Chickens out to pasture!

A highly scientific survey conducted this weekend showed 35 out of 35 chickens preferred living in the pasture over the brooder... when asked why - they answered "Cluck."
OK - so we didn't really survey the chickens... but it was pretty simple to see as soon as their feet hit the grass - they were happy little birds.
So without further introduction - here's the condensed story of how the chickens went from the brooder to the pasture - in 3 1/2 weeks!
Our story starts with the arrival and growing of the chicks (ok - now you are up to date). The next significant milestone was to get the pasture pen built - and since I'm kinda acting as a disciple of Joel Salatin - here's where I found his book the absolute least helpful... he mumbles into the cryptic description of the pen, no drawings, plans, nothing... just a bunch of underexposed black and white photos - showing the pens under other talking points... but he makes a HUGE deal about in no way shape or form deviating from his specifications - dooming the non-conformist to failure!

Well - I think I did pretty good in scraping up some information on what it should look like - and I'll be putting to gather a "how to build a Joel Salatin style pasture chicken pen" post in the future - with photos - so the next time someone picks up this book - there's actually a reference for doing the "work".
Here's a shot of me finishing up the "fixed" section of pen roofing in the barn. Kelli took care of running the pneumatic stapler and affixing the chicken wire and Watson - well he watched.

I have to say - for a Terrier who knows small things are bad and need to be eaten... he does pretty well. He can look at the chicks without (for the most part) want to, um, "lick" them. He also is good at not making them get spooked... so - we let him look - keep an eye on him - and give corrections if he seems to be getting too "excited" about all the rapidly racing feathery goodness...
Anyhow - once the roof was attached - and the removable doors fabricated - it was time for Kelli and I to make the long march with the 8x10 pen down to the field where these guys (and gals) will live in pastured bliss for the next 5 weeks or so.

Once we got the pen to the field - Kelli forced me to pose for the obligatory picture of me and the pen. The contraption rolls along remarkably well on the dolly (shots of "moving the pen" will be taken at a later time). In this picture 2 things of note - one, the waterer is not hooked up yet... two, the duct tape wristband is more than stylish - it's holding the gauze pad to my arm where I attempted to slice my hand off on the galvanized roofing material about 1/2" above my leather gloves I was wearing to prevent the very thing.
With the pen in the field - it was time to move the chickens - which was accomplished with a soil screener I built years ago on top of the garden cart.

Of course - without the waterer hooked up - I needed to bring the 5 gallon jobbie from the brooder - which was fine for the chickens but adds an additional couple of steps when I want to move things - another reason to get the bucket hooked up ASAP!
We ended up being a little behind schedule - we wanted to have them out in the pasture to acclimate to their new surroundings by 2 at the latest - but a storm blew through and we held off until the radar showed all clear - which ended up being about 3:30. The thing was - we also expected to see signs of stress - huddling, spooking, not eating, not drinking... instead they almost immediately started scurrying around delighted at all the vegetation and crunchy critters.
The move to the pasture was a success in every respect. So now the countdown changes again, like the cycle of the seasons, towards our first harvest sometime at the end of July. (enjoy the video!)

Comments

[Meme]

I am very impressed. You did a fantastic job making the brooder and raising the chickens. They have really gotten big. How often will you have to move them now?

[Andy & Kelli]

meme,
THANKS! It was a lot of work sorta making it up as I went along - but the next ones I build will be a lot easier!
They get moved every morning (twice now) before they get their food - 10' a day - the length of the pen. that gets them fresh grass and critters every day - in a chicken waste free environment!
I doubt I'll ever have to get to twice a day moves this time - since this pen is really sized for 50 - 65 birds. I went larger since I figure (if all goes well) next year when I start selling these guys - I'll want more room for production - and would like to reuse this pen.