The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: loopylou on February 26, 2013, 01:18:59 pm
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Hi,
My name is Louise and joined the site a few months back.
I am looking to see if there is any others on this site in the same area as me.
For me it has always been a love affair with horses and dogs. I have had my Irish Draught ten years and my little working cocker for nearly 5 years. 5 years back I rented a field from and old man in the village where I live for my horse and over the years I have accumulated chickens and ducks. I also had a veg plot at one point at the stables but the pesky rabbits saw the end of that,with some help from the chickens and ducks.
A few years back I met my older half and his parents had a small holding, it had been in the family for years and his grandfather had pigs a good 30 years back on the holdings. So one day the other half said lets get some pigs, so we did. Three to be exact OSB x Gloucester Old Spots. So the plan was for these to be fattened up for freezer. They did make it to the freezer but it made us want to get a few more so we have gotten a few rare breeds, OSB's and Saddlebacks. I must say I never thought I would have pigs but they are so cleaver and great to be around.
So we are now looking at the possibility of Dexter cattle as well but need to try get more land first. I really enjoy having these animals and to be able to know exactly what you are eating as well.
Plans for a veg plot this year is in full swing, all to help feed the pigs and keep the horse in carrots.
Would be nice hearing from like mined people and would be intersting to see who else is in the area doing the same sort of thing.
Louise
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welcome new here too ........also called louise :) dont have a small holding but transforming my garden to veggie plots im in west lothian
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Dexters are nice but have you considered Shetlands? Rarer, and in my opinion, better :innocent:
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Hi Louise, nice to have you on board! from invernessshire!
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Hi Louise, I'm nearish to Lauder, keep animal list as below, we're easy to find, you'd be welcome to pop over for a tea/coffee and animal chat anytime! Just send me a PM (click on goosepimple for that). :wave:
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Hi Louise - I am a long way from you , but welcome from Worcestershire anyway :wave:
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Thanks for the messges guys!!
Rosemary we are still a but undecided about Dexters or Shetland. Other half wants Shetland I want Dexters, I feel this debate going on for some time yet. Good job as we are stuggling to find extra land round us to buy or rent.
Lauder is not that far from me so will pop down some time. Thought there would have been many more people in the East Lothian area on here.
Right suppose I best get on and do some work.
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Wouldn't be like you to be wasting time and not working mrs ;) :innocent:
Sorry it's taken me so long to spot you here - welcome to the mad world of TAS forums :D
Got to get Shetlands :cow: :thumbsup: If you want to see some up close and personal, you know you're both welcome here anytime.
Take care, Karen x
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Actually there are quite a few in East Lothian, they've just not come on yet.
Anyone know if there's a map where you can focus on an area and see who's near to you (those little red balloon things), I know you can go to a profile and find out where someone is but it would be handy to have a summary map, or is that not allowed on privacy issue?
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:wave: Karen!!
I noticed you have your cows!! Will be popping up soon for a visit!!
What a good idea about the map thing!! That would be handy. Then you get a better chance to met others in the area and share stories.
Everyone in my family keeps taking the micky out of me saying that I should have been in the good life!! Tell you what it is better than sitting in front a computer all day working or playing games!! Give me outside anytime.
Right back to work. lol
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Hi and welcome I am not too far from you either I am in Reston just outside Eyemouth, we have hens, ducks, goats, sheep, my daughters horse which is part shire and granddaughters shetland, this years weaners should be arriving in about 7 weeks time. No cattle but have just bought an aberdeen angus from neighbouring farmer between 4 of us, it goes to the abattoir on Monday and will be hung for 21 days so really looking forward to some good beef.You are welcome to pop in any time you are in the area, what aprt of East Lothian are you in? I used to live in Dunbar
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Hi, :wave: currently only have a few chickens as we want to move but may end up around East Lothian, any way, Hello!
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:wave: Sandy and Anne.
Good to see few people not too far away.
My other halfs parents have a smallholding in Pencaitland thats where the pigs are kept but hoping to get a bit more land near there as we have all the sheds and tractors at the holdings already.
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we have only been in Central Scotland 5 years so not too sure of areas, we are up for sale as we have a B&B but need to downsize, a lot of properties we look at are rural and some with land but not sure about keeping anything other than hens and ducks etc, oh and my dogs!!
AND, depending on where we move, I think I would love to keep the hens we have and add some fancy ones!! so easy and fun to keep, I notice you have some for sale, not ready for any more just yet :wave:
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Hi Sandy,
Yeh I am selling my chickens as I keep them at the stables beside my horse and the person who owns the place got some chickens and my chickens are laying in his hen house so I am not getting any eggs!! So thought i would just stick to the ducks at least they don't lay in his hen house.
I am telling you it is a slippery slope!! I started with my horse, then a dog, then duck, chickens and now look what I have!! I do love my pigs though and the pork is amazing and at least you have the satisfaction knowing your reared that animal and know exactly what you are eating. We have a we customer base and they love the pork that we have, so hoping to expand on that :fc:
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Loopylou, we used to keep Tamworths but I loved their wee nippy eyes looking at me and I just can't do the killing thing any more, (we do eat our drakes though), so would be interested in half a piggy at some point...?
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Any time gossepimple,
We are just getting started with the rare breeds. I have gotten attached to one called Boris but he is off next week to the butcher. :( and unfortunately I have to take him as the other half cant get a day off and since I was off already he said just take them!!
I was thinking about killing three of my drakes as they seem to be harassing the ladies now (well it's coming to that time of year).
I have never actually done a duck yet. I am not sure the best way to kill it other than shoot them when they are in the sky!! Me and my other half shoot as well, he has been for years, I have however just started. He says that he is going to to the ducks but still hasn't.
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We have a very tall man with large hands who runs a shooting business to do ours, we have Muscovy drakes so they are super big with claws, so it needs a big fella to throttle them. Personally I would rather they were shot, I don't like having to round them up and pick them out and they sense it's the end when they're put in the cage to be taken away, hate that bit :-[ and of course the males are always beautiful and after rearing them from day 1, its harsh.
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
It was my duck that layed her eggs in very well hidden places, she was lovely but they had to be re homed as they were so noisy, I think it was the male after all the hens all the time!!! My husband could be seen running up the garden in his pink dressing gown to feed them and shut them up, they used to wake up as soon as they heard or saw a light!!! Loved them though
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Hi, I too am in East Lothian, "The Boggs" to be exact. We do Organic veg pretty large scale and the rare breed animals are a relatively new adventure. It is a very steep learning curve and I think I am still pretty near the bottom! Do get in touch, it would be fab to chat to a like mind hopefully not too far away.
Fu
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Hi Fu,
I think we have met already a few years back. I know where you are about in the Boggs and we are in the Boggs as well!! It is a small world. My other half knows you as well.
Yeh the pigs are a steep learning curve and we are still getting to grips with it ourselves. We have met some really nice people along the way and are always there is we have any questions.
We just got our 5th pig yesterday and she is a stunner. Hoping to get her out and about this year and have some baby's off her too. Just need to try sort out a better paddock for the two that we are keeping for the purpose of breeding. Just now they have a smaller paddock to play around in during the day but they are housed in at nights.
Would be nice to pop along and have a chat and see how your finding things with the pigs.
Right best get going horses to see to and pigs to sort out. Never ending is it?!
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OMG that is really embarrassing! Do come round and talk shop any time you are passing.
Fu
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Will defo take you up on that off Fu, will need to find time over next few week.