While putting together my recent article on chook tunnels, it caused me to think about whether I could include them in the set up for the retirement village, even though things had not been designed that way originally. Most of the ideas I came up with would require considerable engineering to implement, so I had not really done anything to date.
I was disappointed that I had not left enough space between the fence and the back of the compost bays (it is only about 11cm to 12cm) for chooks to pass. So, one idea involved the building of a chook ramp up one side of the compost bays, a chook walkway along the rear of the top of said bays, then another ramp on the other end to allow chooks to walk down the other side to access vegetation and soil for dust bathing on the other side.
The original design
Then I came up with the idea of using some moveable fencing panels that I have floating around to provide a thoroughfare for chooks from the front door of the shed, along the front and around the western side of the shed where there was a protected space between the western wall of the shed and eastern side of the compost bins. The area has a lush growth of grass and chook friendly weeds so I thought that would allow them to live their best chookie lives!
I put it together so that they could come out the front door and then move easily around to the side of the shed. Initially it was only our newest arrival from my daughter Angie’s place (man, that is one bossy chook!) which made her way slowly out of the door and then through to the main area. The other chooks just watched her through the perforated shed panels. I attempted (unsuccessfully) to encourage the other chooks to join her so I just placed some chickweed outside the door and withdrew to see what would happen. Eventually the other two followed her and all three seemed to be having a fun time and also did not seem to show any interest in escaping. While the old Australorp seemed to resolutely remained in the retirement village, I think that she has come the conclusion she is too old for ‘adventures’.
she eventually joined them and now they all hang out together outside
The three ISA browns seemed happy enough to peck and dig around, slip back into the shed for some water or pellets, then wander back out and for more pecking and digging.
I just let them do their thing, checking on them every so often to make sure all was well, until while doing a head check a few hours later I came up a head short! Angie’s’ chook was nowhere to be seen, so I quickly scouted everywhere in the back yard and came up chookless. I headed towards the greenhouse and was just in time to note said chook poking her nose out from behind the compost bays on the other side from where the shed is. It appears that I had left enough space between the shed and the compost bays to allow an adventurous chook or two to sneak through!
It seems chooks can sneak through behind the compost bays!
I am continuing to keep and intermittent eye on them and it will be interesting to see if Angie’s chook (Dora the Explorer) will go back behind the compost bays when it is time to lock up for the night, or if I will have to relocate her manually. Nope! Dora came back by herself within an hour or so!
Who said chooks couldn't use the area behind the compost bays as a highway?
After a couple of days all of the chooks, including the Australorp were happy to come out and spend time in the area outside the retirement village. Dora proved to be much more cheeky than I thought and found several loopholes in the defences and got free to raise havoc. She was able to fly up onto the side of the compost bins, so I had to install some timber on the side of the shed, and then placed a couple of new wire panels on top, to completely enclose that area which put a crimp on her escape plans. Over time I have discovered all of her exit areas and built them up to prevent escape.
New design
and the other end
The chooks have now been making use of their new freedom for almost two months, and are loving it. Of course, the lush green areas have been picked over pretty well. All of the chooks now seem to like spending time at the rear of the compost bays just hiding out and gossiping. They all like going to the area near the greenhouse too, which has also become denuded of vegetation as well.
One thing that has come up is that I can toss grass and weeds into the area in front of the retirement village for the chooks to dig through without having to worry about seeds or runners being transferred to the veggie patches. The chooks are happy to peck them over and eat any bits that take their fancy.
I go out and shut the door at night once the chooks have gone to bed and then let them out again after I have collected the eggs in the morning.
It has been pretty dry here with very little rain since I put the chook tunnels together, so there is little growing in the outside areas at the moment. Hopefully we will get some rain soon and maybe some new growth for the chooks to slaughter.
