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A weekend away

30/10/2020

We are away at the weekend. Going away when you have livestock is never straightforward, add in the present regulations and safeguards because of Covid and it becomes even more involved.
We are extremely fortunate though that the 'children' are close at hand and 'take over', sharing the dog sitting, house sitting and the poultry.
Weekends are usually the time for the extra chores that don't get done during the week. Mucking out, buying feed, checking the electric fences, moving the arks etc. so when we know we are away these need to be fitted in during the previous week.
If we need to be away during the breeding season, hatching needs to be carefully planned so we don't have chicks hatching over a weekend and any chicks are at least a few days old, so we are confident they have found the heat and are eating and drinking well, before we leave.

I probably won't get the chance to 'blog' this weekend but will hopefully post and add photos to my Instagram and Facebook page Please do pop across and may be follow/like.

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Morning routine

29/10/2020

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4.30 am, it's still dark and the sound of the wind and rain signify yet another wet day.
The clocks went back an hour at the weekend yet my body clock is still running on summertime (a shame the weather isn't) and I'm awake thinking it's 5.30 am and time to get up.
To be honest at this time of year even 5.30 am is too early as there is little I can do outside whilst it's still dark.
During the Spring and Summer I have the incubator to check for chicks that have hatched overnight, the youngest chicks in the small brooder, in the utility room to feed, clean etc. the same goes for the older chicks in the brooder shed. The growers in the nursery pen to let out and feed, to look in on any broody hens who are sitting and egg orders to make up, all before going to the yard at 7am, where we have an hour before work to let out, feed, water, collect eggs and clean out the nest boxes of the laying hens and breeding flocks
However today, as it is only 4.30am and the busiest time of the year is over I lay in bed wishing we could have just one dry day this week..

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2020

28/10/2020

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To say my blogging habit is sporadic is an understatement. The only regularity is the time of year I attempt to keep the promise I make to myself to blog on a more regular basis
That 'time of year' is now- Autumn. The time when most, if not all of the year's young stock have sold. When breeding for the year has ended, the incubators have been turned off, the houses are empty, have been thoroughly cleaned, repaired and treated ready for the next breeding season. When the birds are in moult and egg production has slowed down. When there is a little more time to 'take stock' and make plans for the year ahead and to look back at the year just ended.

2020 - what a year it has been. A year no one saw coming. A year of lockdown and self distancing.
A year which saw an increased interest in poultry keeping, awareness of food production and self sufficiency.

We look ahead to 2021 with uncertainty, not knowing what lies ahead but we will plan as we have in previous years. Assessing the quality of the young birds we kept back as replacements, either to join the laying flock or as potential breeders.

For now we will continue to care for the birds we have, take them through the winter, look forward to the young pullets coming into lay and enjoy the less busy times and may be 'blog' on a more regular basis......watch this space.

To all my customers old and new who have supported me through what has been the most unusual of years, Thank You x

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A weekend away

Morning routine

2020

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