Preparing for Winter

  

Scarlett



Peggy



 As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my chickens (Peggy), was born blind in one eye. I believe that as a result of this disability she has been subjected to a lot of bullying from the other girls.  The only girl that doesn't pick on her is Scarlett,  a black Australorp, who I got when they were both baby chicks just 3 days old. I call them sisters, even tho technically they're not biological sisters.   So I had these girls in temporary housing until they could be integrated with the rest of the flock, but because of the situation that has frequently turned nasty at times, it looks like these gals will have a bachelorette pad all to themselves.  Peggy's just too docile, submissive, and therefore, a target, to have it any other way.  Scarlett can hold her own, but I don't want Peggy to be all by herself at night.  Just seems too lonely.



I went to Craig's List and found a nice solid dog house that I bought from a lady in Virginia whose small dog was far too spoiled to live outside.  It was in perfect condition, being that it was never used and had been sitting in her garage for a little over a year collecting cobwebs. Craig's List is just the greatest, isn't it? I've found some fantastic bargains there. I also found practically brand new kennel fencing on Craig's List, too,  for the girls to stay in while hubby and I are at work, or out and about and not able to supervise the goings on between the "mean girls" and little blind Peggy.  Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I just don't want to take any chances.



Let's go before Dad asks for help!



That  afternoon my husband put together the fencing.  It was really easy to assemble and took him less than an hour to complete.  As you can see, our busybodies/dogs can never be too far away from the action.  Of course, ask for their help with anything and they can't be bothered.  Always micromanaging.      



He then began to construct a door for their new home with a screen window built in for ventilation, which hinges and unhinges when needed.  I figure I can still use the screen door option until the end of October around here and after that shut the screen so they are not exposed to the cold air, wind, sleety rain and snow when winter arrives. Of course, the red door was my idea.

I'm really happy with the way everything turned out. They've adapted very well to their new living quarters and area.  The first night they seemed a little freaked out by the change of scenery, but once it got dark they gave up the nervous pacing back and forth in the run and just went right into their house for the night.  The next day I let them out of the run to range in the whole backyard with all the other girls when I was home, periodically checking on them and then chilling on the chaise lounge in the yard while reading my book. Once twilight started to creep in they wandered back to their new home as if they'd been there forever!

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