Hoop Coop

What I love about the farm is that the entire family can work on a project together (or they can work for 10 minutes together until part get bored and go back to video games).  If you've never used a cordless drill or hammered or used a saw before-- it looks like a lot of fun and is a lot of fun.  Mike patiently helped each of the kids get their turn to "help" with the hoop coop.  I think the kids need some lessons with some scrap wood because they really did get all excited about hammering and drilling.  Then they can figure out how to build a box garden frame or even a kids play house.....

The 2 sets of mesh wires are joined using simple plastic ties.

You then use staples to attach the wire screening to the 2x4's.  The kids LOVE to hammer.

Hoop coop in process.  Still needs nest boxes and more netting on the 2 open sides.  How this works is that you put this in the field and the birds can stay underneath this hoop coop.  Every day, you pick up one end and just drag it to a new section of grass.  The chickens just move along as you move the hoop coop.  The beauty of the system is that it is light and the chickens then pick at the grass, each the bugs, and compost the grass.  You can also send then through the old garden area and they will dig up the rest of the bad bugs that you want out of the garden for next year and they also till up the ground a bit.

This is good for spring-fall.  Mike still needs to build a more solid structure for the overwintering.  Or find a big hoop-house/greenhouse (which I am hoping is the choice!).

Ducks arrive in the next 2-3 days and chickens arrive in 2-3 weeks.