Shit Shoveling Day, Barney, Fire, Trailer, Grilling, Sore

Yesterday morning I was unable to continue tilling in the garden thanks to the rains overnight so I finally had to break down and shovel out the chicken coop. It had gone over winter without being shoveled out and was in desperate need of it. So as not to get my truck bed smelling putrid I take an old truck bed liner and put it on my trailer which I back up to the large coop door.

The clouds kept threatening until they dropped a smattering of ice pellets and then some sprinkles. Not much else came from the mover the day despite their menacing looks.

The chickens' part of the coop has 3 windows in it and I had them all open wide and I had my big fan in one pulling the air out. It was rather ammonia-y in the coop. I nosed the wheelbarrow into the man door inside the main coop and filled it many times. I then wheeled it back and then out into the trailer and filled the bed liner.

I had gotten to the roost and found myself in serious need of food. I headed inside and managed to catch
Raymond Van Barnveld (Barney's) match at the PDC Austria. It was great to watch his throwing style more and I am finding that my adaptation of it is starting to feel quite comfortable. I put in my order for dart parts and also a new set for me, a slight step up the ladder in quality and weight. I would love a set of the RVB darts but am not ready to throw down a $100 for a set yet, not until I am actually good a it. $30 for a set it quite adequate for now.

Back out in the coop I kept at the shoveling. One of the big problems had become the entrance which was reduced in size quite a bit and had been giving the turkey a bunch of trouble trying to fit in. You can see the fan in the window which was imperative in being able to get the job done. You can also see that I have rubber covering the floor of the coop which is also imperative for the lifespan of the coop. It is sheets of pond liner from my time in the landscaping world and has done an incredible job in the coop all these years.

It was about 12:40 when I finally got the last shovels full walked to the trailer. I had to stop using the wheelbarrow as I couldn't get it on the trailer so had to just walk the shovels full out to it from in the coop. I still have to clean out the nest boxes but that will be today sometime.

I was a bit concerned on my timing as I needed to pick the boys up. I towed the trailer out towards the bone yard and got it backed up to the edge of the hill. I began shoveling it out and was a bit surprised at how quickly I was able to get it emptied. Went WAY faster than filling it up.

After only 10 minutes I had it all over the edge WELL away from the house to keep the stench from invading. I am not worried about compost as I have OODLES of it around the farm with all the brewing grain.

I got the trailer unhooked so I could go get the boys and had a few minutes to rest my super sore and aching back.

With the boys home I went and got the fire going in the pit for the afternoon. I kept feeding it with various branches I was finding around the farm of which there is still a plethora that needs to be gathered.

I then got the trailer hooked up again for my grain run this morning and as I parked the turkeys were all gathered in the warm afternoon sun.

The girls were on their sides with a leg splayed out warming their underbellies.

I got our burgers on to grill earlier as Hive account@stryeyz had to go to the Azure pickup.

Our friend stopped by after the pickup and hung out for a bit before she took off at dark. I had closed off the hut that the turkeys had been in and forced all the birds into the coop now that it was cleaned. This keeps a lot of the hens locked up that had been squeezing out of the hut in the morning.

Needless to say I was destroyed after the huge workout mid day. Soaking was really nice but I got super tired and had to crash.

I have been to town for grain and after a while will get in touch with friends across the valley to go drop the grain at their place since I am out of places I HAVE to put it on the farm. Our flying club will be in Chewelah today and I am going up to get site visits to the various launch sites so once I am certified I will be ready to go. This evening I will likely grill again once home.