Chicken Coop Cleaner

Last summer we had an issue with a few of our hens having mites or lice...I'm really not sure which is was.  All I know is, it grossed us out!!  We did lots of research on how to rid our feathered friends of such a nuisance.  A soapy bath and a vinegar dip was the simplest, most natural way to get rid of 'em.  So we did it...to all of them.  We also cleaned everything out of their sleeping coop and started fresh.  We haven't any issues again, but we are in the cold months so critters are less of a problem.

 I started thinking, what if we helped prevent those nasty bugs from even wanting to be on our hens?  The one place where the hens always go to, every day and night is their eggmobile...it's where they lay eggs and sleep.  SO...we have concocted a spray that we will use every morning on their laying boxes & roosting sticks when we go let them out for the day.  We could probably spray it on the hens as well every now and then!  

 OUR RECIPE

peels from 2 oranges

handful of cinnamon sticks

white vinegar

Citrus oil is a natural bug deterrent...think of citronella candles

Cinnamon oil repels flies and other insects...so interesting the things you learn when you read books on herbs!!

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant, has antibacterial properties, kills mold and is also a bug repellent.

**Be sure to use PLAIN vinegar, not apple cider...the fruit oils in the apple cider vinegar will attract bugs!!!**

DIRECTIONS

Place your orange peels and cinnamon sicks in a quart size *glass* jar.  Pour vinegar to cover peels and sticks.  Cover loosely and let sit for a month or more.

And that's it!  It will sit in our kitchen with our other fermenting goods for a month before it's ready to use.

The happy recipient of 2 oranges for snack time ;)  Yes, I have big brothers if you can't already tell by my camoflauge!

P.S.  I decided to make one for our home as well.  We use vinegar to clean a lot but I never thought to infuse it with a scent.  

This post is linked to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways

Keeping Busy Building

Ben and momma time = old chick brooder turned kitchen storage!!  I loved the rustic look of this old box.  When we purchased our first bunch of hens and supplies from a local farmer this was included.

We wanted give the shelving we added the same patina as the box.  So Ben painted a thin coat (of paint that was left in the barn from previous owner!), then we roughly sanded it.

Looking good so far!

And there you have it!!  It fit *perfectly* on a blank wall that is next to the sink.  Much needed storage made for next to nothing!!

Between our home and the barn was a privacy fence.  We tore it down because we wanted to enjoy the view of the barn, animals and woods.  But we needed to keep something up to separate all the animals from our "yard"...(We want at least a little space with no chicken droppings so the kids can run and play without worrying about stepping in something gross!)  Jason and the kids put up the wire fencing you see. Then he commissioned the boys and I to make it look good.  All the long boards you see piled in this picture were *free*.  The school where Jason teaches redid their football stadium, and Jason helped take down the existing deck so he got to take the wood!!

Praise God for a man who teaches his young sons to use power tools...these 2 boys did it all...cutting, drilling, screwing.  I just helped with the initial measurements to get all the boards even.

It makes me smile every time I look at it :)  All that is left is to chop the tops of the beams down a bit.

We decided to mimic the fence in the back upfront, just for aesthetics really.  We really like the look of a farm fence :)  Again, repurposing old beams here.  These were all left in the barn from the previous owner.  The boys measured equal distances from the driveway to the end of the property, cut the beams to size, and we all cemented them in.

The next morning after school books were put away, we finished it.  Again, the reclaimed wood from the old football deck that Jason tore out at work.  Currently, we are working on weeding out the other side of the driveway so we can continue the front fence over there...its very overgrown and will take some serious work.

We are very pleased with how the fence turned out!  Now, if we can just get the hens to stay behind the rear fence!!!  Barbwire maybe?!

This post is linked to   Frugally Sustainable

Goat Hay Feeder

Our Nigerian goats, Latte & Mocha (yes, I named them!) have plenty of pasture to graze on, but we wanted to make a feeder to supplement them with hay in these cold, dormant, winter months. 

The previous owners of our farmhouse left a ton of wood scraps in the barn...not only that, but they put up a privacy fence in between our home and the barn.  We already had plans to remove it...the privacy fence will be replaced with your typical farm looking fence.  So the boys and I gathered some of the scraps, took down one of the privacy panels and cut it all to 3 feet lengths.

First, Nate and I built the vertical panel that will be the center.  We had decided on an "L" shaped feeder but last minute made it a double sided one...it just made more sense to do that. 

Here is the feeder, with the main frame built (it's laying on its side).  Ben is measuring the sides to add a piece of wood all the way around to catch the hay that falls...and to make it look a little nicer :)

 We found these extra spindels from our front porch and thought they would be nice to add.  It's looking good!  And mind you, this is with no plans...just the boys making it up as we go!

We added some fencing pieces to hold up a tin roof, and to give it more support.

These scrap pieces of tin fit *perfectly* on the top of the feeder!  I love it when things work out well!!

And now the hay.  What hard working boys!!  And I must mention that this could not have been done if Caitlin wasn't so willing to be watching the little ones!

Perfect, cute, FREE feeder!  Gotta love it!!  Behind it you see our other work in progress for the goats...a milking station with living quarters on both sides...from more fencing panels and tin we already had.  We will show you as soon as we're done!

 Success!!!  Mocha loves it!!

This post was linked to:  Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways

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LOVE TO ALL!!