Eight eggs this morning! Well, actually seven, because one was broken; I don’t think the newest hens had been getting enough calcium. Last night they were both pecking at the pile of crushed oyster shells as though their lives depended on it.
The copper tubing on the solar collector received another coat of paint. It’s important to paint everything matt black as this absorbs the most solar energy; gloss black would reflect some. I had originally intended drilling holes through the roof tiles to mount the panel; but after a bit of careful thought I have instead opted to make some brackets. These will be fixed to the rafters, and by following the contour of the tile, no drilling will be necessary. Of course this means I need to pay a visit to the aged FIL’s workshop to see if there is any suitable scrap metal. I think the panel itself will need a bit of reinforcing on the underside, as the plywood box seems a bit flimsy. Once it’s in place it should be fine, but I don’t want it to fall apart as it’s being hoisted onto the roof!