Knoll Beach Event

Well, as always with any occasion when we need to be out of the house at a certain time, the day always starts with various things going wrong on the farm. This was no different and some of the sheep had broken through a fence, a ewe needed attention and a calf had got through another fence!! We eventually left for the 10 minute journey to Knoll Beach Cafe in the nick of time and managed to set up just about by 11 (as always timing by the skin of our teeth!). There was only a couple of people there and one of the cafe peeps said that it had not been busy this month and we thought we may not be required to do our little presentation at all.....but not so fast! Soon people began to arrive and sit down and start enjoying a nice quiet cuppa. So we just kind of ....went for it, put the slides on and started talking!! Lots of people seemed to enjoy it and I don't think anyone felt like their peace was shattered! We did a slide show and just talked along side it and then cooked up some of our tasty tasters - some gorgeous ruby red rump steak and lamb sausage. We even got clapped at the end of the talkybit! It was a really positive day and thank you to everyone who came and supported us, whether you were expecting us to be there or not! As always with this sort of thing, we end up meeting some lovely people. It was great fun and I think we are even brave enough to say we would do it again! Shirley and all the cafe crew were so good to us and kept us plied with tea all day. Splendid!

Yum Yum! Eggs for breakfast from our lovely new hens! A double yoker pullets egg with a splash of pepper - gorgeous! Bit of plate sunshine in the morning....good start to the day: thanks little hens!

On the rest of the farm...

In case you are bored of hearing about the hens (sorry - I do get a bit excited about these things!) I thought I'd better just let you know what is going on everywhere else on the farm. The cows continue to chomp their way through regularly renewed bales of silage and hay. Two groups who were hanging out in next door fields decided they don't like fencing and trashed it and now are having one big party! They thought we were bored and wanted to do more fencing.....! Nick and Fiona have continued to do hedging for us which is work we are doing under our stewardship agreement (more about that another day!). Andrew and Jo (a lovely friend of ours) have been putting up the rest of the hen fence. The sheep continue to baaa their way through life in a fairly happy way. All is well.

Training complete?

Wednesday night - perch training. Farmer Head and Grandma Keating went up to the shed ready to move them all again, but no .. all the clever little chucks had roosted on their own! Training complete? We'll let you know.....

We got two more eggs though!

Happy rangers!

Wednesday morning - doors were open on the sheds and they all ranged outside and explored their new field. Loving it!

Hen training continues

Tuesday night we went up to the shed and all the hens were sat in the corners again. So this time the lights worked and we 'shoood' them up the ramp and on to their perches, quickly turned the lights off and waited for them to settle. There were a few wanderers and we put them in a nice spot next to some of their mates and they settled. All was well.

Eggs!

O yes! Tuesday morning - two little diddy eggs! They are on their way...

Hens are here!

O how fantastic! 450 little fluffy brown 18 week old hens arrived this morning from Ben & Cathy Wetherden in Devon. They look very happy in their sparkling clean shed. Unfortunately in our excitement a gate got left open by Farmer Head and our sheep escaped but thanks to Ben, we got them all back in!!

Hens arriving!

The hens travel in crates on a trailer, with a tarp over the top to protect them from the elements.

We then unload the crates into the shed, shut the door, open the crates and they jump out themselves and those that don't get a helping hand!

Hen training!

So Monday the hens arrived. We don't let them out for a day so that they can get used to their new house and know where to come home to! Hens naturally like to 'perch' and we provide perches for them in a smart mezzanine area of the shed (!), near the next boxes where they will soon be laying their eggs! But did you know - they need to be 'trained' to go on their perches? They don't get an NVQ or anything formal but nevertheless they have to put in a bit of hard work - or should I say,we do!! Monday night Andrew had to lift nearly every bird out of the dark corners of the shed floor on to their perches! Hens naturally come in at dusk and then 'roost' and become quiet in the dark. However, if you turn lights on they wake up and become busy again. Andrew had taken a light with him, but it didn't work and so it made it a long winded job! So more training tomorrow..

Shed moving pictures.

It always amazes me how easily it moves. A bar is attached across the end of the shed and then chains attached either side and then to the tractor. Then as the tractor slowly moves, the shed follows.

Hen shed moving!

Today we have continued with preparation for the new laying hens to arrive! We moved the big shed into the field which meant taking down part of the fence so that it could fit through - all good fun! It is surprising how easily it pulls along on. Now Andrew and Nick just have to put up the fence to keep the hens in!