http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ Questions and chat related to smallholders, farming and keeping livestock. en Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:57:39 +0000 http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=471#post-2337 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:54:59 +0000 campbell ridge 2337@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>My new duck has only started laying since she moved in which was 26th feb. so it took her about two weeks. I guess Pancake was very stressed by the attack and will soon become less nervous when she realises the fox has gone away.<br /> Sarah L </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=466#post-2336 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:08:33 +0000 admin 2336@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jacqui,<br /> I have mentioned that you are looking for weaners on my farmingfriends facebook fan page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/York/Farming-Friends/165905205668" rel="nofollow">http://www.facebook.com/pages/York/Farming-Friends/165905205668</a><br /> and also on twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/farmingfriends" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/farmingfriends</a><br /> I'll let you know if I get a response.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=471#post-2335 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:59:46 +0000 leanne 2335@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi, does anyone know when I should expect Pancake, my campbell duck, to start laying eggs again. She was laying all through the winter but then stopped a couple of days after our fox attack in February - probably due to the stress and loss of the males. She has settled down now with Dandelion and Humphrey but still no eggs. I know it is still early spring so maybe I'm being impatient but just wanted to make sure there is nothing wrong with her. Thanks Leanne </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=470#post-2334 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:53:17 +0000 Twiggy 2334@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All<br /> I came across your site and thought what a good lot you all sounded. I live in Cambridgeshire and brought a 300 year old thatch cottage last year in half an acre. I have kept dogs all my life but now have an allotment and chickens in the garden.<br /> I am about to incubate my first eggs, welsh harlequin ducks, 6 of. I have brought a basic Brinsea incubator that does not have humidity control but it looks a good product and came with some excellent advice.<br /> My eggs arrived today, they were recently laid and look fine but 4 of them are quite dirty. They look as though they have had a wipe but that's about it.<br /> Should I wash them. Brinsea says to buy some special stuff to wash them in. £20 and I will have to order it. Eager to get going.<br /> I know I have to let the eggs rest for a couple of days. Any advice anyone would care to give me will be gratefully received.<br /> PS childhood nickname is Twiggy, my real name is Karen. Thanks </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=469#post-2333 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:06:47 +0000 riamc 2333@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thanks Sarah,<br /> just one more for you Sarah a lot of people say that ducks donot stay in their houses during the day but mine seem to go in their house if I'm not outside with them they come back out when I return outside to them, but I cannot spend all day sitting in the back garden maybe if it was a bit warmer HAHA, </p> <p>Is this normal behaviour?</p> <p>thanks ria </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=469#post-2332 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:56:48 +0000 campbell ridge 2332@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi, Its possible but your girls aren't yet mature for mating so if they do land they will more than likely move off again just as quickly. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2331 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:20:21 +0000 Jacqui 2331@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I don't know about idyllic Rachel, it is very hard work - monotonous in the long winters with the endless round of feeding and mucking out cattle (bless 'em) and exhausting in the summer trying to do all the jobs you can't do in the winter. Now looking forward to calving well, glad when it is finished and all (hopefully) are safely delivered.</p> <p>I can't say I've really noticed specific camping sites Ria, there are lots of caravan sites around the coastal areas especially these large static ones. It is quite strange really, when you live close to the sea you hardly ever go there - usually only when you have family and friends visiting. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2330 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:36:05 +0000 riamc 2330@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jacqui,<br /> I'm Ria from liverpool,<br /> your set up is what my husband and myself dream of,we have been so inspired by people like yourself that is what we want to do in the future.</p> <p>I have just started keeping 3 white female campbell ducks and this site and all the members have been a godsend,I don't know what we would have done without them.</p> <p>we are keen bikers (well I use that in a loose sense two middle aged people enjoying a countryside ride taking in the beauty and culture but aching and needing a radox bath after every outing and myself not having a good word to say about the idiots belting around the countryside thinking they are in the TT's I think we are classed as oaps more than bikers)</p> <p>Is there much camping around you? we are also avid campers (there is a lot of money in that even if you choose to be very picky you would not believe how hard it is too find camping sites I could tell you a few stories of places we have stayed)?</p> <p>Ria </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=469#post-2329 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:56:27 +0000 riamc 2329@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi all,<br /> Sorry I've not been online to give updates (a few family issues have been time consuming),<br /> My three female campbells have been great outside thanks to everyones advice,<br /> They are still nervous and try to run in the house at the slightest chance (on going battle)as they love watching tv,</p> <p>My worry at the moment is the past two days I've noticed three young drakes from the local overpopulated council pond have been flying overhead quite a few times a day, Should I be Worried? