Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Chicken Run is Done! Random Tidbits

If you are wondering how the garden is going, I do have to replant a few seeds.  I have already replanted some cucumber seeds.  I only had one pie pumpkin seed come up, so I'll be buying different seeds next season (and if they do well, will save those seeds).  Gardening comes with mishaps, guess work and many prayers.

I made a batch of homemade cream cheese, but forgot to photograph it for you.  I think you've all seen it made anyway.  It's the best cream cheese I ever tasted.  The kids devoured it.



Hubby repaired the north doors on the animal barn, and recycled what wood he could, from the big barn. These lead out into the chicken run, and allows us to mow in there (if necessary).

The chicken run is done!  However, the chickens are stuck in their old ways, and don't know how to use it.  We had to start tossing them up the indoor ramp and they finally went out.  At night, however, we could not get them back up the ramp.  After a while, they should figure it out.  We may make their ramps wider, but they jump from the top anyway.


For years I simply let them out, shut the doors, and they had free range of the property.  They had dirt to take dirt baths, their favorite trees and so forth.  But, in summer they can tear apart all of my garden(s) and eat all my strawberries.  This year, I won't have to have someone "babysit" them all hours and make sure they stay out of trouble - one HUGE relief for me this year.

One daughter and I had fun ripping the wood off the old barn too.  But we'll leave the big parts to the big guys.




I am using a homemade facial toner (new recipe I found online), and so far really like it.  It's made with water, dried red clovers, organic apple cider vinegar and organic lavender essential oil.  The original recipe requires a special salt, but I did not have it.



Big news today!  I finished this book yesterday!  The kids were all congregating on the porch, and I showed them I had read until the last 30-some pages.  I closed it and put it down to listen to them (last day of school), and my older daughter said, "you're going to finish that right?"  And so I did.  It took forever, but I got it done.  What a sad ending for the book.







This one is next.  It, along with knitting a dishcloth, will be part of my free time. That is, until I can visit the store for more white yarn (another project).



9 comments:

Patricia @ CorninmyCoffee-pot said...

Congrats on completion of your reading!
Go You!
The chicken run makes me jealous. I have thought of making one for our chickens... because as you mentioned, they can tear up a garden. Plus ours have confused the front porch with the bathroom. :P
I'm constantly having to shew them off the porch...or hose it down.
Ah well, such is country life, right?
Bet you're glad to see the barn coming down.

Mama Pea said...

I do love our fresh, wonderful eggs from our chickens, but they sure can be bird brains sometimes, can't they? Ours are fenced in their really big pasture area so I don't have to worry about them destroying my gardening efforts. I guess I'm not very sharing (!) but I draw the line at having them scratch up plants and poop on the back steps!

My Garden Diaries said...

How wonderful to have the run down and not have to worry about them eating your garden! I bet that is such a good feeling!!! I hope that you have an outstanding weekend! Nicole xo

Michelle said...

Because of our goofy weather we had to replace a few plants also. Still waiting to see if everything comes up this year.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Michelle, I often wonder how many seeds the birds get too. I have seen many robins this year.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Thanks Nicole, it is a huge relief. I love my flower garden, herb garden and veggie garden.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, that is what Hubby mentioned - poo on the porch step. I used to joke that we needed a sign made that said "Chicken Poo Avenue."

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Patricia, I'm so glad I finished the book. I really lack the time during summer, so I'm trying to squeeze in more time this year.

RB said...

The ramp looks fine to me width wise, but the rails across look a little low. They need them to get purchase on the ramp, or they'll slide down it like they're on a sliding board which is funny to see. I'd make the rails across out of 1"x1" furring. They might feel more comfortable with that size.

If you supplement their free range with grain, maybe put their food and water in the barn for a while. When they get hungry, I believe they'll go inside for it after a couple of days.

And I wouldn't recommend leaving them outside at night; a fence won't stop a hungry hawk, fox, cat, dog, (chupacabra - LOL), etc.

God bless.

RB
<><