Amazingly, since covering the floor of Bernie’s lean-to with gravel, the chickens seem to have lost interest in scratching around under it. While that is exactly what we had hoped for, I was absolutely certain it would never work. But those chickens like to keep me guessing, and I suspect they stay out of the lean-to area just to prove they do what they want, when they want. As if I ever doubted that.
We put a metal garage on this property long before we actually moved here. Originally it was used to store the lawn mower, yard tools, shed tools, etc. We didn’t put a floor down for it, we just covered it in pine mulch and, because the ground is not completely level under it, there were many spaces that were large enough for the chickens to scoot into the garage and play in the pine mulch. When we finally moved onto the property, we began actually using the garage as a …. well…. garage. We began parking our cars and motorcycles in it. And the chickens continued to get into the garage and play in the pine mulch. They hid nests in there, and they covered everything in dust with all their scratching. I’m sure you know where this story is going…..
Yes, as you guessed, Bernie was so pleased with the gravel floor of the lean-to that he decided he wanted to put gravel down as the floor for the garage as well. So last week he started by spending a couple of days hauling dirt into the garage and leveling the floor.
When he finished he called me out to look at it. I was so pleased with all his hard work that I blurted out “If you wait until this weekend to bring in the gravel, I’ll help you with it.” And then I immediately prayed that I had only thought that and not actually SAID it. But my fears were realized when Bernie replied “OK.”
Doh! Why, oh why, can’t I learn to keep my big mouth closed?
So Saturday morning we began emptying the garage in preparation of hauling in the gravel. When we got to a corner where Bernie keeps an air compressor for the car tires, he called me over. “Watch what’s under the board this air compressor sits on.” And as he lifted the board, I saw this:
Just look at that cute Spotted Salamander. Could you not just kiss those spots right off of him? My creative juices immediately began flowing, and with every ounce of originality I possess, I named him “Sallie”. Bernie said he’d been seeing Sallie scurry out from under that board for quite some time, so I guess Sallie has declared the garage his official home.
We ended up putting Sallie in a shoe box because he nestled himself into the corner of the garage and refused to leave while we were working. We started putting gravel down at the opposite end, and when we got to the end where Sallie was, we put him in a shoe box so we could finish up.
He didn’t seem particularly crazy about the shoe box, but I was very pleased that he curled up in a corner and didn’t try to get out for the short time we kept him in there. And after we finished putting down the gravel, the first thing Bernie did was put Sallie’s board back down in the corner of the garage. And Sallie seemed pretty darn happy about that.
And then I took a picture of our beautiful, graveled, garage floor.
And now, when we close the garage doors, there are no longer any spaces the chickens can scoot through to get inside the garage.
When we were finished, I took the pups down to get mail and to look at what’s left of the ton of gravel we had delivered.
My muscles go into spasms every time I look at that dwindling pile of gravel. Just looking at that pile and knowing how much work Bernie and I had done wore poor Diesel slap out. He sat at the edge of the woods by the cabin recuperating for quite a while.
And Dolly offered quite a bit of sympathy.
And then they forgot all about the pile of gravel and hard work Bernie and I had done and told me it was time to take them home and feed them. Which is exactly what I did. Just because I’m just so dad-gum helpful.
Bee Free,
Penny
Tags: garage, gravel floor, spotted salamander
Wow, you have both been bloody busy…….. what an improvement though, the garage looks brill – I just love little Sallie, my Jacob would love to live there with all your lizards etc, he has a thing about lizards and insects AND snakes….
Now you have to put your feet up and make a cuppa tea and sit back and smile at all your hard work….
x
Hey Marmy – I think the garage looks MUCH better. And now those little sneaky chickens can’t get in there! And you’ll just have to bring Jacob with you when you come to visit. He can spend all his time outside with the lizards, snakes, turtles, etc. And you and I can sit back with a cuppa tea – and smile as Bernie works
Awww, Sallie is wonderful. And so festive he looks, with his yellow spots and all. Ours around here don the simple, basic brown look, nothing fancy like what your guy’s got.
Nice work on the garage floor. Think of those wonderful muscles you’re building!
Holy cats, my muscles ache just looking at your pictures.
Very cool find in Sallie. Glad you made him/her a home back in the garage. You know how much chickens would love to give chase to such a tasty snack.
Congrats on a job well done. Hope you at least got a back rub out of the deal.
Farmgirl – Don’t you just love those spots? We don’t see Spotted Salamanders very often, so I feel very privileged that Sallie picked our garage to live in. And I’m sure I must be building muscles. I’m just too dad-blamed sore to try to flex them and find out!
CeeCee – Yes ma’am. Those chickens are the whole reason Sallie ended up in a shoe box. I knew if we put him outside, he wouldn’t stand a chance. As much as I love those chickens and would like them to have a tasty treat, I kinda got attached to Sallie. And I got no back rub – but Bernie did grill ribs for us and do the dishes….. which, I must say, was every bit as nice as a back rub that particular night!
Wow, you have been a busy bee! The garage floor looks great. A ton of gravel…really? Wow.
Love little Sallie. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a decorative salamander. Do you know anything about his particular variety?
Lilla – A ton of gravel – seriously. We had a dump truck of it delivered in spring. And I think we’re half way through it – and my muscles feel every shovel full!
The only thing I really know about the Spotted Salamander is that it’s a salamander that is larger than than the usual salamander that we find around here. And it’s really cute and very docile. I hope Sallie likes the new gravel!
