The farmers who have a smooth first spring all have one thing in common.

They didn't wait until it felt urgent. By the time the ground thaws, chicks are arriving, and seed catalogs are turning into garden beds — there's no time left to figure out fencing. The planning window is February and March. That's right now.

Whether you're putting up your first chicken run, securing a pasture for goats, or finally protecting your vegetable garden from deer, this checklist walks you through everything you need to know before you spend a single dollar. Six sections. Ten minutes. No guesswork.