wasfast
Well-known member
The crop dusters are indeed impressive pilots. I grew up on a farm and saw them often as a kid. There also have been some pilots that crashed, not surprising.
...and so it begins
- Thread starter fourbyford
- Start date
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Interesting you mentioned that...
I think it was last fall, and IIRC, think it was the bi-plane that got hung about 60' up in a tree. Pilot got out w/no injuries and, somehow, they got the plane down and, apparently, flying again!
Unbelievable!!
I think it was last fall, and IIRC, think it was the bi-plane that got hung about 60' up in a tree. Pilot got out w/no injuries and, somehow, they got the plane down and, apparently, flying again!
Unbelievable!!
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Awesome day today...
It was a bit cool outside when I got up this morning... 26°. So, I decided to get started on insulating the 3rd (and last, for now) garage door.
Finished cleaning the crud off the door and started cutting insulation on the table saw. This one was a bit different... I cut 1 1/2 sheets into ~ 12" strips. I did the first two doors using scrap leftover from doing the walls. Although I saved a bit of cash, it took some time. This one went pretty quickly. While I had the saw set up, I also cut some 3/4" strips.
The doors are formed to create a channel at the top and bottom of each panel section. The channel measures about 1 5/8" wide and an inch deep.
I placed a couple of the 3/4" strips in the bottom of a channel and measured to determine the length of my 12" wide strips.
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
It was a bit cool outside when I got up this morning... 26°. So, I decided to get started on insulating the 3rd (and last, for now) garage door.
Finished cleaning the crud off the door and started cutting insulation on the table saw. This one was a bit different... I cut 1 1/2 sheets into ~ 12" strips. I did the first two doors using scrap leftover from doing the walls. Although I saved a bit of cash, it took some time. This one went pretty quickly. While I had the saw set up, I also cut some 3/4" strips.
The doors are formed to create a channel at the top and bottom of each panel section. The channel measures about 1 5/8" wide and an inch deep.
I placed a couple of the 3/4" strips in the bottom of a channel and measured to determine the length of my 12" wide strips.
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Then, I measure and cut the 12" strips to length. The goal is a snug, friction fit.
Placing a 3/4" strip in the bottom and top channels, I'm able to start the 12" panel in place and tap it home. A couple of panels were really snug but, I finally got them in place. I should mention that the 3/4" strips are not the full width of the door section I'm working on. I had to leave them short to allow me to snake the 12" panel into the upper channel to get it in position. Once I worked my way partially across, I had to rip my panels into 6" wide strips... I took short pieces of the 3/4" strips and added them, top and bottom, as I went.
For the final piece, I cut a strip about 3/8" thick to bring the foam to the level of the upper "lip" of the channel. The final piece is cut to fit and is a very snug friction fit on all sides.
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Placing a 3/4" strip in the bottom and top channels, I'm able to start the 12" panel in place and tap it home. A couple of panels were really snug but, I finally got them in place. I should mention that the 3/4" strips are not the full width of the door section I'm working on. I had to leave them short to allow me to snake the 12" panel into the upper channel to get it in position. Once I worked my way partially across, I had to rip my panels into 6" wide strips... I took short pieces of the 3/4" strips and added them, top and bottom, as I went.
For the final piece, I cut a strip about 3/8" thick to bring the foam to the level of the upper "lip" of the channel. The final piece is cut to fit and is a very snug friction fit on all sides.
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
And, with the final panel in place. I was able to get the door about 2/3 finished when I realized it was getting warm outside...
Time for something completely different...
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Time for something completely different...
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Went out and resumed work on the duck house. I realize this doesn't look like much progress but... this job is a true test for me... to keep my OCD at bay. It goes without saying that there is not a single thing on this building that is plumb, level or square. Agghhh!!
Anyways, I started by cleaning a lot of dirt and straw out of the section I'm working on. Followed that by installing 30# felt to help keep air infiltration down and, to keep any moisture that might get through the board & batten siding away from the fiberglass insulation.
Then, I started adding framing... to have something to staple insulation to and, support the plywood wall covering.
I'm not sure which hole I crawled out of... last I knew, f/g insulation was available for wall studs 16" OR 24" o/c. When I was at the Home Depot on Sunday, the ONLY insulation I could find was for 16" o/c. Guess I I haven't built anything to code recently but, last I remember, I thought the push was to build 2 x 6 walls 24" o/c... for added stiffness and better insulation...
Am I missing something here... did we change again?
Anyways, not that big of a deal on this project... just a few extra studs made to fit in completely crooked spaces. This is definitely one of those "character building" jobs... lol The good thing is that it's a pretty small space!
...D
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Anyways, I started by cleaning a lot of dirt and straw out of the section I'm working on. Followed that by installing 30# felt to help keep air infiltration down and, to keep any moisture that might get through the board & batten siding away from the fiberglass insulation.
Then, I started adding framing... to have something to staple insulation to and, support the plywood wall covering.
I'm not sure which hole I crawled out of... last I knew, f/g insulation was available for wall studs 16" OR 24" o/c. When I was at the Home Depot on Sunday, the ONLY insulation I could find was for 16" o/c. Guess I I haven't built anything to code recently but, last I remember, I thought the push was to build 2 x 6 walls 24" o/c... for added stiffness and better insulation...
Am I missing something here... did we change again?
Anyways, not that big of a deal on this project... just a few extra studs made to fit in completely crooked spaces. This is definitely one of those "character building" jobs... lol The good thing is that it's a pretty small space!
