[Beewyched]

Hi Karen  
 
Yeh, SoS is growing up to be a lovely boy, his best pal is Dudley (the castrated brother of Portia) it's soooo cute to see them at feed time - the tribe is free-running in their byre over the winter with open access to their paddock (mudpatch!).  We have left the old feeding troughs in the cow stalls, so they all have one each, the girls are very possessive of theirs, but SoS & Duds insist on sharing theirs - sweet   .  

We hope to get Portia across to you soon, but having the new lot has thrown us a bit - we ended up with some extras, so emergency pen construction in the other byre has been a priority, especially as one of the new gilts could be in pig - so we may have the sound of little trotters sooner than we had planned this year - but hey, at least the farrowing pens are done now!.  Lots to tell, will have to email you.

 :pig:X

[Beewyched]

Hi Beth  ,

Interested to hear you've got dairy goats - not heard of many in sunny Scotland, though I bet your  are loving the weather!

Do you make any products from your herd - just asking, as we love goats cheeses  & there doesn't appear to be many farn shops over this way?

[Beewyched]

Hi Rosemary 

Sorry, had to Google Carnougie - I'd not heard of it before .    The weather's definately been a bit of an East/West see-saw split - just can't seem to get the hang of dry AND warm anywhere at the moment.  I was really excited when I got to hang some washing out the other day & heard my bees out for the 1st time this year, but the poor things have been hive-bound again for the last few days - it did stop raining for a few hours this afternoon, but it was too cold for them to venture out. 
Just wish we could get a few dry (& warm days) soon, so we can get the new pig arcs constructed so the pigs can go across to their field - bet they've forgotten what it's like to feel grass under their trotters, poor things turned their paddock into a mudbath before Christmas. 
 

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi there and welcome from another newcomer.

I am miles further south than you, but the old name of my house meant wind hill, and it was well named.  I wanted a polytunnel and after research also went for Northern and it has been very good.  Put up without professional help nearly 20 years ago.  No concreting etc.  It has had 3 covers in that time, but really only though mistakes. 

The first one I didn't use hot tape, and also used binder twine to tie thinks to the supports which damaged the cover.  The second one I thought a builder would do a good job, but it was a loose as an old carrier bag and damaged quickly.  This one has been on for around 5 years, and looks to have a good few years left. 

I got the replacement cover from LBS who are very helpful

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[HappyHippy]

Yeh, SoS is growing up to be a lovely boy, his best pal is Dudley (the castrated brother of Portia) it's soooo cute to see them at feed time - the tribe is free-running in their byre over the winter with open access to their paddock (mudpatch!).  We have left the old feeding troughs in the cow stalls, so they all have one each, the girls are very possessive of theirs, but SoS & Duds insist on sharing theirs - sweet   .  

I'm gobsmacked 
Have never heard of 2 unrelated boars sharing happily - really, never in my life ! Even my little newly weaned boys wouldn't tolerate Red when we put him in - there was ear biting and fighting even at a very young age The fact that they're sharing happily (and the best of friends) is unheard of I'd say, but if it works - why not ? I think it's lovely But you might find you need to seperate them when SoS starts 'working' - just watch them and see how it goes
Don't panic about Portia  We're the same as you guys - franticly fencing & arc building - so whenever you're sorted just give us a shout.
Take care & see you soon,
Karen x

[ballingall]

Hi Beth  ,

Interested to hear you've got dairy goats - not heard of many in sunny Scotland, though I bet your  are loving the weather!

Do you make any products from your herd - just asking, as we love goats cheeses  & there doesn't appear to be many farn shops over this way?

There are a few breeders in Scotland- but not many of us any more  The people who keep goats tend to fall into one of two brackets (either they breed and show, and register their goats, or they keep a few for the smallholding, and don't register them). There are few enough of either, and sadly, the two don't cross over easily as those for show need to keep the health status of their goats up, and therefore cannot provide stud services for the general smallholder etc.

We sometimes make cheese, but not very often, Tend to make butter and soap more often, but don't sell any!

Beth

[Sandy]

Hello from Clackmannan did I already say hello?never mind, hello again

[ukag0972]

Hi from a slushy Argyll! x

[lachlanandmarcus]

heloooo from Deeside in Aberdeenshire!!

[ambriel]

Hello from  gorgeously sunny Kinlochbervie!