A cool and wet winters afternoon seemed like a good time to do the rounds, take a few pics, and update happenings and maybe a few plans for the garden.
The latest construction of interest is the chicken watering system. A couple of buckets with drip feed into the next lower one and an overflow into a channel leading to the pear tree.
A fill-up of the top bucket drips through in about half a day. Providing a trickle feed of water which the chickens seem to like. The lower bucket is continually refreshed and stays clear, which the chickens also like.
I’m thinking of a way to add another bucket or two to make a cascading feature!
chicken water feature!
On cold winter days the girls also like to shelter in their day roost, under the jasmine covered lean to.
chicken day roost
I’ve also had thoughts of making the now mostly unused cubby house into a super chicken coop! The kids are outgrowing the cubby idea and perhaps the next flock of chickens will be housed here to keep them separate from the original flock. At least for a breaking in period.
cubby house or chicken coop?
This improvised cage was used recently to help an ailing chicken recooperate. She’s back with the others now.
improvised chicken cage
On the tree front, it’s past pruning time now. The fig is looking good for next year, while the pear tree appears brutally tortured, but always delivers a good crop! Some more fruit trees are planned, with the espalier rack waiting for the new plantings.
fig in winter
tortuously pruned pear
espalier rack awaits new arrivals
Winter is a good time to split more timber for the 44 gallon drum wood fired pizza oven, and there’s plenty waiting here.
logs await splitting
Amongst the bare and cold gloom however, the camelia’s provide lots of winter colour however.
camelia colour in winter
More to come…
Brian.
Tags: 44 gallon drum, chickens, cubby house coop, espalier, figs, gardening, pruning, water feature, wood splitting