tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80444399288371282022024-03-13T09:08:27.139+00:00Hens in the Orchardhensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-75060765697648317082019-01-11T13:41:00.001+00:002019-01-11T14:05:40.995+00:00<br />
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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019</h3>
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OUR LIFE HERE WITH HENS IN THE ORCHARD IS STILL VERY HAPPY. WE NOW HAVE 12 GORGEOUS FLUFFY EAST FRIESLAND SHEEP. THEY ARE A VERY GENTLE DOCILE BREED OF MILKING SHEEP. THEY HAVE A VERY BONY ANGULAR SHAPE WITH A LONG FLESHY TAIL, SUPER SLIM LEGS AND LARGE EARS THAT GIVE THEM A GOAT LIKE APPEARANCE - AS WITH ALL SHEEP IF YOU GET TO KNOW THEM WELL THEY WILL HAVE REAL PERSONALITY. VERY MUCH CREATURES OF HABIT AND MANY WOULD DISAGREE WITH ME BUT VERY INTELLIGENT TOO. LAST YEAR IN JUNE ALL FIVE EWES HAD GORGEOUS LAMBS. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH THREE YOUNG RAMS SINCE NOVEMBER SO WE<br />
ARE HOPING FOR MORE LAMBS THIS YEAR.<br />
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WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF CHICKENS AND 3 EBDEN GEESE, A WEST OF ENGLAND GOOSE. SADLY MITTENS OUR LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE CAT JUST DISAPPEARED BUT WE STILL HAVE HER SISTER SHADOW.<br />
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-85979519382920685482017-02-16T09:53:00.000+00:002017-02-16T09:53:37.736+00:00Valentines DayWhat a lovely day we had in the Orchard. Taking our frothy, hot cappuccinos along with us while we walked around the fresh green fields. It was a chilly day but being well wrapped up we stayed warm and cosy. The little lambs tail catkins swaying in the breeze on the branches and the bursting buds of daffodils emerging shows that spring is waking up, after its long winter sleep. It was good to just have a day together planning ahead for the garden planting while eating our yummy valentine chocolates.<br />
I hope you had a good happy romantic day.hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-43710090689574362672017-01-30T15:02:00.002+00:002017-01-30T15:02:30.101+00:00Happy Days in 2017Hello<br />
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I hope you're all having a good year so far and wish you happiness and fun in 2017.<br />
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I have been away from my blogging for far too long and look forward to catching up with you in the Orchard and reading your lovely blogs.<br />
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Last year was another difficult year, losing my dear Dad suddenly in March. My comfort is knowing my mum and dad are together now. I miss them both immensely.<br />
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Life in the Orchard is very wet here today with so much rain. But the good of it is yesterday we planted 2 baby apple trees and a lovely dark flowering cherry tree (that Stuart was given to him for his birthday), in the new Orchard after waiting for the heavy frosts to lift and the ground to warm.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Friday was spent at the sewing machine making nets for a safe bird flu protective compound for the geese.</span><br />
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They now have plenty of space to bathe and splash, hay to nest and a grazing area. They seem to love it and we should start seeing some wonderful eggs soon.<br />
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The hens are in a safe compound at the edge of the Orchard with activity feeders and pots of yoghurt to occupy them. While they are confined to restrictions by the government due to bird flu precautions.<br />
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The sheep are doing well and the ewes are now hopefully expecting some gorgeous lambs.<br />
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Well it's been good to write to you all again. Take care.<br />
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Sarah xhensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-60792128914184609882015-05-02T08:56:00.000+01:002015-05-02T09:19:44.322+01:00Happy Bank Holiday and Blossom in the Orchard<div dir="ltr">
Wishing you a lovely bank holiday weekend with lots of fun and memorable good times.</div>
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The Old Orchard blossom is absolutely amazing with many shades of pink. One of the trees is ancient with a hollow trunk, that has weathered over the years but has very bent branches and many holes in them. It is absolutely alive with many pairs of Blue-tits nesting, bugs, little self-seeding weeds and lichen.The flowers on the apples trees tend to start with tightly dark pink buds and as they shyly open their delicate petals appear paler. Most look as though somebody has gently stroked the edges of their petals with pink magical dust.<br>
