a day on the smallholding

Monday, A full day on the smallholding

The lambs are all out in the main field during the day as I have ran electric fence round the perimeter and back in their little pen at night. They are all doing well a bit cautious about going to the bottom of the field or moving away from their pen but I am sure in a few days they will be as the grass is better at the bottom of the field. Managed to develop a technique to bottle feed 6 lambs all at the same time!!! Takes some doing and involves sitting in a chair to wedge bottles in certain positions!!

I have a chicken that loves to jump out the chicken coop during the day and run around the field with the lambs. She never leaves the field and always comes back and wants to go back in the chicken coop at feeding time.

After blowing out the middle of the eggs (a skill i learned from good old google) and replacing the centre with mustard and cayenne pepper I have managed to stop the egg eating chickens in their tracks!!

Chicks and ducklings doing fine running round their little pen.

Managed to strim round the perimeter fence and tidy up the front garden today and picked up a job to strim my new neighbours bank too.  More seeds went in and Tomatoes potted on. Potatoes earthed up. just waiting till the ground frost that is forcast for the end of the week to pass then I can get planting the rest of the seeds. Going to ache tomorrow

spot of sunbathing

Sunbathing down on the smallholding whilst owner works - um. Older lambs have been let out into big field today they are loving it!

more lambs

The Lamb count is now up to 6. I have 3 Ewes and 3 castrated Rams. Three ladies now that I can keep. The smallest lamb in the picture likes a snuggle after his milk and would follow me everywhere if i let him. Not good as he isnt a pet.

The chickens after putting mustard in the egg shells has stopped the chickens in their tracks eating eggs so we are back up to a proper egg count again. All good as the eggs are selling well

all go down on the smallholding

Changing the lambs bottle teat to a babies teat means the lamb is feeding perfectly. She just didnt get on with the lambs teat. 

The rubber eggs in the hen house has stopped the chicken eating eggs!! Cant believe that worked!! but its brill news.

Lady Stardust is doing well as chief mouse catcher. Wish she wouldnt bring them in the house alive though. I suppose it give the other two cats some excercise trying to catch it when Stardust drops it to play with and looses it. Good game of Tom and Jerry! Cats eventually win and catch them. 

The bees have survived their first winter and seem to be multiplying well. 

Plenty of jobs mounting up on the small holding. Mainly this growing lark. Spuds are coming up well 

To market to market to market for me this easter. lets hope its a good one. 

The new lambs

The new lambs - more photos to follow

Egg Eating Chicken

Oh no we have an egg eating chicken down on the smallholding. Carry on with that and it will be in the pot cant afford to be down on eggs! 

The Answer apparently is to put false eggs in the hen and duck house. They are rubber so when the hen pecks at them she will learn not to eat them. Luck was on my side this am. just as i walked in the enclosure with the rubber eggs a chicken had just laid an egg. quick switch and yes the chicken egg eater pecked at the rubber egg and then lost interest. Fingers crossed heres hoping!! 

Back to 4 times a day lamb feeds. These first two days getting them to accept the teet and bottle milk always interesting and time consuming but enjoyable. 

Decided to keep the two females so there is is a facebook competition to name them. free bottle of home made sauce on offer!

Easter Chicks

1st born today and 2nd on its way!!

Mr First Cockerel has performed.

nights get lighter

Well the nights are getting lighter and the weather getting better. Cant wait to get all the veg in.
Potatoes are already shooting up and I have flowers on my broad beans.

Not quite got round to making gorse flower wine yet. Getting time to pick the flowers is proving harder then expected. Getting money to sustain the dream seems to keep getting in the way.

The lambs are getting fat and now in the field. The poor male lost his ear tag he got it caught and it ripped out his ear. The nursing skills are coming in handy. I have also a lame duck who is being nursed back to health.

The chickens well I have my first bantum - a Silkie. A friend of mine said her friend couldnt look after their chickens any more so I have inherited another 4. bringing my tally up to 26. Good job I have found an outlet for the eggs!! Next door farm has holiday lets  and no chickens so the eggs should go down well.

I have a few shifts in the Cabin Cafe next to the beach when required. Love working there its a lovely atmosphere and the staff are all lovely.

The home made sauces and infused oils from kt's kitchen now in 5 shops and going down well at markets. I now offer nettle tea leaves.

Free Nettle plant food

Well the nettles for the tea experiement is under way.

Still not made gorse flower wine. i must find time to pick the gorse flower.

My next forage and use of the nettle crop i have is free plant food. This is the recipe I have choose to follow is from www.nettles.org.uk/activities/nettlemanure.asp

I will keep you informed as to if it works