Some of you may have seen over the past few days some Sheep in the Valley. This afternoon for a short moment I thought that the Sheep had broke through the new fencing that we had put up in the Horse field to keep the Sheep in. With the earache I got from my neighbour's about our straying Sheep it was the last thing that I needed. I didn't hang about checking in case there was a way out in the fencing for the other Sheep to escape. On getting to the Sheep in the Valley it was obvious by the way they scarpered that it was the group that was with Ewy that we were unable catch. Although we had looked for the Ewy groups through the Summer it was the first sighting that we had, but unfortunately there was no sign of Ewy. Mind you Ewy is a Sheep with her own agenda so it is possible that she has had Lambs and is on her own in the Woods. Of course it may also be that she has died as she was getting on a bit. We can only wait and see.
When in the valley I checked on the cut grass that I had hope to make hay with. I don't reckon that I am going to be very lucky with it as it is well wet and smelling. If we have a bit of a dry spell we may be able to make silage but it wont be very good. We did manage to make seventeen bales of haylage and with what with the remainder of last years hay that we have left as long as it is not a long Winter we may just scrape through.
In case you don't know the difference between hay, silage and haylage I will try to explain. Most will know that hay is completely dried grass. Silage is newly cut grass that is baled shortly after and wrapped in plastic film or put into a large pit and covered very tightly in plastic to stop air getting to it. If silage is not wrapped or covered and air gets to it mould so sets in and it heats up making it not edible. Silage is fed mainly to Cows. Haylage is grass that is left to nearly dry then baled and wrapped in plastic. As long as air does not get to it it is a very good feed for Horses and has a sweet smell. Most Horses prefer it to hay.
The new Swan has now settled in well and is getting on with the Cob. A good sign is that he is allowing the Pen to eat with him. We have not seen the Swans that flew away since I last told you about them, but I reckon they will be back.
8:13 Sat 14 Aug 10
One of the pairs of Swans who flew off of the Lake were waiting by the feeding place when I went to feed the Swans this morning. I half expected it after seeing a pair flying above the Farm two nights ago but is was still a surprise. It does look very much as it is the breeding pair that last flew off a couple of weeks ago. How long and if they will stay we will have to wait and see.
Made a mistake in cutting the grass for hay. It bucketed down last evening and night and the laying grass is soaked through. Got to hope for wind, sun and no more rain.
8:24 Fri 13 Aug 10
Last night when I walked around the lake to make sure that all was well two Black Swans were flying above. I reckon that they must have taken off from the Lake just before I had arrived. With a bit of luck it maybe the breeding pair that flew off just over a week ago and are coming back to to nest in the Autumn.
The new Pen is settling in well and is now being accepted by the Cob although after the hard time the Cob gave her when she arrived she is a little wary to feed with him and we are having to throw her food out to her. It will get better over time.
We started to make our hay yesterday. This year is the latest that we have ever started to make it as the weather has been so dry the grass has not grown as it has in previous years. I kept putting off making it in the hope that we would get enough rain for the grass to grow a bit more, but it never happened so I am hoping that it now stays dry so that what grass we have got will make. Already there is a shortage of hay in this part of the country and is costing more than it has for many years. I should think that we will only make 60% of what we normally make. Fortunately we have some hay from last year so we may be in a position to be able to sell some.
I still have not found the time to change the Bees into their new hive. Mind you something maybe telling me in my head to put it off. I must try to do it this weekend.
I must admit I don't like to see Horses tethered by the road side but if they were not there is a great danger of them straying and getting hit by cars or lorries. I like to see working horses as long as they are not over worked. You do find that most people who are on the road with horses drawn caravans do look after their horses. They have to or the horses would not be able to do their work. Not having ready water is wrong especially in hot weather. It is better to have some that could be knocked over than none at all.
About a month ago whilst I was away from the farm an RSPCA inspector trespassed on Denbury after a complaint that Branston was not being looked after. The inspector trespassed around the cottages and spoke to our holiday guests who assured the inspector that the report was wrong. I phoned the inspector and asked what knowledge she had of horses. Guess what she admitted none. She said that Branston was old. He is 5 years old. I am sure it was that Branston is a grey horse that she thought he was old. Our horses are very well looked after. With the holiday guests that we have at Denbury we would soon get complaints if they were not. The RSPCA do some very good work but they seem to be always looking for easy headlines to help bring in donations.
8:47 Wed 04 Aug 10
When I first decided that I was going to make Cider our apple trees were in blossom. As I had not seen any Bees to pollinate the trees I decided to purchase two Bee Hives, one with Bees. The Bees only arrived four weeks ago and as it happened the Trees were well pollinated without the Bees I had purchased.
I had purchased the Hive and Bees from a large honey supplier in Shropshire who I believed to be reliable source so I didn't bother to go and see what I was buying. What a mistake that was for when they were delivered I could not believe what I had been sent. The Bees didn't need to go in and out in the hive through the normal entrance. The hives were so rotten they could have gone through the rot.
As you can imagine I squealed like a pig in protest and the seller agreed to take back all that I had purchased. The cost of returning the hives and bees would be over £60 so after a lot a unnecessary arguing it was decided I would keep the Bees being the logical way of dealing with the situation. I could then send the hives back by a normal courier.
I have now purchased a new Bee Hive to transfer the Bees into. Trouble is I have no experience of Bee so I am making excuses to myself to put off doing it. I have been told what and how to do it but I need to make sure that I find the Queen. I have a Bee Keepers suit (you wont be getting a photograph of me in it) a smoker to quieten the Bees and I really don't fear them, it is just not knowing what to expect. I will soon find out. Watch this space.
There are photographs of the old and new hives on the Gallery.
It may be a bit late in the year but if I get time after the Bees are transferred into the new hive I will try to do a webcam of it. Because of the time don't hold your breath.
8:24 Wed 04 Aug 10
That was a bit of an eyeful last evening about 8.pm, there were eight Red Deer Stags all very relaxed and chilling out. I had to go out so I didn't see what time they left or in what direction they went. Later there was a Roe Deer and Karen saw another Stag early this morning. I haven't seen so many in a few year as what have been coming to the Valley over the past weeks. A few year ago when there were a lot of Red Stags in the Valley we had a rut here in the Autumn. Who knows we may be lucky this year.
Simon one of this week Holiday Guests has put a hide up in the Valley so that he can try to get some photographs of the Deer. He managed one evening but last night he was up by the Badger Sett. He missed the lot.
This last month or so has been a disaster with the Black Swans. We have lost five that have flown off, I am not best pleased with the people that they came from as I was assured that they were all pinioned or had their wings clipped to stop them flying off. Fortunately they did not cost me anything and they will survive elsewhere. The last three that came consisted of a pair that had bred before so there was a good chance that we would have had Cygnets this Autumn. Not going to happen now as the Female that we introduced yesterday is only eighteen months old so we will have to wait until next year.
The new Pen that we introduced yesterday is being given a bit of a hard time by our Cob. He is chasing her away quite often. Don't know enough about Swans to know if it is normal. It did not happen last week when the other three arrived. Mind you they must have been hatching up their escape to worry to much about fighting. This morning when I fed the Swans the Cob chased the Pen away when she attempted to join him to eat. I know a Lady who will know and speak to her about introducing Swans to each other.
Simon has taken some photographs of the Swans yesterday and Vicky has some from last week of the three escapees. I will get them put on the new Gallery page. It is possible that the first two who have been here for over a year will return later in the year. Last weeks three I don't except to see again.
The new Gallery page is a free download for any one who wants to try it. jalbum.net It should take up to 50 photographs and is very easy to use.
9:24 Fri 30 Jul 10
Hi everyone, as you know Mr Farmer has been very busy, we now have a new look photo page which makes it a lot easier to upload photos. I am helping Mr Farmer while he is busy. Could you please send photos to wildlifetv@yahoo.com for them to be put on the gallery. I will try to update the gallery once or twice a we
Some of you may have noticed that you haven't seen the 3 black swans on the lake which were released on Monday. When the swans arrived we were reliably told that there wings had been clipped and wouldn't want doing for a while, but unfortunatly it looks like this isn't the case as they flew of on Wednesday morning. Mr Farmer is having another black swan delivered on Monday that has had its wings pinioned, this means that the flight feathers wont grow back and this is done when the swans are young. As i am writing this there are 3 Roe deer and 3/4 Red deer in the valley this evening.
