- Thread starter
- #371
MyKidLuvsGreenEgz
Lovin' The Homestead
I must be the biggest clutz this side of the Rockies! Worked hard on winterizing the chicken coops this past weekend. First we had to clean out the 6x10 dog kennels. One we had to lift up completely to get out some pink shelves we had been using as roosts. Took up way too much room. While that kennel was on its side, dug holes for 3 posts that went in between the two kennels to hold the beams, and attached a beam/support. Then it started to rain so quickly put the kennel back to rights and reattached the tarp that covered both kennels. So very glad we did because it rained off and on all day. In between showers, we dug post holes. Unfortunately, it took FOREVER! After the first inch of sand, we hit rock and kept on hitting rock. Got only 4 of the 9 holes dug before the final HUGE downpour of the day. Soaked 3 changes of clothing.
That was Saturday.
Sunday, woke up with a migraine. Couldn't afford to be down cause we're expecting more rain and really needed to get the roof on the chicken coops so took migraine meds. Did another 2 posts before lunch. Each took about an hour because of digging through the rock, and we were going down 2 1/2 feet. Whew. Came in, grabbed a quick lunch and returned outside to work on the last 3. Did one pretty quickly ... mostly sand. But working on the other two, I finally grabbed something similar to a pickax and being all dumb and careless (or drowsy from the migraine med), swung that pickax and it hit me right smack in my forehead. Little gash of 1 inch or so but sure as heck bled a lot. Thank goodness I had a headband to catch sweat because the gash could have been much worse.
Hubby and son helped me inside (blinded by blood and pain), cleaned me up and I laid down for 30 minutes while they continued working. When I wasn't so dizzy, I joined them and we finally got the holes dug and posts set in, plus beams. Then started doing cross beams. Finally got ONE of the roof boards on before dark.
Took a shower, being very careful to keep water off my bandage. Went to bed early because my head was absolutely aching. Haven't checked my bandage yet this morning.
When hubby gets home, hopefully on time, we'll have about 2 hours of daylight to finish. Supposed to get more rain tomorrow so it HAS to be today. If I feel better this afternoon, maybe I can get started early with my son holding the ladder. Still have 5 more 4x8 boards to put on, then will cover it all with plastic sheeting then a tarp.
That should keep them drier than what they have now and even what they had last year. Couldn't keep the heavy Spring snow from bending the tarps.
Within the next week, we'll add boards to the chain link kennel walls. Right now there's a few boards but it's mostly tarps and shower curtains.
We plan to leave the south side completely uncovered, except for the worst blizzards this winter ... you know, the ones that blow snow every which way, including up!
Still have a little more work to do on the bantam coops but they're good for now. Their new roof is holding. Just need a few more boards along the side. Gonna move the "maternity ward" for chickens to the south of them because I'm pretty sure we'll have broodies during the winter. Most of our bad weather comes from the north.
We'll need to do the same basic winterizing of kennels in the goat pen. There are two ... one we're stocking with hay and the other is where our two doe goats will kid in Nov/Dec. So, need it nice and covered and snug so the little baby goaties don't freeze. In the goat pen, we have two dog houses where the goats like to sleep ... it's just the kidding kennel that needs more work.
This is going to be a rough winter. I can feel it, just like I felt it last year and we ended up with negative 35 degrees a few nights.
Need to be more ready this year than last, even tho everyone survived last winter. Just a little frostbite on a couple of combs.
Not even close to getting the house ready. Still need to clear a place in the basement for my remaining tomato and cucumber plants, and start some others so we can have veggies this winter. Put up grow lights. Get more propane. Get more firewood. Get more hay. Put that shrink-wrap-plastic-stuff on windows.
THEN I'll be able to breathe a little easier.
That was Saturday.
Sunday, woke up with a migraine. Couldn't afford to be down cause we're expecting more rain and really needed to get the roof on the chicken coops so took migraine meds. Did another 2 posts before lunch. Each took about an hour because of digging through the rock, and we were going down 2 1/2 feet. Whew. Came in, grabbed a quick lunch and returned outside to work on the last 3. Did one pretty quickly ... mostly sand. But working on the other two, I finally grabbed something similar to a pickax and being all dumb and careless (or drowsy from the migraine med), swung that pickax and it hit me right smack in my forehead. Little gash of 1 inch or so but sure as heck bled a lot. Thank goodness I had a headband to catch sweat because the gash could have been much worse.
Hubby and son helped me inside (blinded by blood and pain), cleaned me up and I laid down for 30 minutes while they continued working. When I wasn't so dizzy, I joined them and we finally got the holes dug and posts set in, plus beams. Then started doing cross beams. Finally got ONE of the roof boards on before dark.
Took a shower, being very careful to keep water off my bandage. Went to bed early because my head was absolutely aching. Haven't checked my bandage yet this morning.
When hubby gets home, hopefully on time, we'll have about 2 hours of daylight to finish. Supposed to get more rain tomorrow so it HAS to be today. If I feel better this afternoon, maybe I can get started early with my son holding the ladder. Still have 5 more 4x8 boards to put on, then will cover it all with plastic sheeting then a tarp.
That should keep them drier than what they have now and even what they had last year. Couldn't keep the heavy Spring snow from bending the tarps.
Within the next week, we'll add boards to the chain link kennel walls. Right now there's a few boards but it's mostly tarps and shower curtains.
We plan to leave the south side completely uncovered, except for the worst blizzards this winter ... you know, the ones that blow snow every which way, including up!
Still have a little more work to do on the bantam coops but they're good for now. Their new roof is holding. Just need a few more boards along the side. Gonna move the "maternity ward" for chickens to the south of them because I'm pretty sure we'll have broodies during the winter. Most of our bad weather comes from the north.
We'll need to do the same basic winterizing of kennels in the goat pen. There are two ... one we're stocking with hay and the other is where our two doe goats will kid in Nov/Dec. So, need it nice and covered and snug so the little baby goaties don't freeze. In the goat pen, we have two dog houses where the goats like to sleep ... it's just the kidding kennel that needs more work.
This is going to be a rough winter. I can feel it, just like I felt it last year and we ended up with negative 35 degrees a few nights.
Need to be more ready this year than last, even tho everyone survived last winter. Just a little frostbite on a couple of combs.
Not even close to getting the house ready. Still need to clear a place in the basement for my remaining tomato and cucumber plants, and start some others so we can have veggies this winter. Put up grow lights. Get more propane. Get more firewood. Get more hay. Put that shrink-wrap-plastic-stuff on windows.
THEN I'll be able to breathe a little easier.
This is going to be a cold winter and lots of snow. Last year's "lots of snow" was mostly in high country but dang if they didn't get 250% of the usual annual snow fall 
