Heeeyho Readers! More updates from our little ranch!
I'm baaaaaaack!
What a couple―a lot actually―of days detoxing from writing and the internet as a whole. My mind clogs sometimes… the negative aspect of pushing too hard to improve and bring better-written content. Other than that, traveling is pretty much halted, at least until January, so I don’t have relevant content to offer on the wandering side of this blog. Anyways. To today’s post, shall we?
I’ve been on and off helping Dad at the ranch during this ‘writing vacation’. Before we can start working on bigger construction projects, such as the new garage/barn, we need to secure a place for the poultry and the dogs. We also took the time to plant various fruit trees in a dedicated area. Let’s check what’s going on at our sustainable libertarian base.
Before dismantling
Dad had an idea that consisted of a dog kennel sided with the chicken coop, where they'd all be safe inside a large fenced area near the fruit trees. When he showed me the blueprint I thought: "Holy mother bunker of a chicken coop." We laughed at the absurdity, but it looked solid and would last one-hundred years.
Mother Bunker of a Chicken Coop
First thing on the list: remove old wooden structures. We decided to get rid of the cattle handling facilities, as shown in the above picture. That in itself demanded a heck ton of energy.
Plenty of junk to remove
Gone
Removing those fifty-year-old wooden posts was no piece of cake, but with patience, some digging, and water to soften the soil, they came out. The posts and planks are incredibly hard eucalyptus. It may not look like, but the planks are not rotten at all and may serve another purpose soon. Nothing goes to waste.
Preparing new posts
Painting the tips with oil
We thought the old posts would serve well for the new chicken coop structure; they turned out too bent and cracked. The above posts are new, made of eucalyptus from reforestation. We could've used pine, since it's cheaper and softer to work with, however, pine doesn't last as long. Eucalpyptus then...
It is important to treat the wood before setting them on the ground. Most rot around the base, at the tip that stays in contact with moisture from the soil. We used oil + anti-termite treatment.
Installing new posts
Preparing the soil
Alright, the way it's gonna be: the floor will be made of concrete, as it is easy to clean, thus avoiding fleas and other pests. The dogs will stay on the left and the chickens on their own space on the right. In total, the 'shed' will have two doors, one for each 'room'. Our dogs don't really like staying indoor, even when it's freezing cold outside; it's more so as a protection for rainy days.
Dogs and poultry will stay inside a large fenced area (picture below), with plenty of space to scamper around. Soon, the fruit trees will grow, providing a nice shade for those warmer summer days.
Fruit trees
The fruit trees are subject for a future post, as we are experimenting to see what happens. We are now waiting for more construction material to arrive so we can lay down concrete and start setting the roof structure. The good news is that we'll be able to re-use the clay roof tiles found everywhere―and I mean everywhere.
That's where we are for now.
If you have any questions regarding our chicken coop project, drop me a message and I'll be more than glad to elucidate and provide details.
The next Off to the Ranch post will be a continuation of this saga {if the materials arrive}. We plan to set the roof and, if time allows, start planking the sides. I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I'm enjoying creating it.
Peace.
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~Love ya all,
Disclaimer: The author of this post is a convict broke backpacker, who has travelled more than 10.000 km hitchhiking and more than 5.000 km cycling. Following him may cause severe problems of wanderlust and inquietud. You've been warned.