cazp1978 Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Great thread. Just read from start to end and gives an insight to exactly what we would love to do, in a 'few' years time. Can't wait to follow more.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I am glad that eucalyptus burns well, because we have too large trunks from ours that died over the winter they are seasoning. Good to know that even in a 30 x 45ft garden we can grown our own fruit, tomatoes, eggs and fire wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 The trees we planted are mostly Ash as it burns so well. We also have some hazel, beech and a lot of willow. The willow was for making Living Willow Sculptures and is in three colours - we were given the withies - but we're burning some well seasoned willow and it has been really good so some of the willow will end up coppiced like the others. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 New arrivals!.... These three GOS girls were collected this afternoon - they're tiny and disappeared into the long grass..... Little chicks - a week old now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Oooohhh, what little sweeties... do you have time for us to pop in after the market? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Amazing pictures Lesley! They are so cute!! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 The photo of Tali and the chicks is one of the cutest things that in have seen in ages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Aww Wants to see piglets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 cuter than cute, especially the dog and the chicks, and the little piglets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Gorgeous . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Love the picture of the dog gazing at the chicks - you are doing Lesley what many of us want to. We would love a smallholding but as yet its a pipedream and very hard work too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Sorry it's taken so long Lesley (holiday and work got in the way) here are photos of the lambs when we went to visit. We fed them, had cuddles and then moved them to an open barn. They are lovely little sturdy things. Please excuse my 'Saturday face' no time at the weekend for being made up or smart! Tali 'helping' me to feed the lamb 'Farm Boy' Lewis That was nearly a month ago, I bet they are much bigger now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 They are quite a bit bigger - it's good to see the difference, I'll have to post more photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 I missed the piggies today - our timings just didn't coincide.... next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Timings today just went to pot! - I had my lunch at 3pm! They're still tiny so won't have grown too much in a couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Nice photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Surprise arrivals!! Tali was barking at a patch of nettles and pointing - she had found a pheasant's nest. I decided to place a piece of wood over the nest, leaning against the side of the barn but the pheasant flew off and didn't return The next day I showed the eggs to my grandchildren who wanted to put the eggs in the incubator..........they ran in to add an initial for their chosen name on an egg each......by the time I caught up, the discreet initial I imagined was a large black, felt-tipped letter The eggs were in the incubator and I largely ignored them and only just remembered in time to stop the turning cradle - and they delivered a far better hatch rate than the hen eggs I set a few weeks ago Here is Ernie ( Lauren's choice) and Michael ( Jake's choice) a few more... First batch ready to go to the brooder in an outbuilding.... The 3 week old chicks had to vacate the brooder.... ...and moved to the indoor pen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 oh wow! what are you going to do with them when they are big enough to go outdoors? I know nothing about pheasant, apart from the fact that they are raised for shoots and apper suicidal on the roads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hmmmmmm........apparently Ernie and Michael are not to be eaten I'm a bit torn really, we have a few refugee pheasants from the pens in the next field where they are raised for the shoot........I'd love to set these chicks free when they are big enough but then they will only be shot. If they're going to be eaten then we may as well be the ones doing the eating........not sure yet I didn't expect them to hatch but we can give them a large run area to live in for as long as they need one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 A few photos of the garden/polytunnel.... Potatoes - the right hand row suffered frost damage but have picked up and are fine.... The potting area in the polytunnel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Looks like you've been busy Lesley Those wee chicks look like little bumblebees! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Looks like you've been busy Lesley Those wee chicks look like little bumblebees! I have....but the outside is far cleaner and tidier than inside the house now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Great photos I used to help a gamekeeper look after the chicke and young pheasants when I was about 8 and that is how I got my first hens. he gave me some chicks when we moved away and my family has had hens pretty much ever since. The chicks are really pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Everything looks amazing as per usual!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Aww Very cute! There was a pheasant at the farm that used to jump on the back of the (moving) quad Looks like you've been busy! How are the pigs + lambs getting on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...