Chicken Thistle Farm » barn

Got wood?

Andy — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:53:14 +0000

(Who giggled?) I burn wood in the barn. And this time of the year when it’s 18 degrees and windy out – I burn it pretty fast. But – I’m also cheap. That’s a dilemma. So I have come up with a solution that seems to really solve both my dry, fast burning, hot wood needs as well as my disdain for spending money on something that goes up in smoke. Used wooden pallets!

Using a less than cared for chainsaw chain that I don’t mourn the inevitable encounter with a nail – I makes lots of sawdust as I hack them in 6 small pieces. From there – they get piled in a rather unceremonious manner under the leanto for future easy access from the barn. That also keeps the snow and rain off of them. It takes a little more work than having a delivery of several facecords and stacking – but it’s only the cost of time. This particular pile here was the result of about an hours total time the day after Christmas.

The water doth flow

Andy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:06:19 +0000

After finishing the connections and turning on the water for a test… the gurgling and bubbling of the air could be heard in the lines as the water surged forward. As I stood in the trench with the soil piles towering over my head I had this feeling of impending doom…

The wind was whipping ahead of the approaching rain (rain that has fallen now for 6 days straight since that day) and I had a clear mental picture of all the fittings leaking and spraying me in the trench turning the close quarters into a muddy labyrinth. The bubbling in the lines continued as the air escaped and Kelli asked from the other end of the phone “how are things going?”.

Like an overgrown gopher I shuttled around inside the trenches from one T connection to another to another to a hydrant. The water had made its way through the newly installed pipe and so far – there were no signs of any leaking going on… which was terrific! “Everything seems to be ok” I responded to the question on the phone, “just need to test the hydrants now”.

At a young age you learn that things always go down a hill… so why I thought, in this scenario, me standing in a nearly 6′ deep trench and reaching up to turn on the water hydrant over my head would be different – I’m not exactly sure. Let me assure you – gravity still works as expected when in a trench – and the water flowed in volumes (good thing) directly onto me (bad thing). Ehh – whatever – it works!

So with both hydrants tested Kelli turned off the water supply and I moved to bringing buckets of pea gravel over to fill the base where the frost free hydrants weep water out… and to provide “cushion” to the places where connections were made. The sky in the west was rapidly growing darker and darker… the winds were picking up… there was now a smell of rain on the air.

Like most things – when you dig a hole there are two ways to fill it in: the right way and the wrong way. Due to the approaching storm and the few scattered droplets that were appearing on the hood of the tractor – I chose the wrong way. You know – where you just push all the soil you can into the trench and then have leftover… yeah – and then wait for the settling to occur…

The picture I don’t have to share was as the drop frequency grew the small tractor went away and Big Blue came out to move a lot more soil a lot faster…

So – as it has sat for the last 6 days… the project is well towards completion – 2 of the 3 hydrants are in place and operational… there’s another 60′ of trench to be dug this weekend and the final hydrant to be installed. We have had 6 days of rain since this point – so the trench has had the opportunity to settle some… ever see the movie Tremors?

The trench doth grow

Andy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:44:35 +0000

Yesterday was quite the challenge – I needed to get the holes that were started NEXT to the barn dug out, trenched, connected to other trenches, pipe connected, hydrants in, tested and filled in – ALL before the expected rains hit. Not a small task under the best of conditions. So – to ensure things would go well I started the morning by greasing all the fittings on the backhoe and loader on the little Kubota.

About 2 1/2 hours into digging a sound started to emanate from one of the main joints on the backhoe… kinda reminiscent of a sci-fi movie where the spaceship is creaking and groaning just before the unsuspecting crew discovers that – truly – none can hear you scream is space. As the creaking got worse I just assumed there was a small pebble jammed in the joint which happened infrequently and produces a similar sound… I was wrong.

After running around to the local hardware store, the Kubota store and Tractor Supply I ended up with a part that would “fix” my issue long enough to finish the job. Plus a liberal application of PB Blaster penetrating oil – and I was back in business. Which was good because the rain that was very distant in the morning was rapidly heading my way.

After getting the rather complex system of trenches dug – it was time for me to enter the trench network and start getting the fittings attached. So – down into the narrow passages I descended with my trusty hacksaw and Kelli remained topside providing the required surface support.

I used a torch to heat the pipes so they received the T’s and fittings easier – I used 2 stainless pipe clamps on each attachment point to they should never slide off or leak – short of a physical failure in the coupling. I really don’t want to EVER have to dig this pipe up again!

