A is for arable. Farming isn’t all about animals. B is for bales-hay, straw, silage, most farms have them stacked up somewhere. C is for cows-whether for dairy or beef. D is for dogs. No farm is complete without some kind of canine running around. E is for equine. Years ago, horses did all of … [Read more…]
I have had a bit of a renaissance lately, the long hours of sunlight means at this time of year we really do get a glut of eggs. There are only so many boiled eggs a family of five can eat (quite a lot actually) so I have been flicking through my recipe books and … [Read more…]
When I first started keeping chickens, I felt like I had to learn a whole new language. Well, if not quite a language then definitely a glossary of terms. As with most past times, there are certain phrases reserved for the people who take part in whatever activity it is. There was a lot of … [Read more…]
The penultimate post in my chicken keeping series is raising chicks. There are two ways to do it. With a cockerel in your flock, if a hen goes broody and wants to sit on eggs, you can let her and let nature take its course. In three weeks, fertility dependant, you could have a clutch … [Read more…]
I don’t know whether I should have written this post first. I feel like I’ve sucked you in with the desire to keep hens but not I am going to tell you all the bad points. Sorry. I feel I have to tell you though, it would be silly of me not to tell you … [Read more…]
The first thing many people ask when they start to keep chickens is ‘do you need a cockerel.’ The short answer is no. Hens lay eggs with or without a cockerel so, if it s eggs you are after, the male is not necessarily needed. The other thing people often wonder is, if you do … [Read more…]
I hope you enjoyed the first post in my chicken keeping series last week. This one is the next (and last) preparation post before the fun bit-choosing which hens you want. Before that though, you have decided you want to keep a few hens and you have chosen the coop. What do they eat? What … [Read more…]
I have kept chickens for as long as I have lived at the farm. I started with two (Daphne and Pearl) and I certainly caught the chicken bug. Things haven’t always gone to plan. I’ve made mistakes and, on the whole, learnt from them. Chickens are a great pet to keep. You don’t actually need … [Read more…]
Spring is supposedly in full swing and, when the weather warms, up my hens lay more. Most of them have laid all winter-the layers especially but the fancy breeds like the Pekins and my silkie tend to have a little break over the winter months. I’m sure you know we love eggs here. To eat … [Read more…]
As I type this, I cant help but notice the silence. Not completely silent, obviously. With three children, the house is never completely silent but the office area is much quieter than this time yesterday. You see, after 28 days of buzzing, the incubator has been switched off. Some 28 days ago, 22 eggs were … [Read more…]
