1

Land Management / Re: Thistle management with herbicide

« Last post by Penninehillbilly on Today at 03:04:18 am »

I've been using a Ragfork for thistles, time consuming but satisfying. I had them down to just a few, but couldn't do it for a couple of years, as bad as ever this year. I try and let butterflies and bees have a go at the flowers, then get them before they seed, so timing is critical.
I don't like the idea of using weedkiller where animals graze, unless no option. (Spot treating to reduce the rushes. :-(. )

2

Wildlife / Re: Swallows'25

« Last post by chrismahon on July 08, 2025, 10:31:39 am »

We had a noisy pair nest in the garage, for the first time since we have been here (8 years). It was always going to be risky with a steel roof which can reach 56C in Summer- you need to wear a hat to work in there. So the two chicks hatched, which unfortunately coincided with a heatwave with outside temperatures hitting 40C. They both died the same day and the parents removed them from the nest and then disappeared for a week, returning today. I'm hoping they don't try again.

3

Wildlife / Re: Swallows'25

« Last post by Fleecewife on July 07, 2025, 01:45:50 pm »

Our swallows, 3 pairs are doing fine, newly fledged chicks zooming about happily.
Not so good for the house martins.  They arrived back safely and this year built a wonderful, strong nest.  One chick fell out and died the day it hatched, but others hatched successfully, lots of cheeping coming from the nest.  Then a couple of days ago, the nest was on the ground, ripped apart, presumably by a woodpecker or similar, and the chicks were gone, parents too.  The parents came back today, all happy and chirping again, but it must be too late for them to start again, as they would have to build a new nest.  This pair have had no luck raising young, but this year their nest was so good we thought they would be successful.
We need to think up a new plan to protect them from predators next year.

4

Announcements / New diary post: Flossies egg / Gala / Cooper

« Last post by TAS Bot on July 07, 2025, 08:07:14 am »

A new TAS diary entry has been posted: Flossies egg / Gala / Cooper

5

Land Management / Re: Thistle management with herbicide

« Last post by Rosemary on July 04, 2025, 07:34:05 am »

I support both Sally and Fleecewife. We had a huge thistle problem, started topping just before they set seed, when they've expended most energy and we have ahrdly any now. I did buy spray but it's in the shed.

6

Marketplace / Re: cornish mozzarella courses

« Last post by waterbuffalofarmer on July 03, 2025, 10:38:09 pm »

heya! Sorry for the very late reply, haha. Yea,h I do have a link you could post and share if you'd like I posted on various groups on Facebook, haha!
https://duncan-aitkenhead-s-school.teachable.com/p/making-mozzarella1

7

Land Management / Re: Thistle management with herbicide

« Last post by Fleecewife on July 03, 2025, 07:49:26 pm »

Which kind of thistles are they?  Spear thistles or creeping thistle?  Spear thistles need to be dug out by hand or sliced below ground just before the flower is about to open in June or July, creeping thistle is dealt with by frequent mowing.  So much safer than using poisons, which I can't advise about.

8

Land Management / Re: Thistle management with herbicide

« Last post by SallyintNorth on July 03, 2025, 07:31:37 pm »

I can't help you with chemicals, sorry, but just in case it's useful to you or to other readers...

Top them in July, every year.  (You want them in flower but not yet gone to seed.  "July" usually works!)  You won't recognise the field within a couple of years.

Untreated cut thistles are highly palatable to livestock, or if you flail them all the nutrients will feed the ground for future years.

9

Land Management / Thistle management with herbicide

« Last post by DorsetDear on July 03, 2025, 10:32:37 am »

Our hay field is slowly becoming a thistle field and other small paddocks thistles are competing with grass. We need to spray them. My partner would like to do it safely with a knap sack. What courses does he need to do? Is it PA1? I think I've found someone that provides the course online. Has anyone done it?

10

Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Hatching goose eggs

« Last post by Richmond on July 03, 2025, 08:17:37 am »

As Chris says I'm sure they will be fine. If you've hatched ducks before they are not much different. Feed a dedicated waterfowl starter pellet (crumb is too fine and gets stuck under their tongue) for the right protein balance. Too much protein at critical bone growth stages causes angel wing. Get them out on short grass as early as possible during the day time to encourage grazing. I also feed chopped up dandelions which they love. They won't need any heat after 2 - 3 weeks, possibly even earlier if the hot weather continues.