A Christmas Surprise

Hi
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 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.

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.

At Last A Gosling

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.

Two Broody Geese

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.

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.

Hope you're having a good bank holiday weekend.

Kylie, The Lucky Little Chick

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
good chance.

A few pictures of little Kylie

                           

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.

A happy Miss Broody hen, Kylie and her siblings

I Will Survive

Miss Broody with her baby chicks- Saturday morning

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.
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?
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.
Have a super week.
Sarah xx

Lucky - newly hatched in the incubator 

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing you all a lovely Easter

Hello Friends

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.
Here are a few pictures of around the farm.
Sarah x

Wallflowers that smell divine

Comfrey that make a wonderful natural fertiliser

Stocks that smell gorgeous

One of my favourites Scabiousa

The lovely Anenome

2 of my girls enjoying the Spring grass

Little Cherry - her tail hanging on by a thread

Bluebells popping up in the meadows fields and wood

Shadow and Mittens asleep in the sunshine

Easter Chicks

These are the little mixed chicks hatched in the incubator they are now 3 weeks old and doing well. There are 12 altogether.
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.