Autumn settles in around us

Last night, I smelled Autumn blowing in and around us. The Alders are already losing their yellowed leaves and fircones litter the ground, much to the delight of the chickens who eat the seeds from them. This morning began with rain, to which I am most grateful. We've been on a burn ban for what seems like months.

I really need to get the brush pile out back bonfired, the Ameraucanas are using it for laying eggs inside little caves they tunnel out. They wait in line for the cave to be available. As cute as that sounds, it makes things very difficult to climb up over and on the brush pile to gather the eggs, hoping you don't get skewed (you will) in the process.

The boys have a plan to build a short pen next to the shed coop this weekend. Essentially, it will be a moveable chicken tractor with the west side of the shed coop as it's default location. We're building it out of pallets, which we have plenty of and which are plentiful here. We'll be able to use it for ducklings and chicks, exercise area for broody hens and quarantine (though the West Wing of Bunhalla frankly makes more sense for that).

Before we get too involved in building the pen, I need to get the shed coop painted. Anyone willing to volunteer?