Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

When I was a kid someone sent me a birthday card that said:
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To meet his friend, Gregory Peck.

Silly but I've never forgotten that.

Now I have and have had chickens and the ladies live exclusively in my back yard.  Unless, of course, I leave the gate open.  In the event of an accidentally ajar gate, the ladies high-tail it through the side yard and head for the neighbor across the street.

Why always the neighbor across the street?  Why not the neighbor to the left or right?  Always its across the street.  So, can someone please tell me...

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Renovations to Peck N Paw Resort & Spa

In the course of my life I have owned several homes and over the years I have learned one thing about home ownership:  after you've lived in it you will want to change it.

Last year (at about this time) we decided to start planning the building of our chicken coop.  We googled plans.  We You Tubed plans.  We drew out our own plans.  We had a plan and we built it.
We built it and they came.  The chickens moved in.

Peck N Paw 2012

The chickens have lived in and thrived and survived the hot, Florida summer.  They have survived hurricane "feeder-bands".  They have huddled together at night in the cold, coop windows closed for warmth.  Everyday they wake up happy and glad to be in their run.

In the course of the last year I have watched.  I know where they sit when its hot.  I know where they huddle when its cold.  I know they don't have the sense to get back in the coop when it rains, so they get wet.  I know its time for an expansion.

.....HONEY!  I HAVE AN IDEA!!!!...

We have begun our coop/run expansion.
While the coop itself if sufficient, the ladies need more space in the run.  Below are the progress shots...

Footings and Flooring

Framing

Painted Framing with back wall

View from the Front

This coming weekend we will be getting the sand flooring and blowing out the back wall.  I'm so excited to provide the ladies with a new, better protected run.

And now....the YouTube video...

Scrambled Eggs with Crunchy topping

Back to Basics

While I love the holidays and truly love the time spent with my adorable mother, fabulous sister and scads of comical and charming cousins, I am glad to be back to routine.  For the last several weeks it has been a frenzy of packing, traveling, un-packing, more travel, hugs, kisses, goodbyes, hellos and work sprinkled in.

During the time I was away, I know the ladies were well cared for by my adoring husband.  He loves to free range the ladies as much (if not more) than I.  And while I know they were out and about on a regular basis, is was not with me.  Their routine may have not changed but mine did and I was ready to have it back.

Today, for the first time in weeks, the ladies and I had an entire afternoon to free range and I had the opportunity to really get back into routine.  The run was cleaned and raked.  The water and food cleaned and changed.  The coop scrubbed and cleaned, all with the help of Lois (the watch chicken).  Lois is the supreme supervisor when it comes to my cleaning abilities.  Rarely does a coop clean go by without Lois on the high roost keeping a watchful eye.

There is just something about walking about the yard with hens under foot, cooing and pecking and making us smile and laugh.