Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

Yesterday, DH took down the welded wire fencing and posts between the sideyard and backyard. That is, except for the corner post, one of the gate posts and the post next to the house. The previous owner set those posts in concrete, so they were hard to get out of our rock hard clay.

I suggested digging out the topsoil & pouring water around the posts, to soften the clay and make it easier to get the posts out. That worked for the corner post. But the one by the house had a bigger chunk of concrete. So, he poured more water & left it for today. The Pekins were SO excited when the found the mud to slosh their beaks in! This shot was taken from the back porch, looking down.

For the life of me, I can't figure out what they get out of eating mud!

Next DH went to digging around the 10' gatepost. At first all the birds gathered 'round, to help (dig bugs, that is). But I didn't get my camera fast enough. Here, are the last few hangers on...

 

[CntryBoy777]

Ducks sift, filter, and seine the mud for tiny insects, worms, slugs, snails, and insect larva and eggs....also, some plant roots. That is why they muddy the water, because they are draining the undesired dirt from what is containd in the bill full of dirt, mud, or whatever....they are not actually eating the dirt, but sifting it....

 

[Devonviolet]

The weather did the trick, for loosening the posts. However the posts didn't come out easily. This morning, DH tried his darndest, to get the gate post out

But, between the 20 pounds of concrete, and the weight of the 10'x5" post, he just couldnt get it out of the hole. So, I went out to help.

We wrapped a chain around the post & hooked it to the post puller. DH kept the post verticals, while I pushed down on the puller. As the post came out, we moved the hook down the chain & pushed down the lever again. Eventually, we worked the post out of the ground.

DH hit the concrete, that was around the post, with the sledge hammer & broke it into smaller pieces, which he put back into the hole before he filled it with dirt.

 

[Mike CHS]

Sometimes it takes longer to take them out than it does to put them in.

 

[Latestarter]

That's pretty much a sure thing when that much concrete is used...

 

[Baymule]

Don't cha just LOVE your T-post puller?? It sure makes life on the farm easier!

 

[Devonviolet]

Don't cha just LOVE your T-post puller?? It sure makes life on the farm easier!

Absolutely! If we hadn't had that T-post puller, we would have ended up digging down to within a few inches of the bottom of the concrete, to be able to loosen the concrete enough to get it out.

 

[Bruce]

Or find a friend with a tractor with FEL or backhoe to pull it out

 

[Baymule]

I drove T-posts in spring of 2015 when it was wet, then tried to pull them out that fall WITH a tractor and FEL. Each one took over an hour and some had to be watered and left to set over night. That soft sand turned to dry, hard, sandstone! I love the T-post puller, it is easy, quick and it works. I haven't tried it on any that are as bad as what I described above, but it is a great tool to have.

 

[Bruce]

I agree, and I have one