When It's Time to Move

Moving day (Saturday) is always a fun day. We are getting to the point where we are getting the fence set up a little quicker each time and then relocating the shelter, water & feed pans and of course the chickens.

This month they will be situated in the backyard. Now that we have over two hundred feet of fence we are able to give them a fairly large area to explore. I do have some garden space that I'm hoping they will scratch and till away at.

Some fun contours for the feathered creatures

Girls trying to figure out which box is their favorite

Once they are situated and released they run around like crazy, checking things out...usually looking for food. Moving day is the one day that I do not feed them. I want them to forage and find food in their new space and not rely on the feed. Honestly, these girls are a little chubby, so I really don't worry about them too much. Just because I'm not a total ogre, they do get a little bit of scratch in the evening and as usual they attack it as if it were their last meal.

The girls get so excited that egg laying is the last thing that is going to happen. Moving day is the day where the girls hardly lay - this time there were only 3 eggs as opposed to the 7 eggs that we got yesterday. 

Two of the Jersey's contemplating laying an egg

These girls have been in the field and in the free-range garden and in the yard. The one spot I wish I could feel okay about is the front yard. Where they were the last couple of months was as close as I would like them to be to the road. Also, having them up there made our house a spectacle. Which is okay, but at the same time, people don't need to slow down and gawk...move along people...there's nothing to see here. 

The people who bring the treats will not get the customary greeting from Lenny since he won't see them until they arrive at the hen pen. I'm sure that the neighbors won't miss hearing him squawking so stinkin' loud!

Get to work little ladies! One month will go fast!