The making of Chicken Hilton - Part I

Early spring - 2011.   We chose the area where the coop and the outdoor enclosure will be built.  We start burning up large piles of wooded debris, but it won't be until all the snow melts that the real work can begin.  

Once spring arrives, I spend almost every weekend literally, "raking the woods."  I clear out fallen trees, stumps, branches, and cut logs from the trees my husband had to cut down in order to clear an area for the coop.  There are large piles of dirt that have to be removed and during the course of my digging, I discover that these areas were old "garbage dumps."  I unearth carpet remnants, car parts, and other assorted junk.

Jackie keeps me company during these long, weekend hours.  She's a great pal.

The brooder box set-up the weekend before the baby chicks arrive.

I got a phone call from the post office a few minutes before 7:00 a.m. on Monday, May 23rd and ran down to pick them.  Here they are enjoying their new home and doing what ever baby does--eat, drink, sleep, and poop!