Flockdown started yesterday.
The frame has been up for ages, DH did it well in advance. We've had some stuff going on over the last few days, so we didnt get the netting up until yesterday afternoon. The girls were confined to barracks until it was done.
y were happy to be let out for a short time yesterday afternoon, eating the grass as if they hadn't seen any for weeks.
Back to normal today, and the girls have confined themselves to barracks because of the rain,
Our girls are lucky that they have quite a large outside area that we have been able to net for them. However, we won't be able to move the netting around, so it will get very dull (and worn) over the coming months.
A month or so ago, we closed off their access to the side run. It used to be home to our bush fruit, but during the first Flockdown some years ago, we rigged the fruit cage so the girls had some protected outside access. We ended up putting a proper run on the area when the second Flockdown was announced, and it's been an extension to the Run ever since. It's useful because we can use it as a separate area if we need to segregate anyone.
FOr the 3rd FLockdown we extended it, and put down loads of woodchip. We also permanently connected it to the main run, and installed an auto opening door between the two.
Now, there are no bushes left, apart from a determined, and huge, Jostaberry. I've kept this all closed off for now, Partly to give it a rest, and partly so we can let them in to it occasionally during the next few months to try and alleviate potential lockdown boredom.
The Pampas, which has nothing to do with the current set up (and is usually part of their free ranging area) is looking splendid. DH hacked it back again earlier in the year, and it has flourished beautifully. I'm sure it will appreciate a break from chicken beaks and feet. They create huge craters round the edge as they love snuggling in it, and dustbathing around it. They erode the grass around it, the circle of earth/mud gets bigger and bigger. For the Girls, it's a favourite spot to congregate and doze. It provides shade in the summer, and is an umbrella when it's raining.
It's good that it can have a rest.
