It's March - we made it!

While spring is not quite here yet, there are signs that warmer days are coming - the snow is melting, paddocks are getting mucky, the days are getting longer, chickens are laying eggs again, temps are regularly in the 40s, birds singing spring songs, and the alpacas are sleeping under the stars more often. 

I'm watching the weather constantly because I am wondering (okay hoping) if I can spread grass seed in the pastures in March instead of April to extend the grass-growing season by a few weeks.  

The alpacas, in their thick winter coats, enjoy the warm sun on their bodies, balanced by the cool and steady winds that blow across our property.  That combination makes the weather conditions ideal, keeping them comfortable during the warmest time of the day.

Life for the herd right now is a waiting game in their paddocks until the fields are full of green grass again, but we will allow them out occasionally to stretch their legs.  ​

With the deep snow melting away, we saw the opportunity over the weekend to remove a fallen tree that landed on one of the fences in the boys' pasture.   We noticed it in early January and planned to address it then, but that plan was deferred thanks to the weekly accumulating snowfall that buried the tree.   

Now that the tree is removed, we re-secured the fence temporarily until we replace the broken wire clips that secure the fence to the posts.  Remind me, will you?

In the meantime, the herd is doing their part by eating the remaining snow and will soon be poking their noses through the fence to the new grass on the other side of their pens. 

Hang in there, gang!  It's just another six to eight weeks, I promise!