The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Rosemary on July 20, 2009, 08:20:41 pm
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Anyone going? If so, do you want to meet for a coffee?
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Hi Rosemary. Kerstin and I are coming down for it opening at 10.00am think it is? We won't be there for long but I am sure Kerstin would love to meet up for coffee.
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I might come through for it too - where is it?
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Yes please! We're possibly in the market for a couple more hens, so would appreciate any advice going. Also, we only have room for two more, so may be interested in splitting a lots with other people perhaps in a similar situation!
Just let us know where and when, (and possibly what you'll be wearing!? :o)
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Think i will go for a wee look and see if the seller i want to buy from is there as they usually sell at lanak, as it would save me waiting till august, maybe see you all there :)
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So spill the beans, who has more hens and did you all have coffee?????(hint of jealousy) ::)
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Sandy the sale is not till this Saturday!
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Oh! :o
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A lot on my mind and people arriving on Saturday :( Visit Scotland visit later today and cannot even be bothered to change my flower arrangements, we will loose a sat anyway due to no en suits!!!!! are you with visit Scotland James?
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We are not with them Sandy, they are too expensive and we fill our rooms ok without their help. I find these rating organisations a rip off, when I was a manager with the "big boys" they would from time to time have one of their hotels loose a star. The owner of the company would phone them up and threaten that if the star was not replaced immediately they would pull their business. This hotel company had over 65 hotels so paid the likes of the Tourist Board, the AA etc a fortune every year so they could not afford to loose the business and therefore the star was replaced!!!! Defeats the whole purpose but small places like you and I have don't have a leg to stand on.
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Not bothered about the star but in order for us to have road signs we have to be with them and your correct, what a rip off!!! I had a salesman here early in the year saying they could put a link on our web site so people could book and pay a deposit directly and they would take a small percentage, so I said "so how would that benefit us?" We do OK anyway and get very few bookings through visit Scotland, maybe people look on their site but go on to look on our site, most people we ask just do their won searches. We kept a star last year when I said we were not bothered about being with them!!! Another company we advertise with is comming up for renewal and out of the blue we are getting an usual amount of enquiries through them!!! I smelt a rat last year as the same happened then!!!! I am off for a very late shower as all the water was cold...someone had a bath this morning >:( >:(how inconsiderate!!! ;)
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The sale starts at 10.30, I think at Caledonian Markets, Millhall, Stirling.
I'll try and get along about 10ish too. I'll wear by CSSA T Shirt! Hope it's not cold. If it is, I'll wear it OVER my other clothes - so fat bird in a white T shirt!
About the VisitScotland stuff, I was reading an article in Scottish Field this morning about how woeful VisitScotland (or the Scottish Toursit Board) is and how Glasgow, Edinburgh and Shetland have withdrawn. They've done the dirty on Clackmannanshire as well by closing the only visitor centre in the County. The article actually said (it's by Alan Cochrane, Scottish Editor of The Telegraph) that VisitScotland was far too concerned about the number of fire doors and not concerned enough about the service, the welcome and the food. Sounds ike you'd support his view.
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Visit Scotland take a lot of money, I am not bothered about the star rateing in fact I think once you have stars people judge you more. As we are small we are never going to get rich from the proceeds of this B&B alone that is not our idea however nice that would be and if Visit Scotland take so much off us each year then our small profit is eaten into although in principal the idea is nice but being a private organisation they are just out for your blood!!!!!!! Just cancelled todays visit as (1) I feel rough and (2) Just had to call out the heating engineer as the water is not heating up, great for a B&B to have cold water ;)
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May get to the sale on Saturday, we have guests arriving but my OH can see to them ;D ;D
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As I said this morning, Sandy, call me if you want to come - I'll probably leave here about 9.45 and can pick you up. We can all wear our CSSA badges! (if I can find mine! ::) :-[ )
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You going with the intentions of buying Annie, or just having a look?
