New garage time!

[EddieWalker]

Sounds like a solid plan. When we first started, we did it all wrong and lost a few birds because of our ignorance. We have a system now that works very well for us, and it sounds like you are doing something very similar.

What surprised us is when we got guineas. We bought live chicks at first and raised them separate from the chickens. They just went wild and spread out all over the land, only to be eaten by coyotes one at a time.

Then we raised them like chickens, and put them in the pens inside the coop for a few weeks to get to know the chickens, and bond with the coop. This seems to be the secret to keeping them around the barn. They wonder all over the barn area during the day, but they don't go out into the woods. Every night, they roost in the barn, or in a tree next to it. We vary rarely loose a bird now.

 

[fatjay]

In 5 years and 55 chickens I've lost 4. One due to exposure, she refused to go in and it was raining and night and cold. Another stuck her neck through the fence and got stuck and strangled herself, and the other 2 of no clear reason.

I built my coop and my secure run and bought my chicks from tractor supply and have had no major issues, except this year there were no chicks to be had.

There's only a finite amount of research that can be done when learning how to do something until you just have to do it.

I vaccinated the chicks against mareks disease today. The vaccine is administered by needle at 0.2ml under the skin. The preferred method is pinching the scruff of the neck and inserting the needle and injecting the solution.

I managed to not kill any of the chicks, at least as of yet.

The fur is so thick, it's very hard to get through. Then the pinched skin is so thin, you can easily poke in one side and out the other.

In the end, I managed to do it and probably only messed up 3-4. Since the vaccine is only viable for an hour, i set a timer. It took me 38 minutes to get through 25.

I'm glad it's done, I have learned some things for the future.

 

[EddieWalker]

I guess it's better safe than sorry. We've never given any of ours a shot of any kind. We're well over 200 and we lose a few every year, but most of the time, it's from me shooting roosters that have turned into the devil.

My wife has a PhD in Nursing, so it's her call on that sort of thing. I just build and fix things.

 

[murphy1244]

" I just build and fix things." Talk about a understatement.

 

[fatjay]

Finally brought home the right cart for me. It just needs some work.

2 batteries show 8.x volts, I'm assuming those are good.
3 batteries are showing 1.x volts, maybe they can be salvaged?
1 battery is 0.0 volts, I'm guessing that one is toast?

I hooked the charger up and it didn't even come on. Although I'm not sure what I expected.

Long trip, fella I got it from was nice, and a decent price. It'll be for moving feed, firewood, and whatever else I have going on.

Looks like the motor was replaced at some point. 22" tires that just barely clear the body. I'm guessing it has some sort of lift on it.

I'm looking forward to getting it going so I can do some work with it.

 

[sodamo]

Finally brought home the right cart for me. It just needs some work.

2 batteries show 8.x volts, I'm assuming those are good.
3 batteries are showing 1.x volts, maybe they can be salvaged?
1 battery is 0.0 volts, I'm guessing that one is toast?

I hooked the charger up and it didn't even come on. Although I'm not sure what I expected.

Long trip, fella I got it from was nice, and a decent price. It'll be for moving feed, firewood, and whatever else I have going on.

Looks like the motor was replaced at some point. 22" tires that just barely clear the body. I'm guessing it has some sort of lift on it.

I'm looking forward to getting it going so I can do some work with it.

Friend of mine converter his old Gator to LiFePo battery. Very happy with it

 

[fatjay]

Everyone keeps saying convert to lithium. But lithium doesn't work when it's cold. I'm concerned about winter.

I cleaned up the shop and looked at the batteries, and they are absolutely toast. cracked or swollen.

I haven't ruled lithium out, I'm just concerned about that 1-2 weeks where we'll see a high of 15f. And in that time, I really need my cart to work. Probably more so than the rest of the year.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[fatjay]

Top balance finished. What a nightmare to build that thing in place by feel. Even the camera wasn't very useful.

But it's done. All 6 are done. 90kwh of battery. Monitored but generally maintenance free for hte next ~20 years.

My EVE pack kept bothering me. So I pulled it out and rebuilt it. Now the 100mv difference is down to 20mv. I'm hoping that solves problems.

 

[airbiscuit]

That's not exactly plug and play is it?

 

[fatjay]

That's not exactly plug and play is it?

Not at all, everything is home grown. On the plus side if anything goes wrong, I know how to fix it.

 

[fatjay]

Bought a lithium battery for the cart. Working on a battery box. Fortunately I had some spare angle iron laying around. I measured with gaps but now that it's cut the gaps are completely gone and it's a snug fit.

Time to weld it up.

 

[airbiscuit]

So one battery replaces 6 8v batteries? Is that cheaper/better than going to 4 12v deep cycle batteries?

 

[fatjay]

So one battery replaces 6 8v batteries? Is that cheaper/better than going to 4 12v deep cycle batteries?

Actually it was, and about 2x the runtime from what people are saying. And more power. And since LFP's voltage curve is almost flat, you get full power for the entire duration of the battery, it doesn't get weak towards the end.

I put on socks for welding. Didn't want to burn my feet.

My box is a bit to snug, the battery doesn't slide down and hit the bottom, as it's tapered out on the sides. So I think i'm going to cut away the one side about half way down and round the edge so it's smooth.

I also put down foam on the bottom. I think sadly I'll use ratchet straps to hold it in place, there's no good way to attach it to attach the steel to the aluminum frame.

 

[EddieWalker]

That saw really cuts the metal nicely!!!!

 

[fatjay]

That saw really cuts the metal nicely!!!!

I have made so many cuts on this saw, well over a hundred at this point, and it's just been fantastic.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

asbestos socks?

 

[civilian]

Nope, he just stands in the water bucket before welding. HaHa. Jon

 

[BackRoad]

Please don't go out in public in those socks and sandals...

It will give us all a bad rep!!!

 

[fatjay]

Battery strapped in.

Also got my rear view camera installed, and I'm liking it so far.