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=467#post-2328 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:14:26 +0000 sallie 2328@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Sara, </p> <p>Well done you found the link I couldn't find. So easy with the bandaid. Miracle cure.</p> <p>Best wishes<br /> Sallie. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=455#post-2327 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:11:06 +0000 quax 2327@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Sara<br /> No sadly we don't have room for pigs really. Just a large garden which the ducks have taken over! Talking of cats v ducks - a couple of my ducks started going for one of our cats that happened to be lying in the middle of the lawn. Ginger, the cat stuck her ground and they just changed their minds at the last minute, very funny to watch!<br /> Rachel </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2326 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:10:09 +0000 sallie 2326@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <br /> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2325 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:08:29 +0000 sallie 2325@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jacqui,</p> <p>I am from East Sussex and have quail, dogs and horses. Your set up sounds lovely.<br /> Welcome to the forum. It is a lovely friendly place and you will always find someone who has an answer to your questions.</p> <p>Best wishes<br /> Sallie. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2324 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:43:49 +0000 quax 2324@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jacqui<br /> It sounds as if you have an idyllic life. We just have 5 ducks and a couple of cats, I would love to have more animals(and would snap up the fields next door if it ever came on the market), tempted by sheep and pigs. But as I work I just wouldn't have the time. We live in Cornwall in a small hamlet on the East side, it is lovely here, just like in Wales (good old celts eh?).<br /> I look forward to hearing alot more about your cattle.<br /> Rachel </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=443#post-2323 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:36:25 +0000 quax 2323@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Poor Gordon, I hope he gets better soon. Nice to hear you're getting eggs from Fattie Mattie, 4 a day soon builds up doesn't it. We get 4 nearly every day, with just the odd 3 now and then. I sell some of mine to colleagues at work and also give them away to friends and relatives. I've never eaten so many eggs before!!<br /> Rachel </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=458#post-2322 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:53:00 +0000 yanky 2322@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Mama--that sounds so lovely! yes I'm sure the guineas will be fine. We're definitely seeing the light I think but VERY slowly!!!<br /> Thanks for your support<br /> Yan. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=443#post-2321 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:54:01 +0000 campbell ridge 2321@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Just to let you know, we returned the mallard as she was monopolising the pools and not letting the white one integrate with our flock. She used to call her back when she wandered over to join them and dominated her all the time. She also head down and charged at them when they came near. We have named our new permanent resident - Fattie Mattie (Fatima or Matilda) She has an enormous overstretched crop by the end of the day! She has settled in well and has started laying, so we are now getting 4 eggs a day. We will have to start selling them I think! So we now have 2M and 4F.</p> <p>Unfortunately Gordon now has a sore foot. He has a couple of soft swellings on the sole and the skin is cracked and dry looking. We have penned him in to try and rest it and will keep checking every day. </p> <p>Regards to all<br /> sarah L </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=465#post-2320 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:39:24 +0000 Mama 2320@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Sara, I can not get anymore females as my nieghbour looks after all my pets when we go to the uk. She can only just handle the crew now. Gorden was much calmer yesterday and all four were in the pond splashing about which was a delight to see. I have asked one of the locals here to ask around for a good home as I do believe life will be calmer for the other three. Grace is still laying and not broody yet, patience is a virtue!!!! Like you I would not let any of my animals suffer in the slightist way, we are thier carers after all. Regards Mama </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=458#post-2319 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:34:17 +0000 Mama 2319@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hello Yan. Yes you right, I do not live in the UK anymore, I am in sunny south west france and today is glorious. Had a great day yesterday as Gorden was much calmer. We had a pair of mallards on the pond and a field full of egrets. Last week we had cranes flying north . Wildlife never ceases to impress me. Do hope your birds see sense and put themselves to bed as my chucks do about half an hour before dusk. They did have to learn to do this. Whe we first got them it sometimes came down to who could run the fastest!! It was the same with the geese too , a bit fraught. They also sometimes put themselves to bed, if not they are just walked in . A little more difficult now as the two pairs go in seperate entrances but not too bad. They are getting used to it. Good luck , keep at it. Best wishes, mama </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2318 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:43:13 +0000 Jacqui 2318@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi campbell ridge!<br /> We sometimes have folks to stay when they come to buy some cattle but we don't have enough space here to do B&#38;B proper - one spare ensuite double room. But as we are only 10 miles from the nearest seaside town, Aberaeron accommodation is plentiful.<br /> Speaking of the sea forgot to mention my husband's fishing boat she's called 'the fourth of July' our son comes out to stay and they go fishing during the better weather - sounding a bit like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall here! