Stella's Social Club

[capayvalleychick]

We have clear tarps on the fronts of all five coops that we can roll down in the rain to keep the rain out around the doors. Night before last the tarps were blowing out and then banging back against the coops. They have pipe in the bottom to weight them down but it still allows them to billow out. Plus the pipe banging is noisy! Hardware Store McGiver (that's me) solved that problem yesterday by installing "D" rings on four edges of the coops and crisscrossing long bungee core. Works like a charm! The blowing tarps and banging pipes has stopped.

Thanks for this idea! I have a similar issue. One coop has northern windows. We installed one of those roll down shades that is like a bamboo shade, made of vinyl. The shade keeps blowing up over the top of the coop. DH weighted it with a bucket, but it is now falling apart.
Your idea will work well. Can you come up with something a bit prettier? I bet you can.

 

[ronott1]

I had to venture out in the deluge to feed the donkeys, emus, and goats this morning. Since we are on a hill the mud is sliding down making walking treacherous.

We have clear tarps on the fronts of all five coops that we can roll down in the rain to keep the rain out around the doors. Night before last the tarps were blowing out and then banging back against the coops. They have pipe in the bottom to weight them down but it still allows them to billow out. Plus the pipe banging is noisy! Hardware Store McGiver (that's me) solved that problem yesterday by installing "D" rings on four edges of the coops and crisscrossing long bungee core. Works like a charm! The blowing tarps and banging pipes has stopped. I did it in the driving rain so I was frozen to the bone when I got done but it was worth it since I knew 45 mile an hour gusts were predicted for last night.





It's always something! My next challenge will be to make walking to the shelters safer for me. A fall in the mud could be disastrous with my brittle bones. I have some ideas in my head. Of course a motorized gondola would be great, but I may have to put that off a season or two!

Your place is so nice!

I have an American Breese that was scalped and still does not trust the other hens. She likes to sleep outside in the run on a pallet. Every night I go get her at 9 before bed. Last night I went out in the rain and got the poor thing in at 7:30. She was wet and shivering. She cuddled up to me as I carried her to coop and got her tucked in for the night.

I will need to check on her earlier tonight!

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks for this idea! I have a similar issue. One coop has northern windows. We installed one of those roll down shades that is like a bamboo shade, made of vinyl. The shade keeps blowing up over the top of the coop. DH weighted it with a bucket, but it is now falling apart.
Your idea will work well. Can you come up with something a bit prettier? I bet you can.

Sorry, that is as pretty as it gets in the rain!

 

[chiqita]

Your place is so nice!

I have an American Breese that was scalped and still does not trust the other hens. She likes to sleep outside in the run on a pallet. Every night I go get her at 9 before bed. Last night I went out in the rain and got the poor thing in at 7:30. She was wet and shivering. She cuddled up to me as I carried her to coop and got her tucked in for the night.

I will need to check on her earlier tonight!

She was thinking where is the guy who is carryingne to bed?? Its cold!!

You could go in yourself chicken.

 

[ronott1]

She was thinking where is the guy who is carryingne to bed?? Its cold!!

You could go in yourself chicken.

Yes, she has me trained for sure!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:

Nice solution to your problem Mary.

 

[The Sheriff]

Smart girl you have Ron!

 

[kathyinmo]

Mary,
I have 5 pounds of red beans. I would like to use some, but don't have a recipe that I am particularly fond of. Do you have a recipe you would recommend?

 

[The Sheriff]

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/red_beans_and_rice/

This recipe comes from Simply Recipes, a family that cooks and blogs from Sacramento, near me. I tried this a while back usinga ham bone and andouille sausage. It was good. I love beans but always forget to soak them or even buy them in the first place. I am a sucker for any kind of bean soup.

 

[kathyinmo]

OK. I will try that one. Thank you! I will soak my beans overnight. I always do that with hard beans. I LOVE bean soup too, but I have never made (hard) red beans.