So – I raced around the trenches like a large mole and Kelli scampered over the dirt piles like a rabbit to get things hooked up as the sky’s grew ever darker and the winds continued to kick up ever increasing face fulls of topsoil.

And then – the moment of truth. Me in the trench with my iPhone – Kelli in the basement with hers… Turn the water on – let’s see what happens…

Ditch digging 101

Andy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:02:00 +0000

That ditch has nice curves

I dig ditches. Or, really, trenches. Now, I don’t randomly run out to the Kubota, hook on the backhoe and just start making trenches in the back yard… although it might be funny to watch Kelli’s reaction if I did… no – I dig with a purpose.

Sometimes the purpose is vertical (putting in a post, tree or foundation footer) and sometimes the purpose is horizontal (drain tile, ditching or waterline). I’d also like to brag – I can dig a combination of these things as well. Yup – I’m a ditch trencher!

When starting a deep digging project with machinery – always make sure you know what’s buried there… and if you have the SLIGHTEST question call before you dig the first scoop – 811 – HERE. Since this project in the the back yard away from all utilities except the propane tank and I know where that line runs – I was cleared by the tower to commence.

This shot here shows me ditching my way along towards the barn in the background… purpose here… water line installation. I think I’m about 70 feet of the 200 I need to go. Slow and steady progress of a 4 foot deep trench that the water pipe sits at the bottom of.

When this project is done I will have 3 yard hydrants in place – one at the front corner of the barn near the driveway for watering plants in the spring and washing off cars and tools. I’ll have another in the back corner of the barn for providing water for the pastured chickens and rinsing off messy tractors and implements (as well as providing pasture water down the road for goats, hogs and cattle – maybe). the third hydrant will be INSIDE the barn – it will provide me with a freeze-proof solution (with the addition of a small on-demand electric water heater) for running water in the barn. Water in the barn will make watering the brooder of chicks as well as washing my hands, glue clean up from wood working, really anything – EASY!

So – yeah – I dig ditches and trenches with a purpose. now – if only I could find faster progress!

Building a Barn Leanto – Part 7

Andy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:52:04 +0000

It’s been a while since I updated on this project – there are just so many in play right now. But the leanto is coming along. Both ends are now finished with board and batten (batten not in this picture). The seconding resting header board is up… basically, aside from some trim work – this is done.

When the trim is completed and it is “settled” with junk – I’ll post a tour of the leanto… bet that’s exciting enough for you to head back this way soon!

You say brooder – He says buffet

Andy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:37:13 +0000

I imagine life as a dog is sometimes challenging… you can’t always express your needs (although Watson does a fairly good job at that)… you don’t always get what you want… and sometimes – just sometimes – you are asked to do (or not do) something that goes against every bit of DNA programing and instinct.

Let’s see – small Terrier… little chickens that peep, chirp and cluck… they flap their wings and scurry about quickly and randomly… Encoded in that Terrier is his most basic premise – “get small things that make high pitched noises and eliminate them”.

They are not friends, Watson and the chickens. They look at him with interest and inquiry… he looks at them with a tremor in his paw and a subtle chatter of his teeth.

It’s an uneasy tension – always supervised… but for two years now there has been no inter-species bloodshed. It’s a tenuous coexistence while the chickens invade Watson’s space in the barn for several weeks.

Kelli and I remain the diligent peacekeepers – and Watson remains the diligent watcher…

Roosting roosters – perhaps?

Andy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:45:09 +0000

It’s kinda hard to see – but these mini-chicks that are all in a perfect row and are facing the same way are NOT practicing for a synchronized clucking event… they are actually sitting on a piece of old 4×4 (non-pressure treated) that I added to the brooder. They had their little instincts kick in and immediately began vieing for position on the new roost point.

All in all – the chicks are doing great and last night we opened up the last section of the brooder – so all 76 chicks are running around inside the 8×8 space. We also added in the bell waterer that gets used in the pasture pens – to make keeping all these birds well watered easier than keeping up with the refilling of the smaller waterers. Tonight they finished their first 80# bag of feed – and from here on out they only eat MORE!

They will complete their second week with us this Friday – and we are hoping to get them to pasture in another week – it makes them happy, makes our lives easier from a feeding and cleaning perspective, and lets them self forage on their own. To that end – the second pasture pen is coming along quite well and should be ready in the next couple of days – well ahead of it being needed.

Building a Barn Leanto – Part 6

Andy — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:27:26 +0000

This last weekend – on Saturday to be specific – we made some serious progress with the leanto. To the point that it is now moderately functional. We got the last of the roof on, got the far end completed with rafter and purlins and the final trim piece installed.

