A DIY team uses a John Deere 4044R to build a chicken coop after ten years of planning, clearing buried concrete, digging post holes with a power auger, and assembling the run. They introduce fluffy New Zealand chickens to their new home.
Chapters
We've been wanting chickens for so long. I reckon it's been about 10 years, and finally it's happening. We are going to use the John Deere equipment and move a whole heap of concrete out of a paddock. Then we're going to move in a new chicken coop and a run and get our chickens, and the kids are so excited. Woo! So excited to look after the chickens. Okay, let's get going. What is that? Is that you, Horn? Welcome back! It's been so long. I haven't seen you in ages.
You been keeping busy?
She been looking after you?
Let me have a look at you. Oh, Phaedra, how long have you been standing there?
Uh, long enough. So what brings you back?
Well, your to-do list. How's it going?
It's good. I'm getting through it.
Show us what you got done.
We did the driveway.
And it looks great.
The flower meadow. Irrigation.
Oh, where is it?
It's under the ground.
That's perfect.
So this is the oval and this is the chicken yard.
Fadja, that's a stretch.
It is a bit of a stretch, but this is actually the project we're going to work on today.
Okay.
And since you're here, Vaughan, would you like to help?
Do I get to drive the tractor?
Yes.
Okay, let's go.
So for today's job, we're going to move these piles of soil, pop up these concrete sleepers, stack them in a pile, and then get the tractor in and smooth everything over. Then it's on to the auger. We're going to dig the holes for the posts for the chicken coop and then bring the chicken coop and the run in. And the highlight of the whole project is to bring in the chickens.
Where do you want that other pile of like the beams with the concrete bases on them?
Do you reckon we just do another pile next to it and I will sort that out? I feel like this was a much bigger job than we thought.
These things are in. Oh, they are in. You can see like where it's pulled out. You can see how deep that is.
It's like a bag of concrete on each one or something. Oh my gosh, what were we thinking? We don't do a lot of thinking. We had an idea. Let's just do it.
All right, let's keep doing it. My thoughts are concrete is a heavy, stupid garden material. Okay, it looks a mess, but the hard part's done.
It was a much bigger job than we thought that was. Mm-hmm.
I've never seen so much subterranean concrete.
I promise I did not know that was under there. I had no idea we were walking into this mess.
There was as much underground as there was above ground. So I just feel like we cleared the Hoover Dam or something.
Which explains how this looks right now.
This land needs a saging. We need a blessing on this place. Set it free.
That's tomorrow's job.
Yeah.
We're done for today. Peace!
Good morning.
Good morning.
Well, I was talking to the mess, but also good morning to you.
It's a big mess.
It is a big mess. So what's next? Leveling? Kind of flattening it out a bit?
Yeah, we've got to clean this mess up. Yep.
And then dig some holes, get the chicken coop in, and new chickens.
Exciting.
No time like the present.
Yes, let's get into it. Let's get to it.
I reckon if you finish this pile and then I'll have a red-hot go on these long ones. Right, we're almost finished. We're just flattening out the garden beds, then we're going to do some tilling before we move the chicken coop.
Hey, move on. Yo! Do you want to hop on?
I thought you'd never ask.
You must be hungry. Would you like to try some very authentic Australian— Oh wow. All authentic Australian certified snacks.
Anzac biscuits, lamingtons, and mini pavlovas. All things stolen from my homeland.
Mmm.
I'm full of genuine New Zealand food. It's time to get back to work.
Woohoo! Look at that!
And the chicken shed is tall enough for me.
We did it!
It's done! Look, I mean, it's a chicken house. It needs one more thing for us.
We've got to go get the chickens. Let's go get the chickens.
So I put these guys in here.
They're very fluffy. They are. They're so cute. You want to go in there? Yeah, I want to go in there. Let's go have a look. Can I pick one up? Yeah. Yes. Can I have a big one up? Go in. Hello, chickens. What's that? Go and have a look. Look at it. Kiwi. That's all the way from New Zealand.
It's a New Zealand chicken. A budgie.
And cock. I did it! Woohoo, we did it!
We have done it!
Thank you so much for your help.
Awesome, I know you've been waiting for a chicken coop for a while.
I have been waiting for over 10 years for this.
Yeah, awesome.
And I could not have done it without your help and without the John Deere equipment. So thank you so much.
Not a problem. I look forward to coming back next time and seeing the to-do list even smaller.
No, it won't be.
Because there'll be more things added to the bottom.
Yeah, feel free to come back and help with something else.
Yeah, no concrete next time though. No concrete. All right, I'll see you later.
Actually, Vaughan, wait!
What?
I've got something for you. Some Australian prints to take back to the girls. Hey, thank you!
