Summer is here

Been a busy July down on the small holding. I will start with the orphan Chick! Well hatched under her mum at the very last stage got stuck in her shell so mum abandoned her. I helped her out of her shell and tried to introduce mum to chick mum rejected her. So I kept her in the shed with another chick a bit older that unfortunately died. She just was not happy in the shed on her own. So in a big bird cage she came in the house where she got background noise. Tried a few times to get her with the others who tried to beat her up. Today She has her own pen in the chicken enclosure so they can get used to her without beating her up. Mum and the other chicks are out with the other chickens. Mum has seen off all the other chickens from going anywhere near the chicks!!

A few pics of the orphan and her growing up!!

And finally where she belongs with other chickens. Barrier will be removed once the others get used to her.

 and then the other hens!

Below mum and her three babies

Talking about babies then there was the kittens!!

Ninja what a hunter he is becoming - It started with Mice then moved up to birds (grr) then moles and the latest was a rabbit!!

Moving on to the rest of the flock

Pigs are growing bacon or breeding now that is the question. Run out of home grown bacon and visitors for xmas might save breeding till next year!!

The bees are doing well and

Last but not least the sheep

Kts Kitchen - Homemade Tasty food is going well. The latest is Lemon Ketchup. I made a homemade salmon egg fried rice and added a couple of tablespoons all I can say is wow!

 Into the 4th year of this smallholding aim to know where food comes from and as self sufficient as possible - Still loving the life xx

War against slugs

All this wet weather and mild winter creating more and more slugs. Polytunnel and veg bed desimated by slugs!! 

The war is on first battle 

collect all slugs I can find in polytunnel all 200 of them!! 

Second have just had great delight feeding all 200 to the ducks and chickens!! 

Spread waste from making real coffee on veg patch! 

Slug pellets not effective! Next move bring on the nemotoads!! 

I will win this war against slugs!!!