...D
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
drivesitfar
Well-known member
4by: Heat and insulation. sounds good to me!!
are you going to maybe put a strip of duct or packing tape on the edges of your insulation and garage door framing?
keep up the great work and best of luck with the chicken coop turned duck nursery.
cheers
are you going to maybe put a strip of duct or packing tape on the edges of your insulation and garage door framing?
keep up the great work and best of luck with the chicken coop turned duck nursery.
cheers
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Hey Drives,
As far as the foam-to-door situation, I'm thinking a small bead of 100% silicone caulk. And, I found some white plastic corrugated board (think plastic cardboard) to cover each door panel... a 4' x 8' sheet is about $10 and, I dont think it will add enough weight that I'll have to change the springs on my doors. I realize the plastic isn't fireproof but, so far, I've been pretty good at doing my welding and grinding outside... pretty sure I can keep that up. The plastic panels should look a bit better than the styrofoam and hopefully, will be easy to keep clean. At any rate, that's what I'll have until I can save the cash for new doors. A LOT of things higher on the list than those though!
Thanks for the visit and the good words...
...D
As far as the foam-to-door situation, I'm thinking a small bead of 100% silicone caulk. And, I found some white plastic corrugated board (think plastic cardboard) to cover each door panel... a 4' x 8' sheet is about $10 and, I dont think it will add enough weight that I'll have to change the springs on my doors. I realize the plastic isn't fireproof but, so far, I've been pretty good at doing my welding and grinding outside... pretty sure I can keep that up. The plastic panels should look a bit better than the styrofoam and hopefully, will be easy to keep clean. At any rate, that's what I'll have until I can save the cash for new doors. A LOT of things higher on the list than those though!
Thanks for the visit and the good words...
...D
Growlertdi
Well-known member
I need to insulate my own garage doors, although I need to straighten one out first.. someone backed into it with a hatchback a few years ago and bowed it out pretty good... oops.
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Hmmm, one of mine had a dent in it at the exact same height as the ball mount on my truck... never did figure out how that happened...
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Decent weather yesterday and today... sunny and mid to upper 40's. I've managed a couple of errand trips to the "little" city (pop. 350) just up the road a few miles... yesterday went to get the mail and to stop in at the local hardware/chainsaw shop (chainsaws are big around here... logging don't ya know) to get some staples for my hammer stapler. And, they just happened to have some. While there, I asked the person behind the counter if they were staying busy... "no... the weather in the high country can't decide if its winter or spring so not many loggers working at the moment... but in a week or two, we WILL be." So today, I dropped off my weed eater and chainsaw for a bit of maintenance... wont be long and I'll be busy with those.
Despite the distractions, I did manage to make a bit more progress on the old barn/duck house conversion. I think I spent more time head scratching than I did building. Some of the existing posts are so out of plumb it's a real challenge to figure out how to "split the difference" with the framing to try to make something work. One way or another, it'll get done.
In the first pic, I managed to get some 30# felt on the walls... probably mentioned that before...
Pic #2... got the insulation on the side wall before I ran out of daylight
And, my neighbor dropped off a load of gravel. Guess I'll be spreading that in the morning. Things have dried out here nicely... could be a good time to start back on the garage addition but, we are supposed to have a bit of precip over the weekend. Guess that'll determine what and how much gets done on that project. I hope to at least get the large landscape blocks set to hold back the bank of our pond (not that there's any danger of it going anywhere... just don't want it sloughing off and making a mess of things) and get the final grade work done before I have to leave here and get back to yet another project... in Wyoming...
Never boring here!
...D
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Despite the distractions, I did manage to make a bit more progress on the old barn/duck house conversion. I think I spent more time head scratching than I did building. Some of the existing posts are so out of plumb it's a real challenge to figure out how to "split the difference" with the framing to try to make something work. One way or another, it'll get done.
In the first pic, I managed to get some 30# felt on the walls... probably mentioned that before...
Pic #2... got the insulation on the side wall before I ran out of daylight
And, my neighbor dropped off a load of gravel. Guess I'll be spreading that in the morning. Things have dried out here nicely... could be a good time to start back on the garage addition but, we are supposed to have a bit of precip over the weekend. Guess that'll determine what and how much gets done on that project. I hope to at least get the large landscape blocks set to hold back the bank of our pond (not that there's any danger of it going anywhere... just don't want it sloughing off and making a mess of things) and get the final grade work done before I have to leave here and get back to yet another project... in Wyoming...
Never boring here!
...D
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Pressingonward
Well-known member
That old barn has a lot of character - looks pretty cool but I can see what a pain it must have been to get studs in there. Your ducks are going to be spoiled with such a nice coupe. We had Moskovie ducks growing up - they were free to roam and usually nested in one of the haysheds. I always enjoyed discovering their nests as a kid and holding up the eggs to the sun to see which ones were developing.
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
We decided on the Rouen variety. They are apparently so big/heavy they pretty much won't fly. They closely resemble Mallards which I've always thought were beautiful birds. They say Rouen are not prolific egg layers which will be a good thing, once we get the right number of birds, since it's only me and the misses. At some point, we may start selling eggs but, the closest farmers market is a bit of a drive. Once these guys get big enough, they'll probably want to stay on/near the pond. Our plan is to let them roam as well but will be put in at night. We have an absolute metric ton of coyotes around here... rumors of wolves are somewhat common, fortunately, only the occasional raccoon or porcupine. We definitely don't want to start feeding ANY of those guys!
Thanks for stopping by!
...D
Thanks for stopping by!
...D
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
rfpowerdude
Well-known member
The ducks will be awesome! Beautiful land and place you have there!
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Hey Joe,
Thanks for the visit! We feel absolutely blessed to live here. As I traveled around in the military, I was mostly stationed near cities. They do have some degree of appeal but, I finally realized that a quiet farm life is what I needed and wanted. I always sort of joked that my goal was to retire near a town so small that it barely qualified for a post office. I actually found that place! And, we have a convenience store/gas station, grocery store a "pub" a restaurant, NAPA, small library, the hardware/saw shop... and, we are near enough to the "big" city for a trip or three per month. Absolutely perfect!
