Flossies egg / Gala / Cooper - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Monday 7 July, 2025

by Rosemary at 8:00am in Smallholding 70 comments Add your own

Monday 30th June

Very hot first thing; it was roasting overnight too.

Moved the sheep to Near Top.

Sheep into a very clovery Near Top.

Looking back from the field. I thought this looked rather pretty.

View from the field.

I think Cooper needs to modify his hunting technique. Not sure birds are that stupid.

Cooper the optomist.

Wednesday 2^nd July

Lorna and I had a walk along the front and more or less missed the rain. I took the dogs across the field and found what I’d guess is Smokey’s rolling spot.

Smokey's rolling spot.

Thursday 3^rd July

Dan and I killed and dressed six of the thirteen meat birds – the six biggest ones. The total weight was just over 20kg (20.079kg), so an average of 3.3465kg. Range 3.038 to 3.829kg.

We used 20kg of chick crumbs and 110kg of grower pellets; total cost including the purchase of the chicks £142.50. If I’d been smarter with the feed purchase, we could have shaved maybe a fiver of that.

Started baking for Gala Day. And the Flossies laid their first egg.

The Flossies' first egg.

Friday 4^th July

More baking. But had time to admire the view from the dining room window.

The view from the dining room window.

And the Flossies laid their second egg.

Saturday 5^th July

Carnoustie Gala Day; sunny and warm. We had a successful bake sale at the hub! Then went to the pub. First time for an age. So noisy though.

Sunday 6^th July

I’m so tired. Dan let me have a long lie, but not sure it helped. He went off to football and I did my Monday jobs. This is becoming a bit of a pattern. Anyway, bank statement reconciled and VAT return done. Letter written to my brother-in-law and a whole pile of emails dealt with.

Takeaway curry tonight. Lovely and generated only minimal washing up.