Sarah, I enjoy reading about your escapades with your creatures.  My chicks and ducks are enclosed in about a 2000 sq.ft. of chicken wire and even across the top.  they are free to go where they want, when the want, except the part that is wired off for garden.  Often I see them almost drooling as they are looking into my garden.  I try to clean the 12 chicken nests almost every day.  My brother (who lives with me) built a chicken mansion.  The next are high, large and easy to clean.  Then I add water to the duck pond. Then go water my garden.   have to get out very early to water the garden otherwise it get much to hot.  I think I have over thirty chickens, about 16 are newbies, born this Spring and 11 ducks.  They won't line up for a count but I think that is what is out there.                          Connie Pratt