91

Wildlife / Re: Swallows '24

« Last post by Rupert the bear on April 22, 2024, 08:59:08 pm »

I've hung on during my hibernation waiting and looking out of the window, they were early here last year, now we are entering the " looking to the sky " mode. 

92

Other / Re: Rabbits

« Last post by Richmond on April 22, 2024, 08:24:45 pm »

Breed and rear Californian Whites. Big bu**ers that grow quickly. Feed them the same as any other rabbit - ad lib hay and veg. if you do find rabbit meat in supermarkets chances are it will be domestic rabbit eg CWs. Butchers tend to sell wild rabbit.

Like supermarket chicken v home reared free range chicken, the same breeds can be used but the way you rear them can make a great deal of difference to the taste.  Buy in a breeding pair of CWs and see how you get on. Domestic rabbit is pretty mild taste wise so perhaps good to start customers off with. You can introduce wild rabbit later on if you have customers that show an interest.

Sorry can't help with the legislation stuff.

93

Marketplace / Re: Edited.For sale Pedigree Shetland heifers and purebred Shetland steers. D&G

« Last post by catriona on April 22, 2024, 06:29:07 pm »

Just wanted to say that Shetland Cattle are wonderful!  If anyone reading this forum is considering getting cattle, I'd highly recommend Shetlands - quiet, gentle, lovely colours, amazing beef, and good for milking too.  We have a little herd, and they are lovely!

94

Wildlife / Re: Swallows '24

« Last post by Penninehillbilly on April 22, 2024, 03:25:04 pm »

One was in the barn 2 nights ago. Hope it's partner turns up safe

95

Announcements / New diary post: Petunias / Paths / Supercorgis

« Last post by TAS Bot on April 21, 2024, 03:12:04 pm »

A new TAS diary entry has been posted: Petunias / Paths / Supercorgis

96

Wildlife / Re: Swallows '24

« Last post by Possum on April 21, 2024, 02:29:04 pm »

I think ours has gone north because we didn't see it yesterday or today. Although we did see one over the County Cricket ground on Friday.

97

Other / Re: Rabbits

« Last post by chrismahon on April 21, 2024, 10:29:52 am »

Perhaps the most important thing will be your market for them? Sure plenty of people will try it once, but selling the meat over a period of time to re-coup your investment might be a problem?


Something we see infrequently here now. Even our specialist butcher doesn't stock much, so it seems to have gone out of fashion in the last 10 years. Any meat here is now very expensive, except for pork. Chickens are all free-range and command €12/Kg- same price as beef, but you pay for the chicken bones as well, so it works out very expensive and I expect rabbit to be even more?

98

Marketplace / Re: Edited.For sale Pedigree Shetland heifers and purebred Shetland steers. D&G

« Last post by SallyintNorth on April 21, 2024, 09:38:41 am »

Format needs editing @Rosemary

99

Sheep / Re: Rams and Lambs

« Last post by SallyintNorth on April 21, 2024, 09:37:32 am »

Too late for this year, but another year you would massively reduce your headaches by banding your ram lambs, then the wether lambs can run in any group and it's just the tup needs to be kept away from sexually mature ewes.  And you can avoid even that by not keeping a tup of your own but hiring or borrowing a tup, or sending your ewes to a tup, or buying a tup lamb each year and then eating him.

100

Marketplace / More Shetland cattle for sale, Durham / Northumberland

« Last post by Rosemary on April 21, 2024, 08:52:18 am »

From Sara-Ann Baxter castlecroft100@gmail.com
[/size][/color][/size]All are black & white apart from Arnetta & Astra who are red & white.[/color][/size]Cows:[/color][/size]Wharncliffe Ida, UK173228500002, born 17/2/12 with calf at foot.[/color][/size]Stairfoot Dee, UK133949200009, born 04/4/16.[/color][/size][/color][/size]Fleecefaulds Arnetta, UK544517400005, born 30/4/12.[/color][/size]Castle Croft Astra, UK116742300001, born 31/5/17.[/color][/size](Arnetta & Astra must go together)[/color][/size][/color][/size]Craigydon Flora, UK700445500019, born 22/3/17.[/color][/size][/color][/size]First Calf Heifer:[/color][/size]Castle Croft Freda, UK116742400023, born 14/5/22.[/color][/size]Heifers/Youngstock:[/color][/size]Castle Croft Florence, UK116742600025, born 16/5/22.[/color][/size]Castle Croft Grace, UK116742700033, born 01/6/23.[/color][/size][/color][/size]Steers/Bullocks:[/color][/size]UK116742200021, born 25/9/21[/color][/size]UK116742300022, born 26/9/21[/color][/size]UK116742500024, born 14/5/22[/color][/size]UK116742400030, born 28/9/22[/color][/size]UK116742500031, born 12/3/23[/color][/size]UK116742600032, born 31/5/23[/color][/size]UK116742100034, born 13/9/23[/color]