Spudley, I know exactly what you mean. I only moved 25 miles and from a larger village, but there are times when I become nostalgic for street lights, wearing something other than wellies on my feet, and walking the dogs in winter without getting muddy up to my knees. It’s a constant battle against ...

when I lived on a beef farm for a year, I thought mine might get over the novelty of eating poo - but no, it was just like a giant buffet and newly interesting every day. Pretty soon, she was doing cow pats rather than the usual, such was the intake

I agree Wendy, I have to be so careful with my GSD, not because of what she does, but because the fear of people, and their dogs as well, creates a situation by itself. Once she pulled the lead through my hand when I was climbing a style and marched over to a spaniel and stood over it enquiring 'who...

Similar experiences recently. I have to put my dogs on the lead quickly when another dog appears, because the GSD is all gob and the labrador will mount anything that moves, especially if it's male - harmless but deeply embarrassing. Lately we've been meeting a young male Rottie who is just reaching...

I have a peach tree in my polytunnel and it has had a growing red spider mite infestation over the last couple of years to the point where it is debilitating to the tree, which is almost bald. I can't use insecticide even if I wanted to as the main problem occurs when there is fruit on the tree. I'v...

Was given a batch of goose hatching eggs a couple of months ago, of which two hatched. They were supposed to be free Christmas dinner, since geese eat grass and I don't even have to buy food for them. But let's just say Gary and Gerty are not going to be dinner! Yesterday was offered some free guine...

leave it a day or so, I've had them hatch 2 days late before and there's nothing to lose by waiting a bit longer.
I'd probably have a break before trying again if they don't hatch as there's only so long she can keep up continuous broodiness and she might give up part way through a second batch.

A cheaper option than roofing might be to put a line of electric fencing wire along the fence near the top to stop a fox climbing over, and close to the bottom to stop it trying to chew through or dig under. You could have the maximum size run then.

Just thrown in some grass clippings and they went beserk poor souls must be desperate for grass. Not desperate, just excited about a treat! The run is plenty big enough. As long as they can scratch and get fresh air and you give them something green now and then, they'll be fine. My hens have a hun...

That's fab! I've seen work in art galleries that's less beautiful and imaginative.

best of luck with your self-sufficiency project, ned, sounds exciting!

To have 50 birds to kill over the year, you would have to hatch eggs continuously over the summer, but probably about 10-12 hens would provide enough eggs to do this. Having raised chooks and ducks for meat, I'd say start off slowly and make sure it's really something you can do. I have Dorkings and...

Could also be a crow - they can and will go anywhere a chicken can and are canny enough to watch the chooks and see where they go to lay

I know that humans can eat beetroot leaves, in salads or like spinach, so I would assume chickens can also?

You do have my sympathy. Electric fencing is effective - a line of the white tape used by horse owners along the top and bottom of fences, or the poultry netting around the run. Wired to a fencing unit, mind, not the mains, however tempting that is! Killing them is not actually a very effective reme...