http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ ...................Questions and chat related to smallholders, farming and keeping livestock. en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:52:14 +0000 http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1011#post-6905 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:28:36 +0000 Bingo 6905@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>It would appear that after having our ducks for 6 weeks now that we do indeed have two drakes. We have an Aylesbury Drake and an Indian Runner Drake, along with three Aylesbury/indian runner hybrids. The birds were 14 weeks when we bought them and are now starting to settle down to life in my garden where they have a large run and pond. The Indian Runner has claimed the territory as his own and is now bullying the much bigger Aylesbury who is constantly on his guard. We are willing and happy enough to buy further Ducks to try and quash this behavior...will it work.</p> <p>Thanks in advance for any replies. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1049#post-7340 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:06:54 +0000 MarriottsSmallH 7340@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Looks like we have found a good forum to be part of and hope to find useful information and to help others with their problems.</p> <p>We keep chickens and ducks and find them very relaxing. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1030#post-7109 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:40:07 +0000 Cas 7109@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi I've joined this in the hope that I can learn more about farming and see if anyone has any ideas of how i can get involved. I have no experience but would love to gain some hands on experience / (hopefully) help someone at weekends perhaps! I'm a bridle maker by trade so being stuck behind my bench I'm dying to get back to the great outdoors! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1020#post-7003 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:47:30 +0000 Bingo 7003@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I went out this morning to check on my ducks and one of them has half its upper beak missing. It appears that a fox has come into the garden and attacked them, she is the only one who is damaged in anyway, i cant catch her and dont want to chase her around the garden until she is settled down a little. I'm hoping as she still has the bottom part of her beak she'll be able to feed. I'm so annoyed. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1048#post-7333 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:49:09 +0000 Mama 7333@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hello Everyone. As some of you know my little flock of geese are now living together. The adults are eating the chick crumb and I think it is giving them the squirts. Is it time to use grower pellets and is that ok for the adults.<br /> Babies were born on the 31st July . I will soon have to give the female layers pellets so it is all getting a bit complicated as I can not feed them apart. Thanks Mama . </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1047#post-7330 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:52:03 +0000 Kojak 7330@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hello everyone,<br /> I would like to introduce my guinea fowl and other birds, dogs and cats. </p> <p>Kojak is my house guinea-pet; I think he is a male as he's got a broader head than the other 3, also his colouring is slightly different.<br /> His head is rather rosy and pale whereas the other three are more blue-ish and more regularly marked throughout their plumage.<br /> The poor devil was pecked on by the others since he was a day-old keet so while the girls have moved out (living with and mothered by a Silvergrey Dorking Pullet), Kojak lives in the hall which he shares with an ancient SheltieX and a cheeky cat. </p> <p>I also keep Chinese Painted Quail and a variety of chickens, with the main focus on SG Dorkings and Campines and hopefully more Dutch Owlbeards.<br /> We're in the Irish midlands.</p> <p>Nice meeting you all!<br /> Kojak </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1024#post-7040 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:58:52 +0000 admin 7040@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>I am posing the question about whether double yolkers are on the increase as I received an interesting email from Sarah yesterday.</p> <p>"I have read today in national paper one womans shock at all 6 of her eggs being twin yolks and that the british egg forum states its rare and to find 1 in a box is 1000 - 1 chance. However, I would like to point out that the cheaper eggs that I have been buying from "well known supermarket" are nearly always twin yolks. Easily 6 twin yolks this week in the 10 I have used so far. Im sure if it was looked into this is more common than the experts think. What I would like to know is...how can this be happening so often. What are they doing to the chickens! Is this a case of more interference with nature with inevitably a knock on effect in the human diet? Sarah B"</p> <p>Thought this was interesting so if you wish to enter the debate then please feel free to comment, would love to know what you think.</p> <p>Kind regards<br /> sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1045#post-7321 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:47:56 +0000 The ferret lady 7321@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Good morning.<br /> Has anyone had the problem of hair loss on lambs' ears. First one ear went pink and skin started sloughing off.<br /> This morning one ear is totally bald and the other has the hair lifting and skin turning pink as well.<br /> Suggestions please? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1046#post-7326 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:40:27 +0000 anitopia 7326@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I hope it okay to post this here. They are not my goats but on behalf of one of my clients.