The last two months have been some of the most transformational of my life. After being furloughed, tomorrow I return to work at a new position as a healthcare provider caring for people at relative high risk for COVID-19. Today, I was able to attend Mass for the first time in 8 weeks. I will never forget the moment of the elevation of the Holy Eucharist. Attendees kneeling on the grass, families separated like islands in an atoll. Instead of the silence inside the church, cars zipping by, passengers rubbernecking surprised to see such a large gathering. Ecce Agnus Dei. Even if the relaxation of state mandates doesn't last, it was worth it.
Last day preparation
To make life easier on my wife, I built a chicken run so that I can let the flock out in the morning and be confident we won't suffer any more depredation. Our new coop has been performing excellently so I wanted to make an accompanying run that was equally secure.
Steps for the new chicken run
- I primed and painted two 8' 4"x4" pressure treated boards
- I cut each board in half so I had four 4' posts. I dug each post 1' foot in the ground and poured quick drying cement around the footing.
- I made the length of the run 10'. I had welded wire fencing in this size that I used to trellis tomatoes and pole beans last year. The width is 4', which is the width of the run.
- I also ran 2"x4" pressure treated boards on the upper edge of the run. I considered doing this for the lower edge but didn't have enough wood. Instead, I dug the fence into the ground.
- I used the lawn tractor to pull the fence taut and tacked it on with fence staples, scratched myself about 24 times, and realized I couldn't open the pop door with the height of the top beam, so I had to chisel a 1/2" off the top door to get it too open. I was not called to be a carpenter.
completed coop and run, DIY compost tumblers on left
Protecting our food investment
Combined with my previous work, I feel confident that this five-sided run will deter the daytime predators of our environment (foxes, coons, and raptors). The run itself has no door. Like the coop, it only opens from the roof. At dusk, the flock will be put back in the coop and the pop door padlocked.
hinged roof in coop
Thank you to all those who read by COVID-19 isolation diary. This entry ends the series, but I will continue to write on these topics
COVID-19 Diary on the homestead
Day 1:on the homestead
Day 2: food security
Day 3: potatoes and resilience
Day 4: sweet potato slips
Day 6: opportunity and risk
Day 7: sustainable food
Day 9: profitable food production
Day 15: small engine repair and goodbyes
Day 21: bullheads and fish oil
Day 33: new brooder, furlough, providence
Day 35: depredation management
Day 43: food bank, potting up, pullets
Day 47: sourdough