Success !

A few months ago I did my bit for Orkney , and made  some traps  for stoats that have been ravaging the ducks .

With no joy trapping anything with them near the chicken runs ( we thought they might be round there after either the hens or their eggs ) , Ive moved them to a bit of  tree-covered ground next to the burn











And on the daily inspection

SUCCESS 

 
This is an adult and (we think ) female. Stoats aren't particularly territorial  so there could  me more around. So the trap is re-baited , re-set and we will  wait and see.


So I've moved all 3 traps to the same general area.


There is a facebook group , Stoats in Orkney , where you can report sightings. There are lots of stoats around !

Orkney needs an abattoir

Eloquently explained here  on 16th August on BBC Radio Orkney . You may need to download the file (4MB) and then something on your computer will play it.

There is more information here 

And even more stuff and  background  information and updates   here 

And if you have missed it , the petition is here for you to sign if you feel able.

And share it with your friends !

(I can't because I dont have any friends)

broody rehoused

So the broody hen hasnt been particularly happy in the cage , be-towelled and sitting on eggs.
 So something must be done.  And it has been.

The various chick runs we have , had a bad winter and got a bit trached by the storms

So a bit of fixing , and the run is good enough.

And the broody hen and 12 eggs has been moved in.

A tale of 2 broodys

So the hens go broddy through the summer.  And its a real pain because they try and sit on eggs on the henhouse , which makes it difficult to collect them, and other hens cant get in the right place to lay their eggs.
So there are 2 choices - let them brood, or try to 'unbrood' them .
For the latter, they are put in a cage where they cannot 'brood'. there is ample food and water ( but they dont take much when broody) , and after a few weeks they usually get the message , give up trying to sit , and can be put  back with the other hens.

Or the laternative is to let them sit on a clutch of eggs and see whaty you get.

13 eggs 

and there is a  hen in here, begin given some peace and quiet , to get on with hatching some chicks.

Watch this space, 3 weeks hence .

moving out

So the turkeys, currently named Tiger and Lilly,  have got a bit bigger, and got some feathers, so they have been put outside

The chick run has been fixed, they have been moved in , and they have been out exploring .

And we have one earmarked for Thanksgiving day, hopefull yot be shred with Canon Tom Miller, currently a voluntary exile from Manhatten  , and the other for Christmas time.

Our own hay

We havent had the really really dry weather they have had 'doon sooth'   - the grass in the fields is still green.  And  this year, as we have a shed that is big enough, we decided to make and store our own hay.
Well, we didn't make it  - Davie did .
It was cut and baled, stood in the field for a couple of days  adn then brought down.
On the way , some branches had to go

And then some deft maneouvering

And we have a load of hay bales stacked, to keep until the winter.

The shed needs to stay open to ensure ventilation, as the hay dries out and we try to keep the bales  cool.

Ive stuck a thermometer into one of the bales.  54.6 degrees C

What to do ?

Tree in the polycrub

So when we came here we brought some fruit trees up with us. Most survived  but  in  spite of our best efforts  at protecting from the wind , they havent  provided  us with any fruit so far . This year has been much warmer , so there is some fruit on some trees . We shall have to wait and see what the eventuial yield is

The windbreak 

the tree that is struggling a bit 

And a row of trees are protected at one side by some bushes a stone wall  a bank, and by windbreak netting at the other. they have prodiced some fruit 

And we have planted some on a bank.

And they  are doing a bit better. For most of them the top part of the tree has died - probably exposed to just too mych wind in the winter Most have fruit . Interestingly its low down, near the ground

  So seeing how the trees in the polycrub have done ,  I want to provide some protection for through the winter.

But how ?

I  could build another polycrub and then move them all into it . Or i could provide some protection for where they are .
The problems :

• it would be difficult to  conncrete anything into the ground 
• the trees are all about 4 feet tall 
• The trees need to be accessible

Ideas ?