small border, big world

Corbie nodded acceptingly. If the chickens weren't going to be in pack boundaries where they were protected, free ranging wouldn't be a very good option. She wondered why Aryn had decided to keep them out here, rather than in pack lands, but she didn't ask. It would be rude to pry though it was a bit concerning. Was there something bad about the pack that they wouldn't be safe there? "You'll have to gather twice as much so you have winter feed for them as well, but it's doable. You can do a fence around the shelter to protect them while they're out, with a net over it so that hawks can't get them so they get some of the benefits of being out during the day."

Aryn's embarrassment was unfounded, as far as Corbie was concerned. "Everyone starts somewhere. Once you learn how to build one shelter, you'll be able to apply it to all sorts of things. Wattle-and-daube is for a pretty permanent shelter, which is what you're going to want way out here I expect. It's a base of poles set upright into the ground like a fence, and you can even build your fence into the side of the wall at the same time. You take thinner saplings and branches and weave them through the poles, alternating them, all down the wall and the fence if you want. Then you take a mix of clay and chopped dry grass and press it into the wall, squishing it in there until it's completely covered and kind of smooth it down. The fence doesn't need that though, better to leave it open so they get fresh air and bugs can get through for them to eat."

Looking over the materials Aryn had, Corbie reconsidered. "Actually, the fence can be woven more loosely if we use thorny branches, like brambles or hawthorn, instead of the saplings. Not many predators want to get hawthorn spikes to the mouth or paws so they aren't going to try to push through that."