Author Archives: joesmithreally

When I took the huge financial, social and psychological plunge to abandon an increasingly random, aggressive and violent city and move to a less stressful, more peaceful existence in the country, I didn’t intend to have cats. I have also enjoyed the presence of wild birds a lot, providing feeders and natural habitat for themContinue reading “Cats Are Domesticated Predators: An Unacceptable Oxymoron”

Winter came. And stayed. After nearly 2 weeks of mostly sunny and fairly warm temperatures following Thanksgiving, the first snow came and the temperatures dropped below freezing and have stayed there for several days, day and night. The chickens were very hesitant to step out of the coop onto the snow. Inside the coop, theirContinue reading “Chickens and Winter”

Beautiful sunny December 1st. Since I finished the chicken coop and outside fencing (a.k.a. “run”), I decided to obtain some adult Rhode Island Reds and/or Barred Plymouth Rocks. Both are cold hardy heritage that have been around for 2 centuries. This area already had old, tough metal fencing panels, grape vines and scrubby trees. TheContinue reading “It’s Chicken Day”

I don’t know what I’m doing. But I did it all by myself. It’s… rustic. Repurposed siding and other materials from barn. Frame, flooring, roof sheathing and shingles built with new material. Used a repurposed barn window, cracked it during installation and broke it while nailing siding. Will repair that with a piece of plexiglass,Continue reading “Chicken Coop”

Not the music, I assume, but who knows. I haven’t listened to metal in decades. It’s not on the play list out here. This pile of twisted metal fencing is greatly favored by 15-20 sparrows. They congregate there regularly. I imagine you can barely see them in this photo which, I suppose, is the attractionContinue reading “Sparrows Like Twisted Metal”

One of the leftovers from the barn demolition is this big pile of uprooted trees, twisted metal fence, dirt, and ancient manure. I have to cut up the twisted metal into manageable pieces before I can properly dispose of it. One of the uprooted trees had grown around, into and through the solid metal fence.Continue reading “When In Doubt, Set It On Fire”

I had originally planned to use reclaimed barn wood to build the chicken coop, but I used most of the old, true 2″ x 4″ wood on converting the pergola into a barn swallow house and covered shelter and most of the other wood from the demolished old barn is much bigger than I needContinue reading “Chicken Coop Progress”

The thunderstorm came hours later than predicted, so I was able to wield the chain saw (one of my favorite tools!) and fell the unwanted trees that poke out into the pasture today. The pasture turns to the right past this tree-weed space. Those 7 foot tall weeds with thick stalks and burrs have toContinue reading “Clearing”

Weather forecast predicted thunderstorms today, so I didn’t set trusses on chicken coop frame. Cut down trees instead. This group of trees — and tall, stalky weeds — (pictured below) juts out into into what can be pasture. So, today they’re coming down, with the exception of the valuable black walnut.

I don’t know what I’m doing. But I have successfully made my first truss! Now I just use this as a template to make 4 more. They’re for the chicken coop.