not going to open up the old house again.

In time I’m sure they’ll sort out their places in the new house but for the moment I could hear plenty of “discussions” from inside as they all settled down for the night!

New accommodation
New accommodation