Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[BlueBaby]

Power was out for four hours here, but that of course doesn’t affect me at all. They had to set up a generator to run the bandsaw in the abattoir today, and work with the doors open for light, so Andrew is grumpy because he was cold... tough for him. I was out in it most of the day. Taking care of the feather babies, and fighting with the tarps. The tarps officially won for today, but I’ll make a comeback tomorrow!

Integration seemed to be going ok for my chicken shuffle to get better shelter, but I put everyone up a hour and half early. The chickens were almost getting blown over when outside so I stuffed them and their feeders in for their own good. They probably won’t thank me for it, but that’s just too bad.

Barney and friends are all still in the meat tractor, no progress there, but I did improve their roosts and cover the tractor with pallets, plywood, and various other random items to further secure their tarp and keep the tractor from attempting flight.

It seem's that you have done the best that you could with what you had available. I'll be waiting to hear all about the Kris vs Tarp's story.

 

[Kris5902]

Just did my evening check, wind warning has been extended. Winter poop board inserts are needed, so during high winds I can block any under roost drafts. I pulled the nest boxes to make room for their feeders, well, Chickie Hawk and ladies have decided to floor roost. Everyone else is Up, clustered together and fluffed up for warmth. I will post to the local Facebook forum looking for scrap Vinyl flooring looking at you @aart

 

[BlueBaby]

@Kris5902 I'm still up over here. I had an interesting day today. I released the 2 OGEE's that I had in one of the wire dog crates today. I had already released the 3 Barnevelder's a couple of day's ago from the wire dog crate that they had been in. There's several water pan's, plus area's of the food out there for all of them to be able to get some. Then I had to sit on my bucket out there and see how thing's would go. I left the door's of the dog crate's open, in case they need to go in there for now, plus we are supposed to be getting a light rain tonight and tomorrow. The top's of the crates are covered with board's, so sometime's they get up on top of those too.

 

[Ribh]

Wow. Stay safe, Kris. Wind & cold = not nice. Not nice @ all.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Once the walls are up and we have an occupancy permit he’s out, as is the Building department

I'm glad there is an end point in sight. I hope everything goes really smoothly from now on and those walls are up by Spring (or sooner if possible)!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

but I did improve their roosts and cover the tractor with pallets, plywood, and various other random items to further secure their tarp and keep the tractor from attempting flight.

Would it help to cut smiley face wind slits in the sides of the tarps to let the wind through. Like they do on big banners. I was thinking if the slits are on the sides it shouldn't let much rain in...

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris

Thanks for the recipe... I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[BY Bob]

Our wind arrived here last night. It managed to blow open my shed doors and started them banging very early this morning. I was almost knocked over several times on my way out to close and relatch them. I can only imagine how bad it was there.

Here's hoping that pour comes soon before the arctic air does. Can you clear up something for me? Are you intending to build walls in your new house and then tear them back out in order to keep your FIL happy? Did I read that right?

 

[BlueBaby]

@Kris5902 Instead of completely knocking out walls, couldn't you put something like a big window sill there without the glass? Like a big board or counter top? That way the air could flow through, or you could even set fan's on it in the summer when it get's hot for you.

 

[Kris5902]

Would it help to cut smiley face wind slits in the sides of the tarps to let the wind through. Like they do on big banners. I was thinking if the slits are on the sides it shouldn't let much rain in...
View attachment 1969655

I will try some like that, last time I slitted them I just ran out with a knife and slashed them vertically, then due to tearage I replaced the tarp in the center with smaller ones, sort of patching it together, and that let plenty air through.

I ran out of smaller tarps so when I replaced the really old one I had initially patched tractor 2 with I had to use a large one. Last night it was sort of held in place by a couple staples and the wind pressure against the tractor. It was basically all the way off but trapped inside the tractor blocking the door. It also managed to knock/blow the latch closed on the inside and I couldn’t get a knife in to lift it. I had to lift the front of the tractor prop it up with a 5 gallon feed bucket,and shimmy under on my belly, through poop etc , to get back into it. That’s when I decided to put everyone up weather they liked it or not.

I thought I had the winds beat with the semi removable tarp on tractor 3, but these winds still managed to pull it up and damage the bird netting under it enough that that came up too. So far everyone is having a relatively quiet morning inside their roosting boxes.

We still have winds (not quite as bad but still too strong) and I’m brainstorming what I can use to get in temporarily as poop boards/wind blocks. I’m looking at the two or three ratty pieces of cedar siding left over. Yes I know, cedar is bad, but this has been aging for a year or two in full weather... and it might be preferable than having the wind ruffle their poor little feathers all night!