With all the turmoil and loss of chicks last year, we changed up a few things. 1) Found a hatchery closer to home for less travel/delivery issues to contend with. 2) Added a new top to the transition coop for hopefully, fewer weather issues. 3) Watching the ducks' pen more frequently because of a hawk attacking Diego this year. 4) Not raising broilers this year. 5) Pushed back the chick starting time a couple of weeks in hopes of not having to deal with extreme cold temps at the start. Chick delivery was the first week of March, and this flock will be six weeks old next week. Ready to go outside next week.
Winter was not as cold or destructive this year. Definitely wet with lots of atmospheric rivers pounding the Pacific NW, but the water flooding has been nominal for us. Thankfully. Only had one flooding incident with about 4 inches of water surging into the garage. Picked up an extra water pump to help reduce that from happening again.
I have my tomato starts going, and plan to keep most of our garden focus on easy plants this year.
Photos below: Chicks during human socialization time in their play pen in the garage, new vinyl roofing on the transition pen, ducks are 4 years old now and great foragers, plus photos of our current flock of egg layers.
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