Recent content by gtaus

:idunno For some of the same reasons, only different, I don't think it is worth my time to trap and remove any squirrels from my property. I have 3 acres of wooded lot on lakeshore and there are probably dozens of squirrels in my area just ready to move in if I get rid of the squirrels closest...

:idunno I don't know if you guys are serious about cooking up a squirrel, or not, but I can tell you that in my younger days a friend and I shot, cleaned, and cooked some squirrels one time. I can't remember what it tasted like but seem to recall it was a lot of work for some amount of meat to...

Speaking of cheap zip ties, Menards just started a sale on zip ties this week...

⚠️ Update on Raised Bed Protective Covers Speaking of finding a good use for those notched out 2X4 stretchers, a week ago I made some frames with pallet wood 2X4's and stapled on some chicken wire on top to act as protective covers for my beds... I was concerned that a squirrel would be able...

I can see where that would work with some raised beds. However, the fence panel raised beds I built are two feet high and the weight of the soil caused the bowing. The only way I think I could correct that problem is to fully take out all the soil out of the raised bed and rebuild it with either...

I think the proper name for them is cable ties, but lots of people (like me) just call them zip ties. Anyways, at the big box stores where I buy my cable ties, they have both the holding strength capacity and UV rating of the ties on the packages. If your black zip ties are lasting 3-5 years, I...

⚠️ Raised Bed Construction Lessons Learned The first raised beds I ever built are now about 8 years old. I had some wood 4X8 foot fence panels that I cut in half and made a few 4X8 foot raised beds, about two feet high. For the most part, they are still in service, but this spring they are...

Not all zip ties are made the same. For outdoor use, you want to use UV rated zip ties. AFAIK, the color of the zip tie does not matter. Of course, the strength of the zip tie will also factor into how long it might last outside... For example, when I attached my chicken run fence wire to...

I never throw that kind of stuff out. They might come in handy for a small project. Or, maybe I'd use some zip ties to make them 2, 3 or 4 feet wide. Where I live, cattle panel is pretty expensive, so I would find a use for those thin strips. Zip ties are cheap and are easy to use on lots of things.

I never throw that kind of stuff out. They might come in handy for a small project. Or, maybe I'd use some zip ties to make them 2, 3 or 4 feet wide. Where I live, cattle panel is pretty expensive, so I would find a use for those thin strips. Zip ties are cheap and are easy to use on lots of things.

Combining a number of different ideas, why not use the tension rod on the top and just drop down string/rope to the bottom where you have the top rail? Seems to me that would be a very quick solution to your needs. It sort of combines my idea of a compression frame using a solid lathe wood...

I had not considered any negative points on using staples in the floor covering. I use dry deep bedding, about 4-12 inches of accumulated litter depending on the time of year. My chickens don't dig all the way to the bottom. I don't think it would be a problem for me as no staples would ever be...

Don't forget to share some photos if you can. Everyone loves to see what other people do with their animals. I certainly enjoy those pics.

I was thinking something like a wooden frame attached to the porch supports, and then attaching your trellis to the wooden frame. I can't tell from your picture where you want to extend the cattle panel trellis. but if you could extend a wood frame from one post to the other I think it would...

🤔 Sounds like a possible solution to protect the sacrificial plywood. I have lots of empty feed bags, many that are made out of plastic like material, that should work for something like that. Originally, I bought some off cut linoleum piece for my coop floor, but I don't want to do that again...