Making Hay While the Sun Shines

Or at least cleaning out stinky pig pens and musty chicken tractors.

With such fine weather for February, I haven't lined up a blog post.  I do have one coming up about some great love affairs, more Myth Busting, an opportunity for you to help widow women raising orphans in Zambia, and an idea I need to pitch to friends for a some farm posts. It's just been so nice - and there has been so much to do - that I haven't taken the time to get the posts ready.

However, since the neighbor spotted a cougar on her property, I'm waiting until daylight to do my chores these days, so I thought I'd share some pictures the kids and I took yesterday...followed by some links.

Our newest roo.  I call him "Red."  The Cowboy calls him "Mr. Fancy Pants".  He is a "Blue Laced Red Wyandotte."

Playing in the stock run on our way back from checking the mail.

Mr. Fancy Pants with some of his girls and a couple of ducks.  I figure if you need fancy looking chickens, the rooster will have to do.  I want hens who are good layers - regardless of what they look like.  These are Barred Rocks.

The ducks were ecstatic to see the stock run!

Ever wonder about chicken reproduction?  (If you eat eggs, you must have wondered at some point!)  Here is a fabulous post from Lally Broch Farm on The Birds and Bees...Chicken Style.

I should have gotten cold frames built last fall, but I didn't - so I bookmarked this post from Bepa's Garden for inspiration.

Because we have a broody hen - and one we know will go broody, I needed a better idea than last year's to house them for hatching their chicks.  This DIY mobile broody box from Mother Earth News has possibilities.  And this article (from the Modern Homestead) on hatching your own is very helpful.

And, if you have nothing to do but pine over heirloom tomatoes (and other vegetables - and even flowers), you must check out my favorite seed source.  When the Baker Creek seed catalog comes, the kids and I pore over it for hours. 

More blog posts soon - in the meantime, I hope you're enjoying wonderful weather where you are too!