Putting up the rearing shed

As the chicks are growing and need to go outside soon we need to put up the rearing shed.

Matt (HelpX) and Vicki (family) are preparing a gravel foundation for the base.

Chris (family) is bringing gravel with a trailer and quad from the front of the drive, whenever he manages to draw his attention away from his sweaty feet.

Ann (host) is supervising. Somebody has to stand around and look important.

No, it's not level...hang on, it's not on the gravel...that might be why it's not level.

I think we will put it here. Then it may be level.














After a lot more raking and measuring the six pallets for the base are placed on the gravel and the floor of the shed is screwed into place.

As the first wall piece is going up the lovely Caithness weather turns and it starts to get windy.

Matt is playing peek-a-boo but Arden is not impressed.

The winds is rattling the panels and windows about. After a few improvements to the windows there isn't anything else we can do. Lifting roof panels in 50mph gusts is a fairly impossible and rather dangerous undertaking.

After bracing all the walls and the side we have to abandon the job until the weather improves.















It's been a week since we put the shed walls up and the weather has been fine. Today it's windy again but we have decided to work on the shed anyway.

We have added a new cross beam to rest the roof on. It's stronger than the original one which got lost in transit...

I am sure you can guess by now that we are taking pallets apart, yet again. Matt (helpX) and Ann (host) are "harvesting" the top and bottom timber for the roof panels.

The pallet timber is cut to length and then screwed into place. The original roof panels got damaged and wet, so we decided on a pallet roof instead.

A nice overhang will protect the shed from weathering and increase the roof area.

Getting there... just a few more boards and the roof is as good as new.

Many pallets later the roof is done. Now it needs waterproofing. We will do that with traditional felt. It would be nice to use wood shingles, but there is just not enough time in a day to make a shingle roof for a shed right now. Maybe one day...

The roof on the inside. Looks cosy. It certainly gave the shed a new lease of life. It's sturdier than it ever was.

Next I decided to convert a small part of the shed for the laying hens. The last hen house didn't get any egg laying boxes, so this time I am building them first.

First a looks a bit like a shelf.

Then it looks like a fancy book shelf.

Then it finally starts looking like egg laying boxes.

Should be making doors for the egg laying boxes but my knees are sore, so giving the wall some attention. Wall ? Which wall ?

The pallet timber wall of course. And the door, so that I can enter the chicken coop and clean out.

And as by magic the doors for the egg laying boxes have also appeared... but the door has disappeared. Oh, I am getting tired....

Can't wait to get nice clean eggs once again.

I even get my very own door to access the inside of the coop.

Just need to add perches now and make an automatic door. Well, tomorrow is another day.

Firewood

After promising a friend to pick up some scrap wood from an old torn down building for months, we finally managed to get it shifted from the bottom of his field.

Three van loads later, and a couple of very tired people, a massive pile has emerged next to the drive.

Sorting through the wood, Matt (HelpX), Ann (host) and Kevin (family) are slowly reducing the pile.

Chris (family) has been thinking about helping for a while. Only it's such hard work for a young lad.... he can't quite make his mind up.

He finally decides to muck in and the pile is soon shrinking.

Composters

The project for this afternoon is building a composter. And guess what we are using to build with.... yes, pallets. So here we go again. Taking pallets apart.

First we take the timber off one side of a large pallet. After a lot of experimenting we find that a strong piece of timber used as a lever does a reasonably good job and most of all gets the job done quickly.

The remaining nails are pulled out with a hammer and reused to nail the boards onto the other side of the pallet to fill the gaps.

5 pallets are prepared like this by Matt (HelpX) and myself to make 3 sides and 2 fronts for a large double composter.

Nearly there. To get enough timber for all the gaps one of the pallets gets stripped completely. The cross beams are later used for another job.

Two pallets stood up to full height and one on it's side at the front and it nearly looks like a composter.

Composters also need roofs so that the compost doesn't get too wet, so we prepare two pallets by overlapping.

Then we get carried away and forget to take pictures...

Matt adds the finishing touches. Job done. Another item off the todo list. Phew.

Volunteers arriving

Finally our first ever volunteer, Nancy from Belgium, has arrived yesterday and swiftly got busy with everything that has roots and leaves. Matt from Australia should be arriving tomorrow and will be able to help Nancy with the trees, digging, carrying water etc.

It's a relief to have hard working and knowledgeable people at the project. It will make all the difference to driving the project forward.

Matt from New Zealand has arrived today and helped us setting up the fencing for the chicken enclosure.

Solar panels

After having the solar panels, that power the motor home, sitting behind the windscreen all winter, I have decided to bring them outside again for the season. Although they do a great job keeping the batteries topped up all winter they certainly perform better in direct sunlight.
Last year I just had them standing next to the van but with the first volunteers arriving soon, dogs running around and pigs at the project you just never know who is going to knock one over or even step on it.
And of course there is Caithness wind. Worst enemy of everything that isn't bolted or anchored to the ground...

This pallet is made from plywood which is very heavy compared to other pallets. The perfect base for my project. I won't have to pour concrete and bolt it all to the ground. Hopefully.

Some old posts cut to length, screwed to the base, and the back of the frame is done already. The damage on Nessie you can see in the picture is from last years 112 mph storm. It lifted a large 150wp solar panel off the ground although it was tied to the bumper. The glass shattered on the panel but it still works. I plan to repair it one day. Poor Nessie got bruised and battered.

Another pallet added to the front at an angle, screwed onto the base and the top of the back frame. Feels pretty sturdy, but will have to see if it needs bracing when the wind is up.

That's where the bottom panel is going to sit. There are three 13wp amorphous briefcase panels I bought last year at a really good price (ebay). I recently tested them in full sunshine and they can output up to 0.91A each. Realistically they produce 2A, which should be enough for Nessie and her ever changing visitors.

Solar panels added and screwed into place with strips of wood. Job done. I wish my projects would always go that quick and smooth.

Happy pigs

The pigs have only been with us for 10 days and they are starting to adapt to their new life very well. Since I have been feeding them from the ground from the start they have already learnt to forage for their food a bit more. This helps with keeping the excitement down. I spread the feed out in several different places which makes it impossible for the boar to protect all the food and keep it for himself.

As you can see the sows backbone is still sticking out from previously being malnourished. She is having a good time with the straw bales I have put out to soak up the moisture in the ground. It gives the pigs something to do and keeps their mind off extra feed. I have also changed the feeding times each day so that they don't get into a habit of expecting food at certain times of the day.

Since noticing that the pigs get excited when the quad bike is driving around I have made sure I fed them first before getting the quad out, then took water up to them on the quad. Couple times I have just driven past or got off the quad and gave the boar a scratch (the sow isn't keen on being scratched yet as her back bone is still sticking out and she is also more vary of people). They have since calmed down and even ignore the quad.

Both have started to listen to me and I am now teaching them to walk away from me when I ask them to. Not an easy task as they seem to think I miraculously grow food in my pockets and wellies whilst trying to fill their drinker. I am sure they will get the hang of it soon.

 












I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow the house down.....failing that I use it to scratch myself. If only I could reach between my ears. Never mind. I've already trained that bloke to do that for me.

Happy piggies and no need to hog the food, there is an endless supply. Sshhh don't tell the boar that he will have to go on a diet if he carries on like this. It will spoil his fun...