What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12

[Frnc]

Drilling for fire escape fixing was a nighmare. Whatever it is, brick presumably, is very hard. Three holes only went about an inch. I got one deep enough. Wire brushed it several times and used a can of compressed air. I thought some liquid sprayed out. Hope it doesn't affect the bond. Got the epoxy in and one bolt. I'll leave it a few days and give it a sideways pull. I'm not gonna risk pulling it straight out, that would be depressing.

I think for the rest, it's gonna have to be cord tied to a bed or wardrobe leg. Unless I buy an sds bit and try my other drill. The access isn't very good on the right hand side, unless I move a wardrobe. I tried twice in the rebate and got nowhere.

Having said that, I've put a curtain rod above the window, don't remember any issues there. Maybe just luck, and different bricks.

[itsybitsy]

Ordered some silver from Atkinsons - just a couple of Britannia's.

After the big shop last week, I did a top up. Need to order more oxygen absorbers so I can start shoring supplies up in mylar again. The Spring Statement from 'Rachel from Accounts' did nothing to allay my fears over what's ahead of us, which seems to be austerity-max on tilt.

[Frnc]

Bolt seems solid. Curtain hides it. I attached the hanger, but I've only done that up finger tight. It's not gonna come undone, and can position itself naturally to the load when applied. People do torque up climbing bolt hangers though.

Having done a bit of leading in rock climbing (never on a bolted route - bolts are not used in this country as far as I know), I'd trust it as much as a typical piece of gear, if not more, and I won't be dynamically loading it with a 15 foot fall.

So, at least I have one anchor I trust. When the cord arrives, I'll tie a piece to a wardrobe leg.

[diamond lil]

More soup:

Found bigger containers on Amazon

Knorr Professional Soup Mix, 200 Portions (Makes 34 Litres) x2

1 Chicken, 1 Tomato

Should keep me going for a while.

If armageddon doesn't come then you could set up in business as a soup kitchen

[pseudonym]

More soup:

Found bigger containers on Amazon

Knorr Professional Soup Mix, 200 Portions (Makes 34 Litres) x2

1 Chicken, 1 Tomato

Should keep me going for a while.

If armageddon doesn't come then you could set up in business as a soup kitchen

Store what you eat, eat what you store

[itsybitsy]

More soup:

Found bigger containers on Amazon

Knorr Professional Soup Mix, 200 Portions (Makes 34 Litres) x2

1 Chicken, 1 Tomato

Should keep me going for a while.

If armageddon doesn't come then you could set up in business as a soup kitchen

Store what you eat, eat what you store

I always buy a few sachets of the Forestière mix when I go to France - it's lovely.

[Frnc]

Cord arrived. Had enough for separate loops around two legs of the wardrobe. Ladder clips into the bolt hanger directly. Top rung hangs just below the window opening. Should be pretty level, at least until I climb onto it! I guess the trick is to step on the rung centrally.

Had exactly enough cord at 10 metres. You need to allow plenty for knots. I used a simple figure of 8 to join the ends, followed by an overhand knot. Both loops reach the same point, so the carabiner can clip into both at the same time.

I tied some thin cord around the ladder with bows, to hold it together until ready. Velcrose might be better, but I couldn't think where I have some handy. I've got some somewhere.

Carbiners that came with the ladder are not great, so I'll replace them. They sometime stick a bit, and I noticed a sharp burr on one. Found some Salewa screwgates on Amazon for £6.43 each which is a bargain. I also used a different bolt hanger, as I'd bought two extras.

[pseudonym]

I always buy a few sachets of the Forestière mix when I go to France - it's lovely.

I'll keep an eye open for it, thanks.

[Sarini]

I've had to take a chicken to the vet to get some antibiotics. Being ex battery hens 3 of the 4 won't roost, they just sit down to sleep, they're pooping then sitting in their poop all night, one seems to have developed an infection. The vet recommended removing the comfy bedding to get them to roost and blocking off the nest boxes over night. I've been going out and putting them on the roosting bars each night, I'm sure they don't stay there but I'm hoping they'll get the hint!

None of our chickens use roosting perches (many of the heavier breeds prefer not to) so we place a mixture of wood ash and sand with a sprinkling of DE added above this layer then top it off with a layer of straw again with another sprinkling of DE on the floor of all our coops.

If you prefer them on perches, make a wood ladder and place it at a slightly raised angle in the coop, the hens will slowly gain confidence climbing and being off the floor (most battery hens are not used to heights). We used this method with the first chickens we acquired.

Great, thank you for the advice. They're very sure they don't want to roost! I shall sort out their bedding as you described

[pseudonym]

Soup arrived:

Much bigger than the stackable square containers.