</p> <p>HANSUS HERD (Hants/Sussex borders) Jane Green<br /> Tel : 01730 894854 or 07786 787796<br /> Email <a href="mailto:info@hansuscottage.co.uk">info@hansuscottage.co.uk</a></p> <p>3 x 100% registered males - a 4 yr old (progeny can be seen), a 2 yr old and a buckling - 4 Grade 3 registered goatlings<br /> 7 adult Grade 4 registered females, first and second kidders, perfect meat-producing animals (this years offspring can be seen), bred from high-yielding dairy does - 2 Grade 4 registered goatlings<br /> All stock are disbudded, fully vaccinated both with Lambivac and against Bluetongue. All females are ready for mating now. The herd is whole herd tested for CAE, and is awaiting confirmation of scrapie-free accreditation. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=998#post-6779 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:23:53 +0000 admin 6779@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>Buffy my buff duck still has an eye problem. Thought it was sticky eye. She seems to have had a slight lump near her eye since they arrived here. If she knocked her eye in transit when Maria was bringing the ducks could it cause an abcess under the eye. We bathe her eye last night and the eye looks fine, but she is not opening her eye and the lump is getting bigger and then I was bathing here eye last night, her eye was weeping. Any advice about eye problems in ducks gratefully received. She seems well in herself and is eating drinking and wandering about the farm, but have noticed she won't dunk her head in the water.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1043#post-7291 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:20:39 +0000 m40mo 7291@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hi all, I now have 2 ducks laying daily, just one to go now, when I crack an egg open it is really hard to do, the shell breaks ok but the membrane is very tough and i have to stab it to get in, is this just how duck eggs are or is it unusual<br /> thanks<br /> Mo x </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1019#post-7000 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:11:31 +0000 nina 7000@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>well the khaki's are still sitting - day 28 is tues, eeeeek! how 'on time'are they likely to be? the poor loves this morning, the weather is horrendous! A gale and rain, and we have had some bushes blow down, bins blowing over etc. I went out first thing to make sure the nestbox lid/roof hadnt blown open, but thankfully it hasnt. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1026#post-7052 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:11:25 +0000 davebarnsley 7052@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hi does anyone no where you get the wheat and what to ask for ,for the ducks,winter is on te way ta dave. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1044#post-7302 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:09:39 +0000 admin 7302@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All,<br /> Just wanted to say sorry I haven't been around this weekend and today. Our village had a music festival on Saturday for charity, which was brilliant. We had a picnic and catered for 8 adults and 4 children, which out of a caravan is something! The music was brilliant and Snake Davis, a saxophonist played.</p> <p>Today at 9.20am I sat down to start my internet work and having just opened my emails from last night the internet went off, it turned out to be a fault with the broadband provider. Hasn't come back on til 6pm.</p> <p>Spent the day bobbing back and forth trying the internet and in between have cleaned out where Maria's ducks live as I am going to move them to a bigger hut with my khakis at the weekend!!! Also trying to creat an extra area for the quail using the upstairs of the aviary as quail don't go upstairs so am putting a wire side to replace one of the doors and leaving the other door on so I can open it and clean it, so my quail will be on two levels. Thinking of putting any shuffling quail upstairs.</p> <p>Buffy the duck has an abcess and it's getting bigger despite being given baytril every day for 9 days. she went back to vets today and is going back tomorrow for an xray and if that is ok then she will have the abcess lanced, fingers crossed for good news.</p> <p>Hope to catch up with everyones news soon.<br /> Best Wishes<br /> sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=984#post-6632 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:59:59 +0000 Mama 6632@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Just wondering where Anitopia is and hope all is ok </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=773#post-4779 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:39:28 +0000 anitopia 4779@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I have three dogs Summer,Scamp and Heather who are all rescues and two of them are failed fosters that i just couldn't let go.</p> <p>Scamp is one of those.He is has been here for 6 years and was told by his original owner that he was 2 years of age when he arrived. </p> <p>He is a presumed schnauzer/flat coat retriever but tbh we don't really know. He is just on big hairy and cuddly lad who has always got a furry shoulder for me to cry on. He is such a lovely dog and tbh not that clever but as long as he has his cozy armchair and his girls and his human family he is fine. He has looked after pups and kittens that I have fostered in the past and is like their favourite Uncle. They would climb on him and pull him about and he didn't care. Out of my three dogs he is the most maternal towards others animals. Summer just nags at them all the time(bossy staffie) and Heather avoids them at all costs. </p> <p>Recently he has changed and the vets have said he has a type of dementia/alchziemers (sp?) type thing and also his spine is giving way so he has an odd gait now and cant manage the type of walks that we used to do and his two girlfriends still enjoy. He often loses himself in his own head and will stare into space and I believe he can forget who I am but it is one of those things that is hard to explain unless you see it and know how he is normally. </p> <p>All of this has been happening over the last 6 months but now he is just losing weight and looks so thin :-(.