Spring is Almost Here!

I pulled a green egg out of the coop.  

To me, this is a sure sign that Spring is coming.  

My Ameraucana hen Martha has begun laying

after a winter long sabbatical.

Chicken Bowl

Here at the Wannabe Farm, our chickens play football on Superbowl Sunday.

Around the Corner

It's 13 degrees outside, -1 with the windchill.  

Got the chickens all closed up in their coop and run. 

 January and February are always the dreariest parts of the winter.  

That's why I love seed catalogs. 

They always show up when you need them too

so you can plan and dream about the Spring.

So, I'm thinking about my garden.

Last year, it sort of got neglected.  I managed to fix the blossom rot problem on my tomatoes only to then have issues with splitting because of the sporadic heavy rains.

Then there were the squash bugs.

I have some ideas for the coming season-

like possibly doing away with rows and going to plant groupings instead.

Ultimately, I hope to can tons of veggies.

Here's to Spring!

Play Ball

Our chickens know how to umpire a game of baseball

The Barking Fox

Lying awake last night, I heard the barking of a fox.  It's a distinct sound, similar to a yappy little dog and yet not like a dog.  Sometimes it even sounds like a cat. Have a listen here.

 I worry about those chickens of mine. They're not only my own personal egg factory, they're pets with distinct personalities. They chase the cat, they chase the horses and while they don't chase the dogs, Big Bertha has been known to peck my chocolate lab on the nose from time to time. 

I think Bertha thinks she can take just about anything.

Winter

First snowfall of the winter- The Apple Tree

Love those country traffic jams

Big Bertha has to check everything out.

Gibbs the cool cat

Emergency Preparedness

There's a storm bearing down on the East Coast bringing with a 90% chance of gale force winds, heavy rains, flooding and possibly snow.  Make sure you remember to take care of your furry friends!  Here's a few tips:

• Make sure water troughs are filled
• Fill any extra buckets with water
• Make sure you muck those stalls and clean out those coops before the storm hits. Who knows if you'll need to lock your livestock in or how long they might be "cooped up"
• Make sure you protect livestock from the weather. I plan on using plastic sheeting to offer a wind and rain buffer for my chickens. 
• Remove or tie up any loose items- buckets, toys, etc
• Make sure you have plenty of food- SPCA states 5 days worth per animal
• Make note of emergency shelter rules and know which shelters allow pets. Plan accordingly!
• Have current photos of your animals in the event they become lost.
• Have first aid kit on hand for animals.
• Have leashes, collars, pet carriers, halters, lead lines, etc on hand
• Make sure fences, gates, etc are secure  

 Stay safe!