I woke up one morning early last week thinking it had been snowing as it was so cold. It was a white ornamental cherry tree outside our bedroom window with the most wonderful canopy of brilliant white blossom. The same tree has now lost all it petals and lays like confetti sprinkled on the ground. </div>
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Here are just a few pictures captured the last few days.</div>
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Happy times!</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-53308304215363127312015-04-27T01:03:00.000+01:002015-04-27T01:03:55.219+01:00Lambs<div dir="ltr">
Hello<br />
Here are just a few pictures for you to see of our little lambs taken on Saturday, enjoying the afternoon sunshine, nibbling the rich lush grass along the hedge line. They are starting to get strong and chunky, I love their little knee length woolly socks.</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-19338496367419341522015-04-25T13:05:00.000+01:002015-04-25T14:02:27.878+01:00Spring in the Orchard <div dir="ltr">
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Hello<br />
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It's been a long time since I last posted on my blog, so feel I should get back and start writing again, I do miss writing to you and there is so much to tell you.<br />
I hope you are enjoying the great Spring sunshine with all the huge array of colours and all the so many pretty flowers nodding their heads to you in the warm breeze and the wonderful divine blossoms that are breathtaking. Everything here in the orchard is waking up with new vigour and strength. Mother nature is such a wonderful thing and we have plenty of babies arriving here. The daffodils are just finishing and the bluebells are now making their auditions among the rich grass.<br />
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Periwinkle (vinca) growing in the hedgerows</td></tr>
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The delicate pink apple blossom</td></tr>
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The cherry blossom that attracts the pollinating insects</td></tr>
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Life here in the Orchard has been very busy. We have had the arrival of cuddly little lambs from our pet sheep, blossom, petal and flower. It was an exciting time and anxious time. The maternity poly- tunnel was on red alert, with fresh meadow hay and the lambing bucket at the ready. First to arrive on a cold frosty night were twin girls Apple and Apricot from Blossom and then almost a week later in the early hours of a frosty morning twin boys Pear and Plum from Flower. The next day Petal had a little girl, Damson and sadly a little boy that got very stuck and twisted that didn't make it. <span style="text-align: center;">All lambs and mums are doing well and after a call from the vet to check on Petal and a dose of antibiotics are all good.</span></div>
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A quick wash from mum</td></tr>
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A morning nap</td></tr>
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Welcome to the orchard<br />
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Smelling the flowers</td></tr>
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The Old Orchard is greening up and the grass beyond is being left for the sheep to nibble with their little lambs.</td></tr>
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The hens, ducks and quails are laying well. Rewarding us everyday with golden yolked eggs. The hens eggs make a breakfast fit for a king and the the moment we are also enjoying dipping fresh succulent asparagus from the kitchen garden in them.</div>
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My Little Call Duck</div>
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Plenty of Eggs</div>
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Asparagus that you can almost see growing so fast.<br />
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Well I must dash now as the much needed rain has stopped and its time to get planting in the kitchen garden - after a nice cup of tea.<br />
Have a lovely weekend and have fun.<br />
Sarah X<br />
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-91466164714897176182014-12-23T16:52:00.001+00:002014-12-23T17:01:20.313+00:00A Christmas Surprise <div dir="ltr">
Hi<br>
Firstly I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and New Year. It's been so long since I have written and life like everybody's is very hectic. We now have another gorgeous granddaughter who arrived very late and then very promptly last month. But I felt I must write and let you all know what has been happening in the orchard and to say that I haven't by any means forgotten you. I will have many new posts to share with you in the new year. I lost one of my little bantams and was sure she had come to a sad end. But surprise in one of the little hutches that was being disused for winter. A wonderful sound of little cheeping could be heard and to our amazement their was my clever little bantam with 7 little<a name="more"></a> chicks all fluff up, 2 little black ones and 5 little yellow ones. The weather has been very mild although we have had a couple of severe frosts she will have been very cosy though in her little rabbit hutch.</div>
