Building the Pasture Pen – July 3, 2019 @goldenoakfarm

On July 2nd my husband mowed a section of the middle pasture so we could put up the pasture pen on the 3rd.

He also brought up all the equipment for setting it up, as I planned to start at 5:30AM while it was cool.

Pam uncoiling a rope for the circus tent (retaining pole is white, in grass, on left)

The hardest part is putting the circus tent together. Each side has 13 or 15 ropes. They must be tied to the retaining pole, from the central ring.

Pam stretching out one of the circus tent ropes to tie to the retaining pole

This took me 2 hours to do. Then we put 3 of the chicken wire sides up and moved the coop inside and put the 4th up. We tied the corners shut and guy wired the centers. Then we pulled the circus tent into place.

Pam adjusting the circus tent for tautness and correct spacing

Finally we let the little birds out. As usual, it was the bold Barred Rocks who came out first.

After weeks of being told “git back”, they were hesitant to go past the door.

The Australorps, being much less bold, are waiting on the door frame to be told “git back”….

They finally venture out….

I go outside and start fixing the circus tent while my husband puts up the 2 electric fences.

Corners tied and guyed, and the electric netting set up 6’ away.

He’s working on the 2nd fence, 3 wires on posts to keep the fox out.

It’s gotten really hot, even though it is only 9:30 AM and the chicks stay in whatever shade they can find.

Pasture pen from the back door

Pasture pen in the evening with the shade, everyone out checking it out

It took us about 4½ hours to build the pen and tent and put the 2 new fences up. When we move it in a week, it will probably take 2 hours to do. Without the 2 new fences, it used to take 1 hour to move. But at least we know the fences work and the rats and foxes are deterred, so far….

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