The first thing we are doing is replacing the flexible water system with a PVC water system with heat cables. I know I will be thrilled with this in December, when we typically hit our first frozen water night. The heat cables will come on at 35 degrees and generate just enough heat to keep the water from freezing.
We are also installing a misting system for cooling. We are running PVC around the upper walls of the barn and will place ultra-fine misters above each window. I can't wait! The barn hit 100 degrees on July 4 for a brief period of time before a storm system blew in (and blew out my ground fault circuit interrupter [GFCI] outlet). That was a scary moment. The misters, along with a brand new larger barn fan, will give me a bit more peace of mind.
My brother, who is an electrician, did me a great favor yesterday by
- replacing my bad outlet (all of the outlets go out when the GFCI outlet goes out),
- changing my old flood lights to outlets for my heat cables to plug into,
- raising my fan outlet (why did I ever think that a low outlet would work under hanging cages!!!), and
- adding 16' of double fluorescent lights to my third aisle of cages.
He also added an outlet to my shed as a bonus and found the short in my light timer; I'll just have to get a new one of those, unfortunately.
Andrew finished up bringing the water line into the barn. That's a lot of digging, since the water line must be below the frost line. I hope that we'll get that finished within the week. We'll top off that project by bringing in more pea gravel for the barn "floor," which as been disturbed by all of the digging. It was time to add a bit more gravel anyway. I look forward to having that as well.
We are also planning to take out one panel of the barn wall to install another hardware cloth and screen-covered "window," for better cross ventilation in the third aisle.
As you can tell, I'm really taking advantage of my break in my show schedule. My next show is July 22, a night show in Shelby, NC. I'm not sure whether I'll be showing or not. I will be working with my third, and final judge, for my registrar's license. I worked with my required registrar, so July 22 should wrap up my requirements entirely.
So far, I've gotten nothing but peanuts from my latest group of bred does. There are three more yet to deliver. Maybe the odds will catch up with me. I did get 13 does bred this week. I didn't have to look at the calendar to know that we were close to a full moon.
I hope your summer is going well, that your bunnies are staying cool, and that, if you have a break in your show schedule, too, you are taking full advantage of it!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
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