Chicken Coops for Sale in Chester, Illinois
Chicken Coops for Sale in Chester, Illinois
Snake in the Chicken Coop!
Yesterday morning was, shall we say, eventful, around here.
Usually I while the children run around doing chores like feeding bucks, chickens, etc.Well, I was almost finished milking when Lucas came and said, in a most serious voice “Mom, I have some news.”
He had gone to feed our chicks, who had just outgrown their brooder box, and been placed in the only 2 days before, when he spotted a snake inside with a suspicious lump in its belly. It had already eaten a chick.
You may not know this about me, but I don’t do snakes. At all. Like when my kids go to the zoo, they have to hope we meet friends there, because mommy is doing good to wait calmly outside the reptile house while other sweet mommies take them in. Like I don’t go into pet stores because I think the birds are squawking to warn me that the snakes are out. Like I dashed out the side door at Lucas’ school field trip because the exit they were leading us out was between 2 snake tanks. Who does that? Shame on you Huntsville Botanical Gardens! How about warning a girl?
Anywho, I don’t do snakes.
I also cannot just let one roam around our property eating my animals, eating my children, eating me, etc, now can I? I’m the adult in charge during the day, so it was my job to handle it. Lucas had opened the door to let the chicks out, and I went to the house to prepare for battle. First, I needed my . *affiliate* I feel much safer in my muck boots.
| Aren’t they pretty? |
Next I grabbed not one, not two, but THREE guns and I headed to the pasture. I tried to walk close to the coop, but my phobia prevented me getting as close as might have been prudent, so instead, I went to my garden. I feel safe there. (Don’t worry, the coop was near the garden, at least.) I set my excess guns down on the beehive. Bees don’t scare me, by the way. And I set to the business at hand.
| This shot was taken last month, before anything was growing, but the coop is still in the same spot! |
Warn neighbor who is standing outside. Check.
Yell at goat who is eating the chicken feed and blocking the shot. Check.
Yell at turkey who keeps sticking its head in the shot. Check.
Throw things at goat who won’t go away. Check, check, check, and check.
Ready, aim, fire. 5 rounds from my rifle. At least 4 were hits. Wait.
The dang things starts trying to slither off! Can I get a big southern girl “OH, HELL NO!”?
9 shots from Grandaddy’s pistol. (It’s a good thing the gun holds 9 shots because it isn’t accurate at all!)
One more shot from my usual sidearm, and I finally call it dead. I would have emptied that gun too, but it is a higher caliber and I didn’t want to accidentally put any holes in my coop! See, I can think under pressure. Kind of.
Anyway, it was a L O N G day of waiting for Eric to get home from work. I did all sorts of things that did not include mowing the pasture, which had been my goal for the day. Finally Eric came home. He pronounced the snake dead. He also said that the first shots I fired from the rifle had been adequate.
Whatever dude. This crazy stuff never happens when you are home.
Anyway, he disposed of the snake, but not before he gave a science lesson to the kids as they cut it open to see which chick had been eaten. *shudder*
I sure am glad that’s over. I sure would appreciate a calm, relaxing day on the farm today. Yeah right.
On the bright side, Eric has promised me a for snake dispatching, and I’m holding him to it. I thought about using his, but it probably would have knocked me over shooting it, and then the snake would have eaten me.
Happy Weekend Everyone!
P.S. No, I will not be posting pictures of it.
P.P.S. Don’t mess with my animals.
Did you enjoy this story? Believe it or not, crazy stuff like this happens around here all. the. time. Read all about it from the cow’s point of view with Beulah’s moooooooooosletter!
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Chicken Coop Pictures in Chester, Illinois
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Chester Illinois" into any one of the numerous search engines and a wealth of information will pop up. This information will provide links to other websites that will be informative and will provide the right direction for finding Chester Illinois chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Chester, Illinois With the big rise in poultry keeping there has been an equally big surge in the array of chicken paraphernalia for sale. Fowl real estate is a situation in factor. It's also a classic instance of the excellent old bandwagon being got on as numerous prospective chicken housing experts market a selection of cottage declaring to be the perfect option to your chicken real estate needs. Often the cost looks attractive, the house looks attractive, heck even the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look attractive. Undoubtedly they recognize a quality chicken house when they see one? There are numerous economical and also awful cages flooding the marketplace. I recognize this as I've checked a variety of them in the field, and seen a ewe run directly via one when the feed bucket appeared. The outcome was only a pricey pile of fire wood and a small flock of bemused and also now homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Designs in Chester, Illinois
More often than not these mass produced versions are created of fast grown up lumber - come the very first drop of rain they swell, leaving you either defending a door that will not shut, or tearing the door furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking citizens. The first cozy day indicates the hardwood dries and cracks, the really felt roofing system bubbles and also boils, as well as come nightfall the chickens choose not to go in. This is not because of their dissatisfaction at the decline of their once eye-catching building yet because the hovel is currently a place for, and most likely abounding, the chicken caretaker's nemesis, red mite. Add the fact that it stated on the blurb that it would certainly suit 4 huge hens when that stocking thickness was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also just what are you left with? A couple of hinges and also some kindling. A decent coop for thee to four birds need to cost you in the region of ₤ 300 though this could depend upon whether you choose for a cost-free standing house or one with a run connected. Thinking you are ranging your birds in a big area and also the pop hole door is big enough for the type you maintain, then the major requirements of housing come down to three factors which will define the variety of birds your home will hold; perches, nest boxes as well as air flow. The majority of breeds of chicken will perch when they go to roost at night, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off sides so the foot sits conveniently on it. The perch needs to be above the nest box entry as chickens will likewise naturally try to find the highest point to perch. A perch lower than that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is by the way when they generate the most poo) causing dirtied eggs the following day. They should not nevertheless be so high off the flooring of your house that leg injuries could possibly occur when the bird comes down in the early morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in little breeds this is undoubtedly much less), plus if more than one perch is mounted in the house they should be greater than 30cm apart. They will certainly hunker up with their neighbors but are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably your house ought to have a the very least one nest box for each 3 birds and these must be off the ground and also in the darkest location of your home. Your home should have ample ventilation: without it after that condensation will certainly develop every evening, even in the chilliest of climate. Be aware, ventilation works on the concept of warm air leaving with a high space drawing cooler air in from a lower space - it's not a set of holes on contrary walls of the house and also at the same degree, this is exactly what's called a draft. If you have a house with a run affixed then the factors above are still real, however you ought to also take into consideration the run size. The EU maximum legal equipping density for a free range bird is (and let's face it, among the motivations for keeping some chickens at home is perhaps improved or much better well-being) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird per 4m squared. Take a close take a look at several of the bargain homes - it could well be your house has the best perches, appropriate air flow as well as ample nest boxes for a reasonable number of birds, yet will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized item of ground to invest the day on? Therefore as the stating goes, "you get what you spend for". You might think you've got hold of a deal, but you as well as your group might rue the day you did. Purchase the right house and it will last for a few decades, if not longer provided the proper treatment. In the long run your chicken as well as your chicken keeping experience will be a lot the better for it.plans plans
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