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=458#post-2317 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:38:05 +0000 yanky 2317@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Sara &#38; Mama, thanks both of you for your advice. Funnily enough that's the way I get them in ---with food. I always give the hens a treat late afternoon so of course the guineas got used to it &#38; wanted some too. Works a treat but I find as you say Sara that come about 4pm they are standing outside the shed. Great advice re the timing I'm going to try putting them in earlyish but have the tunnel open into their enclosure &#38; get them used to being shood back into the shed from there later. Do you think they'll ever just go in themselves this way or always stand outside all night &#38; always need to be shood??<br /> Mama am I right in thinking you don't live in the UK?<br /> Yan. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2316 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:49 +0000 campbell ridge 2316@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jaqui, lovely to hear from you and your different way of life. We keep ducks just for fun and of course eggs - which I and my daughter are allergic to! Still now we have them we really enjoy them as pets.<br /> Welcome to this friendly forum.<br /> Do you offer bed and breakfast or have a local recommendation?<br /> Regards<br /> Sarah L </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=468#post-2315 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:24:23 +0000 Jacqui 2315@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Sorry, posted without introducing myself - very bad form!<br /> I live with my husband in a traditional Welsh stone cottage in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains with our herd of pedigree Dexter cattle. We moved here about 7 years ago when my husband retired. </p> <p>We have kept a variety of livestock - cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks and horses since we married 36 years ago but now we just have our cows (you can see some photos of them on the web site <a href="http://www.alvecotedexters.net" rel="nofollow">www.alvecotedexters.net</a>) which provides us not only with dairy produce for the house but also delicious beef. </p> <p>We aim to fatten a couple of weaners every year on our surplus milk and also keep three pet ducks for eggs. We have a polytunnel, greenhouse, veg garden and orchard so I guess you could say we are pretty self sufficient here .... and quite busy.</p> <p>We have lots of wild birds here especially owls and red kites. My husband has one particular kite that flies over the cottage each day and calls to him until he goes out to feed him or her (not sure which) with some scraps of meat and a pet blackbird called 'scoot' who lives in one of the cow sheds.</p> <p>We are always happy to see folk in this remote part of Wales so if you are planning to visit the area then do get in touch.</p> <p>Bye for now,<br /> Jacqui </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=466#post-2314 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:24:29 +0000 Jacqui 2314@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I really need some with in 65 km radius of Tregaron as I only am licenced to move sheep and cattle not pigs. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=299#post-2313 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:44:39 +0000 admin 2313@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Lyn,<br /> Thanks for your suggestions. I know of the erysephalis symptoms in sows and thought it could make them infertile but didn't realise it could result in stillborns. I will look into the eryparvo and the vit E deficiency and learn more about this. I will pass this on to Tammy.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=223#post-2312 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:36:38 +0000 admin 2312@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jacqui,<br /> Thanks for letting us know about Spot-on for sheep. It's good to know what people use with their sheep.<br /> Kind regards<br /> sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=455#post-2311 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:35:12 +0000 admin 2311@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Everyone,<br /> Rachel - not sure why Jim didn't loose his tail feathers - I will google this!!! Pigs are great I miss mine so much, they are fun, mischievous and cheeky as well as friendly and good natured. Do you have room for pigs?<br /> Lorna - Thanks, Sir Francis is a stunner. I love the way he chats to his ladies and gathers them around him! He certainly rules the roost with his duckies! I thought lambing live was excellent - we have friends that are sheep farmers and they thought it was good too!<br /> Caroline - I look forward to seeing you ducks. I'm glad you like Sir Francis. It sounds like your ducks are female, I wonder whether your ducks have spent time with a drake and so your dominant female is mimicking the drakes behaviour. Some of my ducks will mount the other females mimicking Sir Francis' behaviour, infact the cows in the fold yard mimic the bulls behaviour as well.<br /> Christina - thanks for your update, interesting to hear about the sunken bath, sounds like a good idea! Poultry always seem to scare other pets - my farm cats run away when they see a duck, hen or guinea fowl!!! I agree khaki campbells are fab!</p> <p>Hope you've all had a good weekend.<br /> Best Wishes<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=458#post-2310 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:22:05 +0000 admin 2310@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Yan,<br /> Hurrah, so please all 5 got in the shed. Hope you enjoyed the wine! Oh what a good idea Mama has given about training them with food.<br /> Putting them in at a certain time will help to train them Yan and then when you wantto get them in early you can still round them up and drive them where you want them and as Mama says if you can tempt them with their favourite food. If you are not selling the eggs to farmshops etc then guinea fowl love hard boiled eggs aswell as mealworms and will come running if they see the hard boiled yellow yolk of an egg being crumbled!