Even though when you look at my front flower bed, heaped with dirty snow, ice, and some wood ashes and say “yuck,” if you really look closely, you’ll see little daffodils coming up. I saw the first ones this morning. Besides that, we’re getting a few migratory birds hitting our feeders. This morning, we had a few juncos, a purple finch, and I’m pretty sure I heard a red-winged blackbird. The sun is out brightly, and the air is spring-like.
This morning, we loaded up our Mastiff, Sarge, for his trip to the vet for neutering. After he and Hondo got into two fights, we decided Sarge needed less aggression. Hondo weighs less than half of what Sarge does so their fight is not evenly matched, even though Hondo kind of instigates it by walking stiff legged and holding his tail stiff behind him. He’s always been the boss, but now Sarge is getting older and won’t take it. The surgery may or may not stop the fighting, but the e-collar and training will all help too.
I’ve been planting tomatoes like mad, trying to do a flat a day. The first ones are up and look so tiny, compared to the thicker peppers, which now have three sets of leaves. Yep, they’re getting transplanted very soon! Today we picked up three bags of ProMix from The Watering Can so I’m all set. With nice weather, Will got the hydraulic pump fixed on the Ford tractor and we’ll be splitting lots of firewood for next year real soon. We have a whole lot of logs sitting in various locations, just waiting to be cut up and split. That’s such a good feeling!
Our hens are doing their job very well. Two days ago, I got seven eggs from my nine (old) hens. Not too bad, eh? I’ve ordered 25 new chicks so our friend, Sherri, could get the 10 she wanted (they’ll only ship 25 plus). We’ll also be hatching some of our eggs for both Sherri and us. I’d like to get the core flock up to about 25 birds again. That seems to work for us so we can give eggs to folks who need them and still have lots for us too. Sherri is going to brood the chicks as we would have trouble with keeping them warm. Plus, our cat, Buffy, would be a problem as she thinks everything that moves is prey. I’ll buy all the feed for both budding flocks, so it’ll be a win-win situation for both of us.
Come on spring! — Jackie
Glad you didn’t get the ice storm that northern Michigan had a couple days ago. A friend winters in Alaska and goes down to her house in Michigan for the summer. People watching the house for her can’t even get near to check it there are so many trees down. Our ten three and four year old hens are averaging about six eggs a day with eight one day. I have a broody hen but I don’t have a good way to keep the chicks warm when they hatch being off grid too!
I cleaned out the bluebird houses a few days ago and they’re back. My peppers are growing nicely and the tomatoes are popping up and look so tiny. I started the brassicas today -cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and your Umpquah broccoli. I cut a little wood each day-I can only tolerate that for a couple of hours. The grass is greening up-nearly all of our 33 cows have calved. My 16 chickens are producing 8-10 eggs a day. It’s still cold here in Southern Wisconsin-it still threatens to snow. Is there a method to force celery to ho to seed in its first year? I rehabbed my old Troy built horse -transmission and tines. It will be time soon to use it and I will enjoy it working again. Any parts-tractor/car/machines are going up in price.
Wow are your peppers gorgeous! Hope Sage does better this summer after his surgery. Its hard to have two animals with jobs that don’t get along always, even though trained. it happens. my daffodils aren’t all bloomed, but the first ( in a very protected sunny location) have already bit the dust! could be the few 60 + days last week. 30 this morning. Hope everyone gets a descent spring planting season this year. so many were burned out, washed out like you were last year. specially with the crazy prices these days. i too am gettin daily eggs from 2-7 year olds ! the local farm store cant keep day old chicks in stock, everyone is buying chicks due to the egg shortages. I just pray they knowledgeable an not jump in without realizing chicks are cute. hens are nice. work is involved . even seeing $35 for ‘barnyard week old pullets” advertised.. been a bit leery ordering form eastern hatcheries as though I’m aware how careful they are… the long flight to the northwest many seem to be receiving ill even dead chicks this year. my rooster so far remains healthy so plan on incubating some latter this year. Stay healthy!
Some of the bulbs are poking their heads out in the front garden; the snow here is dirty too, but melting fast. Never fast enough for me though.
It’s April 1, so the Vermont Department of Wildlife wants us all to take down our bird feeders lest we attract bears. We’re supposed to have them up only from the first snow (usually November) until 4/1. We had a mess of bears wandering around our property last summer, including a mama and three cubs, and I’m not interested in seeing any this year.
Hello Jackie.
It sure is nice to see signs of Spring isn’t it.
I see a lot of robins, Cardinals and other smaller birds
busy building their nests.
It’s quite rainy, windy and wet here.
I heard some places may get a lot of snow but not here to my
knowledge.
I hope getting Sarge neutered will help along with the collar and training.
It can take a few weeks for hormones to decrease but sure
hope it helps.
My two older dogs are gone now and they weren’t a problem
but I took in a little dog the day he was born and syringe fed
him. Unfortunately he had way too much aggression as he got
closer to two so had him neutered and has helped a lot with training.
I’m glad your chickens are doing well to lay.
I only have four now and have plans to get more chicks soon from
the farm store.
I’m going to get a little brooder heat light that is adjustable and have them
downstairs until old enough to start introducing to others.
Mine are laying but getting older so want to cover all bases if they
stop laying at some point.
I do some cat rescue so have to make sure the chicks are safe and sound as they grow.
I’m so glad Sherri is brooding all the chicks so they’ll be safe.
I’ve got some of the tomatoes I ordered from you and the pepper seeds in starter soil.
Plus have one sweet potato plant started.
The grow lights put off quite a bit of heat in the outdoor building plus being on heat
mats is helping them get a start.
I’ll be starting more seeds soon and going to get more soil from the farm store when I get
chicken supplies so will be good to go.
My woods a waiting for me to work on getting it cut but haven’t got there just yet. Glad you’ll be working on getting wood ready for next year’s cold weather.
You and Will have the very best day
I always describe it as mud season – you smell it even if it not so muddy.
That dang Y chromosome – sad to say you have to take the good with the bad. While we didn’t think the dump (cat) we took in would be aggressive (his social skills did need some toning down), we did not want him to start spraying in the house. A number of intact farm cats (and the occasional dump) are ever present in our yard during the “looking for love” time of the year.
Good Friday is late this year so we’ll till and plant before then. Better half who usually is less motivated to stock up than I has suggested we stock up on non-perishables.
I cannot stress having an emergency fund – the more the better. Male dump we took in has a not common health issue which will not be inexpensive to treat. He’s young and the best cat we’ve ever had so on step on one of treatment. While I’m happy we have the financial means to do so, it is sad it would not be possible for others. Upside he’s being treated at a highly ranked vet school so vets-2-be will get the experience.
Our robins have been around for a few weeks – still too early based on pre-climate change.
All the ground wood from the massive oak has been rounded up and the collateral damage (read be careful when cutting) taken care of. We committed to working the election so no firewood/yard work for five days will happen.
Take a good look at staples (edible/non-perishables) and stock up as your budget allows. And for those who have retirement accounts, don’t knee jerk panic and sell. You don’t lose money unless you sell for less than gross purchase price and the fees to sell. IMHO, the 2% want the average Joe/Jane out of the market.
Buffy wants to earn her keep but as you say, if it moves it is prey.
Don’t forget to vote – local races are important too.