AMO Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 That's such sad news Lesley. He was a magnificent looking cockeral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 O Lesley it really isn't your week is it, Hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Shame about the lambs but maybe next year. Sounds like you have no room in the freezer for any more meat anyway! I'd still like to try cattle but hubby is dead against it so I don't think we'll ever have any. If I did I will certainly take your advice and make sure I find young ones that are well handled. It's a shame about your Dexters, they always look so cute! (Well the short-legged ones anyway.) But then again, the meat is renowned for being tasty so it worked out ok in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 So sorry to hear about the sheep & cockerel Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 So sorry to hear you lost another sheep and a cockerel .......... not a good week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Bad luck comes in threes Lesley, so that should be the end of yours. Sorry to hear about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 So sorry Lesley, time for your luck to turn around now, i've ordered it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thank you all....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Oh no, what a shame about the sheep and cockerel! So sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 We've had a bit of a change around....... The rescue girls have gone in with the bantams and the bantam cockerel. We already had a Miss Pepperpot in there........ I like the girls to be in with a cockerel as he sorts out any problems, and makes it so easy introducing hens to each other........ The run that they had been in has so much grass, so we moved the largest flock of hens and the white cockerel into there - they think they've gone to heaven ..... they'd eaten all their grass ....and so we now have an empty run which was what we'd planned all along We have a broody sitting on eggs a bit further along, so we might move her and her eggs into the empty run........still thinking about it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Cripes Lesley; you've been busy! You can have a spare cockerel if you like.. Just been to the vet and he was treating the most gorgeous cockerel for hyper-sexuality; the owner was going mad because it attacked anyone and everything, either with spurs or to mate!!!! So Clive is giving it hormone therapy and plans to castrate it in the winter when it's calmed down. The man wanted to get rid ot it, but his wife won't hear about it! Beautiful bird - looked a lot like 'Chick' from last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 oo-er! We've had one (bantam) cockerel who attacked everyone with his vicious spurs - he had to go........ I miss seeing the Welsummer - he was sooooo gorgeous. We've got 4 hens coming for a holiday this evening as well..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Glad to hear some good news for you Lesley. I'm looking after three lovely ladies fro a fortnight It's fun having two Eglus in the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 Update on life here on the farm We lost another sheep - we can only think that the first vaccine missed and so she wasn't properly protected. The remaining 5 ewes have all had their second part of the vaccine now and we're hoping to book the shearer to come soon. Everywhere burst into green - and then it started raining........... so we're now having to tackle triffids everywhere The elderflowers are now ready - I'll pick some at the weekend. Piggies are still growing well - and paddling in mud! We're so glad that we made a big concrete base for the two arks to go on, at least they have warm, dry beds. We've moved all the hens under cover in their protection pens as we are just within the zone for the outbreak of H7 Avian Influenza. We are registered with DEFRA as poultry keepers but have not heard from them yet. We have set up some bio-security measures. We still had 18 table birds which do not have a protection pen, they live in 3 small sheds and free-range on grass. They should have been despatched by now but we've been very busy and have only done two. We've moved the hens into a protection pen and the boys will be despatched over the next couple of days. There are 8 of them and they are getting too big now. The youngest of the ducks has gone broody - under the duck house There is just a 6" space and so we will try to move her into the duck house. .........and ...... best news of all........ We have bees again!!!!! In the middle of trying to care for, and feed, two grandchildren and moving all the hens....... we had a phone call asking if we'd like to collect a swarm of bees. I'd been to the dentist and was feeling decidedly unwell and in quite a bit of pain..............but I'm so glad that we went. We collected together all the things we thought we might need and went off at the start of dusk - 8.30pm. The swarm was fairly accessible, about 9 feet up, in a tree. We managed to get the whole swarm into the box, leaving just a few who were still out foraging....... It was a bit scary driving home with a box of angry bees We emptied them into the hive and made a ramp to enable the ones who stayed in the box and on the cloth to crawl up into the hive. There were just two dead ones left on the cloth this morning and some are already out flying. It is so nice to hear bees again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Lesley, it really has been an eventful few months for you from the sounds of things will all those ups and downs. But I'm delighted to hear about the bees, such fantastic news. I'm just convinced that they will bring you luck......and honey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 (edited) Great news about the bees. Sorry to read about the lamb. It looks as if your theory about hem having one aim in life might be right. Edited June 6, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I always need a rest after reading your posts Lesley Glad to hear you have got bees back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Great news about the bees I love walking past bees busy at work, the sound is lovely Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 What a mixture of news there Lesley, but I am so glad that you have bees back again.... funny how you weren't interested in the swarm in our chimney at work.... 3 storeys up!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 So sorry about the sheep Lesley Great news about the bees though. Mind you, the thought of a box of bees in a car with me makes me shudder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 What a mixture of news there Lesley, but I am so glad that you have bees back again.... funny how you weren't interested in the swarm in our chimney at work.... 3 storeys up!!! Funny that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Enjoy your bees Lesley. Hope they stay and give you lots of honey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 Ihope so as well Lynda - I've just ordered wax foundation and got a bit carried away and also ordered stuff for packing honey and comb later in the year We have our names down for some bees from the Stratford Beekeepers and also to buy some as a nucleus from the same man we bought from last year - we could suddenly find ourselves with three hives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Bees are Lovely news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Ihope so as well Lynda - I've just ordered wax foundation and got a bit carried away and also ordered stuff for packing honey and comb later in the year We have our names down for some bees from the Stratford Beekeepers and also to buy some as a nucleus from the same man we bought from last year - we could suddenly find ourselves with three hives! Hoe exiting. We get a bit carried away when we order too! We went to Cheshire Beekeepers monthly meeting last night. It was an open apiary meeting and it was really interesting. And we won a Honey bucket and some dwarf beans in the raffle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
