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Post by 3piggles on Jun 13, 2019 16:03:33 GMT
At the last house, I covered part of the playpen with a towel, so they had shade and some shelter. I also sat next to the playpen while they grazed, so any predator would have had to go through me, not that they couldn't. I don't like the idea of leaving them outside unsupervised, anyway, but if I built an outside run for them, it would have to have a top. Way too may predators, and I don't think an old lady shaking her cane and yelling at a turkey vulture would deter it too much! My other concern has always been snakes, which can easily get through the grid holes, into the run. If anything, I think I would have hubby build a better run, with screen, so snakes can't get in.
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Post by Bean on Jun 13, 2019 18:02:42 GMT
Well, that's something that we don't have to think about, thankfully! Our set up is secure enough (and our back garden is completely enclosed) and each one has a mini hutch in, as well as shade/ shelter, so I'm quite happy leaving mine out for the day.
The main problem now is that I have two runs and three sets of pigs, so I either have to make something temporary up and sit out with them, or just rotate them. I usually go for that option. Poor Cads can't eat grass by himself because of his teeth. I always cut a load when I put them out, but the other two eat is as well, so it doesn't last long! He still enjoys being out, but it must be frustrating for him to not be able to pluck it himself.
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 14, 2019 14:26:14 GMT
As long as he's enjoying himself, it's a great experience for them all. Can you expand one run and divide it? Not sure what the set up is, or how easy it is to do that.
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Post by Bean on Jun 14, 2019 18:35:36 GMT
They're fixed frames, about 6 x 4ft. They're difficult to move around, so an extension wouldn't be practical, and I don't want to split one as it is, as I like that they can bound about merrily in them. I'm sure we could rustle something sturdier up, but for now the changeover is working okay. They still all get a good 4-5 hours outside on nice days.
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 15, 2019 17:30:18 GMT
If we ever get a lawn worth grazing on, I would have hubby build a run we could take apart to put away during the cold months, when the pigs can't get out to graze. We're talking about building an outdoor room for the grills. It would be under a free-standing awning/gazebo, with a small outdoor table and chairs, or a couple of lounge chairs. It's basically so hub can grill outside in most weather, except winter. We have to take down the canvas roof, or the snow will destroy it.
That still gives him easily 8 months of grilling outside, under the canvas roof. It also gives him space to set up an outdoor kitchen the way he wants it, so he can use both grills, if he wants, and has the right things within reach the right way.
Once we do that, there will be plenty of space for a couple of pieces of sod beside it, and a covered run that can come apart for winter storage. We get the shortest number of hours of sun in the backyard, so that's the optimal place for a run. Freaking cook the poor beasties in the rest of the yard, with all the sun that gets!
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Post by Bean on Jun 16, 2019 7:26:32 GMT
I like the idea of runs you can dismantle, but that would have taken more planning to make it really robust, so we went for the easy option! We do have quite a lot of space, so leaving them outdoors isn't a problem, but although they're lasted years, I'm sure they won't last quite as long for being outdoors. We get high winds up here and it didn't take too long to find out that there isn't a way to cover things and weight it down that the wind can't get round!
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 16, 2019 16:19:31 GMT
We get high winds, too, but rarely bad enough to destroy anything. I think yours are much worse. If he builds the rim in sections, and screws them together they'll be really strong.hust unscrew them to put them away. With a hinged top. I have access to easily put the pigs on and get them out, and can secure the top so predators can't get in. Hubby's probably glad we don't have enough grass, or it would be one more thing on his to do list.
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Post by Bean on Jun 21, 2019 7:53:55 GMT
Oh my washing up bowl pond looks so naff haha! It's still the right environment, so that's the main thing (and it is tucked away in a border at the bottom of the garden) but I need to find some nice stones in the garden to put round it so it doesn't look so silly!
I chucked a load of old wildflower seeds I had in the shed over that area too (given to us by various people over the years) so maybe something will pop up while I'm getting round to the other jobs!
