Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

On another note I also worked Friday at the airport. We had no planes that needed our services but we did get to watch and Air Force cargo plane land and park on our de-icing pad for three hours while all of President Obamas support stuff and staff (including dogs) that were brought to Mane for his visit were loaded up. Got a really good view of his limo. Amazing how much is needed for a simple visit. And what we saw was probably only half of it.

And I thought I was bad bringing a large suitcase and a bookbag when I went to the Grand Canyon for 4 days.

 

[striperon]

I bought a bale of straw and a bag of pine shavings at Andy's Agway this morning. The straw was a nice tight clean bale, meaning lots of it packed into the bale. It was $10. The pine shavings were $5.25. Andy acknowledged that the straw was pricey, but his wholesaler's price was high as well. For my few pullets, a bale will probably last a year.

It seems like every time I put a bale of straw or hay down, I lose some. So I put them in contractor trash bags with the top open so moisture doesn't collect in the bag. I keep the "skrids" inside the bag, and that way can use them when the bale is gone.

Progress halted on the privy building project due to the weather over the weekend. I hope to get a few hours to work on it tomorrow and can finish it this weekend. Weather for Thursday and Friday doesn't look good.

 

[Marcy54]

The chicks and Roo seem fine. We blocked part of the window, but they have plenty of circulation with the bit opened and the door. I am thinking of getting one of those doors that lets the chickens in but keeps the snow out. I am trying to figure out how to install it with my predator safe door over it. I like the idea of keeping blowing rain and snow out. It seems like I spend a lot of time changing out the pine shavings in nest box one and in the front of the coop on bad days.

Yesterday my youngest dachshund got in the coop. Took a chicken (physically out of the coop) , no feathers lost, no kill, the rooster scared her and she put the chicken down, pinning it with her front paws when I called her name. I grabbed her and the chick walked back to the coop. I let the chick in and she spent the rest of the day under the coop. Today she is fine. I spoke with my vet, she suggested a shock collar. This girl is a houdini in the dog yard, constantly trying to dig her way out , sometimes succeeding. Yesterday morning, I woke to find the rooster and some of the chickens roaming in the yard. I think we have had other animals in the chicken yard. Normally we free range the girls and Rocky in the afternoon for a couple of hours while the dogs are inside otherwise occupied. We need to figure out a more secure run. The chickens and the rooster are locked in the secure coop at night. I gave my husband a game camera the other day, maybe he can set it up near the coop to see what is lurking around.

 

[longgrove]

Finally, my power just came back on. 4 days without really makes me appreciate power. Had just about had it, no water (ran out of water to flush) and the flock needs a drink.

Have lost all the food in the fridge. My scooter ran out of charge, couldn't get out to feed the wood stove. First thing, put the charge on the scooter, the phone and the computer! When it gets a little juice, can go out and start a wash and start on the backlog of dishes.

My flock decline to go out in "that nasty white stuff". Just as well, the 14+ inches of heavy wet snow, blown on the diagonal (sometimes, nearly laterally!) just ripped off the 4 foot net extension that goes over the 5 foot fence. Will just have to roll it up for the Winter. Anyway, the girls are not that enthusiastic about flying out when everything outside is covered in that nasty white stuff! We will do a little shoveling and put some shavings on the paths tomorrow. What a bunch of divas!

The two remaining guineas (two flew the coop over the 9 foot fence, were too stupid to fly back in and took off for parts unknown) won't let the hens eat or drink unmolested. The dominant roo is no help, he tidbits the darn guineas! Only the roos and my smallest bantam hen (who was their broody) is allowed on the floor of the coop. They still remember she is their "mom"! I put them in a kennel during some of the day so they won't bother the hens. Anyone know somewhere in the Bangor area that processes birds? (I've got two guineas and a disloyal roo that could go visit!)

Worry that 4 days of less than 10 hours of light will set all the hens into molt.

 

[lazy gardener]

We got 20" of extremely wet, heavy snow here. Were without power more than 2 days. I've been feeding the girls outside their coop to force them out into the snow. So far, it seems to be working. Abby (Alpha hen) is going into a heavy molt. Her crop, butt, and shoulders look completely plucked. Every where she stands, there's a pile of red feathers on the ground. Work progressing slowly on the new coop.

 

[striperon]

I think I saw the "predator" that got my pullet, a large feral house cat was sneaking around in my barn. I saw it trying to run out when I went in today. I need to get the dogs to chase it away forever.

The privy is framed! It is quite heavy. I think I will push it into place after putting the plywood on the roof and before adding any more weight.

I would not make any money as a carpenter, too fussy and too inexperienced. I do enjoy making things. I think that is why DW chose me.

I experienced the downside of using a nail gun today. I missed the rafter when trying to nail a rafter at the top. Drove a nail through the ridgeboard and then halfway through the flesh of my thumb. It has throbbed all afternoon and is doing so now.

DW changed her mind. Now the siding will go on horizontally. Come to think of it, there is lots of measuring and cutting to put the siding in the gable ends. I will move it after doing that. Trying to save steps where I can.

 

[CoopChick719]

Very fortunate we didn't have much damage from the snowstorm. Some downed branches near the coop but nothing serious. However, I just noticed the floor on the northside of the coop is damp. It must be seeping in from the sill because there is no evidence of a leak in the roof or walls.

Those of you using straw as bedding--any worries of mites living in the hollow shafts?

 

[buckabucka]

I think I saw the "predator" that got my pullet, a large feral house cat was sneaking around in my barn. I saw it trying to run out when I went in today. I need to get the dogs to chase it away forever. The privy is framed! It is quite heavy. I think I will push it into place after putting the plywood on the roof and before adding any more weight. I would not make any money as a carpenter, too fussy and too inexperienced. I do enjoy making things. I think that is why DW chose me. I experienced the downside of using a nail gun today. I missed the rafter when trying to nail a rafter at the top. Drove a nail through the ridgeboard and then halfway through the flesh of my thumb. It has throbbed all afternoon and is doing so now. DW changed her mind. Now the siding will go on horizontally. Come to think of it, there is lots of measuring and cutting to put the siding in the gable ends. I will move it after doing that. Trying to save steps where I can.

It looks great! DH has also used the nail gun on various parts of his hands, biscuited his finger, chopped off the tip on a table saw, etc. Be careful (easy to say after the fact!)

 

[lazy gardener]

I love that nail gun... and brad gun... Would be helpless without them. But, I can easily see how quickly it would be to get injured with them. So sorry for your injury Striperon. We lost 4 trees around the new coop. 2 came down just to the west of it, and 2 came down just to the east of it. They were dead/dying trees on the neighbor's property that should have been taken down when we cleared our land, but we didn't address them b/c the neighbors were out taking pics when the clearing was going on.

 

[striperon]

lg,

Sounds like you were lucky that a tree didn't land on the coop. Now you don't need to worry about them. They are down.

Thanks for your condolences. Yes, I too love my nail guns. Part of it is to cover my inadequacy with a hammer. Before I had them, I could never end up with a board where I wanted it. The board would jump around as I was hitting the nail with the hammer. I made lots of scrap out of good lumber. For a time, I went to all screws just to avoid the bouncing and misplacement. Now I use some of both, screws and nails, depending on the situation.