redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701 
|
Post by redzip on Sept 10, 2014 3:30:36 GMT
Some pics of our pond,., It really does add a 'water element' to the property, not to mention, the peace and tranquility. Good luck with your pond project!   |
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Sept 10, 2014 12:27:24 GMT
Those diggers are an arm and a leg t have someone come do anything, I got a quote for them to level a 200x100ft area that isn't really hilly, just needs some fill and a few trees pulled down and it was $7-8000!
I have a dug out way up the field which has been there forever, it's full of ducks, we used to have muskrats too but my cat Burke killed them all lol!
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 10, 2014 14:23:38 GMT
By me you can hire a person/man and their machine for a days worth of work for a set amount.
A free estimate of how long it will take to accomplish.
Machine operator, machine, fuel and know-how to do proper grading...the ability to channel water from a bad area to a good area and stop the "ponding" effect...
It does cost to have ground grading done, but when done correctly you will have a beautiful result and a much dryer turnout area than you can imagine...safer footing year round and the ability to grow grass as it won't die under all that mud and water retained...
What would take you months by hand, and many hundreds of dollars at least by rented machine from a rental facility... could be accomplished in 1/2 the time I bet. It might indeed be worth looking into...
|
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Sept 10, 2014 15:39:34 GMT
By me you can hire a person/man and their machine for a days worth of work for a set amount.
A free estimate of how long it will take to accomplish.
Machine operator, machine, fuel and know-how to do proper grading...the ability to channel water from a bad area to a good area and stop the "ponding" effect...
It does cost to have ground grading done, but when done correctly you will have a beautiful result and a much dryer turnout area than you can imagine...safer footing year round and the ability to grow grass as it won't die under all that mud and water retained...
What would take you months by hand, and many hundreds of dollars at least by rented machine from a rental facility... could be accomplished in 1/2 the time I bet. It might indeed be worth looking into...;)
I know he said 3 days for what I needed, I think I may invest in lessons and a machine and start doing it as a business! |
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 11, 2014 3:01:46 GMT
Oh Red your pond is beautiful, and I love the little ducks. I can't even hope to have a pond that size, but even a small pond will draw wildlife. I want the game birds to feel free to come here for a drink, and never have the fear of getting shot. Well not unless they are shot with my camera. Pictures, pictures, pictures.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 28, 2014 4:28:23 GMT
I was filling the water tank tonight. It was almost dusk and I got to watch the bats emerge from the old, falling down barn, for their nightly excursion. While my attention was focused on them, this little girl came running up, and was so desperate for a drink, she didn't even mind that I was standing near by.
Please, please, please don't tell me that these beautiful animals pose a danger to my horses like opossums do. I want to start tomorrow, digging my pond. My poor wildlife are so thirsty. I am so afraid I will go to the water tank to fill it, and find a thirsty raccoon, or turkey slipped in and drowned. :'(
Edit; I did run the tank over for awhile to wash off the little raccoons dirty foot prints from the lip of the tank. I am also afraid if you say raccoons do pose a danger to my horses, I am a sunk duck. There are thousands around Ash Creek. |
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 28, 2014 10:58:50 GMT
The only danger I know about is they are sick if you see them during broad daylight I was told by a forest ranger.
They are a "nocturnal" animal usually. Dawn or dusk and overnight dark hours they are active....
It says something of how awfully thirsty the animal is that it would come to drink with you standing there.
It also says something about you yourself that they feel no animosity from you that you will harm them.....
I love to watch raccoons....
They have the most amazing "hands"....so strong and can be vicious when need be. They can and are so gentle with their young.
Do be careful with all your "friends"....we tend to forget they are still wild animals when they come around often and are not so fearful of us....
Make sure your horses are current on all their vaccinations....I would be including rabies if you have creatures like this around...
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 28, 2014 13:28:33 GMT
All my fur-babies are up to date, but I can't say the same for me. I asked about a rabies vaccination, when I got my tetanus shot. I guess people who work with wildlife can get them, but they aren't available for the general population. It is based on your risk factor....
Well I think, an idiot, who loves all kinds of wildlife, and spends as much time crawling around on, and cleaning up an old creek bank, as I do, does have a risk factor. JMO. |
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Sept 28, 2014 14:59:09 GMT
How cute, and yes, you need to be careful of where you go in the dark as to not corner a animal.that might be sick.
i have those large tubs around the property for the horses and i also put down round pan feeders for the birds and smaller animals to get a drink, you only need about two of them to help the small raccoons get drinks and not drown.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 28, 2014 17:51:11 GMT
That's a good idea. I have a short tank I am going to put out there by where the pond is going to be. I had it out on the other side of the property, so the horses could get a drink over there is they wanted to. I did keep it full for awhile, but they never drank out of it, so I let it go empty. I will just drag it over after while and set it up.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 28, 2014 18:19:00 GMT
I started digging my little pond today.  I wanted to start by just moving a little bit of dirt, and filling in some holes in the yard. I was digging a shallow hole in the shade, and I had gotten two of the holes, I am always getting the lawn mower stuck in, in the yard, filled up. Things were going pretty good, until the inspectors showed up. 
