Hurrah! Our chicken pen is finally finished and we are off to pick up 10 3 month old buff orpingtons tomorrow. We didn't want to start with chicks because of our little rat terrier.
Here is the pen. It is an L around the enclosed garden, hopefully for insect control. The house has a tin roof, and so does the sheltered area. All enclosed with wire, top and sides. Also buried 12 inches around the base to discourage diggers, such as coyotes.
We've never had as many as 10 hens before, so we will have to figure out the logistics of feed and water. You can see the tires of the garden, which is next to the chicken pen.
www.cassphoto.com/chickenpen.jpg
Then I must share the photos of two of our espalliered fruit trees in the enclosed garden next to the chicken pen. This is only their second summer from bare root, so we are thrilled they are doing so well. They are already as tall as I will allow, and it is possible that their lateral growth will be complete by fall. Then I will just have the constant nipping of growth to keep them shaped.
I have to work on them about every 3 days at this point, shaping and tying. They did not bloom this year, and it could be as much as 2 more years before they bear. But we have a very good start at this point. The apples are on the north "wall" of the wire enclosure and the peach is on the south side.
This is one of the apples; there are 2, necessary for pollination.
www.cassphoto.com/apple12.jpg
And this is the peach:
www.cassphoto.com/peach.jpg
After a major ice storm their first winter and the horrible drought last year, we are very pleased with them so far. My enclosed garden is raised beds in tractor tires. All on timed drip. I just love going in and working there!
And now I will have the chickens to enjoy.
It will be fun to see what the horses think. Dapper Dan has seen hens before but they will be new to Tipsey.
Here is the pen. It is an L around the enclosed garden, hopefully for insect control. The house has a tin roof, and so does the sheltered area. All enclosed with wire, top and sides. Also buried 12 inches around the base to discourage diggers, such as coyotes.
We've never had as many as 10 hens before, so we will have to figure out the logistics of feed and water. You can see the tires of the garden, which is next to the chicken pen.
www.cassphoto.com/chickenpen.jpg
Then I must share the photos of two of our espalliered fruit trees in the enclosed garden next to the chicken pen. This is only their second summer from bare root, so we are thrilled they are doing so well. They are already as tall as I will allow, and it is possible that their lateral growth will be complete by fall. Then I will just have the constant nipping of growth to keep them shaped.
I have to work on them about every 3 days at this point, shaping and tying. They did not bloom this year, and it could be as much as 2 more years before they bear. But we have a very good start at this point. The apples are on the north "wall" of the wire enclosure and the peach is on the south side.
This is one of the apples; there are 2, necessary for pollination.
www.cassphoto.com/apple12.jpg
And this is the peach:
www.cassphoto.com/peach.jpg
After a major ice storm their first winter and the horrible drought last year, we are very pleased with them so far. My enclosed garden is raised beds in tractor tires. All on timed drip. I just love going in and working there!
And now I will have the chickens to enjoy.
It will be fun to see what the horses think. Dapper Dan has seen hens before but they will be new to Tipsey.