Guest Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I was hoping for pictures of the turkeys Lesley but I couldn't find the thread - so I'm posting this non-post to get it back on page 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 28, 2007 Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 I'll go and take a photo today Ginette - I'm having problems with internet connection at the moment, but I will be back sometime soon....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Everyone at home thinks I'm sick wanting to see the turkeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I think turkeys are lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 28, 2007 Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 Here you are Ginette...........beautiful aren't they? They're getting nice and big now - and they run up and down the run like the albatross from the Rescuers........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Lesley, they look adorable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 No they're not!!!! They're horrid *shudders* You know I don't like them Lesley Is that my Chick in with them? I do hope that he's behaving. Nice picture of the bait box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 Yes Clare, that's Chick in the background - he has to behave, in with four turkeys The bait box is empty and they have booted it into the middle of the run I need to rescue it and put in near the shed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Thats chick My didn't he turn into a handsome boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 He is gorgeous Louise - a real ugly duckling transformation, just a shame that I couldn't keep him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Thank you! The turkeys look really lovely. Females are so much more attractive than males aren't they?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 of course!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Oooh, I like the turkeys - not covered in horrid wibbly wobbly bits at all. Chookiehubbie and I spent a happy hour or so yesterday discussing where to go with the chickens next year, and have decided to start rearing dual purpose birds for the freezer, and a couple of turkeys later in the year for Christmas. We're off to the sales after Christmas to find a suitable shed for the turkeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I love to see turkeys wandering around too My friend from primary school used to live on an intensively reared turkey farm but yesterday I drove past a field of bronze turkeys on the way to Cheadle, and even though they were being advertised for Christmas, it made it alright that they were happy for now being free karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 Shona - we use Dog Breeder Kennels for our table birds. we use http://www.collissheds.co.uk/pets_corner.html but there should be something similar near to you. You'll have great fun rearing your own table birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Thanks Lesley - funnily enough, I was going to ask you if converted large kennels would be suitable (with a door added!), as a guy up the road has a couple going on for nothing just now. The local farm shop has put us in touch with a man who can dispatch and pluck, and there's a farm 2 minutes from the house that keeps turkeys and chickens all year round, that will supply us with either eggs, or chicks, depending on our requirements. I'm really quite excited about it all now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 We had an awful day yesterday We went off to collect Oliver the ram who is coming to stay with us for his Christmas holidays The weather was absolutely vile. We left in torrential rain and had to cross from Warks. into Glos. and then into Oxon. as we are on the borders of all three (and Worcs.) The roads were flooding and quite scary in places. The smallholding where Oliver lives has electronic gates - Carl pulled over and then leapt out to press the buzzer. The owners were waiting though and started to collect Oliver from the stables where they had him ready. Carl didn't think to come back for a coat so he was soaked by the time he got back in the car. We filled in the movement forms as best we could in the car - they were all soggy by the time they were done. Oliver was so good natured last year - but we collected him from a farm where he's been with ewes for 6 weeks - this time, he hasn't been to the other farm first He was sooooooo bad-tempered He was head-butting the stock trailer so hard that he was moving the car I kept expecting to see cartoon type dents appearing in the sides. Apparently, he's been trying to molest the llamas where he lives The plan when we got back was to get all the ewes into a holding area and trim their feet, move the two old ladies out into a pig paddock, put the harness and chalk on Oliver and let him in with the younger girls. The ewes hadn't been fed so that we could bribe them with food.............. Well, that was the plan anyway The trailer was bouncing about as Oliver battered it with his horns........... and the ewes wouldn't go into the holding area we made.............. rain was torrential........... and it was freezing cold We had our usual version of One Man and his Dog............. One Mad Woman and Carl............ he was runnning in the mud... I was being very careful not to slip in it (exactly 5 years since I slipped on ice - don't want to have to learn to walk again - again.. ) The sheep went everywhere - Carl caught one of the old ladies and on my instructions, let her out into the area between the sheep field and the pig paddock............. she then went awol and Carl had to round her up One down - one to go...........she eventually wore herself out and went down.... so then we panicked that we'd killed her She was fine, but wouldn't walk......... so Carl had to manhandle her across to the pig paddock. So......... two old ladies sorted out and temporarily living in the pig ark. Then, all we had to do was put the harness on Oliver and let him out into the sheep field......... Carl opened up the trailer to go in with Oliver........ I had the mobile phone in my hand ready to call for the ambulance We thought better of it and just let him out We'll just wait until May to see what surprises we get.............. None of them had their hooves trimmed - we'll have to do that on the next fine day we have We still need to move the ram lambs from this year in with the cows........ the cows are still very scary......... It took us over two hours - and took even longer to get warm again once we were back in. If anyone wants to know how much our lamb costs if we ever sell any........... something like £50 per kg I should think...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Just think of the flavour of those chops Lesley....and it will all have been worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I know I shouldn't laugh but iI can't help it I wish I lived closer Lesley as I would love to be able to help you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I know I shouldn't laugh but iI can't help it Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 You make more money if you filmed your antics and sold it on dvd Lesley Do hope you've both warmed up and can see the funnier side of it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Sounds as wet as Jimmy's farm Lesley. Seriously, give me a shout if you need helpb etween Christmas and new year - I'll be happy to help if we're not too busy. Sheep wrangling is fun... so long as you feed me cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Seriously, give me a shout if you need helpb etween Christmas and new year - I'll be happy to help if we're not too busy. Sheep wrangling is fun... so long as you feed me cake. I'd like to match that offer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 We'll have to have a sheep fettling party Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 A what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
