the accidental smallholder :: diary archives

L'Oreal, Strawberry and Gertrude

We picked up this year's weaners yesterday; three gilts this time as the litter available only had two boys and we prefer to have all the same sex. These are 7/8th Tamworth and the last cross-breeds that Sue and Mike are doing; it's all pure Tamworth now.

We got them loaded, home and into the pen without incident. Then I did a really stupid thing. Our dog, Tess, loves the pigs so I took her to see them. The pigs were less than happy and two of them wriggled through a gap in the fence into the second pig pen. The second pen has bigger gauge netting, so they wriggled through that as well, into the next field and then set off along the riverbank. Fortunately, one didn't get out and was calling frantically so when the other two discovered they were one down and didn't know where they were going, they were fairly easy to get back to the correct pen. Sigh of relief!

Then one found a weak spot and wriggled through into the garden! Anyway, all were finally where they should be and settled. The fence has now been properly secured and a couple of lessons learned. I think it was a case of familiarity breeding contempt - we've never had an escapee, so we were a bit slack about securing the fences.

This morning, they didn't surface until 10am. I started to get a bit worried about them but eventually, three heads appeared out of the straw nest and the exploration of the pen was resumed. They had a bite of breakfast and I sat with them for a while. After about 20 minutes, they were happy to sniff me all over, but I didn't attempt to touch them at all. I may be losing it, but I think that if I "grunted" when they grunted, they relaxed a bit and were more willing to approach me. Apple slices will help even more, I'm sure. One of the escapees has a graze along one side but it's dry and healing so I'll leave it be.

By 11.30am, they were back in bed. Some friends came to see them but the most we could see were three heads - after looking us over, the pigs decided that sleep was more attractive and snuggled down again. Actually, it's so cold and windy here today, I don't blame them one little bit!

Cheaper by the dozen

We took delivery of 12 Black Rock pullets on Wednesday. At 16 weeks, it will be five or six weeks before they come into lay. They are in the big Forsham ark with the extension run and seem quite settled now. It's "Sardine Sunday" today so we'll see how they like fish!

These are replacements for the laying hens killed by the dog. Although we only lost 6 layers (and 7 meat birds), the delivery charge was £20 so I decided just to get a round dozen. They'll stay in the run until they start to lay, then they can go in with the other layers.

The Cream Crested Legbars are now free ranging with the others. Hugo and Hector have reached a truce which involves Hugo making himself scarce if Hector is around. Funnily enough, the four Legbar hens and Hugo sleep in the little ark. If none of the eggs in the incubator are fertile, Hugo will be having a permanent sleep.

The Hubbards should have been dispatched this weekend but we've been busy with the pigs and sheep, so they have a reprieve until next weekend. Carol and Andrew have already enjoyed one of theirs, so we're looking forward to similar. Soon be time to get more day-olds and start again.

New grazing

Today we rigged up barriers at either end of our track and let the sheep in there to graze and browse. We have to meake best use of our limited grazing and since Dan was preparing to cut the roadsides, it seemed daft to expend the effort doing something the sheep do willingly. Roadside grass is so much nicer than field grass!

Both lambs are doing well, as far as I can tell. They are growing like weeds and full of nonsense. Herbert's better able to stand up for himself now, although Jura knocked him over the back of the trough yesterday and he was stuck - on his back with his legs in the air. He was soon rescued though and seems none the worse.

The same Jura managed to rip her ear tag out yesterday too. Jinx did this ages ago on a hay net; don't know what method Jura used - a hurdle, I think. We've got the tag. Her ear was bleeding freely, so we took the opportunity to give her Heptavac P Plus, trim the wool round her eyes and trim her feet while we had her caught to spray antibiotic on her ear. She seems fine the morning and it's cold and windy so no flies. I also checked her udder but no sign of bagging up yet. I would have been surprised if there had been as we don't think she's due until late May.

Off to fill in my medecine book now.

Juno's lambs

Juno lambed yesterday. She was scanned as carrying twins, so I was a bit worried. In the end, she lambed herself - two tup lambs. Unfortunately, the second one was born dead. It seemed perfectly formed, too. Hey ho, just one of these sad things.

Juno and surviving lamb seem fine. She's got loads of milk and seems to like him well enough, so I'm happy with that.

Newborn Ryeland Lamb from asmallholder on Vimeo.

Just Jura to go now. I wonder if she'll stop running long enough to drop the lamb or if she'll just pause for a moment mid-stride.

Li'l' Bud's buddies

After the trauma of a couple of weeks ago, you'd think the hens deserve a quiet life. Li'l' Bud doesn't think so. In the absence of other playmates, he's amusing himself hen chasing. He also spent a happy ten minutes yesterday headbutting a clothes pole. He was also very interested in Juno's bum - sniffing and displaying the Flehmann response! Jura hunts him if he hangs about her, though. His mum, Jinx, is very indulgent, even when he's jumping on and off her back. I'll be glad when he has a proper playmate.

Ryeland lamb chasing hens from asmallholder on Vimeo.

Wine, anyone?

Dan had a significant birthday a couple of weeks ago. My sister, getting into the swing of smallholding from a distance, sent him two quince, a spindle tree and two vines - one black, one white. All have been planted - the tree in the hedge, the quince in the orchard and the vines in the fruit bed where the raspberries currently are. The rasps are coming out at the end of this season.

We shall keep you posted of growth and development if we are sober enough.

Lamb

This lamb is so funny.

2 day old Ryeland lamb from asmallholder on Vimeo.

Firstly, he looks funny. He's got really long legs and clumpy feet; his ears dangle a bit and his grey and black face make him look like a wee, old man. Secondly, he's really laid back - I've only heard him bleat once. To be fair, he's been shut in with Jinx, so he's never been "abandoned" and his belly is always full, so he's never asking for a feed. He doesn't seem to be a very enthusiastic feeder either but he always seems full. I wondered if he was brain damaged - he's just a bit slow.

However, he was out in the field for the first time tonight and he seemed fine. I suspect I'm worrying unnecessarily.

It's been such a lovely day and evening, so Dan and I have been out sowing grass seed where the hump used to be and any bare patches. We had to wait until the hens went to bed, but the sheep "helped" by following us round. Actually, they follow the bucket. Dan watered the area so hopefully the seed will start to grow quite quickly.

Juno's personal groomer

Juno muscles in on the hens' corn - last year she grew some wheat on her back, as a result of catching it in her fleece. This year, she's decided to have a personal groomer. She is, in fact, large enough to accommodate several dozen hens but only the Light Sussex is brave enough so far.

A hen riding a sheep from asmallholder on Vimeo.

I think she may lamb this weekend. She's bagged up and has milk, so anytime now. Hopefully, the weather will stay good and give them a good start.