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Life seems full of happy and sad days, l lost my very friendly Mr. Goose last week he seemed to be struggling when walking, seemed to be getting better and then went downhill very quickly. His ladies miss him and have been abit naughty particularly one, when going to bed at night. I think they just miss him. I felt quite a bond with him and he would follow me around the orchard always being friendly never aggressive. I will now have to find another handsome boy for them. </div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-31100022102914140122014-06-21T10:58:00.001+01:002014-06-21T11:18:59.070+01:00At Last A Gosling<div dir="ltr">
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Our lovely goose has finally got some little baby goslings, yesterday she was very hissy when I change her water and I was so surprised to see one fluffy little baby and another this morning. She had been so determined to hatch a baby and has been sitting since the 7th April. We sadly saw 3 dead babies weeks ago and realised that nearly all the19 eggs she was incubating were being eaten by something. We have meshed the door so she can still see outside while being protected from outside predators. So far these babies are doing well.</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-47676282565641702402014-05-05T00:23:00.000+01:002014-05-05T00:25:54.270+01:00Two Broody Geese<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Just a quick post to say it is day 27/28 tomorrow of Mrs Goose sitting on 19 eggs and now our other goose has decided to sit on quite a few of the eggs, which she has also helped lay, as you can see in the picture.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The average incubation is 30 days, so hopefully we might have a few goslings. Geese are not mature until they are 2 years old. I have 1 gander who is 2 and 2 females that are 1 year and Mrs Goose who is 2 years old. So we are waiting to see what happens. It would be good to have something hatch as although they are doing what comes naturally, it takes a lot out of them. They have to be checked to make sure they come of the nest to eat and drink although I do put food and water in their house. More fresh meadow hay has been added and now we will wait and see. She has now become a bit hissy. Today we had a buzzard flying over-head this always happens when we are due a hatch.</span></div>
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Hope you're having a good bank holiday weekend.</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-37856123288923215982014-05-04T23:10:00.000+01:002014-05-04T23:12:45.449+01:00Kylie, The Lucky Little Chick<div dir="ltr">
This is a continuation from my last post. These pictures were taken just a few days ago. Kylie has done really well in the incubator. She has fed and drunk well, is very perky, so we have taken her to the broody coop, put her in with her mum and her siblings. It was quite dark outside and immediately when she chirped Mum responded calling her. She joined the other little chicks under her fluffy protective wings, secure, warm and cosy. Well hopefully all will be well and we have given her a<br />
good chance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few pictures of little Kylie</td></tr>
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Kylie has been with Miss Broody for few days now and all is well and seems to have been accepted as part of the family.</div>
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A happy Miss Broody hen, Kylie and her siblings</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-90309960805740996802014-04-28T18:37:00.001+01:002014-05-04T23:02:08.524+01:00I Will Survive<div dir="ltr">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Broody with her baby chicks- Saturday morning</td></tr>
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Saturday early morning my best little broody mother hen hatched out 2 fluffy yellow chicks. She's a good old girl and will sit on anything when she has sweet wild flower meadow hay and the April downpours arrive. She basically doesn't like getting her little feet wet or muddy. She is an excellent protective mother has hatched a number of baby chicks, has taken over as foster Mum with the ducks and in the past has hatched 2 goslings.<br />
Anyway this time she didn't know if to sit or play outside and was in out, in out all the time, so I left her in the main house rather than put her in the maternity ward. Anyway after lots of too-ing and fro-ing she decided she was going to sit on 2 eggs, she also decided to poach (sorry wrong word) take a few of eggs from the next nest box, beside her. Anyway to cut a long story a bit shorter by Saturday afternoon while we were out she decided to abandon the 5 remaining eggs, when we got back they were stone cold. We candled them and some looked quite clear. But 2 were quite full so we decided to give them ago in the incubator. This morning we picked them up to bury them and cheep cheep one was peeping at mid-day a little wet chick emerged. I can't see any peeping in the second egg but will give it another 48 hours. So what do I do now? Put her under miss broody tonight or do I become mum?<br />