8:25 Thu 22 Jul 10
Hi Everyone Vicky here, some of you may have noticed that there is now only one black swan on the lake. On sunday evening we sat outside the cottage and suddenly saw a black swan flying over head and circling the lake. The swan took off and landed three times each time landing back on the lake, about 9.30 that evening and the swans were both there. When Mr farmer went to feed the swans on Monday morning one of the swans was missing we presume that she flew off at first light that morning. The remaining swan is looking rather lonely and sorry for himself but mr farmer is working on finding him a companion.
When i was here at Denbury in April two Emus hatched and they were named Easter and Friday they are both doing very well and are rather lively.
Some of you may know that i was hoping for a photo of the kingfisher here at Denbury, this afternoon i stood at the cottage door and i saw him in the tree at the side of the little stream which runs beside the cottages, i grabbed my camera and went down the that lake but unfortunatley he had gone, i was too late.
5:17 Wed 14 Jul 10
Monday night I forgot to close the doors of two of the Chicken Houses. It must have been on my mind as I woke at 5.am Tuesday morning realising what I had done. On checking the Chicken House close to the Kitchen door all was OK with the eight Chickens that live in it pecking around the Lawn. On my way to the other house my worse fears were justified as I came across white Chicken feathers. There were some of the Chickens including Asbo walking around but not in the place that they normally should be and not greeting me in anticipation for their morning feed. On checking the House inside was the remains of a Light Sussex hen. The Hen was the Mother of three Chicks that she had hatched over six weeks ago. The Chick were OK and at an age where they would no longer rely on their Mother. They were already usually on their own so loosing their Mother would not be to much of a hardship. By the side of the Chicken House I found parts of another Light Sussex and a trail of feather around a large area but no sign of an other Chicken. After a count it was two Light Sussex Hen that had been killed. Another of the Light Sussex looked as if had a very luck escape with the amount of feathers that was missing from various parts of it body.
On this occasion I am quite sure that it was not a Fox that had killed the Chickens. Recently on quite a few occasions when I had checked around the Farm Buildings last thing of a night I had disturbed the Badger Cubs with an adult Badger just by the stables within ten metres from the Kitchen door, I am sure it was them that had killed the Hens. They had found some old Emu eggs that I had left in a bag and had been trying to break into the eggs for a food source. That day I had collected the remaining eggs and had put them in the dustbin for the Dustmen to take away, it had made the Badgers look elsewhere for another food source. The other reason for blaming the Badgers was what remains where left of the Hens. I would have expected a Fox to have taken the Chickens away. The remains of the hen in the Chicken House had been only partially eaten.
Asbo and his family usually house themselves very early at night compared to the other Chickens, but last night not surprisingly they did not want to return to their House. It took a long while and not before nearly 10pm did we get most of them shut up in their house, and that only with the help of one of our Holiday Guests and a large fishing landing net. I must admit I nearly gave up trying. The Light Sussex that had a lucky escape and a Leghorn found another place to roost and were found this morning.
The Welsh Assembly got put in their place yesterday by the High Court for the proposed Welsh Badger Cull. The Judgement was that the cull would be unlawful. The better news is that there will not be an appeal against the Law Lords decision. It puts it even more in doubt that there will be a cull in England. Not that I expected this new Government would have wasted any money with an English cull.
8:45 Mon 12 Jul 10
Saturday evening when I went to feed the Swans and Geese one of the Swans was missing as were five of the Geese. I can only assume that when the Geese flew off of the Lake the Swan followed. I had not seen the Geese practicing flying this year as much as they did last year so I was just a little surprised that they had gone. The one remaining Gosling was being given a hard time by the two remaining Swans, so much so that I thought that it may well have flown off as well. The Swans and the Geese did settle down by last night and the Gosling had started to get quite close to the Swans without being chased away.
This morning when I went to feed the three they were still on their own. About 8.15 am when I checked the webcams there were five Geese swimming around. It looks as if one of the Goslings that flew away has not returned with them. Just before 9.am the four Geese that had returned flew off of the Lake taking with the Gosling that had been left behind, It was as if and I should think for the short time that the Geese were here that those that returned this morning had come to collect the Gosling that had been left behind. We will never know what happened to the Gosling that did not return this morning but there is a good chance that it is where ever the Geese are going to. As last year they may all return later in the year. It was really satisfying that all of this year Goslings flew off of the Lake. I was surprised that the Geese nested at all with me introducing the Swans to the Lake this year, but the Swans helped the Geese to be confident of us and came to be fed every time that we fed the Swans. Hopefully they will return to nest next year.
Unfortunately the Swan that flew away with the Geese did not return with them this morning. I have not given up all hope that it will return as I believe it was the Swan that had paired with the Female. Going by the Swans size it looks very much as if there is now a pair of Swans. It may well be that the one that flew off was a male. I still intend to get another Female this week as I know the one that is on the Lake can fly. It could well be that she flies away too.
The Fish Photo page that is on Denbury Farm is very easy to load with photographs and very less time consuming. If the forum is used I will restart the Photo page.
7:35 Sat 10 Jul 10
A couple of nights ago I was sitting outside with a few people. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a large bird quite high up. At a quick glance with the birds long neck I thought that it was a Heron flying towards the Lake. I then realised that it could not be a Heron as it was Black. At the same time of me thinking that one of the other people said it was a Black Swan. It was and I had just one thing in my mind it was one of our Black Swans. I ran to the Lake and my fear was justified, there were only two Swans on the Lake, our third was flying very high above me. By the time that it had got back the Swan was making a decent and flying towards the Lake but far to high to make a safe landing. We lost sight of the Swan behind the Farm House and trees so I once again started to make my way back to the Lake. The Swan must have realised that its decent was to high and it came into sight climbing. It circled very high above the Farm for a long while only coming into sight every couple of minutes or so. It was getting darker by the minute and concerns were growing if it was able to land safely or not. With the power lines that are around the Lake any landing poses some danger and this inexperienced Swan would not be an acception. The Swan made a couple of more attempts having to abort at the last moment. It was getting imperative because of the fading light that it landed soon. It once again started to descend towards the Lake still much to high. I was sure that this was the Swans final chance. When I arrived at the Lake it had landed. It was at the far end very close to the bank so it had only just made it. Any further it would have landed on hard ground and been injured if not killed
When I first got the Swans I was told that they were pinioned making them unable to fly. Pinioning is a simple and painless procedure that should be done when the Cygnets have just hatched. Quite obviously it had not been done properly. Next morning two Swans were on the smaller Pond so it could be that another Swan that came from the same place had also not been done correctly. I know one has been so I have ordered another female just in case two Swans fly away leaving one on its own. Hopefully it is arriving next week.
10:56 Thu 08 Jul 10
Thornton has decided for a few weeks that he wants to be a Sheep. It started over the Winter when he lived in the Farm House and decided that he would take control of his treats. He would head butt the kitchen cupboard door that his treats were behind. If whilst I was outside he fancied something he would head butt the door until it opened, pulling all of the cupboard contents out hoping he would find what he wanted. It happened so many times in the end Thornton had to be banished out into the Barn with the other Sheep. Not in the pen I should hasten to add, Thornton would have none of that, he had his freedom but would sleep next to the pen near the other Sheep. Come shearing time when the Sheep were let out into the Field Thornton followed and has stayed there ever since. He comes to the gate now and then but never wants to come out of the Field. How long that will last we will just have to wait and see.
The Sheep are in the Horse Field that we have now had fenced. They are now unable to free range and cause problems for neighbours, although Ewy and her followers have not been seen for a good while. We attempted to get them in to be sheared but Ewy has made them wild and they were not for catching.
The Cider Press arrived from France a few weeks ago. It would have been a duel purpose press for both apples and grapes for wine. It is an imposing piece of antique machinery, I wouldn't be surprised if it was working through the French Revolution. I purchased it from Kevin an Englishman who live just outside Mayenne. He estimated it weight to be a quarter of a tonne. Did he get that wrong. A transit type vehicle collected the press and when it arrived at Denbury the wheel arches of the van were all but touching the wheels where it was so heavy. It had to be dismantled for transporting because of its size. The three main pieces weighed nearly a quarter of a tonne each. I reckon its weight to be over a tonne, and was it a struggle to get it unloaded from the van. On Monday it was reassembled and that was a major operation because of the weight of the press. It now stands in our Farm Yard. The intention is to put it into a Barn, but because of the construction of the press it wont go in without a wall being taken down and rebuilt. Not a major problem as the wall in question is in a scruffy state and needs desperately to be rebuilt and has been so before we moved into Denbury. I hope to be making Cider this year, but i will have to wait and see.
10:25 Wed 19 May 10
We have an old Cider Orchard at Denbury. I suppose you could count the number of trees in the orchard on two hands. The trees are old. In the 18 years we have been at Denbury we have done nothing to them, They need a lot of pruning but they always produce a great amount of apples.
