21
Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: free range
« Last post by eryl on November 11, 2025, 01:32:53 pm »Thank you for this Bywaters - yes it does help. Have you a tag where i can find this written 'officially'?
Recent Posts
22
Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: free range
« Last post by Bywaters on November 11, 2025, 12:16:25 pm »a quick google reveals this "AI Overview Laws for free-range eggs in the UK originate from retained EU legislation, and include requirements for daytime outdoor access with vegetation, a minimum area per hen (\(4m^{2}\) per hen or \(1Ha\) per 2,500 hens), and specific indoor conditions for hens, such as perch and nest space. The current rules also allow for a 16-week derogation period during which eggs can still be labelled free-range if hens are temporarily housed due to disease outbreaks like avian flu. External range requirements Daytime access: Hens must have continuous daytime access to outdoor runs.Vegetation: The outdoor area must be mainly covered in vegetation.Space: A minimum of 1 hectare per 2,500 hens (about \(4m^{2}\) per hen) is required.Distance: The range area must not be more than 150m from the nearest pop-hole unless shelters are provided, which allows the range to extend to 350m.Access: Fencing or other restrictions must not prevent hens from accessing the range. "
hope that helps.
hope that helps.
23
Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: free range
« Last post by Bywaters on November 11, 2025, 12:12:51 pm »do you mean in normal times or during Flockdown ?
My understanding (fwitw) is that free range is "trades description" rather than it being covered by law (other than the Trades Description Act)
My understanding (fwitw) is that free range is "trades description" rather than it being covered by law (other than the Trades Description Act)
24
Pigs / Re: Pig nuts
« Last post by eryl on November 11, 2025, 08:50:58 am »You can save quite a bit of money by feeding them Calf rearer nuts- much cheaper. Don't feed them the starter - too high in protein. These are fine for fattening or for dry sows but you need the proper sow nuts for the last 2 weeks of pregnancy and while they are suckling.
25
Poultry & Waterfowl / free range
« Last post by eryl on November 11, 2025, 08:45:19 am »Ok, can anyone tell me what the rules governing free range are please? I assume they are the same for egg and meat production. I have scoured the DEFRA website and all i can find is flannel. I dont want GUIDELINES or RECOMMENDATIONS -i want LAWS!
26
Sheep / Re: New tups and ewes; new breeds in the mix
« Last post by SallyintNorth on November 10, 2025, 09:19:37 pm »And the flock additions are now complete, with 3 3-crop girls from the FernHill Lustre Flock.
We are *so* excited to be adding these genetics to our flock.
We are *so* excited to be adding these genetics to our flock.
27
Sheep / Re: just need to hear from Fb AS "family"
« Last post by SallyintNorth on November 10, 2025, 09:12:41 pm »I'm so, so sorry to hear your news, messyhoose 
It seems at the time scant relief to know one's given them a good life, and helped them at the end, I know.
Have you other humans or animals you can cuddle (in the flesh) for comfort at this horrible time?
It seems at the time scant relief to know one's given them a good life, and helped them at the end, I know.
Have you other humans or animals you can cuddle (in the flesh) for comfort at this horrible time?
28
Sheep / just need to hear from Fb AS "family"
« Last post by messyhoose on November 10, 2025, 12:34:32 pm »Its a horrible month. You never hear from me unless theres a problem, but i really have no one else to share with
Friday afternoon i fed my pet NR sheep and the youngest (2) a castrate i call Jasper is.... no, was... a proper mommys boy after i hand reared him and his sister from birth due to losing his accidentally pregnant 3yo mom to PT
He still (at 2) came into the house for cuddles and sometimes to sleep if the weather was bad. He was the first face i would see in the morning and the last i would see at night.
A few hours later he came into the house (normally i shut the inner door so he stays out with his field mates but i didnt this night. Rather can coming to say hi he went into the hall and i heard a noise like he had collapsed rather than lain down. I went to him and he was obvs not himself. Watching he was tooth grinding, and looked to have tummy ache, though feeling the rumen it was not hard but squidgy and i rubbed it and he burped. But his undercarraige did look swollen.
At first i feared Uroliths as i had treated him for that when he was younger and was a nagging issue since i lost 2 boys to it in the past. I gave him ammonium chloride but he did wee 1/2 hr later so i ruled that out. I gave him sodium bicarb to treat bloat and acidosis, but he was no better. I then got scared he had a blockage and gave veg oil and a warm soap enema. He did poo something an hour later so i dont know if that rules out blockage. You see he started to get Pica as a weanling- trying to eat anything not food. I had over the year pulled latex gloves, staples, tin foil out of his mouth and he had eaten an amount of memory foam off the mattress in the bedroom but the vet hoped as he wasnt a dog he would only nibble small amounts that could be passed rather than cause a blockage.
