Getting closer to eggs...

I don't think that any of us realized how much time it would take to get all of the chicken coop together (or rather, how much lack of time we'd have at the end of the summer.) Needless to say, the chicks have not stopped growing just because we might not be ready. The fencing is turned out to be a tricky chore. The wire mesh does not stretch well (see the 1st picture) but will have to do. It is buried a few inches under ground to keep varmints from digging their way in. Since the top isn't on yet, we've let the chicks out for a short time while we are out there... and they appear to love it. (Mmm... fresh bug cuisine!) As you can see from the photo, they aren't much of chicks any more. More like teenager hens... with attitudes! The video is from a little more than a week ago... when they were still, well, chicken chickens and considerably smaller. (Note the loud sound made them jump like an earthquake.) Today, we had to literally act like a goal keeper to keep them from breaking out while we gave them fresh water and food. As soon as the fence is done, we'll have to work on nesting boxes. It won't be long before they start to lay eggs.