Until about three to four years ago the orchard was the home of our Wild Boar we kept until they started to dig their escape under the fencing. An orchard is a great home for Pigs and Wild Boar who keep them tidy with their rooting and eating the surplus apples. We only ever used a few of the apples for ourselves and the Horses. Last year we were able to crush some and feed to the Emu. The Badgers make a meal of the windfalls but there are still a great amount that are left to rot on the ground.
Unfortunately once the Wild Boar had learnt how to get out of the orchard there was no way of keeping them in. They rooted up our pastures and on a few occasions they made their way to the Village, that didn't go down very well with one of our neighbours who's garden they rooted up. The rooting wasn't that bad, just a very newly dug area that had been just planted. None of the plants were damaged until our neighbour decided to throw a wobbly and picked one of the plants up and threw it on the ground protesting that it was ruined. I couldn't resist telling them it was now. So the Wild Boar had to go. Contrary to what you may hear about Wild Boar they are no more dangerous than any other type of pig. I found them more placid than other pigs and we found them a pleasure to keep.
The Orchard without the Wild Boar is now overgrown with weeds and looks an eyesore so I have decided to use the Orchard for what it was intended and make cider. Better still being that October is not one of our busier months we are going to offer cider making holidays. Watch out Diane, Vicky, John and David, and of course Margaret and Marie, regulars to Denbury I have some work for you. Mind you drinking all you can and taking a gallon or more home with you will make it worth while.
We have a small Barn that will be ideal for the Cider making and I have purchased an Antique Cider Press. Trouble is it is in France. Takes some believing that I have to drive to France to purchase a Cider Press when we live in Somerset
the home of Cider. The Press I have purchased is a lot nicer than the traditional Somerset Presses and will fit well into our Barn. Those I have seen locally, and believe me they are very hard to find are being sold for stupid money. In the main they are very big and in very poor condition. They will need to be kept outside because of their size. Not a good idea to be making Cider in the Autumn outside. Today I had four very large wooden Brandy barrels delivered for storing the Cider when made. That of course if there is any left to store.
6:57 Tue 18 May 10
Although the Horses are now turned out there is still lot of work to do causing the Diary entries to keep get putting back.
The Lake has really come to life this year with the introduction of the Black Swans, they have drawn more Waterfowl onto the Lake. There are two lots of Mallard Ducklings one having six the other three, lots of Moorhens with their young and of course the Geese with their four Goslings. We feed the Swan every morning and evening, that has made all of the other Waterfowl come to the feeding place for their share. Most evenings another pair of Geese visit the Lake. The resident pair let them know they are not welcome or I am sure that they would try to nest.
Nearly every day a Heron comes to the lake. We are forever trying to chase it away but no doubt most times we miss seeing it. Heron cause a lot of damage to the Fish, but at this time of year it is worse as the Fish are spawning and they are in the reeds that makes it easy for the Heron to strike. Most Fish are to large for the Heron to eat but it still attacks the Fish causing a lot of injuries and sometimes it kill them.
Every day I walk around the Lake to check the electric fencing and to make sure that there are no other problems. This morning around the unprotected Pond there was a strong smell of the Otter. I haven't seen a lot of evidence that it has been around a lot this year just a couple of piles of the fishes scales that the Otter always leaves, so i will not electric fence the Pond. I have an infra red lamp installed but i don't seem to manage to find enough time to wire it up. it will make good viewing when it is working and it will let me know what sort of problem the Otter is causing.
The Swallows are now nesting, but this year they have not nested in there normal places so we have not been able to show them on the webcams as yet. We have noticed that there are not as many Swallows as there were last year, I should think down by more than 40% of what normally nest in our buildings. It could be that it is still very cold. A few weeks back for well over a month we had a good spell of really warm and dry weather, it made the Rhea nest earlier than they would normally do but now they have stopped laying completely. We have managed to put some eggs in the incubators and most are fertile. unlike Emu eggs Rhea eggs can be candled so that we are able to see if they are fertile early in the incubation period.
I have not managed to see the Badger Cubs yet. I keep seeing the entries on the Forum, although you that is not being used very much now. By the time I check the webcams they have gone. From one year to the next I cant remember what month they first show themselves. I could be wrong but I think that this year it is earlier that most years. I ha vent seen all of the Badgers eating the food altogether this year, so I am not sure how many adults are now in the Sett. I reckon that I have seen seven or maybe eight different ones but I wont be sure of the total until they are all out together.
Thornton is in his element now that we have Lambs. Until we get the Horse Field stock proofed all of the Sheep are housed in the Barn, other than Ewy and three other Ewes, one who has Lambs that are giving us the run around. The Lambs are able to get through the gates that their Mothers are behind, and can be found with Thornton who is free range. He still knocks on our Kitchen door for a biscuit or two, hangs around for an hour or so chilling out in the kitchen but now always returns to the other Sheep.
8:25 Fri 16 Apr 10
The new webcam is of a Robins nest with five eggs in it. The Robin started to sit the eggs today. The nest has been built in a new kitchen cabinet carcass that has been in the building for three years. We have never got round to finish converting to a cottage, so I reckon the Robin thought that there was a good chance that she would not be disturbed. The is not the best image we have shown but unfortunately the Robin decided to nest in between two shelves that are not six inches apart and the space is quite dark, so I have needed to use a very small spy type camera. We have shown a Robin nest before, about two years ago. The Bird had nested deep into a stack of hay bales but some how near to hatching a Magpie raided the nest. You can never be sure but this nest seems a lot safer in the place it has been built.
The Swans and Canadian Gander are just about putting up with each other. One day the Gander will be intimidating the three Swans, the next day it is the other way round. You would think with the difference in sizes and that there are three Swans that the Swans would have the upper hand but the Gander wont let them take liberties. I should think that when the Goslings hatch there could well be some fireworks. I am a little concerned about the times the Goose leaves the nest. I cant remember the eggs being left for so long in previous years and it is still quite cold.
We still only have two Emu Chicks. There are still 40 to 50 eggs in the incubator so we may be lucky and get some more. We did let people have about a 100 eggs from us and there has been up to a 75% hatch rate so there is nothing wrong with the egg fertility. It doesn't look to promising with the Emu who are sitting eggs in the Emu Field, I think most have gone well over their time. Our Rhea are now laying regularly so we will start to incubate some of their eggs once we have enough to incubate.
The Sheep that we were unable to catch a the end of last year have been causing themselves a nuisance with our neighbours so we had to get Alex our Sheep Shearer with his Dog Meg to get them in for us. Trouble was they had to go into the Field that Edwin now lives. Meg was very wary to go into the Field, and Alex having never seen an Emu before wasn't even with my assurance as to his safety to keen. Well I have not laughed so much in a long time for Edwin decided that at full speed and Emu really can motor along he was going to chase Meg. Alex must have thought I have not told the truth about his safety for he was continually looking over his shoulder in concern. They were both well pleased to be out of the Field. The Sheep with Ewys help were not to easy to round up and we only managed to get five of the nine into the Barn, Ewy taking herself and three other Ewes in a different direction. Alex was meant to return but we haven't seen him. It could well be that he is concerned for his safety. The way Edwin played up I cant blame him. I hope Alex didn't hear me laugh.
You have probably notice that the Rats at the Badger feeding places have gone. Cant say that I miss them. Those on the main Badger feeding area must have died through the cold in the Winter. I managed to get rid of those in the lower area.
In about another two weeks time the 1st of May the Horses go out for the Summer. It has been a hard Winter at Denbury. A lot colder and wetter than I can remember before. Having the Emu, Rhea and Swans increased our workload that made it difficult to do a regular Diary. Once the Horses go out there will be less work to do and I will do a Diary more often.
8:37 Sun 04 Apr 10
The Rhea have been mating for a few weeks now and today We found our first Rhea egg, it is slightly smaller than a Emu egg and is white in colour where an Emu egg is a dark green colour.
Friday has now got a play mate, i went to have a look in the incubator this morning and there was a half open egg with legs dangling from the bottom. I pulled the egg apart and there was a baby Emu tweeting away. He/she is now named Easter.
9:10 Fri 02 Apr 10
Hi Everyone Vicky here again.
Can anyone remember Mr Farmer mentioning on the diary that he had a power cut when Julia and Chris were holidaying here at Denbury in February? He thought that he had lost all the fertile Emu eggs that were in the incubator at the time. On the 1st of April one of the eggs hatched to Mr Farmers delight, and we have been looking after the baby Emu, as he/she is the only Emu that has hatched so far he/she was lonley so i bought a teddy bear and he/she now cuddles upto it to sleep. Mr Farmer has named the Emu "Friday" as he/she hatched the day before Good Friday. We don't know what sex Friday is the only way to tell is by having a blood test. I have put some photos of Friday on my Flickr.
