The New Chicken Run

Now that we're no longer dealing with snow, we've begun work on the exterior of the old chicken coop. The interior got a major overhaul (minus a few details we still need to address) last late fall, which served the chickens well through the long winter. Now we are onto removing all of the exterior OSB siding (and ants, which the chickens eat happily), adding house wrap and all new 30-year exterior plywood siding, painting it and then building a large 12-feet by 24-feet run wrapped entirely in hardware cloth. This will provide the chickens with a run three times the size of their current hoop house run. I've been painting the coop and the run structure in Valspar's 'English Tea Party 6004-2C' and we all absolutely love the way this color looks both sophisticated and gorgeous against all the green. I'm sure it will be just as gorgeous against winter snow.







Also worth noting-yes, we want our chickens and ducks to have as much fresh air, sunshine, bugs, space, and green as possible, but we are not okay with free-range birds. First, there's the busy road and lack of perimeter fencing, and second, we have bald eagles, hawks, owls, raccoons, fox, probably coyote, and any number or poultry predators also roaming our land looking for a tasty meal. We've invested a lot of time and money raising our birds and do our upmost to provide them a good life in exchange for eggs, and we're not about to let them become disposable animals. We feel it's our responsibility to do whatever we can to ensure they get to have long, healthy lives.















On the west side of the run stood an old smoke house that Alex tore down (also infested with ants). All of us have been out there in long sleeves and bug baffler hoods because the black flies are also out and they are vicious. I paint, Alex constructs, Olivia and Adam help applying all the welded wire cloth, and the chickens cluck at us constantly. They are so curious about what we are doing (and they want to know when their next batch of rotten wood and ants will be arriving.) Also, many of them are broody, despite being rooster-less, and they are cranky. Very. Cranky. We're hoping this new run will be a distraction and much needed change of pace for them.




Avis, a Dominique


Doris, a Silver Gray Dorking


Blanche, a Jersey Giant

Oh, and in other news, one of our sweet Buff Orpingtons, who has been a house chicken since early February due to a touch of frostbite that led to the others picking on her, has successfully transitioned back to the flock. Welcome back, Ethel!


Ethel becomes a house chicken


playtime with Alex


settling in


hugs for Ethel

May Flowers On The Farm

May Days

Now that spring really does seem to be here for good, it feels so great to be outside, making plans, digging in the dirt, and working on things that don't involve snow removal or walking through snow, or thinking about snow in any way. We picked up our Fedco order and proceeded to do like we do annually, which is spend the next week planting everything. We put in some Oakleaf Hydrangea, Ninebark, Higbush Cranberry, and PeeGee Hydrangea along the front of the house with the idea that it will create a lovely hedge along a future stone walkway to the front door. With the snow finally gone, Alex and I measured and drew up a design for the new chicken run, and we'll continue the coop restoration on the exterior this month. Of course, while we were doing that, we got to talking about the old dead elm nearby that seemed a bit hazardous, so Alex went and suited up in his swanky safety gear and sawed that sucker down. It feels good to get things done. Definitely.

Welcome, April

April

April has arrived and Spring has not. It snows as soon as the melting begins. We look for signs and find a few sprigs of green waiting for warmth. A few days of temps in the 40s allows the ducks to have their first pool in months. Mud season is taking place in our dooryard. Winter boots and coats are still by the kitchen door and the woodstove is still in use. The mail comes and with it joyful news. We celebrate my 44th birthday fabulously. We spy the return of the robins with their happy hopping and rosy bellies. Alex boils down maple sap and now we have jars of amber syrup. All of us go see Sufjan Stevens and Olivia and I sit with tears streaming and throats clenching back sobs. We wait. And wait some more. Anxiety boils. This family shit is hard, hard stuff. Then, most of the snow finally melts and we're out with rakes and using gardening muscles. Dear friends suffer a huge loss and we prepare Mermaid House to shelter them. Finally, we see it. Spring has finally arrived. Comfrey and rhubarb emerge, poking crowns through the still cold soil. We still have firewood left. We survived. We made it through a nearly six-month-long winter. Oh, Spring, we're so happy to see you!