84-Lancast«r Firming, Saturday, May 22, 1993 Onbei a farm -And o hazar Joyce B An unusual addition to one of the front porch flower boxes is visual evidence of a rash of activi ty overrunning the farmstead. This nest, tucked between two calendula plants, is neatly woven of straw and grasses, the outside carefully plastered together with mud. Its circular near-pcrfeclion and lightness of weave suggests that these were not novice nest builders. And the clutch of four aqua-blue eggs inside identifies the nest owners as robins. But the porch box is not where this particular mother robin chose to craft her fine piece of construc tion. While she may be a master builder, her site selection left a lot to be desired. Her house, built on the alternator of a tractor motor, would certainly have proved hazardous to her baby birds to say nothing of the tractor motor when the engine heated and the nest went into flames. My message to the probably irate robin, could we communi cate, is simply the same unappre ciated one often laid on the kids in earlier years: “This is for your own good.” Faring belter in this springtime hatching season was an egg of a different sort. In fact, when I first saw the egg’s “contents,” it already had perky tailfcathcrs about two inches long on a body far too small to be emitting the shrill, loud peeps coming out of its tiny beak. The season’s lone chick is tough as nails. Watching over it are its buff-beige, semi-tame, half bantam mother and the beautiful, scrappy small rooster that adopted us a couple of years ago, besting roosters twice his size for the little hen’s affection. First time I spotted this chick, it was attempting to join mama on FOR SALE\ PEANUT HULLS For BEDDING Most effective I as bedding for ail I kinds of beef and I dairy cattle, bogs, horses, sheep and k poultry V Any amoun t delivered! f or call for at farm. 1 I Esbenahade I TtufceyFarm I (America's Owes*— I PO Box 337 ft Paradise. p a , I PATi 887-7631 . the evening roost, some six-feet above the heifer pen floor on a two-by-four. When it Anally got there, the little wren-sized chick wiggled between her feet, perched there way up on the top edge of the hay trough, the pair settled down for the night. Seems there would have been much softer, more comfortable places for a hen and chick to spend the night, like up in the haymow. Of course, the barn cats favor such cushy spots as well. So, perhaps she told the chick, as they hunk ered down on their bed of hard lumber “This is for your own good.” And still another farmyard mother recently eycballed her offspring and made a decision that would be “for your own good.” Veteran bam cat and champion rodent eliminator Mama Gray appeared some weeks ago much more slim than she had been the previous day. Knowing that she slashes her offspring in bizarre places around the bam, we all kept watch the next few weeks for Mama Gray’s litter. As usual, she revealed her babies in her own good lime. Headed out through the yard for evening milking recently, we met Mama Gray coming toward the house, lugging in her mouth a tigerish-striped kitten so big and pudgy she had to put it down every few steps to rest. After a quick investigation. The Farmer pointed out her destina tion. A solar-heat gathering exten sion, about 18-inchcs wide, prot rudes from the lower part of the greenhouse front. Black-plastic lining enhances the heat absorp tion. A Virginia creeper vine took root inside last summer and has happily grown there in the solar collector. Until I figure out how to eliminate this tough, pesty weed without tearing out glass, it con tinues to thrive. Into this cozy,-sheltered “solar ium,” Mama Gray has moved her four chubby kittens. As they grow. Mama will have captive two legged babysitters and flowerbed playgrounds for her offspring. In the meantime, the playful kittens are beginning to flatten the unwanted greenery inside the glass. A pleased-as-punch-with herself Mama Gray grins at me with those big yellow eyes; I know what she’s thinking: “Well, you wanted to be rid of that Virginia creeper.” “this is for your own good.” -7716 337 Panorama Dr. Denver, PA-17517 EQUESTRIAN * RIDING ARENAS * STABLES, ETC.