The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Lavinia on November 02, 2009, 09:59:47 am

Title: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Lavinia on November 02, 2009, 09:59:47 am: Hi

My name is Lavinia, i have just purchased a small holding in Midlothian Scotland. I currently brought to my holding 31 chickens, 4 cats and 2 rabbits. I would love to have ducks as i currently buy duck eggs from Dobbies as the family love duck eggs. We would also like to have a few suggestions on what would be suitable for us to start of with Goats,sheep, pigs?????????? I can't wait to get things going we have to walled in areas behind 8 stables and a further three paddocks. The family before us had 5 horses at the property and a few small animals so size is not really an issue.

Kind regards

Lavinia :-\
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Rosemary on November 02, 2009, 12:42:34 pm: Hi and welcome. Where in Midlothian are you?
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Hilarysmum on November 02, 2009, 01:02:04 pm: Hi Lavinia go for pigs!!! :pig: :pig: :pig:
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: little blue on November 02, 2009, 06:12:30 pm: And goats! Hello from Derbyshire
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Snoopy on November 02, 2009, 08:59:14 pm: Hi and welcome from Ireland

Your place sounds lovely - great to already have paddocks and stables there

Good luck with whatever you decide to do ;D
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Pigginshelly on November 02, 2009, 10:19:03 pm: Quote from: Hilarysmum on November 02, 2009, 01:02:04 pm
Hi Lavinia go for pigs!!! :pig: :pig: :pig:

Gets my vote! :pig: :pig: :pig:
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Roxy on November 02, 2009, 11:09:22 pm: welcome to the forum - definitely goats and pigs are my advice.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Lavinia on November 03, 2009, 09:30:19 am: Hi Rosemary

We are near Roslin, are you in scotland or any where near. Pigs and goats sound great but i nothing about where to get stock how to judge whether they are suitable etc. Trying to do lots of research at the moment, been here a fortnight and down now to 4 boxes one of todays tasks. We managed to clean out an outhouse yesterday as well as some chicken perches etc for the new set up the space the girls have been allocated is twice the size they had before so they now think they are in heaven. Lots of hard work still ahead wish it would stop raining....

Lavinia
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Rosemary on November 03, 2009, 11:25:09 am: We're in Alloa, so not so far from you. Ballingall is in Avonbridge and is a goat expert. If you want to come for a visit, PM me.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Blinkers on November 04, 2009, 11:22:38 am: Croesco from Wales

(http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Others/hello-011.gif)

M
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Grassmonster on November 04, 2009, 06:50:10 pm: Hi from Aberdeenshire :) Defo goats and pigs .... and geese are great .... there's no goose smiley :( so I'll have to make do with a duck :&>
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Blinkers on November 04, 2009, 09:50:29 pm: Quote from: Grassmonster on November 04, 2009, 06:50:10 pm
.... and geese are great .... there's no goose smiley

Here's one (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Animals/animals-21.gif) although not actually smiling !
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Lavinia on November 05, 2009, 05:45:40 pm: Quote from: Grassmonster on November 04, 2009, 06:50:10 pm
Hi from Aberdeenshire :) Defo goats and pigs .... and geese are great .... there's no goose smiley :( so I'll have to make do with a duck :&>

Could you give me some reasons as to why you keep goats pis and geese. Would love a few people's views.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: CameronS on November 05, 2009, 09:28:05 pm: Pigs - They clear guardens of unwanted weeds and also provide quality meat if they are intended to be eaten.
Goats- great characters and depending on breeds produce great milk or meat.
Geese- only had mine for for about 9months before Christmas, but give very good meat, and hours of fun, and are good guard "pets", Lay very large eggs, good for baking with.

Owning any animal is a huge reward, moral boosting, even better to think that you may be saving the environment by eating your own produce.

These may just be my views, but here they are anyway

Cameron
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Lavinia on November 05, 2009, 09:41:00 pm: Hi Cameron

Any views are welcome..... we have 31 chickens, there is nothing like eating your own eggs for breakfast and they are great for recycling any tip bits from the kitchen. Are your geese anti humans. I remember a neighbour having geese when i was younger and they would attack anyone that went into there yard.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: Hilarysmum on November 06, 2009, 10:08:46 am: Pigs wonderful characters, DO NOT climb onto roof (our goats lived on ours) dont chase the dog (our geese made dog's life a misery) best meat ever (only in my own opinion) and even better home produced bacon and home grown eggs.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: CameronS on November 06, 2009, 05:57:59 pm: The geese were anti-postmen and Jahovas (sorry to any out there) but they wnet for anyone reomtley strange in the garden
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: jameslindsay on November 07, 2009, 12:09:47 am: Hi Lavinia

I recommend goats, I started off with only 2, 3 years ago - now I have 13. I had 2 geese but came back my holidays this evening to discover 1 of my geese has gone missing - sadly. I think however all geese are anti social - but great, great fun.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: doganjo on November 07, 2009, 12:21:47 am: Goodness, James - another goose gone. What a horrid thing to come back to! I hope your holiday was good, you'll have needed it after your operation.
Title: Re: I would love loads of info and advice
Post by: jameslindsay on November 07, 2009, 05:26:43 pm: Thanks Annie, had a great time thanks. The 1 remaining goose is ok, not too stressed out and is now in with the ducks. I would love to get another 1 but not worth it, if I am just feeding the fox family. Don't think the op has worked, still very sore but go back to the consultant on Tuesaday, will see what he says.