Thanks for the visit! We feel absolutely blessed to live here. As I traveled around in the military, I was mostly stationed near cities. They do have some degree of appeal but, I finally realized that a quiet farm life is what I needed and wanted. I always sort of joked that my goal was to retire near a town so small that it barely qualified for a post office. I actually found that place! And, we have a convenience store/gas station, grocery store a "pub" a restaurant, NAPA, small library, the hardware/saw shop... and, we are near enough to the "big" city for a trip or three per month. Absolutely perfect!
rfpowerdude
Well-known member
Dang, that does sound perfect. I could see myself and the wife in a retirement situation like that. Especially with a nice shop, a big pond and some fowl for eggs! Subscribed and looking forward to updates!
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
So... here's a pic of our current "post office"...
Apparently, there were problems with the actual building they had been leasing for years so, the Gov abruptly terminated the lease... and we got this. A lot of the town folk are fairly wound up about it... I think it's kinda funny. The ONLY problem that I can see is that we have to go get our mail during the hours they're open... cant just walk up any time and get it out of your p.o. box. For us, it's not that big of a deal. We only go for the mail once or twice/week.
This was supposed to be a "temporary " thing... we're coming up on a year and are no closer to a building than when the whole thing began... lol
Small town life...
...D
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Apparently, there were problems with the actual building they had been leasing for years so, the Gov abruptly terminated the lease... and we got this. A lot of the town folk are fairly wound up about it... I think it's kinda funny. The ONLY problem that I can see is that we have to go get our mail during the hours they're open... cant just walk up any time and get it out of your p.o. box. For us, it's not that big of a deal. We only go for the mail once or twice/week.
This was supposed to be a "temporary " thing... we're coming up on a year and are no closer to a building than when the whole thing began... lol
Small town life...
...D
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wasfast
Well-known member
People are complaining about the new post office and don't appreciate that the "Government" went to all the trouble to install locally sourced steps.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
4by: your framing looks great. I was going to comment on your wiring not having conduit, but since it's a huge upgrade over what you had i didn't mention that it looked a lot like Andy's garage wiring at his place in Oklahoma.
interesting story about your post office. I had a client back in the early 1980's that built a few post offices and set them up with long term leases. I would have thought the post office would have owned their own buildings before meeting him.
so the truck has your P.O. Box too?
that breed of ducks you picked seem to be the ones i see most around here. one pond in a beach front acreage owned by a local neighborhood fills up with them, but the eagles like to feast on them when they venture out into Puget Sound with their babies. not sure how many hawks and eagles you have, but coyotes and other 4 legged critters won't be the only ones trying to eat your ducks so best of luck with that.
speaking of big birds has an eagle or coyote eaten any of those turkeys you seem to have wandering your farm?
yep your life should be even better once you sell Wyoming so you don't have to spend so much time down there. good luck!!
interesting story about your post office. I had a client back in the early 1980's that built a few post offices and set them up with long term leases. I would have thought the post office would have owned their own buildings before meeting him.
so the truck has your P.O. Box too?
that breed of ducks you picked seem to be the ones i see most around here. one pond in a beach front acreage owned by a local neighborhood fills up with them, but the eagles like to feast on them when they venture out into Puget Sound with their babies. not sure how many hawks and eagles you have, but coyotes and other 4 legged critters won't be the only ones trying to eat your ducks so best of luck with that.
speaking of big birds has an eagle or coyote eaten any of those turkeys you seem to have wandering your farm?
yep your life should be even better once you sell Wyoming so you don't have to spend so much time down there. good luck!!
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Hey Drives...
The wiring is MC... metallic clad (spiral wound metal cladding)... no conduit required.
We do have raptors... I see bald eagles, hawks and owls on a regular basis... I'm kinda wondering how all that might work out... guess well see. Our cats run around the yard constantly... I've sort of half expected to see one being carried away at some point. So far, so good. And, lots of folks locally have free-ranging chickens... I think well probably be OK. The turkeys are very wary... not much gets close to them .
All the mail goes to the mail truck. We have to pick it up at the "window"... but, we're still considered to have a p.o. box. I guess at some point, we may actually get a real post office again...
Wasfast... hmmm... seems ya just can't make some people happy... lol
Guys, thanks for visits!
...D
The wiring is MC... metallic clad (spiral wound metal cladding)... no conduit required.
We do have raptors... I see bald eagles, hawks and owls on a regular basis... I'm kinda wondering how all that might work out... guess well see. Our cats run around the yard constantly... I've sort of half expected to see one being carried away at some point. So far, so good. And, lots of folks locally have free-ranging chickens... I think well probably be OK. The turkeys are very wary... not much gets close to them .
All the mail goes to the mail truck. We have to pick it up at the "window"... but, we're still considered to have a p.o. box. I guess at some point, we may actually get a real post office again...
Wasfast... hmmm... seems ya just can't make some people happy... lol
Guys, thanks for visits!
...D
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Well... after working ALL day, I have one picture to post. Just doesn't seem right...
I started by moving 6 bales and what seemed to be an entire ton of loose straw... bedding that we had been using for the dog children. Then, I set out to come up with a plan to at least somewhat level the floor in the new duck house. Probably hard to tell in the pics but, the back left corner where I've been working was down at least 16" from what I could determine to be "level". As I was working out there yesterday, and, after stepping in the hole for about the third time, I thought... hmmm... gravel would be the perfect solution to this problem.
I was thinking that, today, I would call the building supply about 40 miles in the opposite direction I normally go... pretty sure that they rent dump trailers and I know they sell gravel, so, problem easily solved. It was about that time I heard someone coming up the driveway... my neighbor! With a large trailer load of gravel!! How cool is that?? So, this afternoon, I set out with shovel and wheel barrow to move what ended up being about half of the load. I should mention that, even if I actually had gotten the loader set up on my tractor, I would still have been doing the manual labor thing... absolutely no way to get the gravel inside the building with mechanical muscle... had to go old school. But, the exercise did me some good... I think... lol Guess we'll see how i feel in the morning.
