Chicken update and nest box contest

As my "baby chicks" are growing up faster each day, I find the winter projects I had planned for their coop to be piling up all around me. We had some major weasel attacks which brought my original 26 down to only 9 (at the rate of about 1-2 deaths a night for the last few weeks), but I'm determined to save these survivors and let them see the beauty of spring.

So the coop side of the barn is being sealed up with chicken wire, but in the meantime, I had to put the 9 survivors in rabbit cages. They seem to be ok with it for now, but it's a temporary solution. I want them to get back out there and eat bugs and weeds before they start laying eggs in about 2 months.

Speaking of which, I saw this great contest today for a chance to win free nest boxes. They're made by the husband of Georgia Farm Woman, who writes a wonderful blog that I follow religiously (and is linked on my right sidebar there). I'm entering myself in that contest because I can't see a better way to reward my hens than with some shiny new nest boxes.

Wish me luck!