Company P: Rain barrels and chickens

During Earth Day weekend Oliver & I attended an Earth Day Festival and made a rain barrel. I've been wanting a rain barrel for years! I think it's an awesome way to collect the pure & clean rain as it falls from the sky. Of course, it has only rained one very small shower since we installed our barrel. It is about 1/2 full or empty (depending on your personality type). After attending the workshop I am now ready to make more!! I had been over thinking the whole process of making a rain barrel, it was so simple. I have my eye on 2 barrels, I just have to verify that they are food grade barrels, not chemical and make an offer to trade for something they may need. I plan to water the chickens w/ the rain barrel that we installed first since it's next to their pen. They go through at least 5 gallons of water every few days, especially when it gets as hot as it was today (90*). I feel better giving them fresh water instead of water that has been treated w/ chemicals. After all, my boys eat their eggs!

I saw several pics of rain barrels that had been painted. I plan to paint ours this summer, that blue is sooo bright! But even in bright blue I am pleased w/ the process and the outcome. I may have to fill it w/ the hose and let it sit for a couple of days (lose the chemicals) so I can try it out! Impatience is taking over.....

My chickens were acting crazy every time my camera would flash as I took a pic of the rain barrel so I had to take their pic too! I cracked up b/c our white hen "Betty White" kept walking if front of me like "take my pic!" My hens are a funny bunch of girls. They fight over specific boxes and fuss so loud that you'd think a raccoon was in the pen. But no, nothing there, they are just fussing. I love to watch chickens, they are calming and interesting. If you've never done it, do it sometime. But don't wear red nail polish on your toes b/c chickens are drawn to the color red and will peck anything red REPEATEDLY. Yes, I know this from experience. I don't wear flip flops to the pen anymore w/o checking my polish color first.

REclaim, REvive and REuse those big blue plastic syrup barrels!!! Mine was a Dr.Pepper syrup barrel :)