Another thing that occurred to me was that if i didn't have some sort of a "retaining" structure, I would have to either fill up most of this side of the building with gravel or, I would have gravel sloughing off instead of supporting my wall. Another idea... The PO's had, for reasons unknown, 6 of the pier blocks, that you would use when building a deck, just sort of strewn around the building. When I first saw them, I figured I didn't have a use for them and loaded them out and was going to put them with the pile of pier blocks that has accumulated. For some reason, these folks loved those blocks. I've been picking them out of various places ever since I got here and putting them in a pile. I guess, around here, they could be considered an infinite resource... lol. Maybe, some day, I'll find a use for the rest of them.
Anyways, I brought the 6 back into the building... dug a mostly level trench... dropped in some gravel and got it level. Then, I arranged the blocks to be in a (mostly) straight line, and level. Good enough to keep the gravel in place. And, I'll lay the bottom plate on the top of these when I build the wall.
Whew! Took as long to write about it as it did to actually do the work...
But now, with this problem solved, I can move forward... things should be moving along now! (famous last words??)
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
I started by moving 6 bales and what seemed to be an entire ton of loose straw... bedding that we had been using for the dog children. Then, I set out to come up with a plan to at least somewhat level the floor in the new duck house. Probably hard to tell in the pics but, the back left corner where I've been working was down at least 16" from what I could determine to be "level". As I was working out there yesterday, and, after stepping in the hole for about the third time, I thought... hmmm... gravel would be the perfect solution to this problem.
I was thinking that, today, I would call the building supply about 40 miles in the opposite direction I normally go... pretty sure that they rent dump trailers and I know they sell gravel, so, problem easily solved. It was about that time I heard someone coming up the driveway... my neighbor! With a large trailer load of gravel!! How cool is that?? So, this afternoon, I set out with shovel and wheel barrow to move what ended up being about half of the load. I should mention that, even if I actually had gotten the loader set up on my tractor, I would still have been doing the manual labor thing... absolutely no way to get the gravel inside the building with mechanical muscle... had to go old school. But, the exercise did me some good... I think... lol Guess we'll see how i feel in the morning.
Another thing that occurred to me was that if i didn't have some sort of a "retaining" structure, I would have to either fill up most of this side of the building with gravel or, I would have gravel sloughing off instead of supporting my wall. Another idea... The PO's had, for reasons unknown, 6 of the pier blocks, that you would use when building a deck, just sort of strewn around the building. When I first saw them, I figured I didn't have a use for them and loaded them out and was going to put them with the pile of pier blocks that has accumulated. For some reason, these folks loved those blocks. I've been picking them out of various places ever since I got here and putting them in a pile. I guess, around here, they could be considered an infinite resource... lol. Maybe, some day, I'll find a use for the rest of them.
Anyways, I brought the 6 back into the building... dug a mostly level trench... dropped in some gravel and got it level. Then, I arranged the blocks to be in a (mostly) straight line, and level. Good enough to keep the gravel in place. And, I'll lay the bottom plate on the top of these when I build the wall.
Whew! Took as long to write about it as it did to actually do the work...
But now, with this problem solved, I can move forward... things should be moving along now! (famous last words??)
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Until reading your post, I hadn't heard of the Rouen duck variety. I used to have what I always thought was a Mallard. When he was a duckling, we fed him some type of food I got from the local IFA made for good growth of young game birds...I forget what it was now. But that food made him grow really fast, and he got huge! He never did fly further than a few feet. And he crash landed every time when he came back down, not graceful at all.
Here is Walter the "gravy ****". He is about 3 years old here, and was molting in this photo, so his colors are a little off.
So...now I'm thinking he may have not been a Mallard after all, but a Rouen?
He was with us 11 years before he passed, I still miss him, he was such a character.
Last edited:
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Wow! Walter certainly was a handsome young man! I'm sure he is missed. Awesome story, thanks for sharing!
My misses has a couple of questions... OK, more coming in as I'm typing... lol
Were you living in Utah when you had Walter? If so, any special considerations in winter? Why did you have only one duck? Will you get more?
If you're interested, I found a hatchery in Missouri that sells sexed or straight run poultry... I think a three bird minimum... overnight shipping. So, if you were to decide you need another duck-buddy, it is possible. The ducks we're getting from the farm store are straight run so we won't know what we've got for a while. (I definitely don't know much about poultry... no idea how to determine looking at chicks/ducklings) Anyways, I definitely want two or three drakes so, I depending how these work out, I may be ordering some birds.
I lived on a farm for a couple of the years I was stationed in England. The main part of the farm had a beautiful pond where a couple pairs of wood ducks had taken up year-round residence. Beautiful birds as well. I would like to find some of those, and probably could, but not sure I could keep them from migrating. Dunno, at some point, I may give it a try.
...D
My misses has a couple of questions... OK, more coming in as I'm typing... lol
Were you living in Utah when you had Walter? If so, any special considerations in winter? Why did you have only one duck? Will you get more?
If you're interested, I found a hatchery in Missouri that sells sexed or straight run poultry... I think a three bird minimum... overnight shipping. So, if you were to decide you need another duck-buddy, it is possible. The ducks we're getting from the farm store are straight run so we won't know what we've got for a while. (I definitely don't know much about poultry... no idea how to determine looking at chicks/ducklings) Anyways, I definitely want two or three drakes so, I depending how these work out, I may be ordering some birds.
I lived on a farm for a couple of the years I was stationed in England. The main part of the farm had a beautiful pond where a couple pairs of wood ducks had taken up year-round residence. Beautiful birds as well. I would like to find some of those, and probably could, but not sure I could keep them from migrating. Dunno, at some point, I may give it a try.