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Primarily for a look - I've emailed Jim Duff for four more ex batts - I've lost an ex batt and 2 LS lately - two suicides (literally jumped into Hester's jaws), and one pneumonia. But if I saw something I really liked that wasn't too expensive I might think about buying. Basically I just want to have a good look at all the different types, though.
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No catalogue on the Caley website yet. Will ring tomorrow.
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I have never been to one of these sales before, I take it you can buy just 1 or 2 animals, you don't need to buy in bulk so to speak? I'm looking for maybe 3 Indian Runners.
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My daughter's been to them and bought a mixed cage of birds but also bought one or two, she's on this forum but not posted anything lately E Mailed me to say she now has an incubater for eggs that holds 500!!!! she had some to hatch when the one she borrowed broke, 500 chickens!!!!!!
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Great...I am going, my OH wanted to come but we are expecting 2 lot's of guests and one lot, who are very sweet, have loads of problems and if I am here they will talk to me for ages and ages, sooooooooo, my OH thinks it better if it's only him here as he is much more grumpy than me (Victor Meldrew type) so I can, at last go somehwere...anywhere..everywhere...well, maybe just the sale for now and a coffee and chat!!!!!!! how xsiteting!!!!
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Rosemary the Brochure is now posted on the site. I see they have a Trio of Black Indian Runners which is exactly what I would like.
Sandy they have quite a few Black Rocks for sale.
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Right Sandy - will pick you up 9.45 Saturday morning. Rosemary - we'll meet you for coffee - remember to wear your TAS badges everyone!
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Oh err!! ??? saw all the birdies for sale, not sure if I dare, I suppose I should get a number and take a box :-\
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:spud: I will be ready for action......shower, talc,clean underwear, clean shoes (well ones with no chicken poo on) make up done, badge on ....Oh and some money! Thank you!!!!
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I've booked four more ex batts for collection Sunday so I don't think I'll be buying - but will enjoy looking.
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Also quite a few Aylesburys for sale Sandy???
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I know I being dim but whats TAS?
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This website - T he A ccidental S mallholder ;) ;) ;)
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Remember they don't take cards - cash or cheque.
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Yeah thanks, I just hope I can hold back and not pay silly money! nI have never been to any auction before.
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Hmmmm. Anybody want to go halves on one of the Welsummer lots? I really don't think we ought to take more than two, given the size of our run.
Will definitely join the rest of you for a coffee, assuming we can find you!
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I'll have my mobile - 07984663721
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I fancied some Welsummers or two more Black Rocks.
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If you want to buy you need to pay £2 for a catalogue with a buyer's number I think you need to bid - I've never bid fro anything so don't think I'll be buying in case I bid for the wrong thing.
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I sometimes went to sales but never bid as everything I wanted seemed to get to a higher price. I bought a house in Market Harbporough that used to belong to an Auctioner and he is a regular on Bargain hunt at the sale room in Market Harborough, he started with nothing and now is fairly well off. Depending on how I feel I may buy a cataloge!!!!!!!!! ??? ??? ???
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TAS oops sorry , as I said, I WAS being dim - :dunce:
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You can download a catalogue off the Caley website. You get a number at the office at the auction. I don't rememebr paying for a number last time.
Set a limit and stick to it. It's easy to get carried away. I know.
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It says starts at 10.30am, now is this when it opens and you can view the animals or is it when the auction starts and so therefore you would view the birds earlier? Thanks.
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I thought Rosemary said 10am - I'm picking up Sandy at 9.45 so we should be there around 10. If we have to wait we have to wait.
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Defo 10.30 Annie, see you tomorrow.
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I hope know one comes for accomadation tonight as I will have to help my OH although he is capable of doing it himself but will moan forever and ever (Demis Rousos, is he dead? must be!!)
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Well he'll just have to moan to himself because WE won't be there to hear him, will we, Sandy!