We have called her Kylie, why? after her song I should be so Lucky. If the other hatches she will be called Gloria after the song and title. Any ideas if they are cockerels? Life is full of surprises. Sorry about the quality of the photos but they weren't easy to take and had to be taken instantly.<br />
Have a super week.<br />
Sarah xx</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky - newly hatched in the incubator </td></tr>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-25187996326574076782014-04-16T22:39:00.001+01:002014-04-16T22:39:06.860+01:00HAPPY EASTER<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg27JHHC1xRQqdGR4w45k6uV1NVz1Z-nAUAbTr6M0D2GiAFNDK38I6-vkzzhUJTWgQAUC8xMBRiyPICre46fXvXyMGnb-CrNAQAN0U8WiIH3tbftrsvsoq22KuRmlFkPMoL4o_hfEFgXo/s640/PhotoGrid_1396994743167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg27JHHC1xRQqdGR4w45k6uV1NVz1Z-nAUAbTr6M0D2GiAFNDK38I6-vkzzhUJTWgQAUC8xMBRiyPICre46fXvXyMGnb-CrNAQAN0U8WiIH3tbftrsvsoq22KuRmlFkPMoL4o_hfEFgXo/s640/PhotoGrid_1396994743167.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing you all a lovely Easter</td></tr>
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Hello Friends</div>
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Just to wish you all a lovely Easter from us all in the orchard. I hope it is a special time with lots of good memories and fun for you all in your parts of the world. Everything in the orchard is bursting with life with lots of flowers and blossom. We heard the first cuckoo of the year yesterday and the first nightingales last weekend. My little hens are enjoying the sunshine and dust bathing below the apple, pear and plum trees. The sheep are in the orchard with the chickens and are getting on really well although baby Cherry lamb enjoys chasing them. She now has her jewellery in place (ear tags) and her tail is just hanging by a thread.<br />
Here are a few pictures of around the farm.<br />
Sarah <u>x</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wallflowers that smell divine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfrey that make a wonderful natural fertiliser</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stocks that smell gorgeous</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourites Scabiousa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely Anenome</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of my girls enjoying the Spring grass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Cherry - her tail hanging on by a thread</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebells popping up in the meadows fields and wood</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow and Mittens asleep in the sunshine</td></tr>
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These are the little mixed chicks hatched in the incubator they are now 3 weeks old and doing well. There are 12 altogether.<br />
Yesterday as it was nice and warm they had there first trip outside in the orchard. I put them in a indoor rabbit cage within a cold frame so that they were nice and warm and not in a draught for a few hours. They really seemed to enjoy flapping their tiny wings. It is so good for them to be in the fresh air as it encourages feather growth. </div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-55630108464351830372014-04-12T08:25:00.001+01:002014-05-05T00:28:23.132+01:00Mrs Goose<div dir="ltr">
This is Mrs Goose she is a Embden about a year old. She has been happily laying eggs for over 2 months now. Usually she enjoys having a bath on her own stretching her wings, but the last few weeks she has been allowing Mr Goose to mate with her while taking her morning bath and between them making alot of waves and splashing.<br />
She has now decided over the last few weeks to bury her eggs in a large nest which they have built together with meadow sweet hay and their tummy feathers. She is now sitting on 17 eggs which the other 2 geese help egg sit while she has a walk around the orchard and has her bath, a tasty nibble of lush green grass and the odd treat of apples and mixed corn. Walking in the orchard by the goose house a peculiar noise can be heard as she spends hours just turning her eggs.<br />
So hopefully towards the beginning of May more babies will be arriving. I will keep you all posted if they hatch.</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-18741726700479835762014-03-24T09:17:00.001+00:002014-04-16T21:37:41.237+01:00Haircut for the Orchard<div dir="ltr">