...D
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
*EDIT* My photo host site officially shut the doors & unplugged from the internet. I am trying to figure out where I saved them (on various thumb drives), and will fix the links as I am able. Sorry guys!
Thanks, he was sure fun to have around. Yes, we had him while living in Utah, near SLC.
I didn't plan on him either, my daughter at the time was 16 & really wanted a duck as a pet. I said no way...then her boyfriend surprised her with a baby duckling for her birthday. I was ready to strangle him! But soon the little guy was growing on me. Here he is the first week at home. This was March '05.
You can't tell the *** of the duck until his big boy feathers start coming in around 4-5 months old. At the time, I had no idea that they grew so fast. His first habitat was a big Tupperware storage container, in my daughter's bedroom. About 2.5 months later, he was big enough to jump out of that, and I knew I was in trouble. At the time, we had two large dogs in the back yard & there was no way I could let them at him.
Sooo I built him a pen out of repurposed wood that I cobbled together. I only roofed about a third, so he could stand in the rain if he wanted. It's hard to see, but I wrapped the open vertical parts with chicken wire, to keep the dogs out. The ramp doubled as a gate.
Please ignore the mess in the rest of the photo. The next spring most of the junk was gone & I laid down sod. Also, the little (dirty) pool (ducks love to poop!) was replaced the next summer with one that took up the entire floor & was 3 times as deep.
In the left of the photo, you can hopefully make out a makeshift chain link fence. I felt guilty leaving him in his pen all the time, so I put up the short fence so he could get out & the dogs wouldn't get him. That lasted for about 3 months, until our yellow lab figured out how to hop the fence. But he was good & didn't eat Walter. I was most afraid that our pitbull would eat him, luckily Meathead (the pit) couldn't jump the fence.
By the next spring, Walter had made friends with the dogs, and pretty much considered himself a dog & would follow them around all over the yard. Ducks are very social birds & the dogs became his "flock" I guess. I still put him in his pen each night, so he would feel safe. Not that I thought the dogs would kill him, I just wanted peace of mind.
The next spring we got another duckling, and when his feathers started coming in, we saw he was male too & named him Stanley. As Stanley got older, he & Walter would fight over who was king of the pool. I hoped they would figure out that they could share, but one November day, Stanley had enough & flew away. I didn't know he knew how to fly until then.
I think Walter was happy he was gone.
Getting to the question of winter considerations, in the fall, I would remove the pool. In the back of the pen, there was a semi-enclosed room, that initially I thought he would love to hunker down in during the winter, to get out of the snow & wind. I even put straw in there. WRONG...instead, he laid in the corner closest to the camera, sucked his feet into his feathers & got snowed on. A few times, I locked him into the little room, hoping he would like that better, but as soon as I left it open, he was right back in that corner.
Okay fine, I bought a plastic electric heat pad & secured in to the floor in that corner, so at least his belly & feet would be warm. He loved it!
In addition to being very social creatures, ducks can be very hard headed. Haha!
I'm not sure if I would get another duck...maybe in another couple years, I dunno. For the most part, they are pretty low maintenance, however in my situation, the pool was the bane of my existence. I had to clean it weekly, if I failed to do so, the built up poop & other bacteria stuff was really hard to scrub clean. In the 2nd photo, the white brush was the official pool scrubber.
Walter sure loved it when I came to clean the pool though, he would stay nearby & watch closely to make sure I was doing it right. When I was refilling it, as soon as there was enough water to splash in, he was in there splashing & making a big 'ol wet mess!
He passed away 2/10/16, a month shy of 11 years old.
I am trying to figure out where I saved them (on various thumb drives), and will fix the links as I am able. Sorry guys!Thanks, he was sure fun to have around. Yes, we had him while living in Utah, near SLC.
I didn't plan on him either, my daughter at the time was 16 & really wanted a duck as a pet. I said no way...then her boyfriend surprised her with a baby duckling for her birthday. I was ready to strangle him! But soon the little guy was growing on me. Here he is the first week at home. This was March '05.
You can't tell the *** of the duck until his big boy feathers start coming in around 4-5 months old. At the time, I had no idea that they grew so fast. His first habitat was a big Tupperware storage container, in my daughter's bedroom. About 2.5 months later, he was big enough to jump out of that, and I knew I was in trouble. At the time, we had two large dogs in the back yard & there was no way I could let them at him.
Sooo I built him a pen out of repurposed wood that I cobbled together. I only roofed about a third, so he could stand in the rain if he wanted. It's hard to see, but I wrapped the open vertical parts with chicken wire, to keep the dogs out. The ramp doubled as a gate.
Please ignore the mess in the rest of the photo.
The next spring most of the junk was gone & I laid down sod. Also, the little (dirty) pool (ducks love to poop!) was replaced the next summer with one that took up the entire floor & was 3 times as deep.
In the left of the photo, you can hopefully make out a makeshift chain link fence. I felt guilty leaving him in his pen all the time, so I put up the short fence so he could get out & the dogs wouldn't get him. That lasted for about 3 months, until our yellow lab figured out how to hop the fence. But he was good & didn't eat Walter. I was most afraid that our pitbull would eat him, luckily Meathead (the pit) couldn't jump the fence.
By the next spring, Walter had made friends with the dogs, and pretty much considered himself a dog & would follow them around all over the yard. Ducks are very social birds & the dogs became his "flock" I guess. I still put him in his pen each night, so he would feel safe. Not that I thought the dogs would kill him, I just wanted peace of mind.
The next spring we got another duckling, and when his feathers started coming in, we saw he was male too & named him Stanley. As Stanley got older, he & Walter would fight over who was king of the pool. I hoped they would figure out that they could share, but one November day, Stanley had enough & flew away. I didn't know he knew how to fly until then.
I think Walter was happy he was gone.
