Farm News

The Viking Sagas

I decided to get day old Icelandic chicks because they are reputed to be good egg layers and foragers. They are a rare breed and I think it is important to maintain genetic diversity.

Sally Shearman

04.08.2015

cockerel, pullet, icelandic

Poultry

I have one very handsome and elegant rooster, Gunnar, an Icelandic gentleman. He does an outstanding job of squiring the hens around, finding food for them, protecting them, and he does a courtship ritual before mating.

Sally Shearman

17.02.2015

icelandic

Poultry

Taking Stock

There have been some injuries and some losses this year in the various flocks of ducks, geese and chickens. A Welsh Harlequin drake was killed by a loose gate in a windstorm Frankie escaped through a partially latched garden gate.

Sally Shearman

16.08.2014

weasel trap, flocks, ducks

Uncategorised

Mother Hen

Hens have been bred selectively to eliminate the broody trait, as it is uneconomical to have a hen that stops laying for many weeks, but Cornish are an old dual-purpose breed from England and many retain the broody trait.

Sally Shearman

04.08.2013

hen

Poultry

Dog Strangler Vine

This year has been dedicated to ground preparation for fruit tree planting next spring. Last year I discovered that large areas of the farm have been overrun with dog strangler vine, an invasive species.

Sally Shearman

02.02.2013

dog strangling vine

Wild Plants

The Viking Sagas

Rooster Resurrection

Taking Stock

Mother Hen

Dog Strangler Vine

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