The diary of two novice gardeners and chicken keepers
Posted in Allotments on Jul 31st, 2010
The final count of baby call ducks for this season is twelve. I have four sets of ’babies’ of different ages to look after. I shall have to find new homes for some of them which is always a wrench. The difficult bit is deciding who to keep and who to sell.
Posted in Allotments on May 13th, 2010
The first of the baby call ducks has hatched despite the cold. I think he is a boy so I have called him George after the husband of my friend Joyce from the Yoga class.
Posted in Allotments on Apr 18th, 2010
Jemima, our white Call Duck, is sitting on a nest of fertile eggs so I hope she has some luck this year. This is her second season and last year she only had one surviving duckling. Puddles, her mate is standing guard on top of their hutch and warding off all comers. We only have four [...]
Posted in Allotments on May 26th, 2009
Look for the small things in life to bring joy. (Confucius) We had given up on any ducklings from Jemima and Puddles as most of their eggs have been infertile. However, this morning, to my great surprise one of the eggs had pipped and by this evening we had a beautiful baby duck. I have already bought [...]
Posted in Allotments on May 15th, 2009
After a day of torrential rain the weather finally cleared up enough for us to pop down to the plots and install the second Cucumber Carmen in the lean to. The first plant is still surviving despite the cold spell we have had. We had a walk round to check on everything and so far [...]
Posted in Allotments on May 12th, 2009
It’s day 20 and the first Pekin chick was waiting for me bright and early this morning. One of the Orpingtons was almost out too. Looks like a busy day.
Posted in Allotments on May 11th, 2009
It is day 19 in the incubation of the last batch of chicks for this season. They are a mix of colours of Orpington Bantams. A new breed for us this year. The lady I bought them from didn’t have quite the dozen eggs so made up the numbers with four pekins, a breed I [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 15th, 2009
Final count at the end of the hatch is one buff Plymouth Rock bantam and six white Faverolles bantams. Now we have to wait to see how many are boys.
Posted in Allotments on Apr 12th, 2009
There is just one chick so far. It hatched this lunchtime. It is a little fluffy, yellow Plymouth Rock Bantam. Rob and I worked hard today both at home and at the allotment. Cath and Gra popped for a visit and did a bit of weeding which is always a help. Rob sowed some Broad Beans, [...]
Posted in Allotments on Mar 24th, 2009
(Pictures courtesy of Benjamin Shepherd) (Faverolles originate from the village of Faverolles in Northern France and were created from a mix of several different breeds. They have a broad, square body with small wings, a single upright comb, short neck, a striking beard and muffing. The head is broad and round and the eyes [...]