Thank you all for your lovely comments about the diaries i have written while here at Denbury, this will be the last diary while i'm at Denbury this time as i'm off home tomorrow.
Take care all and HAPPY EASTER!!!
8:29 Tue 30 Mar 10
Hi Everyone Vicky here again.
It looks like the canada geese have started sitting on the eggs she has laid on the island. They should hatch in approximately 28 days, so we will have to keep reminding Mr Farmer when the 28 days is up which will be around the 26th of April.
Did Anyone see the 11 Red Deer in the valley last night? i definitely saw 2 Stags that were clashing antlers, one of those stags only had one antler, i can only suspect that he is shedding his antlers as they do at this time of the year allowing them to grow new ones for rutting this year. The remainder of the group could possibly of been young males or males that have already lost their antlers, as Red Deer spend most of the year in single-sex groups apart from the rutting season.
Some of you have asked about Rupert the Emu. He is doing very well, his wounds are healing nicely and has got a very good appetite.
There has been no more new lambs born in the barn, but one more new lamb has been born in the field so far this week.
I forgot to mention on the diary on friday that after i had been helping Mr Farmer feed the animals i returned to the cottage and to my suprise i saw a Male Sparrowhawk sitting on the guttering of the barn less than 15 feet in front of me. I took some photo's, which i have put on my flickr.
Hope you have enjoyed my diary!
7:29 Fri 26 Mar 10
Hi Everyone Vicky here again.
When Mr Farmer went to feed the Emus last week, he did a head count as he always does, he realised that there was one Emu missing. after searching around the farm he found the missing Emu in a different field. The Emu was very ill and couldn't even stand, he may well of been attacked. Mr Farmer Carried the Emu into the stable where he was fed and nurtured back to health. He is now living in the field with Branston (a horse). Mr Farmer has named him Rupert and he is very friendly taking food from my hand.
On Monday Mr Farmer spared a few minutes to take us around the bottom lake to show us the fish scales which the otter had left. While round the lake Mr Farmer spotted Toads mating, which i have taken some photos of.
On Tuesday Morning we were delighted by the arrival of 3 new lambs. One lamb was born in the barn and is Mr Farmers first little girl this year, she has taking a liking to laying in the food trough. Twins lambs have been born in the field but she keeps taking them into the woods.
Also another suprise were the first two Swallows to arrive back at Denbury.
I have put photos of Rupert, Toads and Lambs on to my flickr.
I am currently on holiday at Denbury. Mr Farmer is very busy at the moment and he has asked me if i would mind doing a diary for him, so here goes.
The ewes in the barn have given birth to 4 lambs upto now. The first lamb being Thorntons Nephew, then there are 2 twin boys and the most recent lamb being born this morning which i also believe to be a little boy. We may well have some more lambs in the next few days, i will keep you updated. The ewes in the field should be lambing anytime but no sign of any lambs as yet.
The Canada Geese have now made a nest on the island and when i went down to the lake this afternoon the female was sitting on the nest, so maybe she is sitting on eggs only time will tell.
Also while i was down at the lake the 3 black swans Chased the Gander onto the bank, hopefully this will be a one off as Mr Farmer hasn't had any trouble before between the geese and the swans.
When sending in photos to Mr Farmer would it be possible to resize them to 640x480 so they can be uploaded straight onto the gallery, this would help Mr Farmer with him being so very busy at the moment.
While i'm at Denbury i will hopefully be taking lots of photos, i already have a few of the new lambs which i will be putting on my Flickr page with many more photos from around the farm.
If any of you would like to pop in and see the photos the web address is:
11 to 13 Our Geese on the Lake from last year. Vicky. Sent in so that I can see if they are last years. That your job on the 17th.
14 - 15 The Taunton Starling roost. Must admit although I promised I forgot. When I realised I asked a couple of Businesses that I know on the industrial estate if I could install a camera using there computer. They wouldn't have none of it. There are flats that overlook the roost @I will knock and ask a couple of people. They may just think that I am not the ticket.
Also not done on purpose, all the photographs were sent in by people who have holidayed at Denbury other than Lynne. Lynne is coming this year as are the others on return visits.
6:51 Fri 05 Mar 10
Some of you may have noticed that the Barn Owl nest cam has sound. As soon as the Owls have laid their eggs we could see them in colour.
It was a bit of a surprise seeing a Lamb this morning, more so as I only mentioned in Tuesdays Diary that I did not expect any until Easter time. It was Thornton's Sister who gave birth. The Lamb has the same markings as Thornton when he was born having a brown ring around his neck. I am sure Vicky will have a photograph of Thornton with the same marking. When she reads this she will send it in and I will take a photograph tomorrow and do a full page of new photographs including Thornton.
Ramsden nearly finished up the same way as our last Ram (Ramsden) did. We found him being mauled by Branston this morning. If we did not see him doing it when we did the Ram would have been dead. Branston had him on the ground and was stamping on him. After we got Branston away it took Ramsden a while to get up and he didn't look to good. Eventually he managed to walk but he has hurt on of his back legs. Nothing to serious but giving him a limp. It must be something to do with Rams that Brandston does not like for we not realise that he must have killed our last Ram. The Ram is being a bit of a pain by getting out of the penned area by jumping over the top of the gates. He is getting very good at getting out. First he was head butting a tied up gate and breaking the hay ties that it was tied with. Not an easy thing to do. We used a much stronger cord to tie the gate, but that only made him more determined to get out and when the cord didn't break over the gate he jumped. We raised the gates but he just jumped higher. He is back in the pen tonight. I shouldn't think he will be able to jump much tonight.
The Canada Geese are on the Lake more than they are not, so it is looking promising. Our domestic Geese have started to lay so the Canada cant be far from laying.
6:30 Tue 02 Mar 10
How do I know that the Geese now looking as if they are going to nest are those from last year. To be honest I could never be a 100% sure, but they look and act as last years Geese do. We have a couple of power lines close to the Lake and nearly all that land on the Lake come in at different angles. These on the Lake fly in as last years nesting pair and they are returning every day without any arguments with the Swans. There were a lot of photographs taken of the nesting Geese by our Holiday Guests. Vicky and her parents are coming again in two weeks time. I know she has some photographs, so we will know for sure. I will let you know.
We are hoping that Minty one of the oldest of our Ewes is not in Lamb this year. We would have stopped her mating if we had got her in earlier, but with Ewy making the Sheep break every time we tried to get them in we were lucky that she is in at all. Minty did struggle with her Lambs last year. Mind you they were extremely good Lambs but they took so much out of her she was struggling to get to her feet and that was with us feeding her a couple o times a day. On most Farms she would have finished up as Mutton, maybe on Robins plate. Fortunately for Minty she is here until her dieing days.
Being that our Sheep are free range we are not sure of the date they will Lamb, but I reckon it should be about Easter time. Most are old hands at Lambing, so I don't expect to many problems, but you can never tell. With Minty we will have to watch her to make sure that her Lambs (if she has any have) has had her colostrum. If need be we will have to help her.
Thornton has decided to have a night or two in the Farm House. Unfortunately he is deciding after we are in bed is a good time. Unfortunately for him we stay put. He does get annoyed and rams the door a few time before giving in and going back with the Barn with the other Sheep. Trouble is if we let him in he wants something to eat, like a few ginger nuts, so by the time he is settled it is getting on for half an hour later. You can guarantee that as soon as he hears us in the morning he comes for his ginger nuts.
I have stopped collecting the Emu eggs in the hope that some will hatch naturally. Emu are incubated by the Male Emu who sit the eggs for the whole 55 days without eating. There are three sitting at the moment. One I know hasn't got a chance. One has been sitting for nearly a month and another has just started with just two eggs. When I walked around the Emu Field this evening there were another few Males protecting a couple of eggs each, so who knows we may be lucky.
7:13 Fri 26 Feb 10
I have been trying to find the time to get an infra-red lamp working to see the Pond next to the Lake where the Otter killed a Fish that Julia told you about on her stay a Denbury a few weeks ago. The lamp is position to see the Otter if it attempts to get a Fish. We seem to have been fortunate up to now as it seems that the Otter is only visiting the Pond now and then. I have started to put an electric fence around the Pond but if the Otter does not cause e any problems I will leave it as it is and we may see it.
We were not so fortunate a few years back when we must have had an Otter visiting who had Pups. Every morning for weeks we would find the scale of our biggest Fish on the bank where the Otter had eaten the night before. Never did find their Holt. After we started to walk the dogs around the Lake we had a lot less problems. The Otter must not have liked the Dogs scent. Although it could well have been that the Otter had taken all of the biggest Fish and wasn't to fussed about the others.
A lot of fisheries are having to close because of the Otter problem. Lakes are very expensive to protect from Otters, unless they have a mains electric supply they need expensive fencing. We are fortunate having electric close to the Lake so we can use electric fencing that is a less costly option. The Environment Agency needs to act to help fishery owners to protect their investments or there will be a decline of Otters when owners decide to take the law into their own hand and start killing Otters. The Otter was all but extinct in a lot of Counties, but with the reintroduction there are becoming to many and they are causing problems. The reason for them nearly becoming extinct was for one reason only, that was that the Otter was killing to many Fish in the Lakes, Rivers and Streams, Fish that people would catch and eat before transport made it possible for delivery of fresh Fish to shops. Otter hunting was carried out for that reason and that caused the decline of the Otter, not pesticide killing them. It is not rocket science all you need is to read Tarka the Otter. With the protection of our Lake that I have put in, that was also to protect the wildlife we as of yet have only had a small loss of our Fish.
About eight Canada Geese where on the Lake yesterday morning. Four were pairs who had been there for a couple of Days. One pair from last year. It made the Gander let the others know that the Goose was his and I saw them mating. When the others flew off they took with them one of the Ganders, so at the moment there are just three left. It is looking promising that on pair will nest as there are no arguments as yet with the Black Swans.
10:39 Tue 23 Feb 10
I have been trying to find the time to get an infra-red lamp working to see the Pond next to the Lake where the Otter killed a Fish that Julia told you about on her stay a Denbury a few weeks ago. The lamp is position to see the Otter if it attempts to get a Fish. We seem to have been fortunate up to now as it seems that the Otter is only visiting the Pond now and then. I have started to put an electric fence around the Pond but if the Otter does not cause e any problems I will leave it as it is and we may see it.
We were not so fortunate a few years back when we must have had an Otter visiting who had Pups. Every morning for weeks we would find the scale of our biggest Fish on the bank where the Otter had eaten the night before. Never did find their Holt. After we started to walk the dogs around the Lake we had a lot less problems. The Otter must not have liked the Dogs scent. Although it could well have been that the Otter had taken all of the biggest Fish and wasn't to fussed about the others.
A lot of fisheries are having to close because of the Otter problem. Lakes are very expensive to protect from Otters, unless they have a mains electric supply they need expensive fencing. We are fortunate having electric close to the Lake so we can use electric fencing that is a less costly option. The Environment Agency needs to act to help fishery owners to protect their investments or there will be a decline of Otters when owners decide to take the law into their own hand and start killing Otters. The Otter was all but extinct in a lot of Counties, but with the reintroduction there are becoming to many and they are causing problems. The reason for them nearly becoming extinct was for one reason only, that was that the Otter was killing to many Fish in the Lakes, Rivers and Streams, Fish that people would catch and eat before transport made it possible for delivery of fresh Fish to shops. Otter hunting was carried out for that reason and that caused the decline of the Otter, not pesticide killing them. It is not rocket science all you need is to read Tarka the Otter. With the protection of our Lake that I have put in, that was also to protect the wildlife we as of yet have only had a small loss of our Fish.
About eight Canada Geese where on the Lake yesterday morning. Four were pairs who had been there for a couple of Days. One pair from last year. It made the Gander let the others know that the Goose was his and I saw them mating. When the others flew off they took with them one of the Ganders, so at the moment there are just three left. It is looking promising that on pair will nest as there are no arguments as yet with the Black Swans.
6:27 Wed 24 Feb 10
Rye Harbour is looking for a volunteer qualified Electrician to help get the Island camera working this year so that we can watch the Black Headed Gulls and Terns nesting. The camera stopped working last year before the nesting season. The year before was very good. Barry is capable of doing the work but as he is not qualified his Bosses have stopped him doing it. If any one in the area can help you can email Barry on barry.yates@eastsussex.gov.uk
There will be a link to our Twitter page on both Denbury Farm and Wildlife TV very soon. I will give the login info to SWT, Rye and the Barn Owl Trust so if they want they can Twitter.
I see that there is interest in Ewy. The run about she has caused us I reckon the best place for her is on a plate with mint sauce.
Last year because the Sheep were free roaming more than my neighbours appreciated we tried to get the Sheep into the Barn where they could stay until the lambed. We managed to get half of them in but Ewy didn't like that idea and decided to have it away. Unfortunately she was in the middle of the flock and when she bolted all those behind her followed. Now we cant get near them without them all bolting. They are now more free range than they have ever been and it is causing a lot of worry with them free ranging on other peoples land. Back before Christmas we nearly got the roaming Sheep out of the Horse Field gate, once through they would have been nearly caught but it was Ewy that broke taking the rest with her. I want them in the Barn for when they are lambing that could be any time soon so I will probably have to get the person who shears them for us to bring his dog over to get them in. What ever I bet we wont get Ewy.
It is looking promising with the Canada Geese. Two days ago two pairs flew in. One was definitely last years pair. Although the two pairs just about stood each other they kept each other more or less at arms length. When I went to feed the Swans last years pair called out and swam in the hope of food. I have started to feed them now when I feed the Swans in the hope that it will encourage them to stay. None of the Geese were on the Lake this morning when I went to feed the Swans but they were when I fed tonight, and swam towards me honking in expectation.
7:07 Mon 22 Feb 10
There are 15 new photographs on the Photo Page. Lynne said that it was about time I got rid of the Christmas photographs. I will put those she sent in to replace them in a few days time.
4 sent in by Vicky of Dennis. The third one you can see the Chickens Dennis would hang around with.
5 sent by Simon. Had these since before Xmas
1 sent in by Elaine. Have been looking through my memory sticks and found a photo of Robin's bridesmaid dress don't know if you want to put it on the gallery so everyone will know what we are talking about.
2 foot long icicles hanging from my gutters!
Janice.Leeds
Fieldfare's that have been visiting our garden(not best photos I know, they were taken through a window) Rose W'canton
Last one from Julia. There are more that I will put on over the next few days.
Who would ever believe that a Turkey could be a pet. We never did for one moment, but after hatching them we soon realised what a friendly bird they were. After hatching they were kept in our wash room until they were sold or could cope with being put outside in a stable under heat lamps. Very quickly after hatching when ever Mrs.Farmer went into the wash room to feed the Turkey Chicks they would fly to her and perch on her shoulder or arms. Dennis was one of many who did it.
A friend who had given us a lot of Bantam eggs would not take any payment for them. As payment we decided that we would give her a pair of the Turkeys that we knew she would keep as an edition to her large collection of Poultry. Four Turkey chicks were kept to let grow on. Two for our friend and two for ourselves.
Fortunately the four Turkey chicks turned out to be two Hens and two Stags and as Turkeys do they grew very quickly and soon reached a size that we could give our friend her pair of Turkeys. Our Friend collected her pair a week after we told her they were ready, but unfortunately one of the hens died. We promised a pair so we finished up with one Stag, our Dennis.
Dennis very quickly made friends with our Buff Orpingtons and Silky's when we allowed him to free range around the Farm Yard and when ever any of our Holiday Guests in the cottage next to the Farm House would sit outside Dennis would lay by their feet, sometimes even on them. He was a big hit and a favorite with every one who met him. Tass and Kye would often give him a sniff and a lick. Every night when Mrs.Farmer put the Chickens and Bantams in their houses Dennis would follow her as if he was helping. When he strayed into the Horses corral the Horses would often reach down to him, always being careful not to step on him.
It was about three days before Dennis died that we noticed that he was not himself. Nothing that would cause a lot of concern, only that he needed watching. Yesterday morning he had obviously got worse and was scouring so I gave him antibiotics. He sat on the lawn in front of the Farm House getting no better or worse. One of our Holiday Guests came to tell us that Dennis was being bothered by the Buff Orpingtons. They were not bothering him, one was gently pawing his back to get him up, an other lightly touching Dennis around his face with its beak. It was very touching to see, and we really did not expect to see such concern by Chickens.
As Dennis had not got any better by the time he would have been put into his house we decided to take him into the Farm House for the night so that we could give him a little water, as with him scouring he must have been dehydrating. Tass and Kye just accepted Dennis in the Kitchen, going to him now and then as if to see how he was. We managed to give him a little water but at about 9.30pm he was having a type of convulsion. At about 10.10pm Dennis died.
We have no idea what caused Dennis to die. He was scouring but if it was something that he had eaten. The other Chickens would have been eating it to and they have shown no signs of illness.