Another busy weekend in the gorgeous spring sunshine. Saturday was a good day to start pruning the old orchard trees with the sap starting to rise. Many are very old which we inherited when we moved here. Over the years the views on pruning fruit trees has changed, such as keeping them a goblet shaped and being able to throw your hat in the centre, tying the lower branches down so they will produce more fruit laterally. But really in the past our little old trees have had a thrashing from the elements and each one has had to be treated differently, some lean with all its branches heading north due to the wind, while others head east. Anyway nearly all have had a good haircut and will soon be decorated with blossom, before producing us with the gifts of lovely sweet apples. We couldn't just chop purely to make a good looking tree they need looking after like someone needing individual tender care. <br />
Well I'm off to make an apple crumble, thanks to our wonderful little trees still rewarding us with stored fruit throughout the winter.<br />
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away".</div>
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Waiting for a haircut </div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-38932026715542232992014-03-19T16:42:00.003+00:002014-04-28T18:42:12.691+01:00A Lovely Spring Surprise<div dir="ltr">
From my previous posts you will know how much I love my three lovely Southdown sheep Petal, Blossom and renamed Flower.<br />
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Flower, Petal and Blossom</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The
last few months have been a joy looking after them. They have at times been a bit
cheeky managing to walk through the sheep netting which we don’t always put
electricity to it, as we have stock fencing around the perimeter of the field. The netting is handy to just keep them moving onto fresh grass within the field
and to protect newly planted fruit trees and to stop them wandering into the
dew pond, which because of the wet weather can fill up and get muddy very
quickly. We decided to move them into the old orchard on Saturday morning to keep the grass down as
it is quite lush now and with all the daffodils out it looked really idyllic.
Anyway I got up early on Monday gave them some of their favourite sheep nuts
and fed the hens and geese in the orchard, went inside to make my hubby's breakfast. It was such a lovely morning we decided
to have our coffee and croissant outside and watch the sheep and hens in the
orchard. Then Oh dear something clearly wasn’t ok with Flower, she was bleating
and looking very uncomfortable with mucus coming away from her rear end. My
hubby and I are still very much novice shepherds with lots to learn. Petal, Blossom and Flower which are only
shearlings are not due to go with the ram until next November, so we thought we had plenty of time to study and learn about lambing. Since they arrived last October they have never
been near a ram, but quite clearly Flower had come to us with a liaison with some
handsome ram that found her irresistible, as 20 minutes later out popped a very tiny very beautiful lamb which we have called Cherry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> I don’t know
who was more shocked Flower or us. It was a bit touch and go as I suppose she is
a very young mum and although attentive we thought she was a bit reluctant to feed her lamb. But we have made
a maternity ward for her with lots of fresh hay and treats and have also given
her the option of using the polytunnel if it rains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower in the labour ward<br />
Now I was panicking is that it or is there 2 more or maybe shes dead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a wash and brush up water and sheep nuts</td></tr>
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Cherry is still very weak but I hope she will be ok she is so pretty and has the most delicate bleat. It has all been very unexpected but we coped and hopeful she will be a happy fine ewe, for our new flock we can keep. She is very special to us being our first lamb and such a surprise. Gosh I feel so attached to her it would have been upsetting to have had to part from a baby ram.<br />
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Well I'm off to read up on tail docking and ear tagging, don't know whether I will be able to watch this.<br />
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-11001009487300072552014-03-19T14:24:00.000+00:002014-03-19T14:24:43.870+00:00The First Weekend in March<div dir="ltr">
It has been a little while since I have written this but have had a few problems with my internet the last few weeks. So I thought I would still publish it.</div>
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The feeling of spring is here at last. The lent lillies are appearing, blossom is on our <u>new</u> little almond tree. The geese are building nests in the meadow hay and the chickens are laying. The owls are hooting and tweeting in the night and the bats are fluttering about in the lighter evenings. Frogs can be heard from our spare bedroom window, early in the morning. How lovely to look out of the windows and see the wild pheasants and red legged partridges scratching for corn. So yes it's finally arriving hurray. Having said that we have had some extremely cold nights with sharp frosts, so my little almond and apricot trees are wrapped up warmly to protect their blossom.</div>
