Around The Farm In Early Spring

We had some snow-free weather, a great joy except that I knew I'd have to get out and clean up the dog yard. I don't look forward to that job:

 The white fantail pigeons seemed ready to nest, and I knew they'd begin if I brought them in some hay. I delayed doing so, though, lest they hatch babies too early and then lose them in a cold snap:

 Quite a few pairs have chosen nests, though some prefer to nest on the floor:

 The little hens got out only once, the day I cleaned their room inside the barn:

 But once their room was clean, they went back indoors where they are safe from foxes:

 They seem happy and comfortable in their room. For awhile I let them mingle with the pigeons - until I discovered they were eating the pigeons' eggs:

 I continued to keep the hay bale feeder on the east side of the barn, where it was protected from harsh west winds:

 And sometimes I moved the bale feeder away from the last of the bale, enabling the herd to more easily get to it. They also get to use it to sleep on, though it makes an awful mess:

 Our first big thaw brought both cattle and horses out to explore the pasture, long buried in snow:

 The cows can't find anything to eat there, but the horses, with top and bottom teeth in the front of their mouth, found lots to eat:

 And one day I rolled the bale feeder across the drainage ditch to the exposed part of the pasture. I dropped in a new hay bale, then used the spear to split off the frozen top. Everyone was happy:

And little Rocket walked over to stare at me again. He still has not figured out what kind of strange animal I am: