Ok here is my story. So we had this rooster, this morning, who has been increasingly evil with everyone who goes near the 'ladies'. At first it was just me, but recently even my husband with the biggest scariest boots he owns has been a target.Spurs flying, mean scary attack rooster, as mean and evil as you have ever seen, even when you try to feed him. What's his name? Someone asked me the other day "Dinner" I said without hesitation. Anyway, this morning a friend who is a chicken farmer, visited. I was lamenting the inability to go in to the pen and clean them out and collect eggs with the children as I always enjoyed it. So this friend said, "let me go in there and see how mean he really is" After a few turns around the chicken yard, with me watching safely from the house, he had the rooster on the defensive, and clearly convinced. So he cornered him and caught him. "He's all feathers, not anough meat on him to say so...Shall I 'take care' of him for you?" He asked. I knew this was not an offer to adopt him and take him home, so I hesitated for about 2 seconds before saying, "OK". Images sprang to mind of peaceful mornings spent with the chickens again, remembering all the reasons why we started keeping them to begin with. So our friend,with'Piggy' firmly held by the feet and swinging by his side, hikes waaayyyyy up the steep mountain behind our house, and disappears about half a mile up into the woods. After about 10 minutes he came back and said, "Wow, I've never seen one fight like that. Even after I slit his throat he was still attacking me, and actually got away" Anyway, the rooster had his throat slit and disappeared into the undergrowth to die. The coyotes that we hear every night would surely dine royally tonight. Well 8 hours later upon returning from my son's soccer practice, who is strutting around the yard as though he owns the place, pacing up and down outside the chicken run eyeing his harem...Yup, it was Piggy the evil rooster. Now this apparent resurrection, or cheating death is made all the more incredible once you realize that the guy who took care of him is truly an experienced slitter of chicken throats. Anyway, my only thought, after ushering my 8 year old chicken lover into the house, was to let the dogs, 2 large labs out. I know I know, once they get a taste for it ....etc etc. But what am i to do? Here is a rooster, we know it is only a matter of time before he relieves my son of one of his eyes, with a giant hole in his neck, bristling at the sight of me from 30 yards away. No one due to be home to help with the situation for another hour. So quietly I let the dogs out, took my son into a room on the other side of the house and waited for nature to take it's course, which it did...very quickly. My biggest question is this...do I still need to feed the dogs tonight, or can I save the dog food?

Yeah, after much deliberation on this topic I opted for the Brinly also thinking it might be just a tad more beefier. I tried to get HD to assemble it, but the guy who does it had already been in for the week (my luck), so I had to wrestle with it for a couple of hours. Not a bad experience except you need a few more tools than the specify on the box, especially when wrestling with the wheel assembly, and they also shorted me around 20 flat washers...other than that, I think I may like it. I like the psuedo pneumatic tires better than the old hard wheels. As far as the instuctions go, they can do much better. If they're gonna rely on pictures and not written instructions to be the guide for installation, at least provide a more clearer picture. My instructions were obviously a very bad copy and blurred...not to mention the pictures provided were for the 48" and not the 40", which is what I bought. Probably not a deal-buster, but when you're relying on pictures alone and the picture is of a different size assembly it can get confusing, or it did for me a time or two. Just a long-drawn out explanation of my experience and maybe just a little picky about it, but the instructions should be done better. All in all though, I believe it should be a good experience and much better than having to rent something every year.

terry If you are using a large residential builder - they normally handle the utilities (at least my last builder Toll Brothers handled Gas, Water, Power and Phone). However, if you are doing a custom home -like I am now - then it is a different story. I first scheduled the power to be installed - and am paying the delta cost to run it 700' from the main road to my house underground. Then after the power goes in, I have the phone company coming in to trench the phone line. I was told that in most cases, the phone company will use the same trench as the power company (but not always) and when they do - they put ther teleco wire above the power line. In my case, the power line will be down 30 inches in conduit. The phone line will be 12 to 16 inches deep - and I doubt it will be in conduit. Custom builders are not usually responsible for ordering the utlilities - but they must be involved in coordinating the activities with the power company. I had to provide my builder contact info to the power co. so they could communicate. My builder is putting in a well and geo-thermal HVAC - so there is a lot of digging going on that must be coordinated. But you have to order the service - since the account will be in your name. Once power is in, the telco should follow the same trench path so not a lot of coodinating with my builder will be needed. The phone and power companies are not good at coordinating with each other - so I am acting as the coordinator. I found out from the power company when the job will start and finish, then I added a week to that date and set the phone schedule. I talk to the power guy once a week just to stay on top of the schedule, and if it changes I call the phone company (had to do this once already). This is one of the hidden joys of building a custom home. One could ague that my builder should handle all of this - but I decided that it was worth my time to make sure it is handled properly and things are done right. I also plan on being there at the start of the power trench digging just to make sure the back hoe drivers understand which way they need to go. I have heard horror stories about the low bidder workers that the power company outsources to in my area. Hope this helps.

What a great theme and way to package the items!! OMGosh! I'd have purchased that guide Cathy made!! The whole experience, recipes and all (which I have dutifully copied), are so amazingly well-thought out. Terrific box to have received! Lots o' fun here!!! Cathy...truly amazing!