Today we finished the chicken run

I started work on the run at six o’clock this morning as I wanted to get as much done as I could before delivering my lunches.

I dug out the two sleepers from the run which we used to use to walk down the veg plot. One was so rotten that it came out in bits but the other one just broke in half. I wanted to use it to make a path at the side of the run with the rambling rose so that we can get down that side to keep the rose maintained (or more to the point chopped back so that it doesn’t get to invasive).

After I had taken out the sleepers I dug the run over again to loosen the soil.

I went back indoors for a bath and breakfast then returned to start the next job. I dug over the compacted strip at the side of the run that is going to have veg and added some compost.

I then replanted the runner beans and chard that I had temporarily put in a grow bag.

The runner beans and chard are replanted

Next I set about getting the sleeper in place down the other side of the run. I dug a channel for it to sit in. This was hard work as there was very little room to manoeuvre and the rose kept grabbing me plus it was getting very warm. I did the best I could with it.

A path of sorts made with the sleepers

It was now time to go out on my deliveries. My husband had already left with his deliveries.

When I got back at lunch time my husband was busy making the frame for the opening between the old and new runs. He had already completed and fitted the new gate and turned the old gate to face the other way so that it wouldn’t obstruct the new opening.

The new gate to separate the two areas

The old gate now opens the other way

Meanwhile I set up a new feeding station with a bigger water bowl as the water was getting dirt flicked into it. I set up four tiles as a base and added a little dish of grit and the old water bowl as a bigger feed bowl.

The new feeding station

My husband had now fitted the new opening and the panel that drops in to close it hangs from a hook above the opening.

The opening to the new run with the closing panel hanging above

In the closed position if we ever need to separate new girls in the future

Sparkle’s bare bottom

I recently showed Amber and Honey’s bare neck, well this is Sparkle’s bare bottom. She had lovely fluffy bloomers when she arrived with us in the first week of April.

I went to collect my friend Jackie to see the progress on the run and while at her’s we foraged in the woodland at the back of her house for branches and logs for the run.

We bought back several branches and a large log.

Jackie was impressed with the space and with how much we had achieved in a short space of time. Once I had dropped her back home we decided to crack on and finish the run. I think my husband was on a mission to get it done today so that he can do other things at the weekend and also so that the girls can be separated as soon as possible.

We attached the galvanised chicken wire to the posts my husband had put in place. He then dug up and planted the three big shrubs from the garden that we wanted moved.

We then put up perches and the original ladder that my husband had made before we ran out of space for it. We added a few logs and the chicken play ground was complete.

We now have plants, perches, logs and a ladder

View from the outside

Tomorrow I will start separating the girls. My husband also suggested that we don’t have to stick with each having their own side but can alternate the girls space to give them variety. Now the run is completed we have many options and I am sure the girl’s will have a much happier life.