Dennis was very special pet to us so we decided to bury him with where we bury our other pets at the end of their lives. It was very sad having to dig his grave, and very upsetting burying Dennis.
We will hatch another Dennis very soon as Turkeys are really great and nice to have around. As all of our Holiday Guests and any one who met Dennis will tell you. Who would ever believe a Turkey could be a pet.
8:38 Sun 21 Feb 10
We have decided to try Twitter. You can catch upon the latest news on our Twitter site. http://twitter.com/denburyfarm Join and be one of our followers http://twitter.com
Although the Emu and Rhea are . easy to look after they have increased our workload giving me less time to do a Diary or upload any photographs on the Gallery but I will try harder.
Three batches of the Emu eggs have not hatched, so it seems that the power cut we had did not do us any favours. The three batches came from the small incubator. It is possible that the bigger incubator may not had suffered so much, but I wont be holding my breath. We were looking forward to having the Emu Chicks to show on the webcams and for our Holiday Guests to see. The Emu are still laying and we have managed to put another 40 eggs in the incubator since the power cut. We have let two Emu sit eggs in their paddock. One is very diligent and has not moved off of the eggs at all. The other one is a waste of time, on and off its nest allowing the eggs to get cold. Other females are still laying on the nest, but they will not hatch so I am having to put my hand under the Emu to find the new laid eggs.
We have given up trying to return Edwin back with the other Emu. We have returned him twice but he just comes back to be close to the Farm House. When we went looking for our Sheep a couple of weeks back we found the way Edwin was getting back to the Farm. There were some of his feathers on a fence where he had got through, so as we thought he was travelling nearly a mile through the Woods and Fields to get back to us.
The Black Swans really have brought the Lake alive since they have been here. We are getting lots of Geese and Ducks visiting. There have never been so many Ducks living on the Lake. There have been a two regular small flocks of Canada Geese visiting, some times staying over night. One a flock of six and another of eleven. The good news is that last years breeding pair are coming regular and have been going on to the Island. This morning we have seen them mating and chasing off the other Geese. Not sure how the Swans will react as they have also been visiting the Island over the past two weeks, so much so that they flattened the grass that I usually need to strim. Could be that they are trying to stop the Geese from settling.
Have to finish now as Dennis is very unwell. Must admit it doesnt look good. I have given him antibiotics and we have got him in the Farm House in front of the aga keeping him warm. His breathing is very laboured, he is not eating but we are trying to get him to take a little water with a syringe. I will let you know how he gets on.
5:49 Wed 10 Feb 10
There were not many who disagreed with me on the Forum about the Fox. Many no doubt kept there opinions to themselves. But I hope the photograph of the dead Goose with its head ripped off will show those who protested the loudest that they need to think very seriously of what their choice would be. But take into consideration that this Goose was one of 12 that we offered to buy as they were in a dark barn and we wanted to give them a good home and a better life than they had. This Goose had a small problem with her legs and was named Wobbly because of her walk. Also take into consideration what stress, fear and pain she went through before she had her head ripped off by the Fox.
5:33 Fri 05 Feb 10
We had a power cut on Monday/Tuesday night. We only knew about it at 5.30am when one of our holiday guests knocked us up after realising that the incubators would have stopped. The electricity company were quick to respond finding a main fuse on an outside pole had blown, but it was not until nearly 8.am before we had our electricity working.
Unfortunately it looks very much as if we have lost all of the Emu Eggs that we had incubating. The fist 20 were due this to hatch this week but but there is no signs of any hatching. There are about a 100 egg incubating. Being that we are unable to candle the Emu Eggs we will have to let them go for the full 55 days just in case by chance the odd one survived. I am not holding my breath. We must have had nearly 200 eggs and have managed to put 18 new one in the incubator yesterday. I am not sure how many more eggs we will get. I have let two Male Emu sit eggs. One is sitting over 10, not sure about the other one. The intention was to allow after this week all of the eggs to be hatch naturally by the Emu. But I would like to incubate some eggs. Until I let the Emu sit the eggs we were getting 20 plus eggs a week but that has reduced now they are sitting. We may be lucky.
This afternoon I went to show Julia and Chris the signs of where the Otter was on the bottom Pond. I expected to find some of Otter droppings, but the first sign of the Otter that we came across was the scales of a 10lb Carp that the Otter must have had for his dinner last evening. That is how you can tell if it is an Otter rather than Mink. Mink will eat all of the Fish, the Otter will leave the scales. About 10 years ago there must have been an Otter with Cubs on the main Lake as every day for weeks I was finding the scale from 1 or 2 large Fish by the side of the Lake. The main lake as you know is electric fenced against both the Otter and the Fox. Seeing the scales today has given me a reality check and realised that the Fish taken would cost in the region of £100 to replace, so this afternoon I have started to electric fence the Pond. I had hoped not to have needed to and I was going to put an infra-red lamp close to the Pond in the hope that we would be able to see the Otter. I will still put the lamp up, but although we will still see the Otter it will only be when it is passing through. Well that what I hope or it is going to cost a lot of money in lost Fish.
Yesterday and today two small flocks of Canada Geese landed on the Lake. As Julia told you when she went to photograph yesterdays flock of about 12, they flew off when they saw her approaching. Today a different flock of 6 young Geese flew in and have stayed all day. They did take off late this afternoon but only to circled overhead and fly back in. When we left the Lake they looked very much as if they may stay overnight. This morning when the flew in a couple of them ventured onto the Island without thinking twice about it, as if they had been there before. I wonder if any of them were last years Goslings. When I fed the Swans this afternoon they nearly came over for the food. The Swans were not best pleased for them to land on the Lake, and have half heartedly attempted to chase them off of the Lake a couple of times, but it did not work. So we may see a breeding pair on the Lake again this year.
6:33 Thu 28 Jan 10
The Geese returned this morning. We heard their honking as we went out to feed the Horses and Emu. The Swans know they are there and are not best pleased, staying in their protected area, not coming out for their morning feed even though the Geese were at the other end of the Lake. Seeing the Swans food the Geese went to the area and were hovering about not sure that they were safe to go close to eat it.
A week or so back we had a flock of 12 Geese land and were harassed by the Swans until they flew off. This encounter is going quite differently so it could be that there was a bit of a set to before I saw them. The Swans being only a year old may be intimidated by the older Geese, Although when the Swan swam in the direction of the Geese the Geese went in direction. Some one mentioned about the Swans mating this year. Black Swans as Emu mate in the Winter. Normally laying their eggs about late November, but not until they are at least two years old. The Geese flew off after more than an hour. They will come and go over the next month or so, making up their mind if they are going to nest on the Lake. That is of course that seeing the Swan will stop them returning. I hope they nest this year on the Lake as it had a good ending last year with the Geese producing 5 live Gosling. The first time on our Lake. Seeing them fly off when they fledged was a great moment, only exceeded when they made a quick visit with the Goslings before they flew away to where ever they over Winter.
What I hope that the Geese don't do is to try to nest by the Pond next to the Lake. It is not protected from the Fox or Otter with electric fencing and there is no Island. Being let down with having the new lake dug out in September spoilt what I had in my mind to do by putting the Swan on the new Lake. If this dry spell continues we may be able to start the new Lake in a month or so. That will still be to late.
6:12 Tue 26 Jan 10
Mary, the red blob is a milk crate that I left up there when I was trying to get the other Badger webcam working. I will try to get it going when it warms up a bit.
It is going to be interesting if all the Emu eggs hatch. There are about a 100 in the incubators, and we have sold a good few eggs. I should think we wont have a lot of trouble selling any Chicks as they are really nice to keep. I always thought that the Reindeer was my favorite animal to keep, but I am starting to think that the inquisitive Emu is starting to take preference. The intention was to sell a few pairs, but I have now decided to fence the main Horse Field with stock proof fencing and let the Emu share the Field with the Horses. They will be a good combination for the good of the Field.
Some one asked about the Swan that went to a Sanctuary with an injury. I was told that it died. I am not convinced, with the amount of Swans they have there is no chance of me recognising it.
6:00 Sun 24 Jan 10
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Edds Emu Chick.
Edds Emu Chick with his dog and three of the late Asbo prodigy that Edd hatched.
Another of the Chick
Edwin our Emu who prefers human company.
Emu feather. As you can see one main quill that branches off into two feathers,
I believe I told you in November when I found my first Emu egg. I didn't bother to try to incubate it as I was unsure how old it was. I left it on the side in our kitchen for a good three weeks before mentioning it to Edd a Farmer from where we get our corn to feed the animals on the Farm. A week later when I returned to collect another load of corn I gave the egg to Edd telling him that I was not over confident that it would hatch. Yesterday afternoon Edd phoned me to tell that the egg was starting to hatch. Edd has just phoned me to tell that he has a live Emu Chick. I am jealous. At least I know that we may get some chicks from the nearly a hundred that are now in the incubator. The Emu have layed over 140 eggs up to now.
