We have an old tracking wagon that we weren’t using for anything, so I decided that it would make a good portable chicken house.  We finally got it finished, and yesterday Joel’s brother, Marc,

backed it out of the shop and moved it down by the barn.  Of course Hudson and Denton made the trip locked inside.

The thing resembles a covered wagon, and is complete with a roost, nests and a removable ramp.

The chickens were a bit curious, but had no clue that, come dark, they would be swept off their familiar roost and locked in that ‘chick wagon’.

At the appropriate time, the twins and I went down to the barn with a flashlight for the surprise move. I ended up manning the gate on the wagon while the boys caught and transported the chickens.  They had named the bloomin’ things and for the life of me I don’t know how they tell them apart. They would go in with the light and say, “There’s Pecky. That’s Fat Cheeks. Hey there’s Jedi.” ……And on and on. Finally I said, “It doesn’t matter who’s who.  Just catch ’em and come on.”

After the wagon was loaded, we moved it to a fenced in area, which is now their new neighborhood.  Of course we got stuck, but Joel pushed us out with the tractor.

Then, we left them to settle in.  This morning I let them out and

it was business as usual. They even layed eggs in the new nest.  

As it was nearing sundown, things seemed to be shaping up pretty well.

One at time, the chickens began heading to bed in their new quarters.  

But, when I went out after dark, ten chickens and Fasma, the turkey, (I didn’t know that was her name til today) were camped out by the water trough next to the fence.  So…I scooped them up and carried them to the wagon.  It took six trips, but I got ‘er done.  And…I am just hoping beyond all hope, that this doesn’t become my new nightly routine.