They were inspecting the hole and the cart for OSHA compliance, and safety violations' and were really slowing the excavation down. 
The inspector in the grey suit decided to check the tires on the dump cart, and decided they were not safe to operate, after he kicked the valve stem with his toe, and it broke and let all the air out of my tire. 
The work will have to be put on hold, until repairs can be made. 
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Sept 29, 2014 0:22:45 GMT
How cute are they making like they are all knowing and wanting to help. at that rate you will be spending alot of time outside with the inspectors repeating your work. but again that is a good thing, gives you focus and at least you are outside.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 29, 2014 1:22:48 GMT
If I didn't love those silly inspectors so much I would have given them a piece of my mind, and sent them on their way. |
|
mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
|
Post by mistersmom on Sept 29, 2014 13:08:50 GMT
Too cute! And a good idea about putting a smaller, shallower tub out for the wildlife until your pond can be dug.
I wonder though, unless you dig all the way down to the water table, in the dry weather will your pond dry out?
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Sept 29, 2014 15:04:31 GMT
Yes it will. Many farm ponds are dry, and the wildlife are really suffering. I will be keeping things on a small enough scale that I will be able to keep water in it with the hose. I have heavy clay soil, so I hope that alone well help it hold water. If not, than I will have to use bentonite to seal it.
|
|
mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
|
Post by mistersmom on Sept 29, 2014 16:01:22 GMT
I thought I had seen where you had addressed this in a previous post but I guess I was too lazy to go back and look. I love that you are thinking about the welfare of the wildlife as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Oct 4, 2014 5:00:46 GMT
10/3/14
I have been digging for a few hours every day. "It's ok, It's therapy for me." I have to admit, I am not making much headway. My dirt is really hard, (like cement) and the tree nearby has a lot of roots where I want the pond to be. I thought I would keep a record of the progress, just for the fun of it. Today I couldn't help myself and I had to add a little water, just to see what would happen. Ok I know. I don't have any patience, but that is just me. The moment I start something, I want to work at it until it is done. Unfortunately, at my age, my arthritis has other ideas. *darn* I am making a pond, so there must be water. 
They were so funny about it all. They check out the hole I am digging every night. They have been so calm, and curious about everything, but add a little water, and suddenly, it is a whole different  (horse eating) thing! Oh my goodness "Snort, Snort." There is water in the hole! "Snort, Snort!" They walked right up, to where I was looking at the water, then suddenly it became a huge surprise. 
Goodness,,,,,, you just gotta love horses. They are an adventure every day. |
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Oct 4, 2014 20:31:14 GMT
You are mor determined than i am. i would have called someone with a machine. but that looks lovely and yes those supervisors are really interested in what you are up to. aleve and wine will help with the aches and pains. lol  |
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Oct 4, 2014 20:53:22 GMT
I'm pretty impressed, it does look like clay soil and I know how hard that stuff is to dig, good job |
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Oct 5, 2014 1:56:27 GMT
I got most of the mowing done today, than dug on the pond. I am sooooo pooped.
I was thinking I want the pond to be 10 feet X 20 feet in size, but we will have to see how it goes. Right now it looks way to small, and I guess it is about 5' by 10'. I am so tired tonight I didn't even take any pictures. I didn't put any water in it tonight, but I found the digging was a lot easier in most places when the ground is wet, but it was a lot heavier. I am not sure how much I will get done before winter, but I will definitely not be able to dig once the ground is frozen. Right now the depth is about 18". I don't know if I will make 3' this year. I don't know if I want to go that deep yet. I don't know if it will hold water, but I do know it will hold  , and most of our comes with high winds. I don't want a hidden hole to be to deep, if the horses forget it is there. Does anyone have any comments?  I am trying to think safety first, but I don't even know if it would be an issue. |
|
I wanted to start by just moving a little bit of dirt, and filling in some holes in the yard. I was digging a shallow hole in the shade, and I had gotten two of the holes, I am always getting the lawn mower stuck in, in the yard, filled up. Things were going pretty good, until the inspectors showed up. 
(horse eating) thing! Oh my goodness "Snort, Snort." There is water in the hole! "Snort, Snort!" They walked right up, to where I was looking at the water, then suddenly it became a huge surprise. 
, and most of our 
I am trying to think safety first, but I don't even know if it would be an issue.