I think my dogs like bread...

                                                         

Chickens. In a tractor.

I went out last night and put the chickens in their new home. They like it. I put a nest box way in the back. It had a chain to hand the waterer on. I love that. So it looks like it will take a few days to eat the grass down. Then I'll move them forward every few days. I hope I get some eggs again. I may even get a few more hens. I really don't need the rooster, so will probably sell him. He's just taking up room. And I don't want to hatch any for chicks. I am really liking this set up a lot.

A little green

I was looking out in the garden for some signs of anything popping up out there. And I found these. Some radishes. If anything would be coming up, it would be the radish. I have 5 different kinds planted. I did see some lettuce too. But as cold as it's been, it might be a few more weeks before I see anything else.

There are a lot of turnip greens and collards coming back from last year though.

It's a beautiful day today. And for the next few days. Then rain on Easter Sunday.

Chicken tractors

I am really excited about these chicken tractors. A friend who bought some of my Freedom Ranger meat birds has several tractors he made and is not going to have chickens anymore. So he is bartering the tractors for chickens. And will even come butcher them too! 

This is the biggest one. The whole top opens with a small door at the end. It has 4 wheels. There are roosts in the back too. And tarp over the back end. Also a chain to hang a waterer. I'll use this one for my 4 laying hens and the rooster til I get meat birds. Right now, I will pull it around in the front yard where all the tall winter grass is. The hens have been in the coop since I started the garden. And I have probably gotten 5 eggs since. They do not like being cooped at all. And protest by not laying eggs. They will  be happy when they get in this. I'll have to wait til tonight to put them in it.

This is another one. He has about 3 more like this we need to go get. I'll have to put roosts in this one.

It opens at both ends. Not near as big as the other one, but will be fine for my hens when I get the meat birds. I'll have to put a nest box in it too.

I think this is a pretty good deal. And to get help butchering is icing on the cake! These are all really built to last a long time. Made with treated lumber. I hate to cage chickens, but if I want a garden, it has to be this way. And I think the meat birds will grow faster too. I'll get 25 at a time. Probably every month.

Now we need to go get the rest of the tractors.We could only get one at a time in out big truck.

Winter's hanging on here.

It's cold out there! This is from this morning. There's no snow on the ground here, but on the car and the house, you can see it. We had snow flurries all day yesterday too.

Husband is home this week on vacation. He made a fire in the fireplace last night. So it's nice and toasty in the house now. And we actually kept it going all night. It sure uses a LOT of wood though.  When we were using the wood heater, one of those yellow wagons full would last 3 days. With an open fireplace, we've already used almost 3 wagon loads since last night. Not very economical, or as warm, but still nice. And I love to see smoke coming out of the chimney. It's so messy though.

So no spring here. Not for another few weeks. All that work and hurry I did to get the garden started, I think was for nothing. Because it's been in the 20's and 30's at night and only in the 40's during the day since. If anything does come up, it'll be a miracle. I have really never planted anything this early anyway. I guess I was just worried about getting things ready for the markets in April. And got a fever blister too. My 2nd ever in my whole life. Not fun.

I know it'll be hot and dry one day soon. But right now, it's still winter. And March. It was 20 years ago this month that we had a huge blizzard here. We lived in Flintstone then and only had dogs and cats. And only one freezer. The power was out for a few weeks. It was really nice though. Because neighbors were so nice and we got to know a lot of them. Everyone's been talking about another blizzard. Who knows?

Spam

And not the kind my husband loves to eat.

I noticed on my last post that there were 3 really strange comments from an anonymous commentor. Then when I checked a little later, those were gone but 3 more were there, different comments but still anonymous. So I deleted them. Then deleted the whole post. I haven't seen them anywhere else here.

Then I was over on another blog and noticed she had some of the same strange anonymous comments too. She deleted those as well.

So has anyone else been getting crazy strange comments that have absolutely nothing to do with the post? I hope it's not some sort of virus that's going to affect bloggers who comment on my blog. I'm so sorry if it does.

I am working on a post about the fermented grains and my milking does. It's coming, just taking pictures and getting some comparisons. But so far the 2 milk does are loving this grain! And milk production is up!

Bees. And keeping them.

Last night, I went to my first ever bee keeping class. The guy I'll be getting my hive from was the speaker. I could have listened to him all night. But I had to leave at 8:30 because I still had a goat to milk.

So now, after hearing him, I think I am more nervous and anxious than ever. I don't really think I was nervous before. Just more excited. But now I am just plain ole scared! Not OF the bees themselves. I love bees. Always have. I can sit right in the middle of a corn field and pick beans and listen to them buzz around me all day. I love them! They are awesome amazing little creatures. And I learned a lot about them last night. But even Eddie, after years and years of keeping bees, doesn't know all there is to know about them. They are just plain awesome!

I am more afraid of KEEPING bees. The responsibility of having those beautiful bees here, on my property. And keeping them healthy and happy. I so hope they will be happy here. There is so much all around here for them to keep busy. 2 whole mountain ranges, woods, forests, fields, ponds... SO much for them in this valley. So not really worried about that too much.

I'm not even afraid of being stung. Because Eddie says we WILL be stung. But it is good for arthritis. Which a few of my fingers are starting to feel. So maybe I won't wear gloves.

So this is where I will keep the hives. Up at the top of the hill, in that corner. It's a North-West corner, so they will be protected from winds and have the afternoon shade from the west. There is a lot of wild mint over in the pasture to the left. I heard mint keeps mites away? I will probably put some pots of mint in the bee yard. Since my goats are in this pasture, I'll fence in this corner.

I have always wanted bees here. And especially now, since every year I have seen fewer and fewer bees here on my property. Since I am organic and don't use any chemicals, I think they'll do a great job pollinating all my apple and pear trees. And my gardens. I think I'll go up to an organic farm in Tn. and get some of their organic open-pollinated corn and plant that in the other garden area, just for them. I will also plant lots and lots of flowers for them to enjoy.

I was told that the first year, I won't get honey. But that's fine with me. I will let the bees have all they need. I am not really concerned with getting honey. I just want the bees here.

I would LOVE to hear from all you bee keepers out there. Anything about bees. Your first experience with bees.