With hindsight i did notice his lower belly was big a few days earlier, but its easy to thing maybe thats normal, esp as he was ok in appetite and behaviour.
but that night things seemed to go so fast, i assumed he would recover like he had from "issues" i treated him when a baby, so when he went downhill it was blood freezing to know i wasnt helping him but losing him. He died gasping for breathe in my arms (had it been daytime id have called my gun licenced farmer neighbour out but i knew he wouldnt answer the phone at 2am).
Heres the thing. I never expected i would lose Jasper now, even though in the back of my mind i thought his pika might lead to a future problem. But i am already dealing with an elderly arthiritic NR ewe who i was hoping i could keep going but in the past few weeks has had reduced quality of life. Shes been on daily painkillers for a few months and i offer her anything she will eat, but now as well as the mobility issues she isnt that interested in food. I cant bear losing 2 animals in one week but i know i have to do whats right for my animals.
i just dont know how to emotionally deal with this impending loss when i am already dealing with grief and guilt over my precious lad.
Friday afternoon i fed my pet NR sheep and the youngest (2) a castrate i call Jasper is.... no, was... a proper mommys boy after i hand reared him and his sister from birth due to losing his accidentally pregnant 3yo mom to PT
He still (at 2) came into the house for cuddles and sometimes to sleep if the weather was bad. He was the first face i would see in the morning and the last i would see at night.
A few hours later he came into the house (normally i shut the inner door so he stays out with his field mates but i didnt this night. Rather can coming to say hi he went into the hall and i heard a noise like he had collapsed rather than lain down. I went to him and he was obvs not himself. Watching he was tooth grinding, and looked to have tummy ache, though feeling the rumen it was not hard but squidgy and i rubbed it and he burped. But his undercarraige did look swollen.
At first i feared Uroliths as i had treated him for that when he was younger and was a nagging issue since i lost 2 boys to it in the past. I gave him ammonium chloride but he did wee 1/2 hr later so i ruled that out. I gave him sodium bicarb to treat bloat and acidosis, but he was no better. I then got scared he had a blockage and gave veg oil and a warm soap enema. He did poo something an hour later so i dont know if that rules out blockage. You see he started to get Pica as a weanling- trying to eat anything not food. I had over the year pulled latex gloves, staples, tin foil out of his mouth and he had eaten an amount of memory foam off the mattress in the bedroom but the vet hoped as he wasnt a dog he would only nibble small amounts that could be passed rather than cause a blockage.
With hindsight i did notice his lower belly was big a few days earlier, but its easy to thing maybe thats normal, esp as he was ok in appetite and behaviour.
but that night things seemed to go so fast, i assumed he would recover like he had from "issues" i treated him when a baby, so when he went downhill it was blood freezing to know i wasnt helping him but losing him. He died gasping for breathe in my arms (had it been daytime id have called my gun licenced farmer neighbour out but i knew he wouldnt answer the phone at 2am).
Heres the thing. I never expected i would lose Jasper now, even though in the back of my mind i thought his pika might lead to a future problem. But i am already dealing with an elderly arthiritic NR ewe who i was hoping i could keep going but in the past few weeks has had reduced quality of life. Shes been on daily painkillers for a few months and i offer her anything she will eat, but now as well as the mobility issues she isnt that interested in food. I cant bear losing 2 animals in one week but i know i have to do whats right for my animals.
i just dont know how to emotionally deal with this impending loss when i am already dealing with grief and guilt over my precious lad.
29
Introduce yourself / Re: Hi
« Last post by Rosemary on November 10, 2025, 07:06:34 am »Hello and welcome from 
Carnoustie
Carnoustie30
Introduce yourself / Re: Hi
« Last post by Fleecewife on November 09, 2025, 05:01:41 pm »Welcome Mayuko, please tell us a little about you and your land, whereabouts you are and how much land you have. Those details will help us if you are looking for help and advice about your project. I am in Scotland and am in the process of retiring from keeping livestock. Instead we are continuing to grow fruit, vegetable and herbs and to plant our grazing land with native trees.
Fleecewife/Juliet
Fleecewife/Juliet