02/09/2026
Another spring time is rolling around and Iām still here! Still in northern Minnesota, still have some chickens.
Bit of a catch up:
Summer before last, I did a drastic downsize. I got down to only 6 chickens. Then chicken math kicked in hard and a few weeks later I was up to 30.
You see, 4 of the 6 were broody hens, setting on eggs, and they bumped the numbers right back up. That was also the first year I decided not to incubate any eggs after all, but the girls said, āfine, weāll do it!ā
Same thing happened last year and, with the exception of 4 chicks I hatched from a disastrous broody situation, a few dozen more were added to the flock, via broody hens.
The vast majority of the flock now are Black Sumatra. Itās looking a lot like I could rename this place Black Bird Farm. There are a handful of Polish x Olive/Easter Eggers and one lone pair of pure Polish. Those are all descendants from my original flock of chickens. Plus I have a couple of other Sumatras and a couple of random other hens (longer story).
Oh, and, ducks. Last spring I impulse bought 8 Blue Swedish, a breed of duck Iād been interested in for years. They have certainly made life, interesting. š
About that nameā¦ of the farm. Iāve given that a fair bit of thought and, for now, Iām going to keep the name as it is: Bo, Birds, and Bees. Will I have bees? Probably notā¦ but it occurred to me last summer that the wild bees are an important part of this place. Below is one of many pictures I took of one on a thistle flower, just inside the duck area.
They have reminded me to stop and admire the flowers, yes especially the wild flowers like this thistle I left up just for them. They remind me to take in the everyday beauty all around me out there. I look forward to seeing my little wild pollinator friends this summer. And I plan to keep āBeesā in the name of my tiny farm, as a thanks to them.
(Even if I have to keep telling people I donāt sell honey - ha!)
What comes next? Well, as always, I have plans. But for now Iām going to get outside and enjoy this rare February afternoon that is above freezing.
