The Front Porch Swing

[RachaelS]

Deb,
Great idea! Will have to keep that in mind next time. DH did the original build of the coop, from there it has all been up to me, including the fencing. Inside the run area, is another coop built the same way as my "grow out pen" but made with cheaper supplies so it is not holding up as well. Not sure what to do with it. Maybe I should get some ducks and turn it into a duck house

. that is just what I need, another animal to clean up after!

Those grow out pens are pretty darn heavy, took 3 guys to unload them and move them to their spots. Last year I need to move stuff around and DH was not interested in helping, so guess what I figured out? You can go inside them and lift them up and shove, so one little girl moved them around by herself. Not as quick as 3 guys, but still got the job done. It was very empowering. Now I don't worry about it, I always find a way to use the tools at hand to get the job done. Even bought a socket set just for me. I hid it so it does not get "borrowed" and the parts go "missing"

I know most of you ladies have known this for a long time, but it is amazing when you figure out for yourself, you can do stuff, with out help if need be

 

[RachaelS]

PS Deb, I am so sorry about the theft and you losing your manuscripts and walker, that is just awful

 

[Triple Willow]

I'm so glad you are being proactive...and so proud!  Not many women have the guts to follow through on such an action. 
Ditto on that!!!


Did ya get one? 
I did! I'm gonna fry that dog! ...just kidding. hehehe

Coop tweaking time!!!!  My favorite time of the year...spring coop redos.  I can't wait to rip into mine when the weather warms up....going to change nearly everything! 
Double ditto on that!

 

[RachaelS]

O'h my gosh, it is 8 feet high not 10, sorry got confused with my dog panels that are 10 foot long. Edited my post. Still 8 feet to me might as well be 10

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

O'h my gosh, it is 8 feet high not 10, sorry got confused with my dog panels that are 10 foot long.  Edited my post.  Still 8 feet to me might as well be 10

Hahahahahahaha! Same difference!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

So my point about all recipes being so different but ending up so similar, so what's the point of using one? ... Here is the Peaches and Cream Custard recipe I've made a few times ... it uses different ingredients ...

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Desserts/PeachCreamCustard.htm

It's a shame it's not peach season.

 

[Triple Willow]

Deb,
Great idea!  Will have to keep that in mind next time.  DH did the original build of the coop, from there it has all been up to me, including the fencing.  Inside the run area, is another coop built the same way as my "grow out pen" but made with cheaper supplies so it is not holding up as well.  Not sure what to do with it.  Maybe I should get some ducks and turn it into a duck house .  that is just what I need, another animal to clean up after! 

Those grow out pens are pretty darn heavy, took 3 guys to unload them and move them to their spots.  Last year I need to move stuff around and DH was not interested in helping, so guess what I figured out?  You can go inside them and lift them up and shove, so one little girl moved them around by herself.  Not as quick as 3 guys, but still got the job done. 
I've got a 7X13 chainlink dog pen that has been use for dogs, goats and now chickens. When I had goats in it I would move it around like a chicken tractor - I guess it was a "goat tractor". LOL I would grab one corner and yank it about 4', grab the other side and yank it 4' - back and forth, back and forth. I moved it all over the place until it started falling apart. lol I had to get some clamps and fix everything I had yanked apart.
It was very empowering. Now I don't worry about it, I always find a way to use the tools at hand to get the job done.  Even bought a socket set just for me.  I hid it so it does not get "borrowed" and the parts go "missing"
So true on the parts going missing! Hide that baby! lol

I know most of you ladies have known this for a long time, but it is amazing when you figure out for yourself, you can do stuff, with out help if need be

Very true but it can be very intimidating to most men. HA!

 

[perchie.girl]

Deb,
Great idea! Will have to keep that in mind next time. DH did the original build of the coop, from there it has all been up to me, including the fencing. Inside the run area, is another coop built the same way as my "grow out pen" but made with cheaper supplies so it is not holding up as well. Not sure what to do with it. Maybe I should get some ducks and turn it into a duck house

. that is just what I need, another animal to clean up after!

