The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Highland Haggis on March 01, 2009, 10:31:33 am
-
Good Morning to All,
I have stumbled across this forum quite by accident, what a find! So here is a gentle introduction.
We live in the midst of farming land but have just under an acre of garden, not enough for a proper smallholding but I live in hope! At present we have 3 dogs (2 Spinones and a spaniel) and a cat. We are collecting our hens (Warrens) in a few weeks, cant wait!
My dream is to add Scots Greys or Scots Dumpys, a couple of Geese and a couple of pigs.
I have experience with hens but not Geese or pigs, so I have to do some serious research before jumping in.
This is a great site for information and advise I think I will be here often!!
-
Welcome to the happy farm! I'm sometimes up your way when I visit my sister in Inverness. Used to be in Aberdeenshire. Have dropped from 21 acres 15 years ago to one down here, all i could get for my money!
-
Hi, I have 2 Roman Geese (did have 3 but sadly the fox got 1 a few months ago). I have no idea what age they are but I have had them for almost 2 years. They are very low maintenance and bring great entertainment. I feed mine layers pellets and they have total freedom of our 4 acres. We are situated on the side of the River Eden and after being here for about 6 months they finally ventured off onto the river. The river gives them total freedom and they really have a brilliant life. They have made friends with a group of swans and they take off and spend time exploring the estuary. Often when I go out and can't see them on the water, if I shout on them they make a noise just to let me know they are OK. I do like to lock them up in their hut at night but some nights they have better ideas and refuse to come in off the river. However, first thing the next morning they are back screaming for their bread. They also love lettuce and often share a bucket of food that the goats are eating, that means a fight between them and the goats. Never a dull moment.
-
Thank you for the welcome Annie. A lot can be done with one acre, I see you also breed gundogs. They look fantastic! My husband gave up his guns a long time ago, but we love the temperament of the gundogs.
Elizabeth :farmer:
-
Hi James
Brilliant! but I'm green. Oh to be a goose keeper but I live in hope. I was looking at the Toulouse Geese (easier sexing and smaller). I have been told Geese are easy to keep it would be a first for us. So plenty of reading ahead.
Elizabeth
-
Hello HH and welcome!
Used to live up your way (Alness) many years ago but now am on the Isle of Lewis. This is a great forum and very friendly, hope you find lots of answers here.
Dave
-
Hi and welcome, dont need much land to be a smallholder, just loads of determination, patience, and an angel on your shoulder to remind you that you CANNOT really CANNOT kill that bl() dy lot from DEFRA (and planning)
-
Hi Dave,
2 minutes along the road, small world. Isle of Lewis is beautiful, used to go there often.
and
Hi Hilarysmum,
Thanks for the encouragement. I am coming round to your way of thinking!!
-
Highland Haggis, this is my boys( the geese), just a short clip I ttk a few minutes ago. They hiss and make a lot of noise but are not aggreesive. As I said earlier they are great fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqQC7QHEqXk
James
-
Hello from me in Lanarkshire ;D
The best advice I can give you is just get stuck in, even if you go to courses and read all the books going - it'll still be a steep learning curve, but everyone here will give you any advice you need.
Get yourself a holding number and get your pigs - it'll be great ! (Must point out I'm piggin' mad :pig: ;D so maybe don't take that bit of advice!)
Looking forward to hearing how you get on
Karen
-
hya from fws when i get hens, what dumpys but i think it'll take a while as my hubby is dead against chickens at the moment
-
t i think it'll take a while as my hubby is dead against chickens at the moment
Why?
-
They hiss and make a lot of noise but are not aggreesive. As I said earlier they are great fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqQC7QHEqXk
James
They look f(lipp)ing aggressive to me. Just like that Sarah Goose when i was 4!
-
hello highland haggis, very welcome to the gang, weve found our geese very easy to keep, we had 2 for xmas dinner the other 2 were destined for the pot but theyve just started laying huge white eggs so a change of heart and we will keep them on for layers. best of luck...............neil
-
Hi James,
They are wonderful. I am sorely tempted. I have been on the net going through the different breeds and temperaments. I have an idea what would be suitable here, its finding them when I've decided.
and
Hi Karen,
I think I will be jumping in with the geese but the pigs maybe more of a problem. I have no experience at all with keeping them, which is why I'm more hesitant.