</p> <p>Vets have done blood and urine tests and all clear so the next step is to whether we have a scan done to see if there is something inside ie cancer. I am in two minds about this at the moment. </p> <p>We are going on hols to Pembrokeshire the first week in August and all the dogs come with us. It sort of seemed like fate as the cottage we have is free of charge (wouldnt have had a holiday otherwise as tent got trashed in Cumbrian storms last year) as I have done work for the owner (her holiday home)and she offered it to me for the week :-). </p> <p>Scamp came from South Wales. </p> <p>I don't know whether he will make it there now :-(. </p> <p>I tend to have have deal with these things on my own (hubby can't handle it at all so he doesnt) and have sent many cats and little'uns to the rainbow bridge and all leave paw prints on my heart and I cry for them all even the teeny mice. This one is going to hit me hard and as some of you know my year hasn't been exactly full of glee. Just cant bear the thought of saying goodbye to him but I know I will. </p> <p>I have organised a cremation at the beautiful pet crematorium near to us which was orginally an Oast house and is lovely so when the time comes it is all in place but I will need extra strength to get through this one.</p> <p>Thank you for reading about my lovely Scamps and me wittering on. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1042#post-7279 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:28:22 +0000 lisamaslen 7279@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi, i have just candelled my 6 khaki campbell eggs ,all have taken, cant wait until th 26 ish, will let you all know how i get on,<br /> Sara, would you like me to take some photos when i candel the eggs, might be of help, </p> <p>Lisa<br /> xxx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1038#post-7211 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:10:45 +0000 sue 7211@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I have recently acquired a pair of apricot drakes, they are young birds. When I got them I kept them in their house for 24 hours, in this time I fed them. We have a large pond and after the 24 hours I released them onto the pond which they seemed to really enjoy, during the day whilst the drakes were on the pond I did not feed them. As dusk approached I tried to encourage them back into the house, by offering food, but they would not come into it, so they spent the night on the pond, which is not ideal, can anybody give me any advice on how to encourage them back into the house at night. Thank you in advance. Sue. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=430#post-2077 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:26:02 +0000 ben_short 2077@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi, </p> <p>I have my potatoes chitting and have been reading about how to plant them.</p> <p>I cleared the bed of weeds last year and covered it over with weed proof membrane.<br /> What I plan to do when its time is dig 9inch deep trenches and fill with about 4inches of rotted manure. Then add about an 2 inches of compost and plant the tubers into that. Then cover them up with the soil dug out of the trench.</p> <p>Does this sound like a good way to go?</p> <p>Regards</p> <p>Ben </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1040#post-7241 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:25:13 +0000 quackers1984 7241@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p><a href="http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/BENN5150/?action=view&#38;current=DSCF0741.jpg"><img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/BENN5150/DSCF0741.jpg" alt="Photobucket" /></a> </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=982#post-6619 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:27:43 +0000 m40mo 6619@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>has anyone else noticed their ducks dont seem to be eating as much of there real food as they should be, mine seem to be consentrating on natural wild food at the moment, ie my shrubs slugs grass and bugs, but i am aware of the importance of proper pellet food especially as one is now laying, so while i still give them courgette, salad etc, i have recently brought from the pet shop some swan and duck food, this way they think they are getting a treat and im happy they are eating more nutricious food, its good because it also floats on the pond for them,<br /> this link shows the food just so anyone who wants to try it knows what they are looking for<br /> Mo</p> <p><a href="http://www.spikesite.co.uk/product.asp?pID=6&#38;dID=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.spikesite.co.uk/product.asp?pID=6&#38;dID=1</a> </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1035#post-7189 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:30:43 +0000 black kelpie 7189@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi there, </p> <p>I recently hatched some guinea fowl in an incubator. They are now 6 weeks old and living in a fairly big hut with attached run. I had done a little investigating before I got the eggs and understood that if the GF were raised by hand, and were used to going into a hut at night to roost, then they would continue to do so...however, they are now about 6 weeks old and would far prefer to roost out in their run than in the hut (the roost in the hut is higher than the one in the run), this makes me think that when I let them go free range they will chose to roost in the trees that surround our property instead of coming home. This wouldnt be a problem but we have a lot of pine martens and foxes here, and Im not sure if a GF is much of a match for these guys at night time when they are dozy.