Guest Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Lesley, the pigs are GORGEOUS!!!!! I WANT THEM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Would that be chopped, baconed or sausaged Shona! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 The piggies look really happy and their new home looks great.............. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Would that be chopped, baconed or sausaged Shona! Don't tempt me, I'm still on my diet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Do you know it's taken me nearly an hour to read this thread from start to finish (joe's not happy as I still haven't cooked dinner! ) I would just like to echo everyone here Lesley and Carl and say congratulations!! Not only are we insanely jealous we are extremely proud of you. We did have one idea though - how about getting a small part of your 8 acre ranch set aside as a Caravan Club Certified Location? You can earn a few quid a night that way from having a few caravans around AND we can bring ours!! (I'm sure you wouldn't mind us bringing the Eglu and Girls either! !) WELL DONE! A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 Great picures of the piggies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 I do miss our caravan. We sold it about 4 years ago when I fell pregnant and can't afford to replace it yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 14, 2006 Author Share Posted May 14, 2006 We did have one idea though - how about getting a small part of your 8 acre ranch set aside as a Caravan Club Certified Location? You can earn a few quid a night that way from having a few caravans around AND we can bring ours!! (I'm sure you wouldn't mind us bringing the Eglu and Girls either! !) WELL DONE! Do you know - one of the plus points of moving here was to have no neighbours - we have seen more people here in 2 weeks than we would normally see in 6 months With an agricultural tie, we are very restricted in what we can do with the land Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 14, 2006 Author Share Posted May 14, 2006 The pig ark will arrive today and the piggie paddock is nearly finished. Two lads arrived at 7am yesterday and worked until lunchtime. They are coming back this morning to finish it. Carl and I started to shift the 10 tons of topsoil yesterday - it looks as if a child has dug a small hole in it and the 10 wheelbarrows of soil we moved before the heavens opened and we had a massive thunderstorm, just filled in little corner of the new veggie plot Guess what we're going to be doing today? I could hardly crawl out of bed this morning ...... and when we've finished it and planted all our veggies, I suppose the farm cats will just decide it is a giant cat litter tray I will post photos of the pigs later today - if I can still move by then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 We did have one idea though - how about getting a small part of your 8 acre ranch set aside as a Caravan Club Certified Location? A We considered that too... but then thought about all those children running around, chasing our livestock, feeding them inappropriate stuff.. no! Too much like hard work and hassle....don't go there Lesley! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 At least you're getting there Lesley! Take your time, don't over do yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Take care you two and take it slowly. Try fencing in your veggie plot, it will keep the bunnies and deer out too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 14, 2006 Author Share Posted May 14, 2006 You mean ask the two young men to come back for another day? - I'll get talked about I nearly phoned to see what you were doing today Clare We've shifted over half of the soil. The fencing isn't finished as no-one arrived today. The pig arc however did arrive and is installed in the paddock. We can't move the pigs until the fencing is finished. We will probably wait until the chicken runs are done as well as we will need to move the electric fence to the pigs paddock. We were late feeding the pigs tonight and they had upturned their trough in disgust! Because the straw bales are so high, the only way I can feed them is to throw some food over the top - hopefully into the trough - then I can move the top, small bale and put the rest of the food in. I just had to throw some food in the general area of the trough and Carl had to climb in to put it all right. He is careful now not to put his hands in the trough while they are eating - one of them accidentally bit him last week One little kitten/cat is looking a bit round and is probably already pregnant I phoned the Cats Protection people on Friday and they were no help at all. Apparently, they will only help if you claim benefits. They are not interested if you want to have the cats caught and neutered and pay for it They told me to make an appt. for them with a local vet - how can you make an appt. for feral cats? They're hardly going to oblige and go into a trap just because I want to take them to the vet the next day are they? The cats trust me now and I don't want to be the one to trap them - I may need to take them to the vet for other reasons in the future and will still need their trust. There is a mobile 'feral cat neutering service' in the North of England but I haven't found one locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Do you want me to come over and catch them Lesley I have a fishing net that I use for naughty chickens ? My cat vet (Hawthorne Lodge in Banbury 01295 259446) will neuter/spay feral cats if you pay; you can make an appointment to have them done, and cancel it of you're unable to catch the little blighters. The cats need to be in the surgery the night before the op. I know this because we had a feral tom which hangs out round here done and the vets were very understanding when we had trouble catching him. They might even be able to come up with someone to help catch the cats if you ask. Sorry, but I was busy all this weekend - Phil is away (running feral in Newcastle with his mate) and Rosie was with her Dad, so I have been getting on with loads of stuff. Would love to help out when I am around, but the next few weekends are booked up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Crikey Lesley the cats protection I went through were much nicer I wish you lived closer I know a tame vet who will do feral ones for nothing (if you are a friend ) Good luck catching them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 I know a tame vet Sounds a good man to know!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Very useful Linda If it is anything simple I just get a quick once over from my friend first (for the animal )Then I am less likely to be fed a story when I go to the local bloke You should see what I did to the vet that told me my cat needed antibiotics for ringworm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Perhaps you should be treating graham for his scabby bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Don't clare they would be comparing scabby bits the tame vet has bunions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Eeeuwww! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Exactly Never seen his feet and I am not in any hurry to Just wish he knew something about chickens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 Back on topic Lesley - how did you get round the agricultural tie? When we were looking at buying places we were told the main income had to come from agriculture - is that right? Do tell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 16, 2006 Author Share Posted May 16, 2006 We have two Ltd. Companies. My main income will be from the agricultural side of things Our solicitor insisted on informing the local Council even though we had already contacted them. They were quite happy as long as there is agricultural activity. It does restrict what we can and can't do - we can't have horses for livery (oh! what a shame ) or camping or caravans or build any housing. Chickens, pigs and bees are acceptable. I'd better go and box up some more eggs for Carl to take with him to the next client Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 (edited) Oh it all sounds reallly exciting, I've sent you some emails Lesley but they came to me not you I have a way with technology. Anyway been v busy but it sounds as if it's all going really wee. We have an ex feral cat and given time you can get closer to them and gain trust try feeding in, near the house. Will read all the pages at some point BBx Edited May 16, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 I have a way with thechnology Easy for some to say Buff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
