More About the Chickens

Well, as you can see, I am still not quite up on the business of updating the blog with my Ipod, but I have figured out how to send photographs. So, now, to tell you about the photographs that make up the posts below.

The chicken house under construction is a mobile house for small chickens. Grown up chickens like to roost, perching on bars set in along the top of the coop, but young chickens like to gather themselves together, crowding into a corner, presumably for warmth and a feeling of security. This particular house is the third or fourth generation of small mobile chicken houses. Each reiteration brings improvement; this and the last both have a secure mesh bottom layer, that keeps out digging animals (foxes, tanuki/badgers, weasels, and ten, whatever they are) and yet keeps the house clean. The height is low enough to reach the chickens easily (unlike the first or second chicken tractor, the walls of which are so high that one has to water the chickens by first dropping in a bucket, then carefully pouring in water to avoid overbalancing and falling head-first into the chicken tractor).

The chickens who inhabit the chicken house are about 3 months old. They love their green veggies and the bugs living in the weeds. In the picture they are new to the yard, and very very happy with their new pasture. They get fed every morning and evening, and spend the time in between scratching around, eating bugs and weeds, or resting in the shade. This system is good for us - fewer weeds and bugs! - and good for the chickens, who are much happier creatures for all the excitement, as well as being much healthier for the sunlight and air and fresh food. At three months the roosters and hens are distinguishable (mostly), but they are not yet all the way grown up, so they can mix freely without worries about the roosters fighting.

And for a few more pictures: Happy chickens!

Henrietta:

The boss rooster Presidente