[Nemesis]

Hi there

I have just found this wonderful site and am hoping it can help us get through the early stages on our 20 acre livery yard/smallholding.

My husband, 2 young sons and I have been here since last July and as well as my horses/some liveries we have 42 chickens, 4 sheep, 2 cats and 2 dogs.  We started off small with chickens, but found them so easy/such a joy that we have just added 17 to our flock and are hoping to start breeding Leghorns in the near future.  Our ewes are Welsh Mountain and due to lamb any day now, so any advice in that department would be gratefully received.  If that all goes to plan our next project is to buy 2 weaners and venture into pig keeping (quite daunting from the horsey side of things)!!

Anyway, I look forward to reading about everyone elses experiences on here as I follow this huge learning curve.

xx

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome. Sounds like a great set up. Where are you based in Northumberland? I used to work neat Chathill and Seahouses and love the area.

[hexhammeasure]

Welcome from me too, I am in the Tynedale area, close enough to share the snow showers!!

[Hilarysmum]

Hi we had a friend with horses who kept a pot belly just so that the horses did not panic when they saw or smelt a pig.  Another site once had pictures of an orphaned sanglier living with a herd of horses.  She eventually went on to raise her own litter.  There were some great photos of the sanglier grazing with the horses.

[Nemesis]

Thank you for the welcomes!  Some friends next door take receipt of their weaners next week, so I am going to start taking the horses around for sniffing etc!!

Rosemary - we are at Chathill - what a small world.