</p> <p>Will Pine Marten kill them when they are full grown (likley I guess)?, would clipping their wings initially encourage them to come home?</p> <p>Any advice gratefuly recieved, I love the wee guys and really want to let them go free to eat ticks, I dont want to keep them in a run indefinatley.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>BK </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1041#post-7266 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:12:54 +0000 admin 7266@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>Mandy posted this message on facebook and I wondered if any of you who have quail had come across this.</p> <p>"Hi Sara, hope you can help, my quails are acting very strangely and have started attacking each other. I have 3 females and a male. Ive taken the male (Hef) out as all the feathers had been ripped out the back of his head and he was bleeding badly, also bleeding under one eye. Two females seem to be chasing each o...ther and putting their heads down and bums in air. We had a spot of bother with one of the females a few weeks back, as she was brooding, we separated her from the others but as soon as this was done she stopped. We now remove the eggs as soon as they are laid. Help!! Mandy"</p> <p>My response was,<br /> Hi Mandy, I haven't come across this behaviour before, it could be that now the male is not in with them these two females are vying for who is top quail they could be fighting to establish the pecking order now the male has been separated. I will post your question on my forum and see if any of the members with quail have come across this. Kind regards Sara @ farmingfriends</p> <p>Hope you can help.<br /> kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1008#post-6879 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:23:33 +0000 quackers1984 6879@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hello all!! my campbell duck is due to start laying at the end of september and im reallly excited!! do they lay eggs in the winter and do aylesbury ducks lay many eggs?? also when she moves onto layers pellets are they ok for the drakes to eat as they all live together?? this is probably a silly question he he thanks, from debbie xxx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1021#post-7020 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:02:53 +0000 isnaughta farm 7020@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi </p> <p>I have two berkshire sows. I bought them pregnat and the person I bought them off off said 4-6 weeks. we should have piglets. I was wondering what too look for and how to tell if they are in fact expecting. If anyone knows about these pigs can you please help!!!!! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1034#post-7186 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:37:05 +0000 carolb 7186@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi....I have 4 ducks that live in our back garden..3 females and 1 male. The two eldest girls (khaki/mallard cross)have succesfully hatched about 7 ducklings today!!! i am bit worried now about the other ducks and the cold nights. are we best to take the ducklings and bring them inside with a heat lamp ( we were given a duckling at 1 week old from a school we raised her this way) or are we best to leave them with their mums. I really dont want anything to happen to them :( please help</p> <p>I must add that we dont pen them in....they have a hut which is constantly open and they have free range of the back garden, day and night..... </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1039#post-7238 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:52:12 +0000 sue 7238@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thank you everyone who has given me some advice on the best way to get my drakes in at night. Unfortunately on checking the pond this morning it appears that I have lost one of the drakes over night, will try with the net as suggested, but am thinking that perhaps I should make a platform for my remaining drake to get onto in the pond so that fox ect., cannot pick him off over night. Very upset about this loss, feel really bad, so must try to protect him as best that I can.<br /> Thanks again to everyone who have put forward suggestions.<br /> Best wishes.<br /> Sue. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1029#post-7104 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:31:49 +0000 roosterC 7104@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi all. If anyone remembers my last query about an aylesbury female that turned out to be an aylesbury drake, well the very same drake is now trying to physically mate with my chiken hens!! Is this normal or is he a perverted duck!!?? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1037#post-7205 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:37:28 +0000 quackers1984 7205@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hello it may seem silly but i let the ducks out wednesday morning and daffy and daisy mated for the first time (that ive seen) shes a campbell and hes the size of a call duck, she sat in the water and stretched out her neck, he sat on top of her and went about the deed. my babies are growing up!! do ducks mate for life? as they seem very close always head bobbing at eachother and if in spring they wanted babies would it be silly to have campbell x miniature apple yard babies?? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1036#post-7202 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:17:46 +0000 Cas 7202@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>This is my first year of growing veg (lettuce,spring onion, potatoes, peppers) and thinking to next year I've heard talk about not using same soil for plants. Is this right? And if so does it matter what different veg I put in? Haven't got allotment so they've been grown in tubs and grow bags. Any other suggestions of what grows well in tubs? </p>