Getting to the question of winter considerations, in the fall, I would remove the pool. In the back of the pen, there was a semi-enclosed room, that initially I thought he would love to hunker down in during the winter, to get out of the snow & wind. I even put straw in there. WRONG...instead, he laid in the corner closest to the camera, sucked his feet into his feathers & got snowed on.
A few times, I locked him into the little room, hoping he would like that better, but as soon as I left it open, he was right back in that corner.Okay fine, I bought a plastic electric heat pad & secured in to the floor in that corner, so at least his belly & feet would be warm. He loved it!
In addition to being very social creatures, ducks can be very hard headed. Haha!
I'm not sure if I would get another duck...maybe in another couple years, I dunno. For the most part, they are pretty low maintenance, however in my situation, the pool was the bane of my existence. I had to clean it weekly, if I failed to do so, the built up poop & other bacteria stuff was really hard to scrub clean. In the 2nd photo, the white brush was the official pool scrubber.
Walter sure loved it when I came to clean the pool though, he would stay nearby & watch closely to make sure I was doing it right. When I was refilling it, as soon as there was enough water to splash in, he was in there splashing & making a big 'ol wet mess!
He passed away 2/10/16, a month shy of 11 years old.
Last edited:
Pressingonward
Well-known member
My wife would like to have some ducks (or chickens, or horses, or goats, or pigs, or cows, or an anteater...), but I've been resisting so far since we don't have a pond. I know if we got ducks I'd be doing a weekly kiddie pool cleaning, and I don't really have the time or inclination to do that...
Not that I'd mind having ducks other than that.
Not that I'd mind having ducks other than that.
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
My misses has wanted critters for a while now. I had horses for years... as it became obvious that our transition to living here was going to be a drawn out situation, I decided it best to sell them. Tough decision and I really miss having them but, I know it was the right thing to do. Between moving and travel for various reasons, I had been reluctant to get any more animals until the dust had settled. Guess we're getting to that point. So, in my mind, ducks should fairly easy. She wants goats but I'm not even ready for that. My cousin has raised goats for years... talking with him and seeing pics of his place, I'm not sure I'll ever be ready for them. Best i can tell... they eat EVERYTHING! He's sent me pics of some of his goats standing in trees eating everything in sight. Around here, the deer are enough of a nuisance... we certainly don't need to add to that problem. Once I get a couple of small pastures fenced, I think I'll put 10 or so acres in hay and, at that point, I can see a couple of saddle horses on the place. Several years ago, I had a team of drafts... Belgians... I'd really like to do that again as well... dunno, just have to see how things go.
Pressingonward
Well-known member
I like horses, especially if you have enough land to feed them, which it sounds like you do. Goats are entertaining, and great for keeping the underbrush in check, but they climb on everything including cars if they can get to them. We had a bit too much stuff piled up near the woodshed, and ended up having to chase them off of the woodshed roof...
Growlertdi
Well-known member
Interesting stories about your Fowl friends. Never had any birds myself.
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
It's been a busy few days. On Saturday, I helped our across the road neighbor with a couple of chores and, as we were finishing up, our down the road neighbor showed up with his tractor. We leveled and spread what was left of the gravel that he had brought and moved the landscape blocks to their final resting place. While I'm waiting on the five needed to finish the job, I need to lay some drain tile behind these. That will require a bit of digging in a now somewhat confined space. I hadn't thought far enough ahead on that one so I didn't have that ready to go as I should have. Oh well... it will get done. We're having cool nights and warmish days... no worries.
On Sunday I decided to tackle the last couple of areas in the garage without insulation. Two small sections in the loft and the short wall where the service panel is mounted were the last areas needing attention. The small pieces in the loft were relatively quick and easy... the area around the service panel, not so much.
A few of the wires were covered by the first layer of insulation... the remaining ones will be covered by the second. My short term goal is to get at least one layer of insulation on every surface and, finish that last garage door. I've been working in the garage in the mornings and moving to the duck house in the afternoon. Lots of fiddling to get these pieces to fit but, we're making progress!
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On Sunday I decided to tackle the last couple of areas in the garage without insulation. Two small sections in the loft and the short wall where the service panel is mounted were the last areas needing attention. The small pieces in the loft were relatively quick and easy... the area around the service panel, not so much.
A few of the wires were covered by the first layer of insulation... the remaining ones will be covered by the second. My short term goal is to get at least one layer of insulation on every surface and, finish that last garage door. I've been working in the garage in the mornings and moving to the duck house in the afternoon. Lots of fiddling to get these pieces to fit but, we're making progress!
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OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Yesterday, the morning warmed up pretty quickly so I spent the day working on the duck house.
I started by removing the plywood from the wall I had built a couple of years ago.
Then, roughed in the wiring for a couple of outlets and lights, both in the duck room and in what's left of the kennel area. This took much longer than I think it should have. Part of that problem is the number of trips I take between this building and the garage... a distance of about 75 yards. Seems that, no matter how much I try to think ahead, I end up needing something from the garage. I really don't want to leave my tools out in this building overnight since the front is open... so, it usually takes a few trips back and forth to get everything I need out there. Guess it's all good... I get at least a bit of exercise this way.
Finished up the day by getting some insulation in this wall. Guess I really only "needed" to get insulation in the front portion (where the duck room will be)... if I even needed insulation at all... lol... but, once I get the duck room closed in, it wont be easy to get into the wall. So, not knowing how we'll eventually use this space, figured I'd just as well git 'r done.
As you can see... I ran a bit short of insulation. Which leads us to today's adventure... a trip to the big city.
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
I started by removing the plywood from the wall I had built a couple of years ago.
Then, roughed in the wiring for a couple of outlets and lights, both in the duck room and in what's left of the kennel area. This took much longer than I think it should have. Part of that problem is the number of trips I take between this building and the garage... a distance of about 75 yards. Seems that, no matter how much I try to think ahead, I end up needing something from the garage. I really don't want to leave my tools out in this building overnight since the front is open... so, it usually takes a few trips back and forth to get everything I need out there. Guess it's all good... I get at least a bit of exercise this way.
