Backyard Farm Day 16

Ah, I never blog on the weekend, but I couldn't wait. The HENS ARE HERE! We drove out to sweet, sweet Riverside and picked them up. These gals are about 5 months old, so they're still a month from laying eggs. They're Rhode Island Reds, so we'll get brown eggs. Boy, are they docile. Waylon is thrilled with them and has been wading right in. You're correct, that is our child barefoot in a chicken coop. We're giving him a Silkwood shower now. The gals seem happy, as far as happy chickens go. Next up, we'll build the chicken moat.

Backyard Farm Day 15

Chicken Day is TOMORROW! Chicken Day is Tomorrow! Ok, and now, check out some finds I landed at the Pasadena Antique Center. The Grizzly Faucet Washers tin was too perfect and it's Los Angeles to me. They no longer do this, but it sure does bring back memories of my Grandpa Pug's garage workshop. Also, the Christmas lights make me super happy and they work great. Also, check out the Ice Cream delivery insulater. Saw this and had to have it. Now it houses my small extension cords. I can't get enough of the old soda crates. I have them everywhere.

Backyard Farm Day 14

Ugh! Damn you storm. Anywho...Threw together, and I do mean threw, this, we'll call it "rustic" foundation, together because I intend to put a covered shelter thing in for harboring bikes and other crapola. The stupid rain keeps slowing the progress, but it shall soon pass. It's not great. I know this. It's crooked, a bunch of uncreative lines, but so, it's utilitarian AND, once the silt settles, it will look better. The thing I'm proud of is that I didn't buy any materials. I had plastic sheeting, sand, and bricks hanging out in the yard when we moved in. This was a freebie and hooray for recycling.

Backyard Farm Day 13

Ok, storm for the ages has past and the glorious Los Angeles survived it. Still more storm to come tonight, but in the meantime, I got to work. I started installing paneling in the barn. I got gorgeous tongue and groove boards at Home Depot and I started putting up the radiant barrier on the ceiling. It already makes a difference. The cat spent the night in there last night when he was shut in during a nap in the loft. Pathetic mews echoed from inside this morning. Also, we have a coop inside a coop. Those ladies are going to be safe, indeed. We've decided to up our number of hens to 5 or 6. ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Chickens are coming home this weekend! This week is a huge week. Our garden is being tilled and the solar panel is going up.

Backyard Farm Day 12

So, we were headed up to our cabin in Lake Arrowhead and stopped off for some chicken supplies in Fontana. As you can see, we got more than mash. My son initially saw this pup and said, "I want the chickawawa!" My wife turned the corner and her lips began trembling. Needless to say, we ended up heading back home with my wife, my son, and our new dog in the backseat while I drove. He's awesome, 2 months old, and his name is Buster. Dub started calling him that, so it stuck. So much for a Border Collie, but I sure wouldn't trade him.

Backyard Farm Day 11

OK, busy Friday. I started the chicken run and this will be the home for some lucky gals. Just to prove I didn't use a get, I included photos of raw materials. Also, I used no schematic. This was freeform. Chicken runs are rural, and, since our barn is a package built thing, I wanted some rough edges to go with it. I put on a galvanized roof to give the hens some shade come the scorching California summer. It will also keep them dry from, albeit few, Pacific rain storms. Wrapping the run with chicken wire over the 3 day weekend. This one is for Dr. King.

Backyard Farm Day 10

Today's project was one near and dear to my heart. To know me is to know that I have a love affair with pegboard. Before I was married, I never put things back, ever, but my creepy, autistic, & ocd-ish side LERVES pegboard. My father-in-law, Roger, God rest his soul, got me hooked. I believe he's got massive walls of pegboard with lots of tools and guns hanging on his cloud. Also, because I'm a freak about it, I insulated. Super easy to do, so just do it. Can't wait to put in radiant barrier.