Most of the Chickens have been kept in their houses since we lost the last one. Yesterday and today we let those that are just outside the Farm House kitchen door. Two White Silkies, a few Buff Orpington and Dennis. As Mrs.Farmer went to feed the Badgers last night the Fox had just taken one of the White Silkies, just a few yards from the kitchen door. The same Fox that was eating at the Badgers feeding area very soon after. Mrs.Farmer is well upset.
Mick I really am pleased that I was not your neighbour when you were feeding your dead chickens to Fox. Every type of animal or bird has it own scent. Once a Fox takes a Chicken he will remember that scent as an easy kill and will continue to take the easy kill until he can get no more. If Mr.Fox could not get to your Chickens because of your electric fencing, for sure he would have been looking for your neighbors tasty birds after you giving him a taste. As you said Mick the Fox soon learns.
As for those who have suggested trapping the Fox and taking it to another area. I don't think that you could have seriously thought about the implications. Or would you think it right to give some other person your problem so that their Chicken are taken by Mr.Fox. Or release the captured Fox in another Fox territory. Have you thought about that the other Fox might just not want him there. As for trapping, I don't believe that any of you would be successful. As the saying goes crafty or as sly as a Mr.Fox. He is not for catching easy. So we wont be trying the trapping angle.
We are getting our Fox problem because we are in the middle the Fox mating season. For sure the Fox taking our Chickens is a young Dog Fox intruder being drawn in by a Vixen on heat. We have Fox close to the Farm. Other than about ten years ago they never gave us any problems. There are for most of the time someone working outside with our two dogs close to the Chickens and other animals, not a place a Fox would want to intrude on unless very hungry. They wont put themselves in unnecessary danger with our Dogs when ample food is available in their close territory. As you can see on the webcams we have more than enough Rabbits, Pheasant and other food sources to keep a Fox more than well fed. The Dog Fox intruder will hang around until the Vixen becomes receptive. Depending on what part of the Vixens cycle the Dog Fox arrived will depend how long he will hang around. If it is a long time he will become very hungry. Not being familiar with the area he will take the easiest food he can find. Our Free Range Chicken. Even after the mating season is over he will still hang about whilst he can smell the scent of easy food.
It is well known on this Forum that I have always been against hunting with dogs, but I never believed that peoples rights should be taken away with the ban. We need more referendum's in this Country. If a referendum had been held on hunting with dog there would still have been a ban, but it would have been easier for the hunting fraternity to accept it. Since the ban I have had to question part of the ban. In a few circumstances it is causing animals to suffer by more than alternatives than hunting itself. Fox are now being controlled by snaring and lamping. Caught in a snare a Fox may be left to die in agony for a week or more with the snare wire cutting deep into it neck or body, making the Fox struggle more and more trying to escape. Lamping in usually when people guns are lined up on the rear of a Land Rover type vehicle. The vehicle goes around farmland with very bright lamps looking for Fox. When they see a Fox they chase after it taking shots at the Fox with a shotgun. With the vehicles bouncing about over farm land, getting an accurate shot is difficult and very often the Fox escapes through a hedge wounded. The festering gangrene wound may take weeks to finally kill the Fox. Some times the hunts did illegally drag a Fox from it earth, a hole or pipe. Blame those enforcing the law, but it still died a lot quicker than being wounded by snaring or being shot by people lamping.
I can not see any reason for deer hunting. If there are an over population of Deer they will start to encroach on crops, it is then for the Farmers to cull by shooting. Done by professional the Deer will not suffer. It is the Poachers who hunt in the night that injure rather than kill. Mick and Marie/NJ argument about we are inhabiting and taking over the Wildlife's natural area is ridiculous. The worlds population is increasing unless you are prepared to stop humans mating as they partially do in China or go back to living in the open, caves and woods. You are not going to stop it. Don't know about Marie but Mick has mentioned his Son. If he was sincere in his argument he should of and any others who feel the same should have kept their pants on and not had Children.
I don't pretend to know every thing about Country Life and ways. But I live the life daily. I know when we have a problem, and I know when we need to do some thing about the problem. Our web stats for our website shows me that over 95% of our visitors live in towns and cities, so I can understand that there are many who speak with their hearts rather than their heads. I did when I lived in a City.
I can not find the entry on the Forum but some one thought that I may take offence at the criticism about shooting the Fox and close the website. I believe in free speech and I don't mind being criticised, so it would not make me shut shop and disappear. I hope none of you take offence about the recent Diaries. Although Mr.Fox may.
10:54 Fri 22 Jan 10
Well, well there are a few entries on the forum that are judging me for telling that if I cant protect our Chickens, Geese and Turkey with electric fencing I will have to shoot it. I may have misunderstood today's entry by Maria that I am encouraging the Fox by feeding the Badgers. If it had not been for the Badgers in the first place there would never had been the Wildlife TV website and the web cams. So I make no apologises for feeding the Badgers. Before we started to feed the Badgers we had our Children's Chickens taken by a Fox. Feeding the Badgers is not the cause of the Fox taking the Chickens.
Yesterday after leaving the Chickens, Geese and Turkey in their housing housing for two days we let them out to stretch their legs and our Black Rock Chicken was taken by the Fox, and that was even with us checking them every ten to fifteen minutes. And no Mick (Hampshire) it was not a Stoat or Mink, it was a Fox.
Unfortunately after having a very careful look at the possibility of electric fencing it will not be practical as there are to many access points and gates that are in constant use. I even considered a large fenced area for the Chickens, Geese and Turkey but the cost of such a structure is prohibitive and it takes away our choice of having the Birds free range and the Birds their freedom. I purchased the Geese as they were confined in an unsuitable area and I felt that they should have their freedom.
I like most welcomed the ban on hunting with dogs. But with no natural predator there is no way of that the Fox can be controlled other than them being shot. Why should they be controlled? There are to many. Even before the hunting ban their natural boundaries were extended into out Town and Cities where they are classed as vermin. Because of their scavenging for food around dustbins that have caused an increase in rat population. Hunting although I still believe is cruel, it is a much better option than shooting. They are even killed outright or get away. With shooting there is always the chance that the Fox will suffer weeks of agony with wounds.
I believe that all of our Wildlife is important and have over the years done more than most to protect it. I do not relish even the thought that it may be necessary to kill a Fox, but domesticated Animals and Birds are of no less of importance than than those in the Wild. I introduced the Chickens, Geese and Turkey to Denbury and I have a duty to protect them from predator. Is it right that the Birds are slaughtered, some times not even as a meal without giving them protection. It could be that some of you may feel that domesticated fowl are less important than a Fox. I don't.
We know and feel for all of the Animals and Birds that we keep at Denbury, as you would your own Pets. Would you allow your pets to be attacked or killed without doing all you could to stop it? I spent many hours and a lot of money electric fencing the Lake to stop the Fox and Otter from killing the Canadian Geese. More for the Geese and Ducks than our Fish. It was a bonus that it protected both. Unfortunately electric fencing will not work to protect the Birds.
No doubt some of those judging me are the same who sit down to eat their Sunday joint and two veg. The joint that got its way to your table starting as a living Animal at a Farm, travelling maybe hundreds of miles in a crowded lorry to a livestock market. To be penned up for hours tightly packed waiting to go into the auction ring where they are prodded and poked to keep them moving, before being put back into their pens to wait hours to be shipped to holding farms before finishing up in a slaughter house, again waiting for hours smelling the fear of death before they are shot in the head or electrically stunned, hung up within seconds with the chance that their skins and hides are ripped off of their backs before they are properly dead. Or maybe you had a Chicken for your dinner. The same Chicken that was hooked upside down by one leg before having its throat cut still flapping its wings trying to escape why being plucked. Maybe you had Fish. The same Fish that was trawled and netted by the thousands. So much weight in the nets that other than those Fish at the top where squashed, then allowed to die a lingering death on the deck of a trawler. If it is necessary to kill a Fox it will be done to protect, not for gain
Sue, Middlesex. I don't allow links.
6:30 Wed 20 Jan 10
Every evening that I try to write an entry some thing comes up and it never gets started.