Finished up the day by getting some insulation in this wall. Guess I really only "needed" to get insulation in the front portion (where the duck room will be)... if I even needed insulation at all... lol... but, once I get the duck room closed in, it wont be easy to get into the wall. So, not knowing how we'll eventually use this space, figured I'd just as well git 'r done.
As you can see... I ran a bit short of insulation. Which leads us to today's adventure... a trip to the big city.
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Another "snag" I ran into yesterday was the fact that I could only buy insulation for studs 16" o/c. I had forgotten that I built this wall 24" o/c. A bit of cutting and splicing pretty much solved this problem. I would never do something like this on an area I was really concerned with but, given the application, think I'll be ok.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
4by: you might be very fortunate that you don't live in a big city with the government shutting down everything lately.
great stories about the ducks and animals and even though we have 5 cats (daughter and her 4 cats are staying with us til she finds a house to buy) I'd love a dog too. we get our other daughter's dog about 3 months a year when they are out of the country on business so maybe that's enough.
great work on the new duck coop if I can call it that and I hope you somehow manage to keep the little guys alive for many years to come.
nice to hear you have some great neighbors and i'm sure a lot of that has to do with your willingness to help them too.
it looks like maybe we have some great weather coming at us this week so be prepared for sunshine and maybe some warmth.
keep up the great work
great stories about the ducks and animals and even though we have 5 cats (daughter and her 4 cats are staying with us til she finds a house to buy) I'd love a dog too. we get our other daughter's dog about 3 months a year when they are out of the country on business so maybe that's enough.
great work on the new duck coop if I can call it that and I hope you somehow manage to keep the little guys alive for many years to come.
nice to hear you have some great neighbors and i'm sure a lot of that has to do with your willingness to help them too.
it looks like maybe we have some great weather coming at us this week so be prepared for sunshine and maybe some warmth.
keep up the great work
MrScott99
Well-known member
I just came across this thread for the first time. Enjoyed getting caught up on it, and looking forward to more updates! Beautiful place you have! I am somewhat familiar with the area, just a couple of hours away. Love it up there.
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
C.F.
Thanks for the additional info and pics! In the first one, it looks like Walter was watching TV with you? How long were you able to keep him inside? I'm sure we'll be experiencing some of that as well... we already have two dogs and two cats running around (or sleeping) our house... although I cant imagine trying to keep track of six of the little guys... lol
My misses got a small wading pool to put in the area near the duck house. We probably wont try to put them in the pond until they get a bit older. I'm not sure how we'll keep them entertained next winter... this definitely will be a learning experience!
Drives, yep, we count our blessings daily... cities are great places to visit but, I wouldn't want to live there... lol
Here in Idaho, Gov. Little seems to be doing a good job with his response to the COVID situation. Guess we'll see how things unfold.
You're right, I have great neighbors. When you live out like this, you know your neighbors and lend a hand when needed. My neighbor with the tractor helped out here on Saturday... came by on Sunday asking me if I knew anything about plumbing. Water was pouring out of the valve near his washing machine. I went with him and with a few tools and, in a few minutes, problem solved!
When we first moved here, there was a 160 acre parcel of land for sale directly across from our driveway. It was priced outrageously high and just sat for several years. Year before last, someone came in and, apparently cut a smokin' deal... bought it. The parcel was (is) basically a square... each side 1/2 mile long. But, the way the county road winds through, it cut a triangular piece off of the main tract... about 5 acres... that piece butts up to the N.E. corner of our land. Within days of buying, the new owner started walking his property and commented to someone that he was thinking about logging off that 5 acres. Since its visible from our house, that would've changed our world. Once the trees would've been gone, the ground is so steep that nothing much could've been done with it and it's so small that the county won't approve a building permit. Anyways, a little over a year ago, the original owner decided to seperate off a parcel of about 50 acres, which included the corner. Wasn't on the market long and some folks bought it. I noticed the activity and went and introduced myself to the new owner and we've become good friends. When we first met, I told him the story about the original owner's plan to log the corner and mentioned that I hoped he and his wife weren't having similar thoughts. And, I added that if they ever decided to sell off that 5 acres (since it isn't connected to their property) to let me know. Well, all this explanation to say that, the day has come! We're in the process of buying the 5 acres. Should close on it within a week or so. We won't be doing anything on it (if I ever get caught up with the million and one projects around here, I will thin some brush) but it's nice to not be concerned that some future owner might come in and cut down all the trees. The bad part is that the new owners have had a change of heart with their plans to build... so they wont be living there after all... but, they will stay in the area and, they sold the property to some folks that live just down the road so, another neighbor will move in.
Mr Scott,
Thanks for the comments!
Guys, thanks for the visits!!!
Thanks for the additional info and pics! In the first one, it looks like Walter was watching TV with you? How long were you able to keep him inside? I'm sure we'll be experiencing some of that as well... we already have two dogs and two cats running around (or sleeping) our house... although I cant imagine trying to keep track of six of the little guys... lol
My misses got a small wading pool to put in the area near the duck house. We probably wont try to put them in the pond until they get a bit older. I'm not sure how we'll keep them entertained next winter... this definitely will be a learning experience!
Drives, yep, we count our blessings daily... cities are great places to visit but, I wouldn't want to live there... lol
Here in Idaho, Gov. Little seems to be doing a good job with his response to the COVID situation. Guess we'll see how things unfold.
You're right, I have great neighbors. When you live out like this, you know your neighbors and lend a hand when needed. My neighbor with the tractor helped out here on Saturday... came by on Sunday asking me if I knew anything about plumbing. Water was pouring out of the valve near his washing machine. I went with him and with a few tools and, in a few minutes, problem solved!
