Smallholding Blog

We have been to see the piglets with their mum, they are four weeks old now, we will take delivery when they are about eight weeks. The breed is Oxford Sandy & Black also known as Plumb Pudding, we assume this comes from the colour and markings. Spot the runt, we are told he should catch the others up soon.

Disaster, the strong winds have wrecked the poly tunnel. The whole side split open then ripped off at the ends. It has stood up to two previous gales OK so we thought we were safe, perhaps we need to relocate it to a more sheltered area.

This is the area we want to house the pigs, we plan to get two this year to see how we get on. The stock fencing will be covered with a mesh so we can move the pen around allowing the pigs fresh ground and clearing the weeds away ready for more planting.

We have another cockeral, a neigbour had a spare who was needing a new home so we took him in, he's a white the same as the hens and is named Mr D'Arcy. Both cockerals have not had their wings clipped so they can come and go from their run if the hens get too much for them.   It's great to hear him crow in the morning.

It's complete, digging the trench all around to bury the edge of the cover was back breaking but it was worth it. Now all we need are some seeds - first in will be lettuce.

The poly tunnel arrived before Christmas but we have only just got around to putting it up, all the hoops are in place now it's just a case of putting on the cover.

The trusty Howard 350, with it's new engine it has a new lease of life, it's next job will be to clear an area for the poly tunnel.

This looks hopeful, we are getting about four eggs a day at the moment, we are advised this should go up as the days get longer. The eggs are worth waiting for, when cooked they stand up like a dome in the pan and don't spread out like old ones can tend to do.

We have been given a cockeral who has been named Charlie. He exhausted himself by pestering all the hens as soon as he was introduced, Two hours later we found him being pestered by the hens. Unfortunately this has left him a bit out of kilter so we have had to separate him in his own little run until he gets his confidence back.

Welcome to the 'Ladies' as they are called, eight Suffolk White layers all ready to provide us with fresh eggs.

The chickens will be arriving soon so getting the run and accomodation completed has been a priority. The brick built hut should make a cosy home, hopefully fox proof to keep our first livestock safe.

This is Tabitha's friend Skittles, she also came from the charity. Her name was given to her by the vets who named her and three sisters after sweets. Both cats are feral so we don't get cuddles but Skittles is getting more used to us as the days go by.

We had a rat problem, no wonder with dykes on two sides of the property, our sollution was to aquire a couple of rat catchers. Tabitha was supplied by a cat charity who provide homes for working cats, she is a bit elusive at the moment.

This is our veg plot for this year, a local farmer was good enough to plough the area in the Autumn so it could be allowed to break down over the winter. So far we have broad beans and shallots to show for our effort.