Wow that Sallie is pretty cute. My son Jakob just got a Leopard Gecko on Saturday and he is pretty cute also. He is like 6 months old and pretty awesome. We researched them because all the ones we found (to me) looked like snakes in the face. just can’t have a snake look a like in the house. sorry. but Jakob named him Geiko (i know to funny) he has switched it like 4 or 5 times but Geiko has stuck. anyways it is funny you found that bout the same time as our Gecko came to live with us.
I wanted to update you on my Momma chicken. The other chickens were able to get inside of her enclosed nesting boxes and destroyed the eggs again. My husband and I talked it over and we have decided that when we put the babies wich are now 3 months old in the big coop with the adults then we will let Momma have the baby coop all by herself and that way she will hopefully have babies soon. OH and she is actually sitting on eggs, big surprise.
Remember Jack my baby rooster that is also 3 months old, he had the wing issue a week or so ago. Anyways, my hubby told me on Saturday that he was acting funny and tripping and stuff and of course when I went to look at him he was fine. I check on them numerous times during the day and he seemed fine all day. when I went to close them up at bedtime, he had fallen down between the waterer and the door to the coop and he could not get up. I brought him in the garage and made him a nest and food water in a rabbit cage that I was gonna use for momma until we got the babies in the adult coop. He still is doing the same and we took him to our avian vet and they took xrays and nothing is broken and they wormed him, gave him a calcuim shot, and put him on an antibiotic. Anyways 105.00 later he is still not walking and vet had no idea what could have caused it. My husband wants him to be our main rooster and wants to get rid of our 2 black and white hamburgs and our Rhode Island Red “Jake”. I am not sure I know what to do, it is heartbreaking and I have been working with him and his legs each day and massaging them and helping him to stand etc…. I kinda feel at a lose because he is such a sweet mild tempered bird and definitely my favorite of my boys. so now I am at the point of deciding if I want to get rid of the Hamburgs or get rid of Jake because he will certainly KILL any other rooster in there with him. It makes me feel at ease because he is aggressive towards predators, and unfortunately us as well. But on the other hand the one bigger hamburg is ok, and he is the boss in the baby coop and the smaller hamburg has got to go regardless because I just don’t like him being so aggressive to my girls and he is the one that tore up my girls neck.
Sorry to be so long winded. You always have such great insight.
Hi Lisa – I bet your son loves Geiko! I love watching lizards, snakes, and such, but I’m happy to watch them in the yard. But I don’t have any little ones around here to insist on bringing them in the house! I had mice and hamsters as a child and kept them in cages in my bedroom. I think caring for pets gives children a sense of compassion and responsibility.
Poor Jack. You know, I never did figure out what happened to my Black Spanish either, and why she suddenly couldn’t walk. I strongly suspect some sort of back damage, but I guess I’ll never know. I hope Jack recovers. Good roosters are hard to find!
Hopefully, having her own area will be good for your broody. If you have somewhere to get day old chicks, once she’s in her secluded area, you could just slip a couple of the chicks under her at night and if she’s a good broody she’ll just take them in as her own, just as though she hatched them herself. It’s just a thought, but that way the poor thing won’t have to set for 21 days more before she gets her chicks.
This made me so tired just reading. I can imagine your arms ached at the end of the day.
I have been doing some reading and am going to try numerous different things. I could be Ricketts and there are diets out there that can help. I hope it is not Merricks Disease (spelling is prob wrong). He is worth it and how many people actually take there chickens to the vet for crying out loud. People were looking at us, like we were nuts. It was funny to watch them. I was totally crying my eyes out and people I guess couldn’t figure out why. lol….. I am gonna try every thing that is in my power, but at least it not a break in his spine. It is however making us have a greater relationship. I carry him around. He sits outside the runs when I am outside feeding the other chickens and he is eating grass and such. He is a dream, and I love him. I am totally crying while typing this.
Thats one cool looking salamander. I have never even seen a salamander around here. Plain or polka dot.
And wow. The garage looks great. I know every muscle in your body has got to be calling out for a nice massage. Maybe if you wait till this weekend then Bernie can help you out with that.
Penny, Bet you are glad you came to our cook-out. If not maybe Bernie would have found some were else to put gravel, And i told Tex you called him a turkey. He just laughed sayed it was time you came off the mountain for a little while. love ya.
Lisa – I’m so sorry. I pray he’ll be ok. You can email me at backtobasicliving at yahoo dot com – I’d love to know how he does and it would be easier to communicate through email.
Frugalmom – Bernie reads these comments (and for some reason always loves yours – maybe because you mention him so much?) so maybe he’ll get the hint from you. Want me to send Sallie to you? I’ll trade you fair and square for Darby or that little boy with the baster. Whichever you chose. It’s up to you.
Charlotte – We had a nice time at your cook out, and it was worth leaving the homestead for it. By the way – I cooked the Pattypan Squash you gave us. I sauted it in bacon grease with onion and garlic. Oh my! It was delicious. And Tex IS a turkey
Penny, talked to Tex’s sister sayed it will be a couple more weeks before we can pick grapes or black berries. Gald you liked the pattypan I grew up eating it. Guess that is why I love it. Fryed in butter. And Tex is a big Turkey some days, sayed he’s been called worse. love ya, charlotte
Sallie is so cute! I hope she stays in your garage. We have lizards in our garage, but not as pretty as Sallie is.
You did a wonderful job on the garage floor. That was a lot of gravel you moved and spread – no wonder your muscles complained.
Charlotte – just let me know when those grapes are ready to pick! Maybe we can do that on a Sunday? The pattypan was wonderful. I’m eating tte last of it tonight
Sweet Virginia Breeze – I hope Sallie stays there, too. And we really did spread a lot of gravel – and my muscles really are still complaining. But no one is listening. And the chickens are complaining louder anyway. They do NOT like being blocked out of the garage!