Infrastructure -- Grow Out Pen Project Continues

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,

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.

Things were going well and moving along nicely.

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.

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.