21

Sheep / Re: Silvernose and similar

« Last post by SallyintNorth on December 31, 2025, 10:42:38 am »

Oh my........ dont let the 'posh' mongrel puppy naming start on sheep

Oh, that boat sailed some years ago, didn't it?  Beltex, Chartex, Suftex, to name but 3...

22

Cattle / Re: Milking cows, micro dairy advice

« Last post by Backinwellies on December 31, 2025, 07:21:14 am »

What country are you in?    You need to find out the rules and regs where you are

23

Sheep / Re: Silvernose and similar

« Last post by Backinwellies on December 31, 2025, 07:19:46 am »

Oh my........ dont let the 'posh' mongrel puppy naming start on sheep

24

Coffee Lounge / Re: Silstice blessings

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 31, 2025, 01:24:18 am »

I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

More in the knowledge than the light for a while, I never think the sunset/rise times really start moving noticeably for a few more weeks.  (Just the occasional minute, not every day, for the mo.)  But knowing we're past the shortest day certainly brings a lightening of the spirits!

Our tups came off today, their spirits went the other way I think!

This year there is a noticeable difference already.  On the Solstice itself, it seemed really dark at 1510 (don't forget I'm in Scotland - it's dark up here for AGES in winter)  now 9 days later it's still light after 1600.  Part of it is the sunshine some days.  Maybe I'm just a positive thinker    I often get really miserable in the dark days, but not this year 

25

Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Avian Influenza

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 31, 2025, 01:16:23 am »

Thank you Pennine Hillbilly.  The geese are wonderful - they understand a lot of words (or the sounds of words) and are very comical in their antics. They are also beautiful    I would be very sad to lose them.

26

Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Avian Influenza

« Last post by Penninehillbilly on December 30, 2025, 02:13:46 pm »

Good Luck FW, hope everything is OK, So far I think our nearest 'livestock' report is York, but we don't hear about wild birds just dying out in the wilds, its worrying.
Our geese are still out, no running water but a fresh bucket every morning.
Massive flock  (skein?) (2 lots near each other) of geese went over this morning, heading east, unusual.


I'm envious of your Shetland geese 

27

Coffee Lounge / Re: Silstice blessings

« Last post by Penninehillbilly on December 30, 2025, 02:03:16 pm »

Our house is full of the scents of feasting 
Solstice greetings to all those who recognise and celebrate the start of the new growing year.  I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

The Solstice means much more to me than Christmas, which is such a man made and commercial day, and just a day off work for us, apart from seeing to animals, which is rarely 'work'.
I try and get the Christmas lights up and ready and light up at Solstice time to greet the new year and return of light, easy this year at just after 3pm, someday we'll get round to doing a special meal  .
One thing I always think re Stonehenge, I would celebrate the first sunrise in the new year, that's the special sunrise :-).

28

Poultry & Waterfowl / Avian Influenza

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 25, 2025, 10:58:53 pm »

We are in the south of Scotland and find ourselves today sandwiched between Bird Flu control zones, three just to the east, one to the west, with a 10km gap between the two.


The only birds we have now are our four Shetland geese.  We have no water courses but we are under the wild goose migration routes.  All we can do is keep everyone and anyone out and 

29

Coffee Lounge / Re: Merry Christmas!

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 25, 2025, 10:48:32 pm »

Thank you all.
We have had a wonderful day NOT celebrating Christmas.  Instead we were clearing up storm damage to some of our larger trees, converting them to firewood.  It was wonderfully quiet and peaceful - oh, apart from the chainsaw noise we shared around the area 
Juliet

30

Coffee Lounge / Re: Merry Christmas!

« Last post by SallyintNorth on December 25, 2025, 10:21:22 am »

Seasons greetinsgs to those who celebrate it