Phase 3 and 4 of our Backyard Farm project

Phase 3
Did some more work on the duck enclosure.  Got the second garden up as well as the new fence.  Kris started the new chicken coop.  I worked on getting the enclosure for the chicken coop started.

 

 

 

 

Phase 4
Chicken coop is constructed!  We have one or two more windows to put up and to paint it.  The chicken enclosure only needs a gate to finish it up.  The two and a half tons of wood chips filled in the fenced area where some trees and a walkway will be going.

 

 

 

 

 

Turning our "yard" into a Farm

So this took place in 4 phases each a full day long over the course of the past 2 weeks.

Phase 1
Getting the pond leveled.  Mulch around the new fire pit.  Planted some privacy trees.

 

  

The plants inside are growing and NEED to be planted outside!!!!  I have had to re-pot them twice and am currently out of space in my house near any window.

Phase 2
Above ground duck pond went up.  Garden fence with gate got completed.  Finished getting the duck enclosure done enough to move the ducklings outside. The deck for the duck pond was pretty hard to do.

 

 

 

 

 

Phase 3

Chicken and Duck Brooder Area

It was hard to find information on duckling or chick brooder areas.  We saw designs that were made from wood, plastics, cardboard, and expensive ones you could buy online.  Considering our ducklings and chickens were only going to need indoor housing for a few weeks we did not really want to construct something.  Both started out in large blue Rubbermaid containers, it only took 2-3 weeks for them to outgrow these.  The cardboard would be inexpensive and easy but as soon as it gets wet the game's over.  You couldn't clean the cardboard and we needed something we could clean to keep our house smelling fresh.

Here's a video of our enclosure:

Here's a photo of the Rubbermaid enclosure we made for the chickens

More photos and information to follow shortly!