Chicks Move to Chicken Tractor

Last week, I wrote an entry about the "chicken tractor" that Tom was building.  I think that is a funny name for the contraption, but that is what these movable pen/coop combinations are called.  Whatever we end up calling it, it is finished and we have moved the chicks from their pen in the garage into it.  

The first step was to move the contraption to a suitable location.  Tom used the Gator to move it.  

He attached a chain to each side of the frame and hooked the chain to the Gator.

Next, we used our dog crate to hold the chicks and hauled them to their new home again using the Gator. (How did we ever do without this vehicle before we got it last fall?)

The chicks weren't very happy with being caught and stuffed in the crate, but they were a little reluctant to come out once we opened the door.

Before long, though, they ventured out to explore their new home.  First one came out and then more of them followed.

It didn't take them long to find their food . . . 

and water.

They are in a nice shady place under a pecan tree near the house.  

We will move them to a fresh patch of grass every couple of weeks throughout the summer.  Our plans are to leave them in the chicken tractor until the weather cools in the fall and they are fully grown.  Then, we'll put them in with our first flock of chickens we bought 2 years ago.  

Sometimes I go out to the pen and just sit and watch them.  I find them fascinating.  I think they find me rather fascinating too because they come over and check me out whenever I go out there.