In 2001, we used a couple of wheel dollies to move the pens each morning.  In 2002, we modified the rear bottom of the pen by wrapping it with a piece of 4" PVC thin-walled drain pipe.  This served as the functional equivalent of the front part of a ski.  Our thanks to Robert Plamondon of Oregon for coming up with this idea.
In 2002, we made our second pen.  This is the nearly-finished product. Finished product (minus removable top covers)
In Operation:
Here are the 2002 pens in operation.  The chicks were put out to pasture at about 3 weeks of age, and were placed there about two days apart, allowing for some overlap.

Here's a 2002 pen shortly after moving in the morning.  Notice how much grass the broilers eat each day!
In 2002, we went from bell waters to ones we made ourselves.  All we used were food-grade 5-gallon plastic pails (with lids) and a 3 gallon shallow pan (somewhat akin to the old oil pans backyard mechanics use).  We drilled a small hole near the top of the bucket, which, when turned upside down, provided an outlet for the water to come out only to that level.


Bel is watering the broilers in our first home-made pastured poultry pen in 2001.
 This pen was moved every morning, to allow the birds to graze on fresh grass.

 

Dave & Bel Lilligren
Home Grown Farm   Sandstone, Minnesota

 

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