The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Huttopia on November 16, 2020, 06:29:04 pm

Title: Newbie
Post by: Huttopia on November 16, 2020, 06:29:04 pm
Hi,

Hello, I'm new to the forum. At the moment I've got a few Beltie steers and some Herdwicks. They are both primarily for conservation grazing on steep ground and so far doing a great job. On the sheep front in the past I've had Ryelands and Hebredians and for pigs I've had Tamworths and Glos Old Spot x Oxford Sandy and Black. And yes, the Hebs were always a nightmare to pen and the Tamworths escaped from time to time but eventually made their way back.

I don't come from a farming background but simply enjoy looking after the livestock and learning along the way. It is a completely different focus from the day job.

Thanks,

Huttopia

Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Lesley Silvester on November 28, 2020, 11:33:49 pm
Hi and welcome. I don't know why no one has been on to welcome you. Hopefully a few will soon. I used to keep goats but had to give them up sadly. I still manage to grow fruit and veg. I would have loved to keep pigs and love GOS but I only have a garden so no room.
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Fleecewife on November 29, 2020, 12:18:04 am
Hello and welcome [member=207905]Huttopia[/member].  As you can see from my pic, I keep Hebrideans too and have had Tamworths in the past.  When you've had Hebs for a while they do get used to being rounded up, then they almost go in the pen of their own accord (almost  ;D )
Whereabouts are you based?


It's ages since you posted your intro and no-one has seen it.  I certainly missed it until MGM's eagle eyes picked it up  :) .  It does seem to be an ongoing problem on TAS - I wonder why?  It's definitely not that we mean to ignore you. [member=1]Dan[/member] , any ideas?
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Backinwellies on November 29, 2020, 07:22:46 am
 :wave:  welcome from Wales
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Rosemary on November 29, 2020, 07:43:40 am
Hello and welcome from Carnoustie  :wave: We have Shetland cattle and used to breed Ryeland sheep, now just have a small flock of lawnmowers.
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Huttopia on November 29, 2020, 09:46:23 am
Ah, thanks. I wondered if my intro had fallen down the cracks as the forum seems such a friendly place! I’m in Worcestershire, in the Teme Valley, which is very pretty when it isn’t foggy!!
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Dan on November 30, 2020, 08:35:05 am
It's ages since you posted your intro and no-one has seen it.  I certainly missed it until MGM's eagle eyes picked it up  :) .  It does seem to be an ongoing problem on TAS - I wonder why?  It's definitely not that we mean to ignore you. [member=1]Dan[/member] , any ideas?

I have to manually approve the first post of new members. This usually happens the same or next day, but when we have a spate of spam registrations it can take me a few days, and if I'm busy up to a week. :(

Sadly Huttopia's did slip through the cracks, and coincided with a flood of spam registrations, my apologies.
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: SallyintNorth on November 30, 2020, 12:37:14 pm
Thanks for the explanation, [member=1]Dan[/member]  :wave:

We will quite understand if we can't, but I expect a fair few of us would be glad to help with newbie post approvals, if the checks that are needed can be listed, and are things we can [be shown how to] do?
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Huttopia on January 19, 2021, 11:29:44 am
A big first for us today. The vet came and did the first stage of the TB test. Why a big first, well it involved walking the cows down the lane, getting them into a pen and into the crush. I managed to pick up an old but serviceable crush for £200 delivered over Christmas, a friend with a telehandler plonked it over the hedge into the field for me and I put the pen up around it.

I have no idea why it caused me such ridiculous levels of anxiety, but it all went to plan bar one cow jumping a fence to join the sheep and then just rejoining further down the lane. We had moved the cows once before to get them used to it and the pen, which I think paid off. I dragged the family out of bed early to help and the vet was all done and dusted in 20 mins (took a while to encourage the cows into the crush for the first time).

Such a relief. Now just waiting for Friday with everything crossed.
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Rosemary on January 19, 2021, 01:55:26 pm

Such a relief. Now just waiting for Friday with everything crossed.
Well done you!  :fc: for Friday!
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: Fleecewife on January 19, 2021, 05:14:29 pm



 :fc: :fc: :fc:  and let us know  :hshoe:
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 19, 2021, 08:49:53 pm
Well done!  I know exactly how good it feels when it's all done and the preparation paid off.  We have to borrow a crush every year for our TB test, so I still rehearse the cows for a few days before the vet comes.  Then I feel all "proud mummy moment" when it all goes well on the day!  lol