Larsen Poultry Ranch - homesteading journey

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

We have no dogs at our house right now. There are some in the neighborhood but they are usually contained on their various properties.

No squirrels trapped yet, but the feed sprinkled outside the trap had been removed by this morning.

Mom came over to watch munchkin so I could work in the yard.

Started to put up the shade cloth over the rabbit zone. Got two sides attached and then realized it was the grommets on the short side corners not the long side corners. Grr. Took tie wire back off both corners and redid the one corner so is aligned longwise. Then I had to take off and move the post extension thingy to a different spot because there was too much slack. New spot is as far as I can go towards the shed/end of rabbit zone and there's still some slack. We'll make it work. Got the shade cloth up and over the rabbit shelter, and it already feels like a difference to me. I want to get a gap between the shade cloth and the top of the shelter, I feel like it will work better that way. I then moved the ladder over to the shipping container and climbed up to the top. Hubby was now quite worried and wanted me to come down. I told him if he didn't want his 31 weeks pregnant wife on a ladder then he needed to help when asked for help. Not just assume the project will disappear when no help is forthcoming.

The size of the shade cloth is causing it to just drape over the rabbit shelter even if we tie the other end of to the shipping container. I climbed off the top of the shipping container without incident and hubby got supplies to attach a pole to the far side of the shipping container so we can try tying the shade cloth to that and have it stretch farther. I started feeling overheated since it was lunchtime and I had done all this without my hat so I went inside for water, shade, and food. Hubby finished attaching the pole and followed me inside.

After lunch mom, munchkin, and I went to green acres and I got a few plants. Mostly marigolds, basil, leeks, and a hass avocado in a 5" sleeve. Munchkin had refused to nap this morning but was starting to look sleepy. We stopped for frozen yogurt cones and by the time mom came back with the order munchkin was asleep. We got a cup to put his cone in and brought it home for hubby.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

After arriving home, mom left to go home and relax and munchkin was still asleep. Hubby enjoyed the frozen yogurt cone soup and said the squirrelinator had caught 2 squirrels. Weirdly they were both dead in the cage. Not sure why? The cage had been in shade as of that morning and nothing in it just before 9 when I checked. It was in sun by afternoon but seems odd. I hope they didn't suffer; I want them dead but I would prefer a quick death for them. We emptied the squirrels down the hill as a warning to the others and reset the trap in a different spot with more chicken feed.

From the droppings left behind, I'm thinking the ground squirrels are the ones getting into the rabbit feeders.

 

[Ridgetop]

If they got caught after you left for shopping with a sleepy toddler and were dead when you got back, it was quick.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Went and checked on the rabbits and with the fans going and the shade cloth, the rabbits are breathing normally and one was even eating pellets. It's only up to low 80s today. Next week is supposed to get up to 106-110 possibly.

 

[Mini Horses]

Hubby was now quite worried and wanted me to come down. I told him if he didn't want his 31 weeks pregnant wife on a ladder then he needed to help when asked for help. Not just assume the project will disappear when no help is forthcoming.

you go, girl!!

 

[Baymule]

When the temps climb, you will be ready for it. The shade cloth is going to make a huge difference.

 

[SageHill]

Went and checked on the rabbits and with the fans going and the shade cloth, the rabbits are breathing normally and one was even eating pellets. It's only up to low 80s today. Next week is supposed to get up to 106-110 possibly.

I ~think summer may be arriving down here soon -- it's warming up quickly today.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

I ~think summer may be arriving down here soon -- it's warming up quickly today.

Yup, starting to see heat advisory notices shared on FB. It's going to get really hot in the valley by the end of the week. Thankfully the foothills are a little lower on temps, but it's still expected to get over 100 several days in a row.

 

[Baymule]

Only a high of 97F today, I’ll take it! Then 99F the rest of the week, next Monday a string of 100F days. BUT—-I won’t be on the roof after Saturday!! I might even take a few days of nothing but laying up under the AC like a sloth.

Your heat is arriving, be careful in the heat, like I’m one to talk. LOL

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

I'm kinda tempted to see if the shade cloth would fit over the roof... Probably have to get several and attach them together. And get big poles or something to anchor the edges. Poles or lifts of some sort along the ridge to keep it from touching the roof. Hmm. Probably cut the cooling bill though.

The house is 24*56 ish in the main part, with the 10*12 pop out in the living room. Could probably get 3-4 20*30 shades to cover the whole thing?

I think he was planning to start the roof project this weekend. He's got most of the supplies, just need to get some replacement decking plywood and roof removal tools.