Everybody out!

We had a big busy evening at the farm last night. We decided it was time for all the birds to go outside. So we tried a few chicks in the run with the ducks to see how they did together. When there were only five or so chicks, the ducks went to the other side of the rub and turned their backs, as if to say: if we don't see you you're not here. As we put more and more chicks out there though, the ducks  could no longer pretend they didn't exist. No fights occurred so we figured it was a success.  Next we had to move the little red chicken coop over by the run so that we could put the chicks in there for the night. That was a big ordeal, because the coop rolled off the trailer while we were trying to move it so we had to get it back upright!  Somehow we got it done. I'm sure we were funny to watch trying to roll that building around.  We outfitted the coop with some bedding and heat lamps and one by one move the babies into it for the night.  After we got them all in, we stacked some heavy containers of food in front of the door, to help keep predators out and said a little prayer that everybody would be there in the morning.

Next we moved the pen that we had inside out to the garage and set it up for the ducks. Until the big run is finished they will go in there at night. As the sun set, we picked up the duckies and carried them into the garage. Everyone safe in their homes for the night.

Lastly I finally got to clean my art room in the house again, where the birds had been living. How satisfying it was to get rid of that thick layer of dust that had settled over everything!  I vacuumed, wiped, mopped, and put everything back in its place.  It's nice to have the house back again. Even the dogs seem calmer now. On to the next stage...

The coop and run

We put the heat lamps out in the coop to give the birds added comfort if it gets cool.

The kitty litter containers help to predator proof this little coop.

The ducks are sleeping in the garage for now.

First try...that's not a turtle!

I was so excited when I woke up this morning and saw all the jug attached to the line way out in the middle of the pond. I thought to myself: we got ourselves a turtle! When Josh got home we went out and reeled the line in only to discover, not a turtle, but a catfish. That's not a snapper! So we will reset the line and try again...

To catch a snapping turtle...

Last winter when the pond froze we saw an enormous snapping turtle under the ice, with a shell about 12" across. Josh was going to cut it out of the ice and relocate it while it was lethargic from being semi-hibernated but the water melted too quickly and we couldn't get it out. Now as we are preparing to send the duckies out to swim in the pond we are again faced with how to remove this monster turtle so that it won't kill our pets. A friend and neighbor lent us his expertise and a hook for setting a line to catch it. He said to bait the hook with beef because if you use chicken the fish will eat it up. There are floaters on either end of the twine so if the jugs have moved tomorrow when we go out there we know we've got something. Fingers crossed we can catch him and make the pond safe by the time the ducks are ready for their first full fledged swim!

Baiting the hook with some steak.

Throwing in the line.

Now we watch the floater to see if it moves.

A temporary pen for the ducks

The ducks are getting big and with bigger ducks comes bigger smells!  So we decided to set up the pen that came with the small coop and let the duckies enjoy the great outdoors during the day until the permanent run and coop are complete. Today was their first full day outside.  We set them up with a baby pool, food, and water in a nice shady spot in the front yard. We even made them some steps to get in and out of the pool easily. I took them out when I got up and they stayed outside until dusk. Seemed to go well. They played in the pool a little, picked for bugs on the ground, but mostly just laid together in the grass.

Big ducks, playing in the yard

The ducks are really getting big and starting to look white as more and more of their feathers come in. We let them walk around in the grass by the pool again while we cleaned their home tonight. A couple times they looked like they were heading for the pool, thought they might try for a swim!

Me holding Mr. Bossy Pants

Growth in the Garden

My lovely new bunny proof fence

Tomatoes

Beets

Carrots

Kale

Peppers

Well, as you read, I planted kale several weeks ago only to come out a couple mornings later and find it all eaten down to the roots by my cute little neighborhood bunnies.  I told my husband - we need a fence!  He was kind enough to oblige me quickly.  We decided to go with a fairly permanent tall fence with a gate to keep critters out big and small and allow my easy access through a gate.  So far, it's been effective.  I replanted the kale as well as some other seedlings - 20 tomatoes and 14 peppers.  The carrots are looking healthy, and in just the last few days I've noticed beets coming up as well.  It's exciting to see the green starting to come out in the garden!  I'm trying a trick suggested by my in-laws to keep the weeds down: line the walkways in between rows with grass clippings.  We have an abundance of grass from mowing acres of it so I've been raking up carts full that you can see dividing up my planting beds.  Next will be corn, cucumbers and beans soon...

A quiet night on the farm

Josh got the posts in to start the coop yesterday. It was an exciting step - when I came home they were all up and I could finally start to visualize what the building will look like.  Next step is the headers then trusses. It was a lovely, peaceful sunset too. A nice night on the farm-