Preparing for pasture

The major milestone (and midway marker) for the chickens is the departure from the brooder and placement in the pasture.  While we would have loved to have gotten them out first thing Saturday - the torrential rainstorms of the day (over 2" of rain) prevented that.  And the pooling from all the rain last week in the pasture prevented a Sunday deployment.  The goal is to get those little buggers out there Monday afternoon... just as soon a ll the surface water is gone.

In preparation of that activity the final modifications to the new pen (foreground) and double checking of the old pen happened Sunday morning.  They then got loaded onto the rolling dolly and I hoisted up the rope you see and waled backwards from the barn to the pasture with each pen.

They are positioned slightly offset so the prevailing Westerly wind can ventilate the pens when each houses almost 40 birds.  The will begin their march to the left...  when they reach the end of the mowed area, I'll move them over one width and start the march back to the right...  Until processing day July 25th and 26th.

When they are out to pasture not only do they get to reap all the benefits of fresh air and sunlight - but chickens on pasture will supplement about 20% of their diet with grass and clover and another 5% with bugs and other small critters.  This natural diet obviously decreases feed costs - but more importantly produces a terrific tasting, much more healthy bird than those raised in confinement on a grain only diet.