Creatures everywhere :)

The arrival of more chickens yesterday -

We have baby chicks in the broader, ducklings and chicks in the shed, the normal duck and chicken crew in the field, two hives seem very active, 10 lambs and of course the cats!! 

Stardust is just loving it, she loves the great outdoors!!

The Great British Weather

Well the weather is against me at the moment - cant strim round the electric fence to keep the sheep in. Good job they are tame sheep. Couldnt sell at car boot today as pouring with rain. Cant garden as too wet!!

Come on weather be kind tomorrow and play nice!!

I got my 10th orphan lamb today its poor mum died a week old. Hungry little thing didnt take much bottle feed training guzzled it down.

The others are well enjoying the field - so much for them keeping the grass down - 4 of them seem to be ignoring grass and eating bushes!!

Found a dead chicken today - shame as it was the beautiful one that escaped last year. Cant even eat it as not sure what it died of. Only 10 months old. No signs of being hunted!!

On a good note tourists staying next door have eaten my puddings and really enjoyed themso been making puddings today and in the rain sorting the web site.

Lets pray the weather is nice tomorrow and can do car boot!!

Chickens and Ducks what a treat

Well last two days Chickens and Ducks have had a treat. They have been free ranging in the lambs 3 acre field. Its fenced and then inside that electric fenced so pretty safe. I have been working on the veg plot which is in the next field so able to keep my eye. At the end of day i shake the chickens and ducks food and they all come running back to the safety of their electric netted coop.

It was interesting though the first time i opened up the fence the lambs needed to inspect the chicken coop and the ducks and chickens needed to investigate the lambs shelter!! Nosey animals scared of missing anything. Its rather amusing to see the chickens run up to the lambs!! they all seem to get on fine. Lambs are very interested in playing with the chickens. Got to say chickens are faster then lambs!!

Lady stardust what can I say - she just loves it all. She now has no problem with sheep or cows but she is scared (or cant be arsed with) of ducks and chickens - they make too much noise- even the babies!!

Bady ducks and chicks coming along - some lovely coloured chicks hoping they are female!

Veg plot well my kind neighbours- aswell as what i am growing i know have tomatillos, celeriac and more basil. My tomatoes well they have just gone mad and have loads of flowers. Put the pop up green house up today with ratchet anchors will see how they work if they do then that will be my tomato house for the summer.

I did an experiement in feb and planted outside as i had excess seeds and now I have some carrot which are now showing, I did spinnach and now have spinnach, I did spuds which need earthing up. Also I did garlic and one came up, peas and beans doing well. We have giant pumpkins, kale and cauliflower. seeds out for planting outdoors so plenty to do on the veg patch.

Ramdon plants - i have a cabbage growing in middle of path i must have dropped a seed however where i wanted the cabbages nothing has grown. Thats mother nature for you.  

Secret garden i have lost 2 rhubarb plants!! very suspect . flowers on quince, medlar, gooseberry and raspberries!!

So for first year og growing not doing too bad so far fingers crossed,

Sheep Photos

My flock of sheep - 

Hugging a gazebo

Today - summer doesn't feel like it. I went to sell my home made sauces, spices, herbs and infused oils at Bideford Farmers market. It is on Bideford quay!! The weather showers and gusts of winds up to 50 mph. Well I braved it and stuck it out never realised I would be hugging a gazebo today!! It was the only way we didnt have take off. It was tied down weighted down and still wanted to blow away. It was worth going as the customers still came out as between the gusts and the showers it was a nice day. I packed up just at the right time as the weather rapidly has changed for the worse with rather stronger winds.

bees tied down, lambs in shed and chickens and ducks happy time to get warm and dry!!

First rule of bee keeping is?......................

t...................to zip up the bee suit! Yes you guest it I didnt and yes they got me good style!!

However looking promising though that i managed to split one hive into two hopefully. will check them again in a couple of days but think i may have two queens!!

Three of my sheep will only take milk if they are sat on my knee!! Now whats that about??

Little black sheep is putting on weight and feeding well. She snuggles up to all the other sheep to keep herself warm aww bless. Well cute. I will have to get more pictures.

baa baa black sheep

well my little female black sheep. she follows me everywhere. I was a little worried today as she wasnt integrating with the other sheep and just baa'd for me all the time. I held my ground and ignored her and at last this evening she has sheep friends. I can just image stardusts face if I bought a lamb in the house!!

One sheep is hard work to feed he loves grass, he loves creep feed just doesnt like replacement milk! He does take it eventually after persuasion.

Ducks - pain in the backside getting them to bed - landing net the other night - now i shout bed and they do go.

baby ducks and chicks are all very cheeky 

veg plot - veg plot with all these lambs is lookinh full of weeds - tues is gardening day to catch up need to grow veg.

Lambs and more lambs

The lamb count has just gone up to nine. Three more lambs with free milk powder. I have five ewes and four castrated males!!