On Sunday I spent some time with the boxblade and loader on the tractor to move out the remainder of “junk” including a bunch of firewood so I could grade the floor. Of course – then a bunch of junk ended up in the waggon that you see here – that then got rolled back under the leanto. Overall I’m very happy with how the structure stands now. There are still several things left to do before the project is “done”.

At the top of the list – I’m still waiting for the delivery of the board and batten rough-cut lumber to finish off the ends of the structure. But there’s more too – I have decided to add a resting plate along the top where the rafters are attached to the barn – it’s a small amount of work that will give me a LOT of mental insurance given the winds we experience… should a rafter ever decide to separate from a hanger – it will then rest on a 2×10 that’s attached to the barn by carriage bolts – and not end up on the tractor.

I also need to get a fascia board on the end… as this picture shows in less than 36 hours after completing the roof – a Robin decided to put up a nest. Probabally the same one that had the earlier nest out there while I was setting the posts.

No worries – glad I was able to give her a happy home… now if I could only get some Barn Swallows to nest here…

Building a Barn Leanto – Part 5

Andy — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:42:24 +0000

The progress on the leanto seems to be “slower” lately… as in – we got all the purlins attached to the rafters and then started to get the roofing attached. Here you can see me up on the first or second sheet of roofing and the trim piece installed. Once we got the trim on and the first section down – we started to hit a rhythm on the roofing – and then were interrupted by activities on Memorial Day…

Now – it has been raining all week – so – the plan is to get a final work push on the roofing Saturday… and then more of the garden in.

Building the chicken brooder

Andy — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:31:46 +0000

This years brooder design is quite a bit different than last years brooder design – primary due to the volume of chicks that will be arriving tomorrow. Wanting to keep them as happy as I can – and in doing so keep them disease and stress free – I look to achieve about 3/4 square foot of space per bird – when the birds are between 3-4 weeks old. So with over 80 chicks coming in – that’s just about an 8′ x 8′ pen (64 square feet). Now – this is assuming that the birds all get put in the pasture over week 3-4 where their square foot space per bird increases.

This year I started by putting an older tarp down on the concrete floor in the barn to provide a bit of a moisture barrier and to make the final cleanup of the wood shavings and manure a snap. As the pictures will show – I go with the deep litter bedding approach – and last year the chicks, even with their scratching, didn’t get down to the brooder floor – so I hope they don’t “discover” the tarp this year… silver things under wood – to a chicken – fascinating.

(If the chickens outsmart the design, I’m prepared to bury some wood under the shavings to keep them from pecking madly at the tarp)

After the tarp was in place I built the same 2′ high OSB walls around the sides – that makes for a terrific draft blocking height and still gives the chicks, at 4 weeks, plenty of headroom – heck – they would have headroom at 2′ at week 8 heading into processing day – the pasture pens are only 2′ tall. Really – I had 2 – 2′ high sections of OSB – so I just ripped another 4×8 sheet… simple math – no waste – I will be using this when the brooder gets torn down for the barn – leanto rafter area to plug holes.

Anyhow, after the sides were in place I decided to reuse the framework the “killing cones” are mounted to as the support for the brooder lamps (killing cones are used in processing to hold the birds). It’s kinda in the theme of re-use AND cradle to grave… figure when the chicks show up here – the first thing they will look up to see is these shiny silver cone things hanging overhead… and on the last day of their life, they will see the same cones. That’s not being callous or morbid – just the cycle of nature and reuse on the farm.

After jiggering around with the location of the brooder lamp stand – I decided that pushing it against one side made the most sense and that’s where it will live with 2 heat lamps suspended – more than enough for 80 chicks.
The last step here in construction was to partition off a little more than half the brooder. When the little chicks arrive, I don’t want them wandering off until they are familiar with their surroundings, know where the food and water and heat are – and are generally acclimated to the enclosure. So – the partition is removable and will come out after about 2 weeks – as they really hit their growth curve.

I only have a few small tasks left to complete – and they will likely wait until after the chicks arrive. I need to build a 8′ long frame for the chicken wire top – so when the partition comes out – the chickens can’t do the “hop and fly” trick to escape.

One other thing I think I’m going to try this year after the chicks hit about 2 weeks is remove the small and annoying to keep full waterers from the mix and play around with hanging one of the bell waterers from the pasture pens in the brooder. If I can manage to get that to work – it will not only save me a lot of time – but will acclimate the chickens to the visual image of their water source well before they are placed in the pasture.

There you have it – in a nut shell – a simple enclosure safe from predators – draft free – easy to access for me – with ample space, heat, water and food access. Everything a brooder should be.