Three days ago a Fox had one of our Chickens. To be honest with the amount of Geese that we have who were in the area where the Fox stuck, we should have been warned with the noise that they make, but we did not hear a sound. I thought until the next day when he had another taken that it may have been a Sparrow Hawk or an Owl. All of the Chickens are very friendly and the first that was taken was Fluffy a Black Silky. We got it with a White Silky that an Owl had on the first day that we let it out. Fluffy was one of our Holiday guests favorite Chickens, she would always be a the Cottages doors waiting for a crumb or two.
Being that I thought that it was a Sparrow Hawk or Owl I didn't take any precautions in case it returned. That was a big mistake as on Monday the Fox returned and had Asbo. We had not had Asbo very long and he was originally purchased only to produce Chicks. Although he had come from a Farm where he would not have come into much contact with people he was extremely friendly and like Fluffy he was a great favorite with our Holiday Guests. At least we have nearly 100 of his off springs.
We cant take the risk that the Fox will take more of the Chicken and Geese so for the past two days every one is in their houses and will have to stay there until we can get a electric fenced area for them. I have not had a firearms licence for nearly twelve years but I am applying for one today in case we can not stop the Fox from taking the Chickens.
Most of you know my feelings about hunting with dogs, but since the ban there are many more Fox around. As much as I don't like Fox hunting it was a better alternative than having to shoot them. Shooting a Fox can leave them injured rather that killing the outright as with hunting and they may have weeks of pain with shot gun wounds.
Some of you saw the Fox in the Valley the other night. There were three. Probably a Vixen in season and two suitors. I must admit if I had a shotgun there would have been one or two less.
6:55 Sun 10 Jan 10
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
A few days ago I saw a lonely Wagtail in the garden - quite sad, they're always in flocks!!
Today we had about 10-12 Fieldfares in the garden, also a couple of Redwings although I didn't get any good pics of them! Julia
It got a lot warmer here today. Still very cold but in some areas near the buildings we even had a little melting. A lot different than we were told only last night that there was going to be steady snow all day. Pity John Hirst the top man at the Met Office wasn't told. He was on Sky News this afternoon trying to explain what went wrong with the mild winter that was promised. We didn't really say that he told us, but our five day forecasts are very reliable. Crap, the five day are nearly the worse after the 24 hour forecast that they change after looking out of the window and realising it is not what they had forecast the night before. I think I told you what our forecaster said to me when I rang the BBC Bristol weather office manned by a Richard Angwin who is employed by the Met Office. I complained that he had forecast a dry day the evening before the the day I had rang and it was pouring down. Had I refreshed the page he asked, as I have changed the forecast in the last hour. Unreal.
We have been feeding the Emu, Rhea and Swans three times a day with the weather being as cold as it is. The extra food will help them generate more body heat. The Birds seem to be a lot more mobile since. They have been a worry. I know that they acclimatise but seeing them sat outside in the cold is a concern when they originate from Australia. The Emu feathers deflect the suns heat so I hope that they are also good protection against the cold. The feathers are also unique. Two feathers branch out from one quill. If I remember I will put a photograph of one on the Photo Page.
Mick asked about the new Lake. Unfortunately it has not been started. I must admit I am getting concerned that it wont be ready for when the Geese return. The Swans wont chase the Geese away, but the Geese if they do try to stay on the Lake may harass the Swans. Black Swans are the only Swans that will live amicably together in the breeding season. The Geese we have had on the Lake are the complete opposite. I maybe wrong and the Geese will take no notice of the Swans.
7:31 Thu 07 Jan 10
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
There are quite a lot of photographs to go on the Photo Page. I thought that I had better put these Christmas one from Jannette (Cheshire) on now as it is nearly forgotton.
We woke yesterday morning to 8 to 10 inches of snow and it was cold. Even colder last night, and I do believe the Emu and Rhea must be feeling it as the Emu were very slow coming for their feed this morning. We are giving all of the animals extra feed as with the ground being covered with snow there is no grazing. For the first time tonight three emu laid their eggs in the shelters. Some of them are taking cover in the shelters at night and some do not, The Rhea are don't take cover at all.
Eight of our Sheep are in the barn with the other ten in the Woods. I don't suppose we will see them until the snow goes. The Chickens have the Barns to go in during the day when they are let out from their houses in the morning. The Geese don't seem to mind the snow or cold and they wander around in and out of the barn all day. Dennis doesn't seem to like the cold and hangs around the Farm House porch. When one of the Buff Orpingtons who lives with Dennis ventured out of his house his feet touched the snow he jumped on a snow free piece of wood and stayed on it until bed time. I don't think any of us like the snow other than the Horses who buck and jump about in delight.
Asbo is another who is not keen on the snow, but he has done his job very well. Most of the 100 eggs that you have seen hatching previous to the current hatch in progress are Asbo progeny, with well over 90% fertility. The current hatch was from eggs collected when we were having our yard concreted and the Chickens were kept housed for longish periods. These eggs have not been so fertile. We did not expect to get as many Chicks as we have.
The Badger are coming to feed a bit more now that the ground is very hard with frost and they are unable to dig for worms. We don't seem to be seeing as many rats at the feeding are, with a bit of luck this cold spell we get rid of a few. We hope that it doesn't reduce the Vole population to much as we heard one of the released Barn Owls last night and Voles are their main diet.
Elaine I haven't had a chance to look around for Animal foot prints in the snow. I have looked around the Pond next to the Lake to see if the Otter is about. There were no Otter foot prints yesterday or today. There are Deer prints that I can see in the Valley tonight. I must have just missed the Deer. I will try to get down the Valley tomorrow to see what has been about. Trouble is the snow makes the going slow and the days seem to go so quickly that we find it hard to find any extra time.
6:33 Mon 04 Jan 10
Happy New Year to you all.
Tomorrow I will put some of the photographs that have been sent in.
Just got back from collecting two late eggs from the Emu. It is the first time that I have been to the Emu Field in the dark. I disturbed a few of them, but as soon as I spoke to them they calmed down. There were many other laying together in pairs. I presume that they were mating pairs as I have never seen them in pairs during the day. A couple of weeks ago I went to the field at dusk and there were a few pairs mating so I would imagine that they lay together through the night after mating. I also disturbed a few that were in the shelter. I did not think that they used the shelter. Mind you it is cold here at the moment. Mild winter the met office clowns told us. There has got to be a big problem in that organisation. Something for sure is not working.
We didn't manage to get the Emu back to the Emu Field that I told you about in the last Diary until two days ago. By that time he has acquired the name of Edwin. How he managed to be named that I really don't know, but it was nothing to do with me, I promise. Edwin had started to follow us. Last Friday, or maybe Saturday I went down the Valley on the Quad Bike with three lads who were here with the Family for the New Year. It was a return visit from their holiday with us during the Summer. Within a short time Edwin had joined us from the Horse Field where he had not strayed from since we put him there and it is not easy to get out. I was more than concerned as you know the Valley is surrounded by our Woods. If he had gone into the Woods there are many ways out and where he would finish up wouldn't be worth thinking about. I should not have been worried as when we went up to Edwin he followed us through the gate back into the Horse Field. The next day with the help of our Holiday Guests we walked Edwin up our drive back to the Emu Field. He was a little hesitant, but he followed us as if he was on a walk. It went a lot better than I thought it would, but I wouldn't have tried it on our own. Done and dusted a good job done I thought until I went to feed the Emu yesterday morning. There in the Horse Field that I pass on the way to the Emu Field was Edwin as bold as brass waiting for his feed that he was use to having on my way to feed the Mob of Emu. He had a slight nick on one of his legs but, other than that he was fine. It would have been a long way round to get to the Horse Field from the Emu Field. It seems that Edwin prefers our company rather than the Emu, so we will leave him there for the time being.
Some of you saw the Rooks, Magpies and Buzzard in the Valley yesterday. They were feeding on fresh Ox liver and hearts that we get for Tass and Kye from a small abattoir in our Village. We use to feed Tass and Kye on a couple of chickens, canned dog feed and dog biscuits costing about £25 a week from a Supermarket. Feeding them the Ox liver and hearts with biscuits costs about £5 and believe me they much prefer it. Because of the holiday we got a lot more of their feed than we could get into the freezer, and it stood outside keeping fresh with the cold spell. We had one short warm spell and it started to defrost so I put a large bag of the Ox liver and hearts in the Valley a couple of nights ago, hoping that we would get a Fox eating it. Somehow the Fox missed it and there was a feeding frenzy with the Rooks, Magpies and Buzzard. I have more and I will try to put it out for the Fox tomorrow night and when I collect the feed again I will start to get some bits to put in the Valley for the other Wildlife. We also get suet fat to feed the birds.
6:58 Sat 02 Jan 10
Elaine has pointed out to me that the Forum is not uploading because of the year change. I have kept the entries and will put them on when it is repaired by Monday the latest.