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We have had a very busy weekend planting a new hedge. We wanted a hedge that would attract as much wildlife as possible. So we have planted hornbeam for colour, hazel to attract the nut lovers, our own grown willow and ash cuttings and what we hope will be a very pretty rose billowing through.<br />
We have planted eighteen fruit trees mainly eaters, 1 cooker and some plums in our front field. Alongside our kitchen garden we have planted crabapple hedging, so I can in the future do some grafting with our really old unrecognized varieties of apples in the orchard on the rootstock. I hope all is well in your part of the world and I look forward to hearing from you soon. </div>
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Lots of Frog Spawn</div>
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Plenty of Goose Eggs</div>
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My Little Almond Tree Prunus Dulcis</div>
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At Last Blue Sky</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-50757837125072296082014-02-08T09:32:00.001+00:002014-03-06T19:39:15.928+00:00Storms Ahead Again<p dir=ltr>Thankyou for visiting me. Oh dear another severe weather warning. I have stocked my fridge with 2 cooked chickens ( not one of my girls I must add) homemade vegetable soup made with my soup maker which is brilliant and a real star gadget in my kitchen. Made 2 loaves of bread, lemon curd made with a goose egg, summer damson cordial for a warm up drink, lots of stewed apples and pies, have plenty of extra milk and ham. Cooked loads of new potatoes and made shepherds pie and extra mash. Hopefully this will be enough to get us through up to 5 days without any power (for the third time this winter)  stranded by fallen trees and flooding. I'm not being pessimistic I was a girl guide and am prepared this time. Living out of town, in a very rural location being all electric and surrounded by rivers has now told me not to take chances. Luckily our house stands high up which it good as we are surrounded by babbling brooks. My little hens  are all tucked up and cosy, the geese and ducks love the water and the sheep are close to the house so we can keep an eye on them. The Farm cats are supposed to stay outside but to my better nature are spoilt rotten lying on the spare bed. I am very worried about my little rescued kitten Sooty, I haven't seen him for over a week now and although he disappears from time to time he doesn't stay away for this long usually. He has a special blanket that he sucks everyday due to being separated from his mother so early in life. I have rung the nearest Vets but they haven't had any cats brought in hurt or abandoned. I do worry the worst this time.<br>
Torches are charged, extra blankets and candles in place, chain-saw ready for action, washing up to date.  At the moment the sun is shining brightly but the wind is trying very hard to blow it away with gust outbursts. I am not being fooled by the sunshine again, it could possibly be very frighteningly different very soon. Take care and hope you have a happy safe weekend.</p>
hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-63784537594531310212014-02-04T17:36:00.001+00:002014-05-05T00:30:57.866+01:00The First Book Of The Year<div dir="ltr">
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I don't have much time to read during the day, but due to the bad weather I chose to read this book The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore, Its such a lovely book I was spellbound and I just couldn't put it down. I thought I would share it with you, it's so good to have a book that you become so absorbed in with the characters lives. A lovely easy read with lots of charm, of secrets, romance and passion, set in a rural country village with a good story line.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It would be good of you to let me know if you have read this book and your thoughts. I hope you get the chance to read a copy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would be very interested to know what you are reading, it's always nice to get a recommendation. Happy reading. </div>
hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-67692110267503689952014-01-25T18:17:00.001+00:002014-02-03T22:50:50.898+00:00Happy New Year<p dir="ltr">Hello. It's been so long since my last post.<br>
I hope you had a very Happy Christmas with lots of good times with your family. My Christmas <u>was</u> strange without my lovely Mum who I miss so much.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We had power-cuts and were cut off from getting to arranged get togethers on certain days because of road closures caused by flooding. But it was nice to see most of the family and to be cosy warm and dry inside and listen to the rain thrashing uncontrollably outside and burning christmassy smelling candles. Hooray signs of spring are awakening <u>with</u> bulbs pushing their pretty little faces to say hello. The cockerels are frisky and my little hens I'm sure are thinking of making little nests in the sweet smelling hay cut from last years flower enriched meadows.<br>