When we first moved here, there was a 160 acre parcel of land for sale directly across from our driveway. It was priced outrageously high and just sat for several years. Year before last, someone came in and, apparently cut a smokin' deal... bought it. The parcel was (is) basically a square... each side 1/2 mile long. But, the way the county road winds through, it cut a triangular piece off of the main tract... about 5 acres... that piece butts up to the N.E. corner of our land. Within days of buying, the new owner started walking his property and commented to someone that he was thinking about logging off that 5 acres. Since its visible from our house, that would've changed our world. Once the trees would've been gone, the ground is so steep that nothing much could've been done with it and it's so small that the county won't approve a building permit. Anyways, a little over a year ago, the original owner decided to seperate off a parcel of about 50 acres, which included the corner. Wasn't on the market long and some folks bought it. I noticed the activity and went and introduced myself to the new owner and we've become good friends. When we first met, I told him the story about the original owner's plan to log the corner and mentioned that I hoped he and his wife weren't having similar thoughts. And, I added that if they ever decided to sell off that 5 acres (since it isn't connected to their property) to let me know. Well, all this explanation to say that, the day has come! We're in the process of buying the 5 acres. Should close on it within a week or so. We won't be doing anything on it (if I ever get caught up with the million and one projects around here, I will thin some brush) but it's nice to not be concerned that some future owner might come in and cut down all the trees. The bad part is that the new owners have had a change of heart with their plans to build... so they wont be living there after all... but, they will stay in the area and, they sold the property to some folks that live just down the road so, another neighbor will move in.
Mr Scott,
Thanks for the comments!
Guys, thanks for the visits!!!
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Quiet morning here... coffee... sort of half-heartedly trying to start a fire in the wood stove so the room will be warm when my misses gets up. It didn't get all that cool overnight... think it was 39° when I got up at 2:45... I thought it was odd that the stove didn't take off right away as it usually does. Went out to get another chunk of fire wood and saw that it's raining... hmmm
The children are laying in front of the stove waiting for heat... lol (3 of them anyways... hard to see the Mastiff sleeping in the background)... so I decided I'd better pay a bit more attention to the fire.
Once it gets light out, I'll head back out to the duck house project... should make some pretty good progress today.
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The children are laying in front of the stove waiting for heat... lol (3 of them anyways... hard to see the Mastiff sleeping in the background)... so I decided I'd better pay a bit more attention to the fire.
Once it gets light out, I'll head back out to the duck house project... should make some pretty good progress today.
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C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You're welcome! In that first photo, I was sitting at my computer desk, and he was just chillin' with me for a while. If I recall correctly, we had him inside upstairs for about 1.5 to 2 months, until he got big enough that he just wouldn't stay in his Tupperware container. Can't have poop all over the carpet! So then I sectioned off an area in an unfinished room in the basement & we kept him in there for another month or so, while I built the pen outside.
When the ducklings are still very small & fuzzy, they can't swim very long, so only have the pool water a couple inches deep. After they start growing feathers, then they can be in deep water.
With your duck house, I imagine they will do great during the winter.
TomcoPDR
Well-known member
4by
Wow scrolling thru this thread again, (I’ve never lived on a farm), but can imagine the peace and quiet out there. Able to have animals roaming around; relating to them ducks lol. Reminds me pending which city you’re in, some people have chicken coups in their backyard. (Our city doesn’t allow); but late grandma used to have in California in a major city, it was cool seeing fresh eggs literally daily... when grandma past (yearsssss ago), Lol a cousin (one of those environmentalists types, no judgement) refuse to let the rest of the family eat them... they were size of house cats. Those grandma chickens got to live out their natural lives in the backyard
Wow scrolling thru this thread again, (I’ve never lived on a farm), but can imagine the peace and quiet out there. Able to have animals roaming around; relating to them ducks lol. Reminds me pending which city you’re in, some people have chicken coups in their backyard. (Our city doesn’t allow); but late grandma used to have in California in a major city, it was cool seeing fresh eggs literally daily... when grandma past (yearsssss ago), Lol a cousin (one of those environmentalists types, no judgement) refuse to let the rest of the family eat them... they were size of house cats. Those grandma chickens got to live out their natural lives in the backyard
rfpowerdude
Well-known member
Didjall at least get to continue to enjoy the eggs ‘till the chickens passed?
OP
fourbyford
Well-known member
Hey Thomas,
Lol, I cant even imagine your cousin trying to tell the rest of the family NOT to eat farm fresh eggs... too funny!
RF, let's hope so!
Guys, thanks for the visits!
Well, as they say... plans are made to be changed. No progress on the duck house today. A few minutes after we finished breakfast we got a phone call... the ducks are in! So, a few chores and then... yet another trip to the big city... enough already!... lol
But, for these guys, the trip was worth it!
Sorry for the poor quality of the pics... I'm sure there'll be more in the coming days. For now, they're bedded down in a giant storage tote in the bath tub of our guest room. Interesting to think these tiny creatures, only a few days old, have traveled some great distance and are now in their new home! How cool is that?
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Lol, I cant even imagine your cousin trying to tell the rest of the family NOT to eat farm fresh eggs... too funny!
RF, let's hope so!
Guys, thanks for the visits!
Well, as they say... plans are made to be changed. No progress on the duck house today. A few minutes after we finished breakfast we got a phone call... the ducks are in! So, a few chores and then... yet another trip to the big city... enough already!... lol
But, for these guys, the trip was worth it!
Sorry for the poor quality of the pics... I'm sure there'll be more in the coming days. For now, they're bedded down in a giant storage tote in the bath tub of our guest room. Interesting to think these tiny creatures, only a few days old, have traveled some great distance and are now in their new home! How cool is that?
Sent from my SM-N960U using The Garage Journal mobile app