Elizabeth
-
Why?
no idea lol
I can't budge him on the subject at the moment lol
But i'll keep chipping away
-
Hi Karen,
I think I will be jumping in with the geese but the pigs maybe more of a problem. I have no experience at all with keeping them, which is why I'm more hesitant.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
I had no experience with pigs either (- hubby worked on a commercial pig farm many years ago, so was on-hand for advice, but as it was MY idea - he left it all up to me!)
we got 2 weaners and kept them in an area just under half an acre, we were raisng them purely for meat & as a trial run for me getting some breeding pedigree ones.
But really, my 2 were like big dogs - easy to handle, pleased to see you every day (or maybe it was the food bucket they liked?) and presented no major problems other than 2 or 3 escapes through the none to powerfull battery operated electric fence. The most memorable being when they managed to get into the kitchen and lock themselves in with the dogs while I was out one afternoon :o not too easy on the nose, but after a few buckets of hot soapy water it was fine ! ;)
So all you really need for raising pigs is good strong fencing, a holding number and a wicked sense of fun & adventure. Obviously if you're going to breed them you'll need more space, time and expertise but without sounding too calous a couple of weaners raised to pork weight is the best way to get the experience. 'Starting with Pigs' by Andy Case is a wee book that was invaluable to me & I'd recommend it for lots of good info.
Good luck, whatever you decide :pig: :pig: :pig: ;)
-
Why?
no idea lol
I can't budge him on the subject at the moment lol
But i'll keep chipping away
Bring him over to meet my rescue girls - he might like the idea of saving lives?
-
HH with pigs you just have to jump in too. Read Starting with Pigs by Andy Case. Get a couple of neutered weaners that way you cant keep them for breeding and if you really cant part with them they make nice, if somewhat large pets. (Huge hint here, if you do keep them as pets by a second sofa as you will never find space on the original one). Pigs are wonderful if a little addictive. We started with Hilary some years ago, she and her brother were going to fill the freezer, well that was not on Hilary's agenda. Her brother duly went into the freezer; Hilary is still ruling the roost.
-
I have been looking at just that all morning. I need to have a confab with the local farmer (our farmhouse sits right in the middle of his crop/beef farm) also need to get in touch with DEFRA. Biggest hurdle is HUBBY. He cant understand the logic at the moment. Unfortunately I really like the KuneKune which is smaller but in my heart of hearts I know it wouldn't be for the freezer. However I am hoping to kidnap hubby for a weekend and enrolling us on a pig keeping course. Once he has hands on experience he may be hooked!! I'll let you know.
Elizabeth
-
Good luck Elizabeth. Fingers crossed that you win hubby around.
James
-
Bring him over to meet my rescue girls - he might like the idea of saving lives?
dought it animals are for eatting according to tam.
Linz
-
:pig: It took me over 2 years to convince other half I should have pigs, he preferred to spend hours and hours and hours cutting the sedge. One day in a weak moment he said yes I could have pigs, although he changed his mind within hours. Too late. I had been on the web, sourced the pigs and made arrangements, not easy in Brittany at that time, rare breeds were few and far between, which is why we got Hilary 1/2 GOS 1/2 mule.
Now over 5 years on he is even more addicted than I am.
-
Broached the Kune Kune subject last night with the other half. He's more than willing to go with me on a Kunes course!!! Lovely man. His only stipulation was 'not for the pot'. Cant argue with that.
So I'm busy scouring the net to find vacancies for early summer.
-
Mine was the other way around he stipulated just 2 and for the freezer. Now mention bacon or freezer and Hilary in the same breath to him almost grounds for divorce.
-
Don't be worried about getting piggies, we've just started and its a hoot, the kids just love them. I love getting out to look after them, very theraputic! You'll need a fair amount of ground though, we put them in a reasonable sized old overgrown vegetable garden a week ago and they've turned it to muck in that time alone. This garden was full of root veg and was overgrown with grass. Today it looks like the Somme.
Morgan :farmer:
-
Hi Morgan,
I'm committed, hubby is coming round. It all depends on regulations and the local farmer. I've been reading through the DEFRA paraphernalia. I'm sure its all designed to scare and confuse prospective owners! However I'm a strong believer in positive thinking, so I will rally on.
Elizabeth
-
Hi Elizabeth,
One thing I can tell you is that you'll never be short of a helping hand in this forum! All the advice you'll ever need can be found here...best of irish luck to you!
Morgan :farmer: