Improvements around here

We ended 2025 with a couple of big improvements in our yard. Here they are in no particular order.

A Big Trench

Not the improvement.

We contracted to have some excavation done in the yard so that we could get power and water from the house to the outbuildings. A big thank you to Zach at Next Generation Services in West Sand Lake for his help. Zach always does a great job. We've worked with him on a few projects, notably improving our gravel driveway.

So we got a big hole. Into that hole, we installed a couple of things.

Water to the Barn and Chicken Coop

We now have running water from the house to the coop. Zach installed a water line five feet underground, below the frost line. It connects to a new frost-free hydrant near the chicken coop, giving us year-round running water.

I never knew about these hydrants, but they are fantastic. Raising the handle lifts a rod and opens a valve, allowing water to flow up the pipe. Lowering the handle closes the valve and opens a drain hole, allowing water to drain out of the pipe into the ground below, underneath the frost line. It won't freeze.

So, we have clean, cold water at the barn. Big improvement #1.

Power to the Barn and the Chicken Coop

While we had a hole in the ground, we also ran power from the house to the outbuildings.

Once upon a time there was power via overhead wires from the house. This worked. It was cheap, but it was only convenient until a delivery truck ripped the wires from the house, and kept on driving. No more power.

 We now have a 50 amp circuit to a new barn sub-panel, with everything underground. We added barn lights with solar sensors, interior lighting in the barn, and several outlets.

We also added a new post light in the center of our driveway circle. It replaces a bunch of floodlights that made the yard light up like Fenway Park. Big improvement #2.

Big shout out to Bobby Herrick for a really great job. Thank you.

WiFi and Cameras

The addition of outside power, suddenly made it feasible to install a couple of WiFi cameras to monitor the barn and the coop. Not for any particular security reason. Just because.

I installed an Eero Outdoor 7 to extend the house WiFi signal outside. It is just strong enough to get to the barn and coop.

I installed two Wyze Cam v4 cameras so we can monitor the barn and the chickens. The cameras are small and responsive.

Big improvement #3.

Egg Production is Up

I am happy to report that egg production has doubled or even tripled since Fall. We are getting at least a dozen eggs a day now, sometimes a little more. We should be able to accommodate those of you who like a few dozen at a time. Just check first, as always.I think a couple of things have changed for the better.

• Nest Box Improvements. I removed a metal egg nest box that I was testing in August. Most of the chickens didn't seem to like it, and they were going out of their way to drop eggs in inconvenient places, like behind the garbage cans in the shed/garage. Now they're back using the wood dividers and nest pad boxes. It isn't necessary to go on an egg hunt anymore.

• Fermenting Feed. I started feeding fermented/sprouted grains in addition to regular layer feed. It is just a mix of scratch corn, sunflower seeds, and a few handfuls of whatever other grains we have handy or can buy inexpensively. Green peas, lentils, barley, chickpeas etc. I put a couple of cups of the grain into a mason jar, cover it with water and let it sit for 2 or 3 days. It softens, ferments a little, and some might start sprouting. Fermenting has the benefit of increasing probiotics, and it bulks up so we actually feed less than if it were dry. Chickens love it.

• Seasonal Changes. It is winter and the feather molting is over, so they naturally start laying again.

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Big improvement #4. The best one.