The Front Porch Swing

[Triple Willow]

The bowl twists to disconnect, and when the bowl is off, the valve is closed. I just take a low, wide bucket around the coop disconnecting the bowls with the bucket under them to catch the dirty water, then take them to my kitchen sink to wash, then go back around and put them back on. It only takes a few minutes to make the circuit. If I had extra bowls I could do it all in one trip, but the bowls aren't free ...

I installed hose bib shut off valves at the ends of the lines so I can flush the whole system every day.

Sounds like you did a great job plumbing. I like it.

 

[Regin]

The bowl twists to disconnect, and when the bowl is off, the valve is closed. I just take a low, wide bucket around the coop disconnecting the bowls with the bucket under them to catch the dirty water, then take them to my kitchen sink to wash, then go back around and put them back on. It only takes a few minutes to make the circuit. If I had extra bowls I could do it all in one trip, but the bowls aren't free ...

I installed hose bib shut off valves at the ends of the lines so I can flush the whole system every day.

Do you drain the system during freezing weather?

 

[Searsmom]

Yep...I've found that a woman has to work smart instead of hard, because she doesn't have the physical strength that the men do...gotta use our heads.

Trying to get the kite out for the young'un to fly yesterday. DH couldn't get the tab thingie over the pole of the kite and was getting more and more frustrated. I took one look at it, knew I didn't have the strength to pull it, so I got a small screwdriver and got it in 10 seconds.

Of course, I had to go outside to get out of the hot air fumes that were rising, he was a little irritated....

 

[wyoDreamer]

...

For smaller jobs, using concrete remesh panels is even cheaper, though they seem to rust more quickly than do the cattle panels. But...they still do the job. A 7x3.5 ft. section is only $7.25 at Lowe's. I'm not sure if they have the tensile strength that the cattle panels do, so not sure if they can form a sturdy arch.

Personally, I would not go with the concrete mesh panels. They are not treated for exposure to the elements, which is why they rust so fast. Any coating may interfere with the concrete "grabbing" onto the wires. My understanding is the welds only have to be strong enough to hold the wires together, and the wire is more of a "brittle" tensile strength, very strong but will snap clean when it does break, it is also a little more brittle when it comes to bending. The purpose of the mesh is to hold the concrete in place when it cracks - to keep the cracks from separating and getting larger. And yes, the concrete will crack. It is not really made or designed for fencing materials.
It is cheaper, well, because it is made cheaper to keep the cost of construction down.
Cattle panels will have a lot more give and stretch when they are knocked into and banged around.

 

[Regin]

Ducks! The hubby wants most of the duck eggs - he didn't have to go through trying to start them in the house, learning how poopy they are, stirring it every day and cleaning out completely every other day. He wants more ducks (we have 1/4 left who thinks she's a chicken). ONLY OUTSIDE WHEN IT'S WARM!!!!

I used to have an entire tool set - power drill, multiple screwdriver sizes, a hammer, a tape measure, a screw/nail box - etc. etc. My husband kept raiding them, I have no idea where they are. He even gave me my own tool kit. Then pilfered that.

I used to have all my own tools, before we were married. Now all the tools belong to hubby and I "borrow" them. Bad part is finding tools I need when he's not around. Good part is getting him to fetch all the tools.

 

[Searsmom]

I used to have all my own tools, before we were married. Now all the tools belong to hubby and I "borrow" them. Bad part is finding tools I need when he's not around. Good part is getting him to fetch all the tools.

LOL! Exactly!!

 

[wyoDreamer]

My first year of college, my mom asked what I wanted for my birthday. I said a basic tool kit - hammer, screwdriver, pliers. She got me a set in a plastic carrying case - thank god she got the blue one not the pink! I fixed a lot of stuff in that dorm with my basic tools, I was very popular.
I still have those tools, but they have been moved to my very own toolbox. Which Dh keeps sticking his old tools into - "for you to have". He gets a new socket set, I get the old set with the missing sizes. Sheesh... of course the missing ones are the ones you need all the time!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Ducks! The hubby wants most of the duck eggs - he didn't have to go through trying to start them in the house, learning how poopy they are, stirring it every day and cleaning out completely every other day. He wants more ducks (we have 1/4 left who thinks she's a chicken). ONLY OUTSIDE WHEN IT'S WARM!!!! 

I used to have an entire tool set - power drill, multiple screwdriver sizes, a hammer, a tape measure, a screw/nail box - etc. etc. My husband kept raiding them, I have no idea where they are. He even gave me my own tool kit. Then pilfered that. 

Yeah ... My customers want more duck eggs. I've offered to let them raise the ducklings until they can go outside. Still no takers on that offer ...

 

[Regin]

Yeah ... My customers want more duck eggs. I've offered to let them raise the ducklings until they can go outside. Still no takers on that offer ...

Just curious, what kind of ducks are best for eggs?

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Do you drain the system during freezing weather?

Yes. But PEX pipe handles freezing better than other pipes. And we don't get TOO much freezing here ...