Burn baby burn! Bonfire weekend!

What are you going to do?

What do you do on a weekend when it is freezing?

Besides cuddling chickens and taking chicken selfies?

Build a bonfire of course




It was an opportunity for us to remove "all" the bark and the leaves that accumulated around the coop and greenhouses. "All" because I think we went at this for 2 straight days  and we've just scraped the surface.

The unfortunate property about eucalyptus leaves is that they do not compost well. They are very good at drying out, leaving all their oils in the leaves and being a very, very, very good fuel source. If you ever add a bunch of dried gum leaves to a fire, you get a fantastic whoosh! (and lose your eyebrows)

We had actually collected two massive loads of bark in the paddock, but it was just a bit too windy that day for a fire in an open paddock. So we started one behind Penguin's coop.

Firstly it was a matter of collection. The previous owners had left all this weed mat behind. And so with the chickens "helping" we pulled it off and started collecting the leaves and bark

Our work inspectors

Of course the chickens had a fantastic time digging the moist soil beneath it.

"So many bugs and worms!"

We occasionally get these fat earth worms, they really are fat, about a centimeter in diameter. You know when one of the chickens have found one as they all start chasing the one with the worm.

The fire was started slowly and since it was all wet there wasn't much chance of it going out of control. It also meant that it smoked a lot and the wind kept on blowing the smoke in my direction! Probably going to get lung cancer from this.

Fromage took a bit too much interest in the fire. She got really really close to it! So much for chickens being able to sense danger!

"But it is nice and warm!"

We had to shoo her away!
You can see in the photo above the bonfire and next to it, the "feeder" pile. where we put small amounts of fuel onto the fire.

"Just checking your work, carry on"

Instead of dragging all the bark and leaves around Buffy's coop to the bonfire, we started a smaller one in a drum.

My fire

I have found out though, never to trust a guy to tend the fire. I told hubby to look after the fire and went away for a few minutes, and returned to this.....

Hubby's fire

He just said "What's the problem?"

*roll eyes*

Oh, it got better

Hubby's fire again!

What is it with guys and fire?

Have to say though, that since the drum had two air holes at the base, this burned far quicker than the traditional bonfire.

And where was Penguin amongst all of this? Inside next to the heater.
I kid you not, he walked into the house and straight to the heater. Notice how he keeps his feet warm by standing on the little mat.

He knows where it is warm!

 

 

And because I can, here's a chicken selfie with Fromage. I think she looks fascinated about the camera!

Night all!

Don't forget to cuddle a chicken!