Well this last couple of weeks we've had a lovely surprise in the goose house a perfect <u>oval</u> white egg and more over the last few days, they might not be gold but they are so good to find. I have made goose custard and apple and cinnamon cake. Blowing the eggs beforehand to decorate for Easter. Traditionally a goose will not lay until Valentine's day, so clever girl or girls.So we have a new addition to the orchard a lovely handsome gander who will hopefully produce some lovely little goslings, they will keep the grass down in the old and new orchard and keep his ladies happy as he escorts them on their waddles around the meadow.<br>This weekend we have been outside cutting hedges and removing brambles around the garden, to keep it tidy. I have been pruning the gooseberries and currant bushes and planting the cuttings in the intensive care bed so we can try and make some fruit hedges.<br>
We also have bought a Stella cherry tree, she will keep the other trees company in the old orchard with I am sure will be dressed in her lovely pink blossom and will be enchanting and will attract lots of lovely bees and wildlife. Well do visit me here in the orchard it's always good to hear what adventures you are having and I will let you know what is happening in our part of the world. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPiw4_Lb6nQIc1PembSModI7FfJLBcbUgdZFItRgbnhobyknTOtpX4yHyb8MPNcFLFeFKeK1xefftxDu2nq-Jq2LEQAIzyZCAdbLi5n05uf5z9GOwxjaBi0DgKDzWdIEaWo-XD-_eCEM/s1600/CYMERA_20140129_173639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPiw4_Lb6nQIc1PembSModI7FfJLBcbUgdZFItRgbnhobyknTOtpX4yHyb8MPNcFLFeFKeK1xefftxDu2nq-Jq2LEQAIzyZCAdbLi5n05uf5z9GOwxjaBi0DgKDzWdIEaWo-XD-_eCEM/s320/CYMERA_20140129_173639.jpg"> </a> </div>hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-57144699515842176442013-11-07T18:10:00.001+00:002014-05-02T00:16:37.299+01:00Sheep Training<div dir="ltr">
Well all week when I have been up to the meadow I have rattled the bucket, at first Petal and Blossom, ( I have yet to name the third lamb/sheep) just ran away - but today they lingered and took a step towards me, then ran away. So perhaps this was a step in the right direction! I know its a long way until I have them halter trained but I have heard, do it slowly. They seem to be good at posing and look like they are smiling for the camera though.xx</div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-63115504981029675402013-11-04T06:52:00.001+00:002013-11-04T21:11:04.361+00:00Sheep, Foxes and Geese<div dir="ltr">
Yes you've probably guessed from the title Mr Fox got into the girls enclosure and stole Mrs Goose and two of my little call ducks. My other Mrs Goose was heartbroken crying and calling for her so we quickly had to find her a friend. Well it so happened our long awaited sheep were due to be delivered so luckily the kind man had two that were going to be ready for the table at Christmas. So we now have three, they get on so well, I half wonder whether they might have known what could have been their fate being on someone's plate at Christmas. I feel glad that Mrs Goose is happy and that the other two will live a long good life with plenty of good grass and an orchard to play in.<br />
Well I am excited to say we now have three Southdown sheep, this year's lambs they are lovely and they look a bit like teddy bears with really cute faces. They are quiet nervous but in a week or two hopefully I'll have them feeding from the bucket and very tame. Have a brilliant week.<br />
Sarah <u>x</u></div>
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hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-17856026394865296502013-11-03T21:04:00.001+00:002013-11-03T22:20:26.867+00:00Power cuts<p dir=ltr>Having thought we had escaped a power cut during the bad windy weather last Sunday night, we ended up losing all power from Monday morning until Wednesday morning. Having a house that is solely electric, life feels very cozy to begin with, but the novelty soon wears off when you can't cook, there's no hot water, no heating and it's very dark. But the worse thing was the worry that the freezer was defrosting, all that hard work in the kitchen garden, saving my plants from the rain, sun, snow, deer, rabbits and pigeons. Blanching and stewing all that hard work from hours of nurturing the seeds, tenderly caring for the delicate young plants and the back-breaking watering. Now to have that all destroyed would have been a crying shame, but luckily I only had a few things that had to be disposed off, which the chickens enjoyed.<br>
My lovely husband took me out for a good lunch and a cappuccino and in the evening we all sat down and did a crossword together and played games by candlelight which was a good laugh, we  also discussed lots of plans for the future. So it wasn't too bad! But I do hope we don't have another for awhile.<br>
