December, 2011
The fields are still dry and green. It is amazing that we have cows still outside this time of year. It saves on the bedding costs and the spreading of muck next year.
This is Florence.
The cade Ginger is still managing to survive.
Jess our dog passed away on the 16th.
Foxes are about. Samuel the young cock stayed out one night and didn't see the next day.
However the hens are starting to lay eggs now that they have an electric light coming on at 4a.m.
The beef cattle are inside eating haylage.
Most of the lambs have been sold through Leek market. Prices are good becuase of the weak £ the demand from the continent has brought a lot of buyers.
Snow and frost and snow.
The sheep that are outside have received extra rations there being no grass for them to eat under the snow.
Village Website www.north-rode.co.uk
Triplets
On the Farm
New to the farm is a Welsh Colley from deepest Wales.
Her name is Jem. She was born the 12th July, 2011.
She loves people and has sharp teeth!
She is not a house dog so is not allowed in the cottages.
Just look what has happened to our Bramley apple tree.
The trunk was rotten; the crop was heavy and the wind strong.
In the orchard at Rode Hall we have put in the new ram to the ewes on
the 14th September.
The gestation period is 147 days so we shall hope to have lambs from the
8th February (Flo's birthday)
We have pigs every now and then. None at the moment.
We are now generating our own electricity with solar PV. Providing green energy to the holiday cottages.
Winifred helping Laura and Eve (Isle of Man) feed Ginger milk.
Other on-lookers Lauren and Oliver (London).
What has happened?
When shutting the hens in one September night there was chirping sounds from the hen cote. It was dark and I thought some of the ten pullets (12 weeks old) had got themselves in the big cote and separated from the others.
I went to collect the eggs and found a broody hen sat on some. "Off you come old girl" Oh! You're the old hen we lost some three weeks ago. A right broody thing and a Welsummer (heavier bird).
It suddenly occured to me that the chirping might be some chicks she hatched. I needed to get a torch.
I brought back to look for the chicks a young lad (Christian) who is staying in the Coach House. He lives in Bahrain with his parents and his elder brother is going to Manchester University.
We looked under the shed.
We looked around the floor of the hen cote.
Still the noise came. I lifted the raised corn bin and crouched under
it was one fluffy chick.
Now to keep it warm it should be under a heat lamp or its mother. Mother is best, but she is now perched.
I put her back in a nest box on a couple of pot eggs (she will think she will try to hatch them). The chick was put in with her and it burrowed under her wings. Succcess.
We have two beef animals Ginger a shorthorm bullock and Ale a hereford heifer. "Ginger Ale"
We managed to make some lovely hay this year in July. We have never made so much. It is now safely stored in the new barn. It has a sweet tobacco smell.The small bales are for sale at £4.50 each.
During the busy family period over the summer we took holiday makers to see the badgers and other animals and were well rewarded with our patience.
The twin heifer calves "Spot & Dab and Mary"are pictured below in Shad's Clough Meadow.
This is Tommy baling. International tractor and a Massey Ferguson Baler
The view from off the lawn is of the Cloud looking over the River Dane valley.
Can you see where the lawn and the field join? Its called a Ha-ha and was introduced into many formal gardens to give an open view of the owners lands and an impression that the land came right to the house.
The sheep on the farm are pedigree Charollais.
I breed rams for other farmers to put to their sheep flock.
My rams put the carcase shape on the resulting lambs for the butcher.
This year they all have to start with an 'I' such as 'Imelda' and 'Iris'. Much fun if you name them after people in the village!
Email us with your best names for interesting lambs to describe them as big, strong, masterful, motherly, good types.
We are showing sheep at the Cheshire Show this year on the 21st and 22nd June.
<--
These calves are called Reddy and Bluey.
The calves to the right are called Little and Large. -->
Apple blossom from one of our Bramley trees. Nature is beautiful.
The hens like them too. When they're let out in the morning the head straight under the trees to pick up the fallen petals to eat.
These are Polly, Tom and Sooty eating a mixture of oats, barley and soya bean.
Their pig arc is in the background
All organic and taste great!The animals slowly mature for a greater taste and live a happy life here.
