Smallholding
Vertigo / Pig pen fence / Conference / Poultry
Thursday 23 February, 2017
Saturday 11th February
Not much of a blog this week as we’ve been away for a few days with our daughter. All seemed to go fine while we were away.
Paul started preparations for the “classroom” today. We need a better name for it. I call it the Man Cave but that’s no good either.
Dan moved the caravan hens this morning. The good news is that the Avian Flu “lock down” is being relaxed from 28th February so the hens should get back out then.
Scotmoves / Vaccination prep / Boundaries / Grants
Monday 6 February, 2017
Monday 30th January
Cold, cold this morning. Was up at four, wakened by the barking of foxes – and suddenly realized I hadn’t shut the pophole for the caravan hens. All well but there were three foxes – very noisy. Guess it must be the mating season.
Paperwork day today – got to use the new Scotmoves system for cattle.
Read more on Scotmoves / Vaccination prep / Boundaries / Grants
Goodbye Meg / Winnie moved / Mucking out Rosie
Monday 30 January, 2017
Monday 23rd January
Ooh, full sun today. Zaza came for her Monday morning play with Bryn.
Meg was much better this morning; she came out with me, had a big pee, supervised my morning tasks and ate all her breakfast. She even played in the hay. By 11am, she was shut in the dining room in her bed and sound asleep. We think she needs to rest more, which is why she’s good in the morning and poorly at night. But she’s such a sticky beak that she has to see what’s going on.
Planning / Clean polytunnel / Bird boxes / Patio
Friday 27 January, 2017
Monday 16th January
Cleaned out the hen byre today. It was easier than I expected, although there was more bedding than I thought. Still, it made a good base in the muck heap.
And I completed my quarterly VAT return. Always nice to get that off the desk.
Tuesday 17th January
My lovely Winnie has become a monster. She wouldn’t get her halter on today and kicked me on the leg – well, she did get it on eventually.
Looking at the way she’s flirting with Ace, I think she’s coming into season – so I’ll put it down to hormones and forgive her. She’ll be 7 months old on Monday, so I’m thinking that it’s nearly time for her to be weaned. This year, I’ll do that by taking her up to run with the steers at Astwood.
Read more on Planning / Clean polytunnel / Bird boxes / Patio
Meg / Bryn & Ceri / Snow / Straw / Weaners
Wednesday 18 January, 2017
Monday 9th January
Took Meg to the vet and she’s been kept in overnight on fluids. Poor old girl. She’s in the best place. Hope to get her home tomorrow.
Tuesday 10th January
Meg’s much better and is home. She’s on a diet of chicken and rice for the foreseeable.
Meg tucking in.
Cattle move / Workshop plans / Avian flu / Meg / Knitting
Monday 16 January, 2017
Monday 2nd January
Moved the steers to their winter paddock today, with access to the wood. It was half dark by the time we got round to it, but they were really good.
Although the weather had been good over winter so far, I’m happy with them having additional shelter, just in case. We’ll get the ring feeder in soon.
The sheep now have access to all the other paddocks, so they’ll be happy too.
Met my chum Carol for lunch – great to catch up at Balgove Larder. Brought home a few wee foodie treats for Dan.
Read more on Cattle move / Workshop plans / Avian flu / Meg / Knitting
Hedge-trimming / Weeding / Cheddar / Brushing cows
Monday 2 January, 2017
Monday 26th December
No white Christmas, but there was a tiny smattering of white this morning.
There was a bit more at Astwood, when I went feed the steers but I don’t think it’ll last.
Smattering of snow at Astwood - it's been a mild Winter so far.
The steers are getting a scoop of sugar beet every day, to get them steady enough to apply a pour-on worm / fluke treatment.
Read more on Hedge-trimming / Weeding / Cheddar / Brushing cows
Culling hens / Cattle dosed / Farm Management Handbook
Saturday 31 December, 2016
Monday 19th December
I’ve started feeding a bit of sugar beet to the four steers at Astwood; they need to get a pour-on internal / external parasite treatment applied, so I need them to stand still for a few minutes while is do it – and sugar beet is the bribe.
The steers - Robbie, Fraser, Paulo, Pedro.
Robbie and Fraser haven’t been fed since Mak and Hamish went, so it must have been a real treat for them to be “top dogs” for a change.
Read more on Culling hens / Cattle dosed / Farm Management Handbook
Weeding / Ace / Bird flu / Xmas / Solstice
Monday 19 December, 2016
Monday 12th December
Still mild and dry so got on with more weeding.
Veg garden before weeding.
There are only one and a half beds left to do (apart from the bed with the brassicas in).
Weeding in progress.
Cattle housing / Conference / Ace of Spades home
Monday 12 December, 2016
Monday 5th December
Cold here today – frosty in the morning but eased as the day went on.
Bug is sound, which is great.
Bit worried about whether the cows have enough room. Rosie gets bullied and there was a bit of a rammy tonight. I don’t know whether to take out the bull’s pen and reconstruct it elsewhere in the barn; problem with that is that there’s no buffer – if he gets out, he’s loose. With the pen where it is, if he gets out, he’s only in a bigger pen.
Read more on Cattle housing / Conference / Ace of Spades home
