The new house now legally belongs to us. This is good because we have already started making big changes. It is bad because we now have 2 sets of bills, but hey ho.
Project House appeared to be taking shape, and then we realised that it needs a new heating system, which puts the whole project back a bit. Too much to do, decreasing amounts of time to do it in.
Upside- the garden looks great, if I may say so myself. We have lots and lots of things plated, and all is going v v well. We have fruit setting on the trees, the chicken run/coop is ready for occupants, the shrubs are looking leafy, and have planted little veggie plots in haxnicks raised bed bags. We have gone a little planting crazy actually, with mini corn, radishes, courgettes, beans, cabbages, broccoli, beetroot, rainbow chard, shallots, salad onions, sunflowers, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, asparagus, horseradish and strawberries all planted up and doing well.
We have put a gazebo in the garden too: The navy blue Karlso one from Ikea. It is sturdy and does a great job of shutting out light.
Downside- I am getting bored of not getting much done.
Saturday, 15 June 2013
New pig
After the death of Woolly, I was immediately worried about Tig.
So... We have a new guinea pig.
Matthew was a Pets at Home adoption centre guinea pig, who had no name, so I named him after the guy in the shop.
After a few little spats Matthew and Tig are best buddies (well, actually, let's not overstate it, they are just less likely to kill each other than they were a week ago).
Saturday, 8 June 2013
Another small death in the family
I know it has been a while since I last posted. I also know that the last time was when we had a death, and acknowledge that only logging into write about the demise of another pet is bad blogging.
However, I couldn't just let this sad occasion pass. Woolly, one of the Christmas guinea pigs, died on Friday.
One hour he was happily munching on a carrot, the next... Well, you know.
It upset me a great deal, it always does when the piggies die because it is always so quick.
So, that left Tig, who I didn't want to risk being lonely. The next day we all went up to Ikea to buy things for the new house, and on the way back we popped into Pets at home. We popped out again with a small box containing a tiny little pig from the adoption centre. New pig looks like he was made from all of the left over scraps of guinea pigs and has pink eyes. He didn't have a name, so I called him after the shop assistant.
We hope that Matthew the guinea pig will be happy with us in his new home.
However, I couldn't just let this sad occasion pass. Woolly, one of the Christmas guinea pigs, died on Friday.
One hour he was happily munching on a carrot, the next... Well, you know.
It upset me a great deal, it always does when the piggies die because it is always so quick.
So, that left Tig, who I didn't want to risk being lonely. The next day we all went up to Ikea to buy things for the new house, and on the way back we popped into Pets at home. We popped out again with a small box containing a tiny little pig from the adoption centre. New pig looks like he was made from all of the left over scraps of guinea pigs and has pink eyes. He didn't have a name, so I called him after the shop assistant.
We hope that Matthew the guinea pig will be happy with us in his new home.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
And then there were 5...
It has been a sad week for us all...
Elizabeth chicken is no more. she seemed a little bit down and struggling a week or so ago, then she seemed to get brighter, and then went down hill fast. Then, on Friday morning I went out to the eglu that she was in isolation in, and she was gone, eyes closed.
So now there are 5- 1 of the original girls and the 4 new girls. I think that we will rename some more when we move as there is room for more.
RIP Elizabeth.
Elizabeth chicken is no more. she seemed a little bit down and struggling a week or so ago, then she seemed to get brighter, and then went down hill fast. Then, on Friday morning I went out to the eglu that she was in isolation in, and she was gone, eyes closed.
So now there are 5- 1 of the original girls and the 4 new girls. I think that we will rename some more when we move as there is room for more.
RIP Elizabeth.
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Building the new hen house
I think that I may have mentioned that we are moving house...
That also means, logically, that the chickens ar moving house too. One of the first posts I did he was saying how great the eglu is. I still think it is great, but we are parting ways, eglu and I. Not because the eglu isn't a good piece of kit- it is- I can just not justify having one standing empty whilst all of the chickens huddle together in the other.
"Why not a cube?" I hear you ask (well, I don't, but that's what you might ask if you were here, which you are not, just little old me in the kitchen in the middle of the night with the sound of the fridge in the back ground). I like the cube, but there are issues for me, mainly the ladder. My choices will not 'do' a ladder. Also, there is the small matter of the cost. I know it is brightly coloured and that it will possibly last forever, but that isn't going to cut it for me right now- I wanted bigger, and wooden. "what about red mite?" (again, you are just the voices in my head). Risk I am reasonably happy to take right now- we don't currently have mites and haven't had sign of them in 9 months of chicken keeping- I would rather have the hen house I need now with extra diatom and mite kill as extras.
