Anyway onwards we go.
In the poly tunnel I got some of the potatoes planted in the bed I set up the other week for them,
The potatoes are from our own crop last year, with the weather being so mild they have chitted themselves, I hope they will be ready to harvest April May time.
Some more planting, A while ago I was lucky enough to get a load of bamboo free,
from some-one who was clearing it out, we filled the back of Martins pick up,
taking advantage of a dry day today I made a start getting it planted,
I want to use it as wind breaks, this fence line boarders one of the fields we are buying
I plan to plant clumps right along the fence line, giving shelter to livestock as the wind whistles over the top of this bit, also I can use the canes in the garden.
I took the voile's down from the kitchen windows and got them washed and out on the line
They were filthy mainly from the Rayburn.
Then it was on to the chicken house all cleaned out and a deep bed of straw
The old Turkey shed is working well for the chickens, they have plenty of dry shelter to get out of the weather now, also there feeder is in here so no more wet food, there water is also in here, when we do get a cold snap hopefully it wont freeze over, chickens generate a lot of heat.
It was chicken for dinner, this was chicken breast that I canned back in 2013,
I still have several jars of it in the cupboard.
One jar made up enough curry for 4 portions, there is 2 servings left that Martin can have for dinners when he goes back to work, he is still here at the moment and goes back Friday.
The rest of the day has been spent catching up on chores that have fallen by the wayside over the past few days, I have hoover through, go jackets and waterproofs washed, washed floors
Martin has been trying to play catch up with logs as well.
Thank you for all the comments over the loss of Daffodil,
Daffodil is going to be buried up in the woodland field tomorrow.
Hopefully C junior will be coming round with the digger to help.
It has been a sad time but life goes on, we tried and did our best with the help of our vet.
Alpacas are prey animals and don't show signs of illness usually until its too late to do anything, once they go down they don't often get up again.
Thank you for all the comments over the loss of Daffodil,
One of the draw backs of having livestock.
Kara
needs to find her place in the herd without her mother, we are stepping
back and just keeping an eye on her, she has started grazing so we are
no longer giving her milk.
And the weather, its been a dry day, misty at times with occasional sights of the sun and blue sky, tonight another rain front is moving through.
The farmer stood reading this over my shoulder and just commented that alpacas are a bit like sheep. You can do everything for them when they go down, but it is usually too late. Glad to hear your are getting on with things - wish we were having your dry weather here, but next week is set to be much drier and colder thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteIf the animal loses the will to live there is nothing you can do
DeleteYou are like me, when I am upset or worried, I work hard and that lets me think things over and come to terms with the problem. You have achieved lots today and gosh, those will be some great potatoes and so early!
ReplyDeleteThe turkey shed looks just perfect for the chickens, and of course they will delight in turning over that straw to get any grain that remains, especially if it carries on raining - what do I mean, IF?! No let up till it gets colder next week.
work is better than moping around
DeleteI thought that you would bury Daffodil in the woodland. It is good that Kara seems to be working out how to feed herself. Never knew that you could can chicken! You always have something new to teach me. xx
ReplyDeleteIt is the cheaper alternative to bury her she will feed the ground as well
DeleteWhen we started keeping livestock we were told " if you keep livestock you are bound to have deadstock and if you can;t manage that then you shouldn't keep animals". So sorry about Daffodil but as you say you have to get on. Lovely to bury her in the wood, we did that with one of our goats. A place to remember
ReplyDelete" if you keep livestock you are bound to have deadstock and if you can;t manage that then you shouldn't keep animals" aint that the truth! there can be no life without death, harsh as it may seem its just part and parcel.
Deleteyes all part and parcel of the circle of life you cant have one without the other
DeleteSo sorry to hear about Daffodil. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlways unsettling to lose an animal. You can only do your best for them and then get on with things.
ReplyDeleteSo true
DeleteSorry to hear about Daffodil :(
ReplyDeleteThose potatoes look like they are ready to sprout and go don't they?
Taking care of remains is a big problem I have here. I am working on a compost idea but not sure I am going to be able to make it work.
Hope the little one carried on Mom's tradition!!!
There are a few options with disposal, Incineration big cost, the knacker man were there taken and fed to hounds, or burial depends on what meds they have had, how much you want to pay and the reason for death, with Alpaas we are allowed to bury them on our own land.
Deletejust out of interest how long does the canned chicken keep for?
ReplyDeletesome say 5 years some say 7 providing the seal dosent go there is no reason for it go off, I am working on a 3yr rotation
DeleteSo glad to see Daffodil will be buried on your land. It makes me thing of when our GD was a teenager and decided that she wanted to be a vet. I said to her that you do realize that you will have to put some animals to sleep, it's not just cuddly puppies and kittens. Well, she hadn't thought of that side of the job and so decided to do something else for a career. As you say, it's all part of the circle of life.
ReplyDelete