4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[tom123]

Well hopefully tomorrow we are going to see a field that is up for rent 5 minutes walk from our house

 

It is 1.5 acres & it has a brand new 12 x 24 field shelter, new post and rail fencing and mains electric and running water with a trough.

 

I had a chat with the man who is letting it and he said we can use it for any animal as long as it keeps the grass down So I asked him about chickens and he said 'why not, they are lovely aren't they!'

 

Me and my dad have also spoke about maybe a couple of sheep for Christmas each year, a small veg plot and hopefully a new horse

 

My mum said that if we rent it then we need to have about 8 big hens down there and we sell all there eggs, my polish bantams will go down there if I get a couple of pairs and possibly a few ducks & geese.

 

Will get pics and more info tomorrow after are visit

 

Tom

Edited August 30, 2009 by Guest

[theherd123]

WOW!

 

Sounds promising!

 

Fingers crossed it all works out

[Redwing]

Thats great Tom

 

Think of what you could fill it with Don't forget about security though, I won't take any of my 'valuable' chooks up the field in case they get stolen

[Guest]

Oh good luck Tom fingers crossed if you can get it..when I am reading your post I am thinking horse horse!

 

Especially if it has the shelter(good size) and running water etc would be good if you can get it

 

I am sure you will get the field

 

indie

[tom123]

Thats great Tom

 

Think of what you could fill it with Don't forget about security though, I won't take any of my 'valuable' chooks up the field in case they get stolen

 

This is the best bit about the field, it runs alongside the guys house and he looks onto it. His drive goes along one side as well I think

 

Hopefully a horse However, I think we might be not getting another horse until I go to college as at the moment I am helping my friend on her arab stud farm and I haven't got much spare time

 

Very excited today

Tom

[Karen & co.]

How exciting hope it is as good as it sounds

 

Karen x

[Lesley]

....and I'm envious of your running water

 

I hope it all goes well for you

[Guest]

Hopefully a horse However, I think we might be not getting another horse until I go to college as at the moment I am helping my friend on her arab stud farm and I haven't got much spare time

 

Very excited today

Tom

 

 

Borrrow a horse?? or two?? a donkey is good security although I dont suppose the chappie would be too happy if its near his house

 

Fingers crossed am sure its your field now..nice size too for putting birds etc on

 

good luck indie

[tom123]

I'm Back

 

 

Well, absolutely fantastic! I have some pictures but they aren't very good quality!...

 

 

 

The 12 x 24 field shelter with overhang.

 

 

View from driveway over field. The field goes to the trees at the back.

 

 

 

Well, me and my dad had a chat with the lad who is renting it. He is happy for anything to go on there as long as we keep the field, fences, shelter etc. well kept and maintained. It is £20 p/w however we also have use of a boiler room in their barn for tack, feed etc. He keeps 80 cows and 300 pedigree suffolk sheep.

 

I'm pretty sure we are going to get it! The plan is at the moment to get a couple of lambs from him in the spring for christmas OR get a couple of in-lamb ewes and raise the lambs to eat and keep putting the ewes in lamb and so on. We will also have 3-4 coops and runs up their with my polish bantams, a couple of other pairs of rare breeds, a small laying flock and maybe a few hybrids for sale each month. I will also raise pure breed chicks every 2-3 months to sell on. My parents have said we will look for a horse for loan and get it when we see one hopefully

 

 

Will update when more news!

Tom

[Redwing]

Oh well done Tom, thats great news

[Guest]

Looks a nice lush field and useful re it being a farmers field(supply of bedding etc)

 

One of my neighbours who keeps chickens has some great big Turkeys appeared(I assume for christmas)

 

They are big ugly birds!

 

Good luck fingers crossed..You could run electric fence tape around the perimeter to stop any animals going near to the fences...I only run the tape round my field to save the wood fencing from bottom rubbing horses knocking it over..it works out cheaper for prevention!

 

Good luck great big shelter too...lots of possibilities for you Tom....

 

indie

[Lesley]

Excellent news

[tom123]

Thanks guys

 

Lesley and Redwing, The guy breeds pedigree suffolk sheep which are meat sheep, is this right? The reason we would have sheep is for meat but we were wondering if there are some 'nicer' looking, more traditional breeds that are still quite meaty?

 

Jacobs??? And if you have ANY info on looking after sheep please do tell me!

 

Thanks

Tom

[Old Speckled Hen]

The Jacob is an old unimproved breed classed as a "Rare Breed" and is prized for its wool.

The Suffolk is a heavyweight meat breed.

 

If I had land I'd have these.

 

 

They are so handsome with their blazed faces and long besocked legs.

They are dual purpose and roundabout here the rams are used as terminal sires.

The ewes are gentle and produce lots of milk for their striking babies.

[Lesley]

Oh Zwartbles? - I love Zwartbles

 

Jacobs are as skittish as Shetlands - we're in the heart of Jacobs country here and I always wanted some.

 

Our ram lambs going off to the abattoir this year are Shetland/Suffolk crosses and are very sturdy.

 

Pure Shetland meat is beautiful - smaller than some but still plenty of meat.

[tom123]

What are shetlands like to keep? Or suffolks?

 

Thanks

Tom

[Redwing]

I love my SHetlands but as an inexperienced owner have no comparisons so don't take my word for it

 

We found a breeder who also saw sheep keeping as a hobby so the sheep would be super friendly which they totally are, one of them wags her tail if you scratch her between her front legs

 

We chose them as they come in different colours and are also small so in theory easier to handle and we havent had any problems getting them to toe the line so far but I am sure that will change when they catch on that we are inept

 

 

I also love the grey faced dartmoor sheep who are gorgeous

[Valkyrie]

Ooh you lucky thing Tom, hope it all goes well for you.

[Lewis]

Great news, hope it all turns out well.

 

If I had a field I'd get some cade ewe lambs, bottle feed them so they are tame and used to human contact and then put them to the ram and raise those lambs for meat ... but thats just my dream field - and I don't eat lamb!

Turkeys would be good for Christmas, or geese which are also good guards

 

*cough*alpaca*cough*

[missuscluck]

That look amazing. Im very I would love some sheep and Jacobs are one of my faves. Good luck with it and let us know how you get on.