Yet Another House Renovation Thread
Discussion
For Gretchen and the other chicken-o-holics - story of our day today.
Chicken Hilton finished off with a sun shelter (ffs!) and chains/locks for the roof and sides.
To get the chickens, our instructions were to meet at a secret location in Bedfordshire at midday. At the aforementioned time we pulled up at a deserted warehouse. Over the next few minutes, other estate cars and 4x4s furtively entered the car park. We exchanged nervous glances. Then two white transits appeared, the warehouse doors were slid open and we were beckoned to drive inside. It felt like something out of The Professionals and soon a queue formed, and deals were done for cash, no questions asked.
They had secured homes for 102 chickens, we had arranged to have 4. The journey home was taken slowly, with all the windows open, as the car, quite frankly, stank of chicken s
t.
We got them to their new house, and after a bit of coaxing, they came out of the cardboard box and started mooching about. They have drunk a heck of a lot of water in the few hours we've had them so far. They are tatty and covedred in marks / ste / bald patches which is to be expected, but hopefully they will settle in and not pop their clogs overnight through stress or change of scenery. We shall see.
Now, for the introductions:
Henrietta Chicken.
"Big H" is at least twice the size of the other three. Surprisingly fleet-footed for a big girl. Suppose we should have named her Lisa Riley. But this is definitely her manor, and she's not shy to tell us (and the dogs) about it.
Harriet Chicken.
Harriet is the trouble maker. She pecks everything, including the other chickens. If you get into a scrap, you want Harriet on your side.
Heidi Chicken.
White body, big mop of brown hair on top and probably an orphan - so has to be named after the lead character in the terribly-dubbed 1970's kids TV programme. Also thus-named because that bulbous baggy arse looks like it's hiding something.
Hilda Chicken.
Hilda is the shy one and seems to want to spend a lot of time in the house. She needs keeping an eye on, seems a bit subdued.
So my suggested "H" name of "Hot Wings" got veto'd, and I also had to check the sight-lines from the chicken house to make sure they can't see the BBQ
Bloody chickens.
Chicken Hilton finished off with a sun shelter (ffs!) and chains/locks for the roof and sides.
To get the chickens, our instructions were to meet at a secret location in Bedfordshire at midday. At the aforementioned time we pulled up at a deserted warehouse. Over the next few minutes, other estate cars and 4x4s furtively entered the car park. We exchanged nervous glances. Then two white transits appeared, the warehouse doors were slid open and we were beckoned to drive inside. It felt like something out of The Professionals and soon a queue formed, and deals were done for cash, no questions asked.
They had secured homes for 102 chickens, we had arranged to have 4. The journey home was taken slowly, with all the windows open, as the car, quite frankly, stank of chicken s
t.We got them to their new house, and after a bit of coaxing, they came out of the cardboard box and started mooching about. They have drunk a heck of a lot of water in the few hours we've had them so far. They are tatty and covedred in marks / s
te / bald patches which is to be expected, but hopefully they will settle in and not pop their clogs overnight through stress or change of scenery. We shall see.Now, for the introductions:
Henrietta Chicken.
"Big H" is at least twice the size of the other three. Surprisingly fleet-footed for a big girl. Suppose we should have named her Lisa Riley. But this is definitely her manor, and she's not shy to tell us (and the dogs) about it.
Harriet Chicken.
Harriet is the trouble maker. She pecks everything, including the other chickens. If you get into a scrap, you want Harriet on your side.
Heidi Chicken.
White body, big mop of brown hair on top and probably an orphan - so has to be named after the lead character in the terribly-dubbed 1970's kids TV programme. Also thus-named because that bulbous baggy arse looks like it's hiding something.
Hilda Chicken.
Hilda is the shy one and seems to want to spend a lot of time in the house. She needs keeping an eye on, seems a bit subdued.
So my suggested "H" name of "Hot Wings" got veto'd, and I also had to check the sight-lines from the chicken house to make sure they can't see the BBQ
Bloody chickens.
TonyHetherington said:
The laying of an egg is an excellent sign, isn't it? Means they're happy and comfortable?
No idea TBH. They are the OH's chickens, I just humour them.We've had three eggs out of them since we got them on Saturday.
There is a bit of a gang war breaking out, three are picking on one. Apparently if it's "schoolgirl hair pulling" it's ok, but if they draw blood we have to separate them.
The OH muttered something about vinegar and anti peck stuff which she is going to sort out when she comes home from work.
I just want to get on with some wiring
(where "wiring" = put cctv in the chicken house - which is a job which seems to have appeared on the whiteboard)
VEX said:
That it, tell the OH I am not working with someone who wants to but CCTV in their chicken house.
Too late 
All together now: "...you play the guitar on the Hen TV....Matt ain't working, he's got time to rig it...get your chicken-cam for nothing and your eggs for free"
I think I need a lie down.
Right, we're overdue a non chicken related update, so here it is. I've made a start on installing the ceiling speakers upstairs, starting in the master bedroom (which will eventually become two bedrooms).
Firstly measuring and laying out the speaker templates. Then measuring some more. And a bit more, just for good measure.
I didn't realise what a faff it is to measure and mark in the ceiling. I eventually sorted it, with a combination of swearing at the tape measure as it collapsed over my head for the umpteenth time, marking on the floorboards, plumb lines, a lot of tapping on the plasterboard and a speculative poke through with a screwdriver to ensure I really was going to miss the roof joists.
Eventually, I can put off the inevitable no longer, and I make the first, nervous incisions.
Well, there be the loft. Past the point of no return, no going back now.
Hole cut, just needs a bit of rounding off with some medium sandpaper.
Speaker offered up and screwed in to place. Fits like a glove! Now need to get the other one installed.
Second speaker in, and wires routed up from the comms cupboard in to the loft. Insulation cleared, and speakers wired up.
Temporary amp in comms cupboard for some testing.
Covers on, job done.
Time for luch then start on the next ones.
Firstly measuring and laying out the speaker templates. Then measuring some more. And a bit more, just for good measure.
I didn't realise what a faff it is to measure and mark in the ceiling. I eventually sorted it, with a combination of swearing at the tape measure as it collapsed over my head for the umpteenth time, marking on the floorboards, plumb lines, a lot of tapping on the plasterboard and a speculative poke through with a screwdriver to ensure I really was going to miss the roof joists.
Eventually, I can put off the inevitable no longer, and I make the first, nervous incisions.
Well, there be the loft. Past the point of no return, no going back now.
Hole cut, just needs a bit of rounding off with some medium sandpaper.
Speaker offered up and screwed in to place. Fits like a glove! Now need to get the other one installed.
Second speaker in, and wires routed up from the comms cupboard in to the loft. Insulation cleared, and speakers wired up.
Temporary amp in comms cupboard for some testing.
Covers on, job done.
Time for luch then start on the next ones.
Mmmmmm. Nice speakers mate.
Sort of on the chicken side of the fence.
I was on IP CCTV training on Tuesday and the software I am using is bloody powerful.
If you set virtual trip wires on the software, you can get it to do some intelligent building control. Fans, Heating, Lighting, Electrical sockets.
Bloody cool.
V.
Sort of on the chicken side of the fence.
I was on IP CCTV training on Tuesday and the software I am using is bloody powerful.
If you set virtual trip wires on the software, you can get it to do some intelligent building control. Fans, Heating, Lighting, Electrical sockets.
Bloody cool.
V.
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