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After two sessions of Skid Steer repair this week, and a lot of watched videos, we FINALLY got the new track back on the CAT beast. Beau could then move the pallet of cement that was in the way and my mower was freed! Beau checked her oil and vitals for me and my plan for the day is getting as much done as I can before we start getting rainy again next week. I'll see how it goes; may need the baler by this point, though the first mowing is always the most satisfying to me.

Checking in - haven’t been on a Garden Thread for a while!

I push mowed my Mom’s acre last weekend. It’s just about due again, but, we are getting soaked (rain). I figure it’s good exercise. Almost too good.

Our “extra-small” bantam (mostly) hen went broody and hatched 3 chicks from 2 eggs that were well under 1 oz., and one about 1 oz. The latter was from another hen that just laid an atypically small egg for her, which she does every tenth egg or so. Anyway, the two smaller chicks look like Amberlinks, but with Bantam-type feathery feet. They were so tiny when hatched!! My wife almost couldn’t believe it. I don’t know what we’re gonna do with all these chickens except eat them, as we already have too many. But, OTOH bantam or mixed Bantam hens make great Moms and are small enough to keep in a medium large tote in the house when it’s really cold. (Just gotta clean often to keep odor low.) It’s funny later to watch them with chicks sometimes much bigger but still following “Mom” closely. It does occur to me the extra-small eggs might sell well to people with pet snakes that would normally eat full grown feeder mice?

5 of those Buckeye hens I had to work so hard to get chicks for are doing well, but are taking forever to begin laying. # 6 is ok too but has foot deformities. She’s separately housed but I’ll have to give that up soon. She can get around, but not as well as the others - this likely won’t go well. I DID spot a Buckeye chasing a small rat (or a big mouse - hard to tell at distance.) I don’t see how the Buckeyes are fast enough to actually catch either, but, at least it’s a good sign.

The Buckeyes seem to have pleasant enough personalities — about mid-scale, but, I swear they are the dumbest chickens we’ve ever had. Once they learn something they seem to behave consistently, but, golly, getting there can be a chore! Our ISA Browns are easily twice as smart. (Ok, ok, that’s all relative!)

I caught two trout almost 3 lb. 3 oz. on our Easter Sunday afternoon “out”, plus 4 much smaller ones. The longer of the two big ones made 4 magnificent jumps. That was fun!! It even got my daughter off her smart phone and fishing!