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James i am sure you will be able to view from 9.30, but i uasually just wander in lol hopefully see u there:)
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NIce meeting up, enjoyed it and my new girls 5 Black Rocks settled as if they had always lived here!!!! Now NO MORE!!!!!up to :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook: :chook:15 birds now in a back garden ::) ::) ::)Rosemary, it's your fault ::)
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What happened to QWOLF - never saw him/her? James & Kerstin - did you buy anything? I know Andrew and Janis did. I told Sandy I'd take a couple of the black rocks she bought but I couldn't prise her fingers off them once they were out of my car! ;D ;D ;D Thoroughly enjoyed my morning followed by a chat in the sun with Steve and Sandy over a cuppa. Getting my four ex batts(and Beth's - ordered four for you Beth as you didn't say to Jim how many you wanted) tomorrow, then I MUST stop.
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I had a lovely day too. I bought 3 Call ducks, a Cayuaga and a Magpie. All have settled in very well and are beautiful, I am well chuffed. QWOLF was there, we met him and at that time he had bought a cockerel!! Nice to meet everyone whether for the first time or again. Kerstin stuck to her word and din't buy anything.
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A Magpie?????
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I could give you dozens of them fro free - mind you they'd all be deaded - although I need to buy a gun first! Nearly had a free pigeon for retrieving purposes but I'm too soft. It had got trapped int eh chicken run - Jamie was swearing so much I HAD to go and see what was wrong. I picked it up and threw it in the air and off it flew. I think that was today's rainbow moment................................ :love:
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A Magpie?????
Quite a large duck, black and white in colour, very nice. :&>
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Arh ;)
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Well after having the morning off today, boy did I pay for it when I got back. Have been mega busy all afternoon and especially tonight. Just closing down now, all the ducks went to bed absolutely no problem which is amazing for a first night, the new ones simply followed the others up the ramp and off they went.
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We are sort of busy too so we went for a late work with an ex guest so when I went into the garden to see where my new black rocks were I saw they up a tree!!!! the garden is fairly safe so they are staying there!!!
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He he - you did say you thought your original three were doing that. Bird talk rules OK ;D ;D ;D
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Again - (as on the Big tent thread ;D ), lovely to meet you all and put faces to names! I learned a lot, so will be ready when the time is right. I'm all jealous of the beautiful birds you bought, James! And isn't it all easy if it's just girls ::)...bed now, I'm all knackered :)
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When I went to collect my Buff Orpington Ducks from Gordon Webster 2 years ago many of his hens were high up in the trees. I was surprised as I had not seen this before. This afternoon my straw and hay was delivered. The Toggenburg kids got up to mischief with the bales and knocked one over, all we heard was a hen squeal. It was the one that both Annie and Kerstin want, she was squashed underneath and making a din. As soon as I moved the bale off her she ran away, shook herself down and went on about her business.
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Did we not say that she's not having any more incidents ??? We'll have to spin a coin now, Annie ;D ;D ;D
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The first time my Black rocks went into the trees I could not se them as it was fairly dark, just as I walked around the garden I heard them mumble so I saw them and had to collect them as they were young, not sure what to do with these as I have not had preditors in the garden due to it being enclosed by high walls...anyway, off ot bed to rest for the day ahead...nighty night x
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Ha ha ha Kerstin, she is the cutest and cheekiest wee chook ever and is not looking for a new home. It was funny though seeing her get up and run off as if nothing had happened. Hope you had fun at the Big Tent show. :)
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I would imagine that your garden would be safe enough for them Sandy. Good night.
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qwolf was there looking to see evryones cssa t shirts never seen one yet ? spoke to james as i new him from before (rawhide and another of my x bats went with james) so was good to see him, you probably did see me as my when i went to get my first lot (132) 4x welsummer 12ws old they kept getting oot the box!!! with a wee boy catching one in mid flight hehehe great, also got a cockeral but it didnt stop crowing so neighbours not to happy so he is on a farm along the road (which is a bugger as he was a beauty but we have visiting rights lol, oh to live in the countryside. but enjoyed our day in stirling, just sorry not to have met everyone who was there from in here, maybe next time or anytime :).