Sarah <u>x</u></p>
hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-26715816719703820522013-10-28T08:35:00.001+00:002013-10-28T08:46:17.708+00:00Windy, Wet and Wild<p dir=ltr>This weekend we've had our son and lovely little grandson around to visit us, he is coming up for two and is a very happy little boy, interested in everything , full of laughter and smiles. We actually gave him his birthday present as his birthday is on Christmas day, but we thought he could play with it here as he will have so many to open on Christmas day.<br>
We then had our other son and his wife come over with the twinkles they are 12 weeks old now and both are adorable, they are both very alike in profile, the little girl being very fair and the little boy being very dark. Their mum and dad went for a walk around the fields and meadows while we enjoyed playing with them.<br>
Sunday we woke up early and got up as we gained an extra hour due to the clocks changing and after bacon sandwiches it was a tidy up day or should I say tie down day. I took down my sweetpeas and runner beans also removed the courgette and white flowering cosmos. I had one of my little hens helping dig over the kitchen garden picking up little worms as we went along. My husband helped me take out the sweetcorn as it was very deeply rooted. We enjoyed these as a started for our Sunday roast dinner. We then had a cosy evening watching a film and my favourite Downton Abbey whilst outside the wind and rain played chase around the house. <br>
It is now Monday morning and the sun is now shining with just the occasional gust. Well we still have our power so I fancy doing some cooking today.<br>
Well I would love to hear about your weekend do let us know.<br>
Have a good week, take care<br>
Sarah <u>x</u></p>
hensintheorchard.blogspot.com http://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044439928837128202.post-2347603820738064172013-10-21T18:06:00.001+01:002013-10-26T14:30:02.054+01:00A Mixed Week<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;">W</span>ell this last week has been very mixed. We have had lovely Autumnal sunshine making the leaves on the trees sparkle with hues of rich beautiful colours. Then some days there has been a thick mist which has stayed with us until mid-day showing up many spiders that have tight walked webs of fine intricate artwork. Heavy and almost torrential downpours of rain with dark skies that look almost like its night-time only to suddenly have the sun appear with fantastic colourful rainbows and massive puddles that tempt you to put your wellies on and splish splosh in the shiny mirrors.(Is splish a word)?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S</span>adly I lost two of my sweet little baby bantams that had hatched earlier in the year, one was found dead in the hen house and the other nowhere to be found. We suspect a hungry buzzard had been and taken it as they have been flying and screeching overhead this week. The rest of the chickens have been very much on their guard with distress calls, when the fruit and acorns drop with heavy thuds from the gusts of wind. They also hate the heavy rain.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">M</span>ore chutney and stewed apples and pears to be put in the freezer have been made with the windfalls. Friends that have come to the door have gone home with carrier bags full. We have been having apples sometimes for breakfast, dinner and tea in different forms one way or another. The house smells pleasantly of apples and pears (and smells better than any scented candle), that are being stored and will hopefully last until next April.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>The Weekend</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S</span>aturday, a spur of the moment decision to go to London was made, looking around Covent Garden which was buzzing with street acts, lots of tourist and plenty to see in the city despite the rain.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>hen having a tasty Chinese meal in China town with brightly coloured lanterns, good luck symbols, fortune and charms. But its always good to return here to the orchard to be greeted by Shadow, Mittens, Sooty and Daisy and just relax in our little part of the world.<br />
Sunday morning the rain held off just enough time to dig up my exhausted tomato plants and clean up the greenhouse - a job that always marks the end of summer. All that is left in there now are my little sweet pea seedlings and a few lavender plants and a few plants that have already gone to sleep.</div>
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A tasty pork roast dinner marinated in cider and apples was cooked by our son, it was very yummy with all the trimmings and a good bottle of wine to go with it. Then to relax watching a film and then later the wonderful Downton Abbey.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well I hope you have a good week</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sarah</span> xx</div>
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