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 21, 2019 20:21:40 GMT
I googled naff, but it didn't help, so I'm figuring you mean it's not quite what you had in mind, but it's doing the job. I think some rocks will help, especially since you can get the kids looking for good rocks when they're out in the yard, just off hand, never know what great rocks you might find. My veggie seeds from two years ago, that had been in the freezer, all grew and were going find, until hubby put them out in the mini greenhouses, and didn't water them. Hopefully your wildflower seeds will germinate just as well, and you'll have a lot of color and texture in that little garden spot. That will make the washing up bowl look even better We have a hummingbird, not sure if it's one or different ones. We have four hummingbird feeders on the 4-way in the front yard. Two have red plastic flowers to drink from, with roosts for the hummingbirds to stand on. One had white plastic flowers and roosts, and one has yellow plastic flowers on a red body, with no roosts. The two with the red flowers and roosts definitely get the most attention, should anyone be thinking of getting hummingbird feeders My chives, of which I have a huge pot, are flowering, and bees of all sizes are all over the blooms. Apparently the blooms have nectar they really love We got about an inch of rain over the last couple of days. The birdbath is practically overflowing, but the little branch is still floating, as is the mosquito disk. I haven't seen anyone at the bird bath, but hubby said he has
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Post by Bean on Jun 22, 2019 8:32:50 GMT
If something's a bit naff, it's a bit rubbish! It is also used as a less offensive/ more playful replacement for swear words words - for example, you can tell someone to 'naff off!'.
Yesterday I found a shallow terracotta dish about 12" across that will be a perfect little bird bath/ drinking point to go on the top of the tree stump. It was only £2. With a bit of gravel in, it looks much better than that pond....! Yes, hopefully the wildflowers will come and help to hide it!
You've reminded me, I found some garlic chive seeds in the shed, so need to plant those. And get a tray of salad leaves going, the pick and grow kind so I can save myself a bundle at the supermarket over the summer!
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 22, 2019 14:54:08 GMT
The terracotta bowl sounds great, and from the description, perfect for a bird bath. Are you going to leave the washing up bowl out there, or swap it for the terracotta bowl? Garlic chives seems like a contradiction, as chives are usually a substitute for onions, but I've had them, and they're great. We got started late with the garden, so if we plant much now, it may not come in before the end of the growing season. I'm going to start adding the purple chive flowers to salads, just for a bit of extra color. I've heard the white flowers on Chinese or garlic chives have an even stronger garlic flavor than the leaves. If you try them, let me know
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Post by Bean on Jun 23, 2019 7:23:53 GMT
The washing up bowl is much deeper and has pond weed in - it's a different thing to the bird bath which is quite shallow (and the gravel makes it more so, but I don't want things drowning in it). So I'll keep it, but will just find something to make it look more attractive!
Starting to sort out the car crash that is our shed yesterday, I found the garlic chive seeds, and loads of other seeds I didn't know I had, but no salad leaves. I must have used them all last year. There are loads of packets of seed that have been bought for us as I know I wouldn't buy them - people think we should be growing cauliflowers, cabbages and lettuces!
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 24, 2019 2:35:17 GMT
Can't say I've ever gotten seeds from anyone. Cuttings, but not seeds. I read the car crash part to hubby do he knows he's not the only one We're trying to get out flower gardens to be almost self maintaining, so perennials, flowering shrubs, bulbs, etc. We would still buy some bedding plants, but we'd spend a tiny bit of we were spending replacing so many plants every year. You'll get there with that garden spot. You might even plant some flowering herbs or veggies, which serve double purpose.
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Post by Bean on Jun 24, 2019 7:12:06 GMT
My plan is for the area to be wilder, rather than me poking in to pick and tend to things. But we have plenty of space for that too and there are some other herbs I'd like to grow.
I think I'm about 50% through the shed. I would have finished it if my husband had chosen to help me over playing Fortnite, but that's what you get for marrying a giant teenager! I did have him drop a few boxes of stuff off at the charity shop to get stuff our from under my feet.
I've also remembered that with the shed in such an inaccessible state, I started using the kids' playhouse (which they don't use much anymore) as overflow. So there's some work there too! Even if we are just using it for storage, it need to be better organised, as I've just gone for the approach of throwing things in!
Anyway, it's back to rain for a couple of days, so I can let my bones recover from the weekend's labouring!
I found a load of nasturtium seeds in the shed, so planted those around the rockery. They self seed for the next year so I'm hoping that even if they don't all germinate (the soil may not be deep enough in places) it at least provides a splash of effort-free colour here and there each year! Low maintenance is always optimal!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 24, 2019 19:00:26 GMT
We went out to a garden center last week and they had some gorgeous pom-pom dahlias. I didn't buy any though as I would be so upset if they didn't thrive.
hugs jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 24, 2019 21:09:52 GMT
Jo, I find visits to garden centers relaxing and enjoyable, even if I don't buy anything. We went today, and hubby asked if I saw anything I wanted. I just laughed. What a stupid question, lol I'll just take several of everything, thank you very much, lol We have 4 different humming birds at the hummingbird feeder. We have 4 feeders. The bees and butterflies also feed there. The hummers like one feeder particularly, and when they arrive, they chase everyone away from the other feeders. Feeder bullies, lol The 4-way hanger is right where we can see one side of the hummers from the bedroom window, and the other side from the living room window, so we're getting to know our hummers quite well
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