For various reasons, January has been a bit of a write off – weather/money earning work/wee holiday. Today was the start back in earnest!
Our Sasso/Black Rock crosses are now 14 weeks old -they could easily have been outside earlier but a good friend was looking after all the hens whilst we were away for a long weekend and I did not want to cause any unnecessary work for her, so today was their liberation.
I separated the cocks from the hens – I think I got it right! Fairly easy at 14 weeks mind. The hens joined their mothers and father in the big run in the field. Very soon, the father and the pure Sasso hens will be separated from the main flock so I can hold back pure eggs for incubation/sale.
I then made a wee run against the shed where the cocks could get out and get some sun on their backs. It’s odd to see them outside for the first time - they just stand an huddle “What the hell?” I was very surprised to see them all inside the shed at dusk. Normally you spend a good few nights trying to shove them through the pop hole. It’s like trying to thumb a marshmallow into a piggybank. The hens were all inside their new house too – albeit in the furthest corner from the establishment. A few days and they will all be in their new pecking order.
I not only managed to tidy up a few beds in the tunnel but I also sowed two cell trays of onions – Bedforshire Champion just to see how it compares to Kelsae which were tried last year and faired OK given the dreadful weather.
Tomorrow starts the construction of a wee barn/car port to keep my Landy dry!
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If you spoil a Land Rover, something will inevitably go wrong. I speak from long experience….
By: Stonehead on February 6, 2008
at 10:08 am
But hopefully it will stop the rear tub always looking like a paddling pool. There may also be more incentive to threaten it with a spanner if it is undercover and not standing on a mild slope, in the rain and on pink gravel. Pink gravel is excellent for loosing screws/nuts/your mind.
By: thurstongarden on February 6, 2008
at 10:17 am
Ours is a County and the back always looks like a paddling pool! I find mud is a good surface to lie on when working under the Land Rover, it conforms to my body shape…
By: Stonehead on February 6, 2008
at 12:24 pm
Ooooooh! County! Lol. Sopping wet carpets then?
I did consider building a bed base & matress into the floor of the barn given the amount of time I need to spend lying underneath the Landy.
Seriously did consider a pit, but have been put off by horror stories of fumes/ground water. Might just stick to axle stands!
By: thurstongarden on February 6, 2008
at 12:31 pm