Those grow out pens are pretty darn heavy, took 3 guys to unload them and move them to their spots. Last year I need to move stuff around and DH was not interested in helping, so guess what I figured out? You can go inside them and lift them up and shove, so one little girl moved them around by herself. Not as quick as 3 guys, but still got the job done. It was very empowering. Now I don't worry about it, I always find a way to use the tools at hand to get the job done. Even bought a socket set just for me. I hid it so it does not get "borrowed" and the parts go "missing"

I know most of you ladies have known this for a long time, but it is amazing when you figure out for yourself, you can do stuff, with out help if need be

We gals have not got the upper body strength, that men do. But if you can figure out how to do things using the strength in your legs you can do all the things that men can up to a point. For instance.... Wheel barrows.... with one wheel were designed by men for men. Not man bashing here just pointing out the differences between our strengths.

When I bought my 110 gallon aquarium. it took four men to get it on my truck. 3/8 inch thick Glass is VERY heavy. the aquarium probably weighs a good two hundred pounds. When they got it loaded they asked who was going to unload it for me.... I said me.... they looked worried and one kind of giggled. Then I added "Oh I will get the neighbor to help" that made them feel better.

But the deal is you can use the ground to help you lift.... I can lift a maximum of 125 lbs. for a moment or two... Positioning a bale of hay or something like that. So balancing and maneuviering the tank was a non issue because on the ground at most you are lifing half of the weight. Getting it off the truck was scary. I lowered the tailgate and detatched the cables so it made a kind of ramp. I then positioned a furniture dolly on the ground where the tank would come to rest on end. Slid the tank off and tipped it onto the dolly.

Once on the dolly now I could push it anywhere I had already moved the tank stand into the house..... If I had lifted the tank up I would have had to lift the tank 36 inches. The dolly would not go over the door jam. So I slid the stand up to the base of the tank and started shoving the tank.... What happend was the tank shoved the stand which dug into the carpet. Now the stand started tipping up along with the tank...... I turned around and squatted and lift while pushing the tank. Hardest moments were before the center of gravity of the tank started being over the stand. I was probably lifting about 150 lbs at that time. the moment of balance came and the tank was still about a quarter of the way onto the stand.... I then had to pull back so it eased over without thunking. Now the stand became my dolly and I was able to scoot it on the carpet to position.

It was a moment of pride knowing I could do this on my own. I still have that tank and hope to raise up some Tilapia in it.

The dog kennels I use are much like yours 6 foot tall and 12 food long. In order to move them I stick a two by three through the chainlink. They go right through on diagonal then when you turn them flat they wont flip over.... Good perches by the way. So to move the kennel without taking it apart I stuck the board through at hip level... lifted the one end and walked.

When I moved up to the desert I brought along with me five single car garage doors. got em free from a garaged door guy. these things are made of half inch thick plywood.... So to move them up to my coop for one of the walls. I had to get them from the Storage container junkyard to the back yard...... Believe me I wasnt walking them over....but I could stand them up and move them a little bit of a time. about six feet to flip them on to the back of the pickup. I had alread set some Tposts up to balance them. So Ithen drove the doors over to the tposts and slid the door off and it landed at the bottom of the Tpost... Then I backed the truck up to raise the door to a more upright position. after that it was just a matter of fastening anchoring and putting up the next door.

They are still standing. But I have to move them again for the rebuild.

deb

 

[RachaelS]

Yep, I am going to need clamps for that coop if I decide to keep it, striped something in today's "move"

PS my new FAV tool is zip ties, I think they rank right up there with duct tape.

 

[perchie.girl]

Yep, I am going to need clamps for that coop if I decide to keep it, striped something in today's "move"

PS my new FAV tool is zip ties, I think they rank right up there with duct tape.

I love them too But remember they only last about 6 months in the sun. After the Zip ties help secure things I follow through with something more substantial Like bailing twine or actual metal clips. Or better yet wire.

I have had bailing twine last a very long time if I covered it with Duct tape.... to keep it shaded.

Those kennel clamps can be bought at Home Depot or Lowes. But if the screw is stripped just take it in and get replacement screws.... Usually they use carriage bolts for those clamps. The bolt has a square shape to it right under the head. That square shape goes into a square hole on the kennel clamp. thats so the screw wont turn while you are tightening the nut on the other side.

Carriage bolts and nuts are far cheaper to replace than the clamps. I always keep extras on hand because my fumble fingers drop one now and then.

deb