The Night Before Chickens

The plan to switch out the flocks is becoming more pressing because the 2 week-olds have formed a fight club in the rabbit hutch. They need more room to spread their wings. 

To say they've taken to the perch is an understatement. The critical load is now six chicks.  At that point, they start knocking each other off for kicks.  

Yesterday morning, my kids helped me lay down vinyl tiles on the floor of the chicken house. Not for aesthetic purposes, but for ease of sweeping up the mess.  Plus, we already had the floor that we bought for I don't know what years ago. 

Last night, Papa and I constructed my plan for finishing out the roosts and nesting boxes. I'd need a whole pile of 2×4s and a couple planks which we'd find in the old barn. [I don't go in it. Ever. I'm scared silly of rats]

Today, with a mild-for-July breeze blowing through the windows, I finished the finishing touches on the chicken mansion.  I dragged my kids out of bed and dragged my lumber haul over to my miter saw poised on my makeshift sawhorse table. 

Before I  went outside, I asked my husband how confident he was that I could do all the construction by myself.

[Crickets]

Me: Did you hear the question? 

Him:  Yeah, I heard....I'd say a 7?

Me: A real 7? Or is that how low you thought you could say without making me mad. 

[Crickets]

So, with steely determination and a little plan, I started sawing, drilling and installing these wood braces. Macy helped quite a bit before she left for debate practice. Caleb dragged a ladder over to the orange tree since I hadn't let him eat breakfast yet.  

About an hour later, Chris shows up, I think to cheer me on, and maybe check my progress. Instead, he makes us take a break claiming the saw was too loud for his upcoming Zoom meeting. [Giant eye roll]

I took the opportunity to call in a Papa consult, just to make sure I hadn't placed the nesting boxes a bit high. He said he'd stop by a little later. 

Our original work was a good height. Papa suggested a few minor adjustments. When it was time to resume, only me and the orange eater remained.  

A couple hours of blood, sweat and sawdust later, our roosts, nesting boxes, and trim work are all installed and relatively level. 

Meh, I'd give myself about a 7.