Spring is coming on a bit faster now, more visible and seemingly at a less glacial pace. We have snow drops blooming under a plum tree and bits of moss greening up between stretches of dry leaves in the woods.
Blue skies behind the smooth-skinned beeches.
The grass is not yet green, but shows hints of life in patches. Late last week on a drive further south, I saw the red bloom of maples, that reddish haze from a distance over silvery twiggy tree that appears before any leaves come out, but it’s not warm enough at our house for the maples to bloom. Ducks in puddles in the fields, some geese on their way back. Still no serious mud, it may be that the thaw has been slow enough that we won’t see the usual muddy mess on dirt roads (Vermont being a state where the state Supreme Court says that erratic driving on dirt roads during mud season is not sufficient cause for the police to pull a driver over).
The Barred Rock chicks moved out to the new coop this morning, at 4 1/2 weeks old, all of their feathers in, and so very much larger than the baby chicks they once were. It’s amazing how fast chickens grow after the first week.
We gradually acclimated them to cooler temperatures, moving them out of the house in stages: first in the cellar with supplemental heat, and then without extra heat in that same cellar at a steady 50 degrees, and now outside in the coop, with daytime temperatures in the 60’s this coming week and nights in the 40’s. Chilly in the coop, but getting warmer with spring coming on.
I’d say never again (no more chicks in the house) but these chicks were just the opening act and the weather still too cold for an outdoor brooder. We welcomed 25 Mottled Java Ancona chicks and are starting all over again, but this time hopefully a little wiser. These new chicks will be in the house two weeks, and then acclimating to cooler temps will begin: out to the garage with supplemental heat for 10 days or so, depending on outdoor temps, and then without, and then out to the coop, weather permitting.
So that’s our spring so far, coming in on little bird feet (with apologies to Carl Sandburg).
How is your spring coming?
BEAN & BANTAM 
Daphne, I love the striped one. What a cool pattern. Thanks for sharing, BTG
LikeLiked by 1 person
The barred rocks are striped, the mottled javas will be more of a marbled pattern when grown. Thanks for stopping by, glad to see you.
LikeLike
Oh,my! All of them, the barred rock and the Java chicks look wonderful. Look forward to up-dates as they grow and explore the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes all happy and healthy birds, and we will be raising them so that they know what grass is.
LikeLike
The little chicks are so cute! Spring where I am at is off and on. It’s early to even really be thinking about it, but winter was very mild. It’s hard not to get excited.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is very exciting to finally see Spring coming on! We have a ways yet, we don’t plant for another six weeks here, but at last some hints of green.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the gawky barred rock hen. So cute with a little comb forming even. But what made my heart sing was your mention of the tree haze. That is where the buds are forming and when you look at them from a distance they glow with a soft color. So, spring!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are gawky, aren’t they! The trees do have that haze where leaf or flower buds are imminent. It is definitely, soon, Spring.
LikeLike
We have had beautiful spring weather for several weeks with all of the fruit trees blossoming and the trees leafing out. We had to cover plants last night because it got down to 23 degrees but I cannot complain about thr beautiful spring we have had.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has been a lovely spring, although a bit more snow this week perhaps. In Vermont, surely by July!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As it turned out we had snow overnight on Friday night. There was a heavy coat on the trees and foliage. Fortunately, it had all melted by noon. Surely it won’t take until July–maybe mid-May?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mid-May is spot on, July was my attempt at preparing for the worst in order to be pleasantly surprised.
LikeLiked by 1 person