The Inside Hens

 

 

 So in line with the diktats about Avian flu, we have  been able to house the new lot of hens inside the greenhouse which , fortuitously , was erected in the autumn. 

 

 

 

 

  And ive fixed up some lights - and a result !

 

 

Views from (halfway) up the hill

 So to check on the fencing before the sheep go back onto the moor for the rest of the winter, I had to go round and check there were no gaps in the fencing that the sheep could possibly escape through.  So i took a camera with me . 

 

Looking back down the hill to the house 

 

 

 

 

And looking out the east , there is the island of Rousay in the far distance.

 And the Lyde Road, winding up the hill going west to Harray.

The Apple Crop

Trees went into the polycrub that I put up .

 

And we put some of the trees in the AppleCrub i erected 

 (taken on the sunny day  in June)

And we have some that are planted on the bank. 

And as its getting colder, the leaves are falling , as are the fruit,  so its picking time,. 

 

13.9 Kg of apples . Some will keep into the winter in the cool, dry shed outside. 

 

 

Sunrise

 

 

 

 

 7.37 :56 am

 

 

 

 

7.40 :35  am

 

 

 

 

 

 

7:46:23 am

Greenhouse

 

 After several years, I've finally got round to erecting the greenhouse. The excuse is that it was a 2-man job and I had to wait until my mate was available.

Slightly complicated because Alton couldnt provide construction  instructions. It was carefully taken apart in Newcastle, and transported here and stored in the shed , along with all the bitsnpieces

The main difference between Newcastle and Orkney and a sectional greenhouse  like this one is its ability to withstand winds of up to 80 mph.  So we've tried to anchor it down well. 

The (hopefully) sheltered site has a bit of an incline, so some hardcore to get it level, set out the concrete base blocks and fix the sectional sides to the base . And prop it all up until its all fixed in place.

 

The base units were concreted into place. 

And then a 2metre, 3"x3"  fence post ( a stab in Orcadian)  concreted into place at each corner

And then fix a  length of 4"x2" timber to the posts. And fix the sections to the horizontal timber and to the posts 

 And to help keep the roof on, some additional 3"x2" timbers have been bolted to the posts and screwed to the roof section 

So we shall see if it survives the winter. if it does , I'll plant something in there in the spring .

The great Diaspora

 So flocks of Orkney Boreray sheep are going to Hoy and Stronsay , as well as the one on Shapinsay . 

And its quite a logistic exercise to get the correct sheep in the correct trailer at the correct time, going to the correct place.  And not helped by  bad weather and cancelled sailing, which meant  a lot of re-arrangement as well. 

 

So lots and lots of sheep hurdles.   you can never have too many sheep hurdles  

And then get your sheep all in the right place 

And get them split into the neccesary groups  - Hoy, Stronsay and staying 

And then get them loaded 

 And then the lot going to Stronsay 

And finally deposited on the boat to Stronsay, to be picked up at the other end 

 9am and all done and delivered by 3 pm . With a break for lunch. 

Farewell to Bede

 

 

 

( with apologies to Max )

Orkney Boreray  is expanding . 

And some sheep are going to Hoy and some to Stronsay, as well as the flock that is on Shapinsay

 And Bede , one  of the oldest rams  is leading the way to Stronsay . On this trip accompanied by  wether and  lambs

Bede's last meal ( here)

 

So Bede, and a few more , were encouraged into the trailer.  And we went and joined the queue for the ferry to Stronsay 

And 90 minutes on the ferry, Stronsay came into view 

And then sheep taken to their new homes . 

 

And lambs in their new home

And Bede exploring his new home 

Friends Reunited

 So the solitary chick grew up , was moved out into its own  home.

And disappeared ! !!

It was spotted a few times lurking in a neighbours' drive , so we assumed it had found a home down there somewhere.

I was in the field and saw the hen and managed to catch her. 

So she is back with us  and will (hopefully) (eventually) end up with all the other buff sussex chickens

In the meantime she is in a run to stop her disappearing back from whence she came 

And has a regular visitor , who hangs around outside the run. 

Its not the mother hen - she is back with the rest of them . 

So has she got a suitor ? 

Who knows !

 

Moving home .

 So the solitary chick has continued to grow.   It ( we think its a she) isnt big enough yet to take its chances in the big wide world . 

so we've moved it to a bigger run, in a  more isolated bit  and once the mother and chick have 'learned' where their new home is, we can let them out to explore - and eat  and grow. 

 

Old home 

New home

New Arrivals

 So we had a broody hen. 

And we have some ducks that are laying eggs 

So we put the 2 together about a month ago 

 

 

 

 

 

1 egg must have been sterile

1 duckling seems to have died shortly after birth 

And I think we have 7. 

 

Out and about

 

 

 So the chick is getting a bit bigger, and getting a bit bolder. 

We don't yet know if its a him-chick or a her-chick

Venturing out

 So the little chick has survived so far, and was  out exploring the environment this afternoon 

A surprise

 Hens go broody .  They sit on any eggs they lay or find and then peck at you if you  disturb them . 

So after checking no eggs under one of the broody hens ( weve got 4 broody at the moment) I left her to it. 

 So it was a bit of a surprise to come across this . 

As chicks go , this is a very small one  - she clearly secreted a small egg under her . 

 

So it is now in a run with food and water , and we shall see what it  grows into