Too cold to put chicks out, I finally decided. It was a debate. They’re at the point now that keeping them inside might be worse for them than putting them out, even if it is a bit chilly. But predicted lows of 28 degrees for tonight and tomorrow night, I just couldn’t do it.
Matt and I went ahead and got their shed and fence set up in the pasture – in the snow. Yes, I said the “s” word. It snowed briefly several times yesterday, and again today. But temperatures are expected to be back in the 60’s Wednesday, so we figured if we were ready to go we’ll be able to take the chicks out to pasture after work some evening this week.
I wish I had thought to take the camera with me, just to show the huge amount of bedding I shoveled out today. Last fall we put the pigs in the shed the broilers had used all summer. Didn’t clean it out, just put the pigs in on top of the leftover deep woodchip bedding and added straw. Shoveling it out today, you couldn’t even tell it had been woodchips. There wasn’t even much straw left. Everything was mixed together by the pigs and decomposed down to a nice, fine dirt. 4 loads in the tractor bucket.
We weren’t thinking, because we didn’t bring a wagon with us to haul it back up to the house. It would have made good mulch in the garden. But it got piled up outside the pasture fence. We’ll remember next year.
Then I shoveled out a year’s worth of bedding from the hens’ coop. I believe I’ll be needing a nice hot bath tonight!
