Just thought I'd post a photo of the raspberry canes being planted through the weed suppressing membrane.
I've sown loads of vegetable seeds this week in the outside beds and the polytunnel and spent a lot of time clearing up the whole area. B helped me with collecting the new goose yesterday, and has had a bonfire this morning after gathering up various rubbish on the land.
No-one was sure what gender the new goose is, so I have named it Gerry, which will suit male or female. On meeting each other, there was a bit of initial hissing and running but only for a few minutes and this morning they were sharing a bath together, so things must be going well!
Here are four of my cockerels. Over the years I seem to have acquired a motley selection of hens and cockerels. Some of the cockerels are fighting now and so B killed two yesterday for eating. These four boys are reprieved so far, as they are so lovely to look at and aren't so aggressive with each other.
We also collected a dear little black hen, now called Bridget, from the people who sold us Gerry, and she is very sweet. I have no idea what breed she is, but she's pretty and really friendly.
The last photo for this post is of lots of the birds enjoying a dust bath in a section of their run nearest to the barn.
I ordered six Verwork chicks yesterday from someone who was really selling eggs to incubate, but has agreed to bring six on for me to collect on 19 April. They are a breed I have never come across before and are supposed to be good hens for eggs and the table. They will only be very young chicks when they come to me, so will have to go in a small run in the barn until they get large enough to cope with the outside world - I can't wait to have them!
Well, the weather is about to change. The sun has gone and the wind is getting up now - the forecast is rain for the next few days, so I'm glad I got on with so much outside this week in the lovely sunshine we've had.
Aww!! I love your pretty black hen!
ReplyDeleteHello Kimberly Thanks for visiting. She is sweet isn't she? I just had a look at your site and love the flower photos and Lola!
ReplyDeleteAs I child I was chased by a goose so I have always been a little afraid of them since. It sounds quite stupid as I write it, an adult person afraid of a small domesticated bird, but it's a fact. I suppose yours are very nice though....
ReplyDeleteChristine in Alaska
Hi Sandra - glad you've been making the most of the good weather - it's been great here too and now raining :-( Never mind some of those indoor jobs will just have to be done now! Love your little black hen... in all honesty I'd love some hens here - we've got the space but we'd need to make a secure area for them for the times when we go away as there are quite a few foxes around. Enjoy your weekend... Miranda
ReplyDeleteHello Christine. I understand your fear of geese. My daughter, when three years old, was attacked by a flock who surrounded her and when she fell to the ground were all pecking her - not a good experience. It seems that Gerry is male, according to the antics they were getting up to this morning in the field! So at least we know now. Grace and Gerry aren't aggressive at all, so far, the worst that happens is a bit of hissing, but I haven't heard any of that since the first day each of them spent here.
ReplyDeleteHi Miranda - Oh hasn't the sunshine been welcome. If it's sunny I just have to be outside, so have got such a lot of stuff done this week. It's raining here as I write and quite foggy too - not nice. Yes, I've lost several hens to the fox over the winter, mostly older hens not laying much, but still not nice. They have a huge protected run but always want to be in the big, bad outside world. I love my hens but I think they probably only have one brain cell between them!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend too, in spite of the rain. Sandra