Kelley Creek Farms
  • Kelley Creek Farms Boarding Kennel
  • Rates
  • Farm Photos
  • Our dogs
  • About Us / Contact Us

Infrastructure -- Grow Out Pen Project Continues

7/19/2013

 
Most of the summer, we've been busy building grow out pens in the fenced side yard. This yard also serves as geese breeder pens in the late winter and early-mid spring, so having multiple pens tucked into this space to keep different species and age groups separate will come in handy on a multitude of levels.

Like most retrofit operations, existing infrastructure made the whole plan a little trickier overall, but it has come along nicely in spite of the constant coastal jungle rain forest environment which has set up shop over Alabama this summer.

Here's a shot of part of the entry and what will be a fenced yard...
 Here's a shot of part of the entry and what will be a fenced yard after the little Coop (designed from Purina's online plan) was moved out, small hillside dug up and leveled and the coop returned further up under the trees to allow a reasonably "flat" line to run the last section of fencing,
Picture
Here's another shot showing the existing playhouse turned chicken coop which works incredibly well with a few modifications. On the exterior, the swingset "A" frame was cut off with a chainsaw, and the stairs were moved from the back to the front to allow people access from outside the pen. Interior mods included the addition of 2 2x4x8 roosting bars, a nesting box (this needs to be redone!) and hinged plywood "doors" for the large windows to be closed off.


The 2 houses will each have its own fenced pen with a gate between them. The entire area will be netted with aviary flight netting to thwart any hungry hawks wanting a young and tender chick, gosling or duckling dinner.
Picture
Things were going well and moving along nicely.
sebastopols
Somehow the nursery managed to get the sod cut, and the work began again. We chose Zoysia for this project since this part of the yard and the entryway to the yard is situated with the house on one side and tall trees on the other. It gets about 2-3 hours of sun per day, and most grass needs at least 6+ hours to grow well (and survive geese). 


Fast forward to today. This is looking much better! I must admit I sat with Korie on the new grass before the geese came in to do a taste test and um....fertilize it.

Picture
sebastopols
God willing and the creek don't rise, fencing will be stretched and permanently stapled, gate will be completed, and babies will move into the smaller house and pen this weekend.

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Kelley Creek Farms is a small (micro really) hobby farm located in Central Alabama 30 minutes south of Birmingham. We raise heritage and rare waterfowl and poultry along with a myriad of other creatures that give the farm its life. In addition to the birds, we raise heirloom tomatoes and vegetables.

    Each day is different and brings a new set of adventures. Some make you laugh and some make you cry. Some are just plain frustrating. But we persevere knowing that tomorrow's set of problems will be completely different than today. Still figuring all this out ....one day at a time and striving for a more sustainable way of life.

    ALL

    All
    Chickens
    Dexter Cattle
    Dogs
    Dorkings
    Ducks
    English Shepherd
    Entertainment
    Farm Visits
    Garden
    Geese
    Homesteading
    Kitchen
    Local Food
    Potatoes

    Archives

    January 2015
    December 2014
    June 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.