To clarify:
“pretty much all my plant starting space indoors during the “dead” of winter” is taken up by plants I brought in.”
As things warm up in March, some more hardy plants like the lemongrass can go “out” and be covered well on freezing or frosty nights, or even go in the garage (and the car left out) a few nights if need be. That frees up the initial seed starting space.
Speaking of frost, sho’ ‘nuff, we got a light frost in exposed spots. So, I’m glad I didn’t take the more sensitive plants outside, and, I covered quite a lot outside last night too.
NWS had bumped UP the forecast a degree (F), late yesterday, and then actually recorded two hours at 3 deg. BELOW their forecast, early this morning. Typically, we are slightly cooler than they are, on chilly nights.
It was a busy (too busy) night. A raccoon has been about, and has learned to push off the trash can lid on the metal trash can I store chicken feed in. I’d almost convinced myself I was just forgetting to put the lid back on, or somehow wind was lifting it off.
Nope! I’d made sure the lid was on, last evening, and positioned a few pieces of hard hickory firewood around the can, so that if the lid “fell off”, there was a good chance it’s make a loud “clonk” to wake me up. Sho’ ‘nuff, a bit after 11 pm I woke up to a loud clonk, went out there, discovered the lid off, and found some grain & layer pellets scattered about. No critter could be seen, so I put the lid back on and retreated indoors where it was warmer.
A couple hours later, rinse and repeat, except this time I caught a glimpse of the ‘coon as it scurried off.
Then about 3 a.m., I heard the chickens squawking, and ran out to see just about the biggest opossum I’ve ever seen trotting off. I had my pellet pistol with me by now, but couldn’t get a clean shot before he / she disappeared into brush. Dang! That’s no good! That especially when we have one hen who doesn’t go back to either henhouse most nights. Where she roosts I’ve not been able to find. She’s a Black Maran and VERY elusive, but, still...
Then about 4:40 a.m., ANOTHER clonk from the trash can lid! By the time I blearily got shoes on (slip ons at that!), grabbed the pellet pistol and got out there, a pair of eyes briefly glowed back at me from the edge of the woods, then disappeared.
I guess I’ll move the live trap near to the feed (trash) can, and put a couple “dog safe traps” out by the chicken house(s).
There is a sturdier (than the hen’s runs / houses) “roosting cage/coop” between them. (An intruder-varmint would have to get through chain link fence and metal roofing to get in it.) It’s “open” air, but it’ll be warm enough the next several nights that the hens can join the “spare” rooster. I just need to put up a 2nd “roosting bar” — ie., a fairly walnut or hickory branch, so the birdies all have enough room to roost. Add maybe 1 more nest box. The “cage” itself is ~ and nearly 6’ tall, so, they’ll have plenty of room in there.
The rooster of course is deliriously happy at this turn of events. ;-)
I was gonna put some hens back in with him anyway —I was just putting off putting up another roosting bar, in lieu of all my other projects(!), and didn’t want to put in only 4-5 or so hens, as that few tend to get beat up by a viril / active roo’.
In a day or two, the chickens should be getting a protein boost of roasted ‘possum. :-)
If when I trap the raccoon, I’ll prolly take him over to the river & release him / her.