rain is forecast... yay!

[Millymollymandy]

Green scum in waterbutts?

Add some vinegar...

That's not very helpful! Like, how much per 100 litres of water and what kind of vinegar?

[Millymollymandy]

No rain here, just sun, sun and more sun! I need to put the hens in the other run but can't until some rain settles the dustbowl that it has become.

Jack, I know it is dry in Australia, but we here in northern Europe don't have the same kind of plants that are adapted to those conditions. Our plants and trees expect a lot of rain, which in recent years they don't seem to be getting....... It's not easy to replant with the right kind of plants that like to be hot and dry in summer, but also like to be frozen solid and/or waterlogged in winter.

[Stonehead]

We need to source some too Stoney - I've contacted a local company but haven't heard anything back as yet.

There's a company in Newcastle that charges £19.99 per IBC, with delivery costing £180 + VAT for delivery of 10 pallets worth. A pallet usually holds two empty IBCs, so that would be 20 IBCs.

Find enough people who want an IBC or two and the delivery cost could be split between them (making the IBCs around £30 each). I'm after four or five, so that would leave 15/16.

But, we can't afford to buy any IBCs now thanks the cost of NHS dentistry so I've put this on the backburner for now even though we need the water capacity. If you can find enough people with the money though, it might be worth doing yourself.

[Stonehead]

Green scum in waterbutts?

Add some vinegar...

That's not very helpful! Like, how much per 100 litres of water and what kind of vinegar?

One litre of unpasteurised apple cider vinegar to 100 litres of water. That level is also beneficial to pigs and poultry (improves weight gain and food utilisation in pigs; hens lay better quality eggs; and both pigs and chickens are less prone to internal parasites and other problems).

Some farm stores sell it, as do some horse feed merchants. You can get Ostlers Cider Vinegar in 25-litre bottles for around £45-55, but I'd like to find a company that supplies cider vinegar in 200-litre drums.

[Shirley]

There's a company in Newcastle that charges £19.99 per IBC, with delivery costing £180 + VAT for delivery of 10 pallets worth. A pallet usually holds two empty IBCs, so that would be 20 IBCs.

Thanks Stoney - I'll ask around to see if anyone is interested!

[Millymollymandy]

Green scum in waterbutts?

Add some vinegar...

That's not very helpful! Like, how much per 100 litres of water and what kind of vinegar?

One litre of unpasteurised apple cider vinegar to 100 litres of water. That level is also beneficial to pigs and poultry (improves weight gain and food utilisation in pigs; hens lay better quality eggs; and both pigs and chickens are less prone to internal parasites and other problems).

Some farm stores sell it, as do some horse feed merchants. You can get Ostlers Cider Vinegar in 25-litre bottles for around £45-55, but I'd like to find a company that supplies cider vinegar in 200-litre drums.

Thanks for the info, but that would be rather expensive for 2 x 1000 litre IBCs, used for watering plants! Would plants like cider vinegar?

[Stonehead]

Thanks for the info, but that would be rather expensive for 2 x 1000 litre IBCs, used for watering plants! Would plants like cider vinegar?

It doesn't bother our vegetables, which are watered from the same water butts and IBCs as the pigs and chickens.

[red]

how about painting the ibc? cut out the light..kill the bugs?

[Millymollymandy]

We did think about it but it's just one of those things we haven't got round to doing just yet, and then there is the colour, and will they match the barn which they're up against.......

[Stonehead]

There's a company in Newcastle that charges £19.99 per IBC, with delivery costing £180 + VAT for delivery of 10 pallets worth. A pallet usually holds two empty IBCs, so that would be 20 IBCs.

Thanks Stoney - I'll ask around to see if anyone is interested!

I'm definitely not buying any IBCs now - the Discovery has just chewed up its new V-belt and needs more repairs (the shaft on the fan pulley has worn and wobbles). Every time we're get to the point of advertising the blasted thing, it breaks something else. Grrrrr!

[Millymollymandy]

Had 4 whole mm of rain yesterday! This month is sure to be entering the record books for high temperatures and lack of rain!