<br /> During the Winter I get my guineas in about 2.30pm as I am lucky to work at home all the time and then as we approach Spring this increases to 3pm, then 3.30pm, then 4pm and so on until the height of Summer when they go in at 8pm, (they would go in later if I let them but foxes are always waiting in the crops during the Summer and I have lost quite a few guineas like this.) Then during the Summer I start to reduce the time by 30 minutes until we get to autumn/Winter when they go in early afternoon again. It sounds a hardship but it just becomes routine. I probably get my poultry in sooner than others but with all the fields and hedgerows around where foxes can wait, I don't like to leave it to chance!!! I find that the guinea fowl will gather round the hut at the time they need to be there - it's amazing to see!</p> <p>Hi Mama,<br /> Thank you so much for your kind words about this site. I am so pleased that you like it and find it friendly and useful.</p> <p>Best Wishes to you both<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=455#post-2309 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:21:09 +0000 Christinao 2309@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Sarah,</p> <p>Did Squeek fly off? That's so sad, she looked so settled in the photos.<br /> Sara, Francis Drake looks just the spitting image of my Francis(as you know, I copied your brilliant name!)<br /> Been watching Lambing Live too, think there will be a run on farms if we all get a lottery win!!<br /> We have now filled in our big pond, sunk a bath in the space instead and re-sown some grass seed. The gang love being able to splash about in water again after being restricted to an old plant tray. Two of my three managed to fly over 3ft sheep hurdles which were keeping them safe from Meg, the duck obsessed border collie, so they now have free range of the garden. Francis is getting his own back and now terrorising Meg! Smokey the cat is also a bit scared of them as they are all bigger than her and the three of them, running full pelt up the garden, is quite a scary site!</p> <p>Khaki Campbells are so cool, real characters.</p> <p>Best wishes<br /> Christina </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=467#post-2308 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:09:49 +0000 admin 2308@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Kathryn,<br /> Welcome to the farmingfriends forum. Trevor and Sallie are right, you need to splint the legs. Here is a link to help. <a href="http://farmingfriends.com/splayed-legs-in-guinea-fowl-keets/" rel="nofollow">http://farmingfriends.com/splayed-legs-in-guinea-fowl-keets/</a><br /> Elastoplast or an elasticated fabric is a good thing to use around their legs.<br /> Hope your quail legs get sorted soon.<br /> As Trevor mentions about using towels on the floor - what litter do you use on the floor.<br /> <a href="http://farmingfriends.com/litter-suitable-for-brooders/" rel="nofollow">http://farmingfriends.com/litter-suitable-for-brooders/</a></p> <p>Thanks Trevor and Sallie for your help.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=465#post-2307 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:01:57 +0000 admin 2307@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Mama,<br /> So sorry to hear that Sid and Gordon are still not getting on. Is it possible for you to get more females, so that Sid and Gordon won't fight? Although I would imagine you would need another 8-10 so they had about 6 each.<br /> I know exactly how to feel as I feel the same about my animals. My fatherinlaw is a farmer and he couldn't believe I took one duck to the vets but I couldn't see my duck poorly and now she is well and running around with the others so it was £17 well spent.<br /> It is amazing how much we learnabout these wonderful creatures.<br /> Hope all gets sorted son.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=464#post-2306 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:48:07 +0000 admin 2306@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Mama,<br /> I am sorry to hear that Sid and Gordon are not getting on and that Sid is injured. If he still has blood on him then you will need to be careful that the other geese do not peck at him.<br /> It sounds like there are not enough females with the males now that it is the breeding season.<br /> I think it's probably best to keep them separate so there are no more fights.<br /> I wonder if you put straw ontop of the eggs it would help to keep them warm when Grace is not sitting, aslong as this doesn't put her off sitting.<br /> Hope all calms down with your ganders soon.<br /> kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=467#post-2305 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:04:46 +0000 sallie 2305@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Kathryn,</p> <p>I had quail chicks with splayed legs. Easiest thing to use is elastoplast. The normal finger ones with the lint in the centre are best. Just trim into thin strips and shorten a bit then apply between the hock and the feet. The centre lint is just the right length. You should only need to leave this on for a couple of days. If you go to the quail section and search back to about a year ago there is all the info for when I got this problem.<br /> Good luck</p> <p>Sallie. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=299#post-2304 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:48:33 +0000 lynvillesaddlebackpigs 2304@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hi there, the latter of the two emails sounds like it could be erysephalis or eryparvo - unsure how to spell it, or a vitamin E deficiency its all on <a href="http://www.thepigsite.com" rel="nofollow">www.thepigsite.com</a> as mentioned above.<br /> it can be prevented through vaccination before pregnancy and then 6 months routinely. maybe something to look at. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=466#post-2303 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:38:31 +0000 lynvillesaddlebackpigs 2303@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hello there! we live in north shropshire, near Oswestry and breed pedigree saddleback pigs, they are not pink but we havnt had any obvious colours on our crackling as the cuts of meat dont cross of the white band. we currently have a few weaners for fattening if you are interested. please see my advert on here if you are and we can email you some pics. they are just coming up for 10 weeks old, 20 kg and lovely! free range, very healthy, very friendly and very tasty! unfortunately on have boars left, but they are even more cuddly than the gilts! (we had mainly an all boar litter).<br /> please feel free to contact us for any other info.<br /> many thanks </p>