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Phippsburg — The first new animals of the spring are arriving in South Routt, and at Flat Tops Ranch Supply, the runt of the pekin duck litter is already taken.

"He's sold - a big dude came in here already and was like 'I want the runt,'" Flat Tops Ranch Supply co-owner Jules Palyo said. "He said they have more personality."

At Flat Tops Ranch Supply, the first chicks and ducklings of the year chirp and cheep in the corner - drawing a great deal of attention from the store's younger visitors.

"The parents will go that way, and the kids will hear them peeping and come this way," Palyo said of Flat Tops Ranch Supply's unofficial "built-in babysitters."

The white leghorn chicks are primarily raised for eggs, laying up to two eggs per day, Palyo said. Some people raise the ducks for their eggs as well.

"A lot of people like the eggs, but mostly people just like to have them around," Palyo said.

The young animals are expected to be big sellers this week, as chicks, ducklings and baby bunnies tend to be popular Easter basket gifts.

"Sometimes they end up in the hands of a city kid, and that's no good because they don't want them once they aren't cute anymore," Palyo said.

Calving under way

Calving season already is starting for some ranching families, and will take off significantly in the next few weeks. April 1 traditionally is viewed as the start of calving season, Philip Rossi of Yampa said.

"It's springtime - you start having the calves birth, and everything else comes to life," Rossi said. "It's an exciting time."

Routt County's exceptionally heavy snowfall this winter is prompting ranchers to get a head start on the prep work for calving.

"Because there's so much snow this season, we've got to do lots of plowing to get the corrals cleared and everything, and get the animals closer to the house," Rossi said. "For us, we have two separate places - we put the ones that need more attention in one area and the rest of the cattle somewhere else."

In Routt County, ranching often involves the extended family, but the stress of the busy calving season can cut that down temporarily.

"This time of year, we're kind of on our own for about a month, then we'll all get back together," Rossi said. "There's always help needed somewhere."