p.s. was told that you can get 6mth old xbats for a donation of £1 somewhere in calander would have to find out more for anyone interested but this seems fantastic as the birds are P.O.L.at this stage and would be Fr in weeks
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Sorry I missed you qwolf, I had a TAS badge on but there were so many people there. I fancied some Wellsumers, they look nice birds but I bought 5 more Black Rocks as I like them as well, I was going to sell two to Anne, she's off to collect more battery hens today, but I decided, as they were getting on so well, I would keep them, now I don't think I have any more room for more. I had 7 Ex Battery hens from near Callender, Jim DUff, when I have finnished after a busy breakfast, I will look out his contact details, I was pleased with mine, one or two tatty ones but they are great now and its nice to see them being "CHICKENS" We were all in and out of the cafe bit, I wounder if you went in there too!!!!!
NEW BIT....If you want a contact for Ex Battery hens, I have found the E Mail for "Jim Duff" [email protected]
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I'm away now to get my 4 new ex batts from Jim. Sorry we didn't see you QWOLF - you should have asked James an Kerstin where we were.
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Having tea and Bacon Butties!!!! :yum:
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Enjoyed yesterday - great to meet those I hadn't met before. Sorry we missed QWOLF.
All kittened out here!
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QWOLF
You won't get 6 month old ex batts. They vary from 11 months to two years - and are rejected due to becoming erratic layers. The whole,point of having them is that they will still give you quite a lot of eggs (as much as some of the pure breeds - at teh height of the summer I was getting 3 sometimes 4, and occasionally 5 eggs a day from 6 ex batts) but you have the satisfaction of having saved their lives, and giving them a much more pleasant and relaxed atmosphere than they had before. They are very tame, very quickly!
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I think I may have asked you folks this yesterday, my memory is not what it used to be :o - what breed are ex - bats usually? Don't mind hybrids, supposed that's what they all are? :&>
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Lowman browns is what I was told - they are almost identical to all the Isa Browns we saw yesterday. They are supposed to be an excellent egg laying hybrid. I just like giving them a better life and saving them, don't mind how many eggs they lay.
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hi doganjo.... i was only relaying what i was told re 6months old xbats thought it would be to goods to be true or eveyone would just do that? anyway iam at my level now so i am happy :)
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Maybe they pass them on or despatch them if something else is wrong with them. I very faintly remember this from the Jamie Oliver program - it may have been meat birds though. :&>
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But if something else is wrong with them they wouldn't be any good for laying, and they need to be at POL for them to know if they will lay. I'll ask Jim if he knows.
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I have decided to try and go to the Lanark Sale, Thursday 27 August. I have no intentions to buy but think it will be interesting as they have poultry and goats, it doesn't get much better than that.
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JAMES IAM SURE THAT LANARK SALE IS ON THE FIRST THURSDAY EACH MONTH SO 6TH AUG? YOU WILL ENJOY IT I NEVER SEEN ANY GOATS THERE BUT I WASNT LOOKING FOR THEM LOL EVEY TYPE OF BIRD THOUGH:)
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James - the rare breed sale at Lanark is on Thursday 20th August
Sale on the 27th is Texel sheep.
I'm going along to Lanark on the 20th - just for a look, honest ;)
Maybe see some TAS members ? I'll have me badge on, just in case !
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Thanks Happyhippy, that was me trying to think of the date from memory - dangerous thing! I may see you there and I will have my TAS badge on. :)
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The site advertises the following, so fingers crossed I will see some goats;
20-Aug-2009
RARE AND MINORITY BREEDS SALE OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS PIGS AND POULTRY - Incorporating Scotlands Official Show and Sale of Shetland Sheep. Entry Forms for Poultry and Waterfowl now available to Download. Entries Close Friday 7th August.
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But if something else is wrong with them they wouldn't be any good for laying, and they need to be at POL for them to know if they will lay. I'll ask Jim if he knows.
This is Jim's reply
"I think someone is getting a bit confused – they don’t start laying until about 6 months – anyway the ex bats, (and indeed ex-free range hens as well) are around 18 months old. It doesn’t matter whether they’re in batteries or outside or in barns – their laying drops in year 2.
Jim Duff
BHWT, Scotland"