Spring is almost here

I picked up the tiller from the shop yesterday and turned it on for just a minute when I got home.

We had to run out to get gas this  morning, but came right back and got to work.

Sprouting up

We are finally starting to see more seeds sprouting up. We still have quite a few that haven't started so I will probably use those cups for the next round if seeds this weekend. 

Tomatoes, sunflowers, basil, cabbage, and bell peppers are showing progress.

Green!

I've been starting to worry about my seeds growing.  I haven't seen any signs of them growing and I've had a hard time keeping the soil moist even though I go down twice a day to water.

And then last night I saw green! 

The cabbage and the bell peppers had sprouts popping up. Now if only my tomatoes would start doing the same.

Success with integration

Although I had to catch each of the chicks and put them in the coop, and then had to close the door behind each one because they kept trying to escape, they were all up roosting with the big birds when I checked on them the first night. 

The second night they went in on their own. Now I just need the courage to let them free range during the day with the other birds.

Silver Laced Wyandottes, odds against me

Well, it looks like the odds are against me with the Silver Laced Wyandottes.  A couple weeks ago I tried to see if I could determine their sex based on their combs.  The brighter red and larger they are, the more likely that they are boys.  At that time, I thought I had 6 boys and 6 girls.

Today, since they are now three months old and a few are larger than NormaJean and her siblings, I decided to move them to the new coop with Clyde Jr., Silkie Sue, and the smaller hens.  After I got them all moved over, I sat down with them and started looking closer.

Laying Gold

The girls started laying regularly again about a week or two ago.  Every afternoon or evening when I collect the eggs, I think that it feels like I'm finding gold.

This afternoon, even though it was bright and sunny outside, three girls were busy laying me some more gold.

Some changes in the coop

One of the guinea fowl, the one that escaped the neighbors last summer, has started roosting in one of the rafters in the coop.  I was surprised that they didn't start doing this a long time ago.  Once in awhile another guinea or two will join her up there and I have to be careful at night because I'm worried they'll poop on me when I'm in the coop counting the birds or moving some of them to the roost.

MaryAnne, what are you doing?

The birds will sometimes wander up into the trees in the front of the property to look for bugs and treats.  They nearly always travel in a flock though, sometimes three or four of them and sometimes almost all of them.

But this afternoon I came home to find MaryAnne blocking the driveway.  She was by herself and just strolling back and forth looking for treats on the ground. 

We lost Big Red today...

Big Red had been looking worse over the last week.  She'd gone back to being swollen and walking a little more upright, but now the swelling was all over her body.  I found her laying behind the feed trash can one night, which is the complete opposite of the corner she normally sleeps in.  I knew she wasn't doing well, but I guess part of me hoped she would get better.

Then I came home and the oldest immediately came running out to tell me he'd found Big Red laying on her side in the chicken ran when he got home.  He had thought she was dead but when he picked her up, she was still breathing so he brought her into the mud room.

She was sitting in a box, not moving, but still breathing.  I wrapped a towel around her and picked her up, she didn't even attempt to fight me and instead just closed her eyes.  I knew she was dying and I felt horrible that she might be in pain or suffering.  

I called the vet and took her down.  

They put her to sleep for me because I know I am not able to put an animal down myself, and we brought her home to be buried.  The oldest dug the hole for me and I set her down.  We've now lost a few birds and I knew that Big Red was older and sick so it wasn't unexpected, but I still feel horribly about it all.

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The garden is started

I'm a couple weeks late on my start time, but I finally got a bunch of seeds planted in the basement with two lights set up.  Tomatoes, onions, chives, cabbage, parsley...  I even threw in some sunflower seeds and some basil that were left over from last year just to see if they would grows. 

We planted everything in toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, some left over planting pots from last year, and even some egg shells that I read about online.  My fingers are crossed that I start to see some green sprouts in the next few weeks so that I know this worked.