Dirt Under My Nails

Tessie and our new chicks.

Three months ago Tessie, Christian and I picked out four baby chicks from a local feed store.  We were very excited, although a bit unprepared.  We brought them home and set up a little temporary home for them on the dining room table in a box.  I should mention about now that my husband was, so far, unaware of this new addition to the family and as the hour of his arrival drew closer I found myself getting a little worried that I made this decision a bit hastily.  Nick and I are always on the same page.  We make sure that the other is aware of and okay with any big decision we make.  Poultry in our dining room was a pretty big decision. 

Luckily Nick handled the surprise gracefully.  “Don’t worry honey, I will take care of everything.  You won’t have to do anything but eat eggs!” I promised him.  I had every
intention of keeping my promise and I think Nick knew that too, but I tend to bite off more than I can chew.  So
inevitably my wonderful husband helped me build their coop and finished it for me for Mother’s Day.  But still my poor chickens lived inside the house in a cardboard box for two months.  I finally started putting them in the coop at night but they spent their days in a small portable pen because we had still not built them a run.  Today I decided to take care of it myself.

Laying out the frame.

I was very fortunate that my neighbors had a ton of scrap wood and chicken wire that they let me pick through, so my supplies were mostly taken care of.  The kids were in school for a full day today, so apart from a dentist appointment in the middle of the day, I would have the whole day to build the run.  Last night I told Nick I would have the run done when he got home and he gave me an “okay honey” smile. 

  I worked all morning making cuts with our chop-saw and digging the trench to bury the wire.  I showered, went to my dentist appointment, and then got back to my project.  As I
started back to work the skies darkened and thunder rumbled.  Drops started falling and I kept at it.  It rained for nearly an hour but eventually the skies cleared and covered in dirt and sweat I raised the last side of the run. 


I raced to pick up the kids, later than I ever have before, and raced back home to cook dinner.  When Nick got home I showed off my work, proud as can be.  I could tell he was surprised with what I had done all on my own.  I still have to put the top on and finish tacking down some wire tomorrow, but I feel like I have a huge accomplishment under my belt.

Half-way there.

Constructing a chicken run might not seem like the greatest of feats.  It is only twelve by four feet, but it represents more to me.  When I put my chickens in their run this evening I stood and watched them for a long time.  My muscles ached and I had dirt under my nails, in my hair, everywhere.  Watching the hens scratching in the dirt and exploring their new environment I was truly content.  Hard work is so worthwhile, and to see the finished product is so rewarding.  Today my moment of beauty was standing there, aching and exhausted, surveying my work.  I’m still smiling.

My hens in their new run.