Anyhow, we built it. Given that we bought it brand new, cheaply from the famous auction site, it went together brilliantly, the instructions made sense and everything. The run is also built, but I am less sure about that. Sure it will be fine for all of the feathery ladies that I have planned.
The weather has been glorious, and we have spent 2 days in the new garden, trimming and generally enjoying our new land. We have found food in the garden- quinces, sage and almonds. Not a bad start alongside all of the apples, pears and plums that we were already aware of. Small Boy and Small Girl love the garden, they run up and down the paths and hide behind trees... I couldn't wish for more, it is idyllic. The house itself is lovely too- very different to our current 4 bed semi, built in the 60s- I am going to have a pantry and a utility room! It is strange to think how different the 2 houses actually are- I am so excited about moving.
That also means, logically, that the chickens ar moving house too. One of the first posts I did he was saying how great the eglu is. I still think it is great, but we are parting ways, eglu and I. Not because the eglu isn't a good piece of kit- it is- I can just not justify having one standing empty whilst all of the chickens huddle together in the other.
"Why not a cube?" I hear you ask (well, I don't, but that's what you might ask if you were here, which you are not, just little old me in the kitchen in the middle of the night with the sound of the fridge in the back ground). I like the cube, but there are issues for me, mainly the ladder. My choices will not 'do' a ladder. Also, there is the small matter of the cost. I know it is brightly coloured and that it will possibly last forever, but that isn't going to cut it for me right now- I wanted bigger, and wooden. "what about red mite?" (again, you are just the voices in my head). Risk I am reasonably happy to take right now- we don't currently have mites and haven't had sign of them in 9 months of chicken keeping- I would rather have the hen house I need now with extra diatom and mite kill as extras.
Anyhow, we built it. Given that we bought it brand new, cheaply from the famous auction site, it went together brilliantly, the instructions made sense and everything. The run is also built, but I am less sure about that. Sure it will be fine for all of the feathery ladies that I have planned.
The weather has been glorious, and we have spent 2 days in the new garden, trimming and generally enjoying our new land. We have found food in the garden- quinces, sage and almonds. Not a bad start alongside all of the apples, pears and plums that we were already aware of. Small Boy and Small Girl love the garden, they run up and down the paths and hide behind trees... I couldn't wish for more, it is idyllic. The house itself is lovely too- very different to our current 4 bed semi, built in the 60s- I am going to have a pantry and a utility room! It is strange to think how different the 2 houses actually are- I am so excited about moving.
Thursday, 28 March 2013
Good Friday- all hens together
After 6 months of introductions I have finally done it- all of the hens now live together. When we move house the chickens are also getting new accommodation in the form of a large wooden coop and big run, probably with an outer area made from netting so that they can still sort of free range when we are outside, and so that Small Boy and Small Girl can still hold and play with the chickens without me worrying that they will never be seen again. It will also be good to be able to free range the ixworths with the ex batts in summer.
Because it is Friday I want to just mention Free Range Friday, raising funds for BHWT:
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/cms/freerangefriday/
I am hoping to run a few events when we have moved into the new house to raise money for this brilliant cause.
Enjoy your hot cross buns!
Because it is Friday I want to just mention Free Range Friday, raising funds for BHWT:
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/cms/freerangefriday/
I am hoping to run a few events when we have moved into the new house to raise money for this brilliant cause.
Enjoy your hot cross buns!
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Plan A is very much Plan Bee...
Last night I went to Bee Club. By 'Bee Club' I mean the local Beekeepers Association Beginners course and it was great. We learned about swarm management and the basics of how the association runs.
So, Plan Bee. In one year I hope to have a hive and colony in the garden of the new house. It will be a National of some description, and I plan to order a nucleus for next summer to go in it.
why bees? I think bees get a bit of a bad deal. We expect them to pollinate things, and then we run around saying how scared of them we are. I think that they are fascinating creatures that need looking after- varroa mites mean that the bees are always starting from a poor position, and, well, I like honey, so feel like I should put something back. Oh, and I like the IDE of owning a besuited to wander around my garden in.
So, Bee Club was a hit. And bees will be here next year.
So, Plan Bee. In one year I hope to have a hive and colony in the garden of the new house. It will be a National of some description, and I plan to order a nucleus for next summer to go in it.
why bees? I think bees get a bit of a bad deal. We expect them to pollinate things, and then we run around saying how scared of them we are. I think that they are fascinating creatures that need looking after- varroa mites mean that the bees are always starting from a poor position, and, well, I like honey, so feel like I should put something back. Oh, and I like the IDE of owning a besuited to wander around my garden in.
So, Bee Club was a hit. And bees will be here next year.
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