Pigs & Poultry

As the days get shorter and the forecasters warn of snow showers there can be no doubt winter is around the corner. The autumn colours have been lovely but there have been few crisp autumn days when you could enjoy them. We can only hope the colder temperatures bring a drier spell.

The mild weather has brought a late crop of grass but everywhere is so sodden underfoot and animals outdoors are soon creating mud. When things are this wet we are grateful for our buildings and feel for those with stock outside.

All our British Lop pigs are warm and cosy indoors and enjoy a trip to the field to have a good dig. Often coming back in transformed into Large Blacks! Talking of Large Blacks our Gold Vase gilt has really grown on well.

Matilda our goat has just been served so next year we can maybe put an orphaned lamb onto her as she will kid at lambing time. Her young daughter is off to a new home soon and her son is driving us mad. Teenage hormones!

This is our last school holiday of the year before Christmas so we have been busier with rides but won’t be breaking any records. We have two new arrivals, a Shetland who we drive and a yearling Fell pony filly.  The Shetland is brilliant in the trap and I whiz round the village with her when I can. Totally unflappable and hasn’t given the pigs a second glance. The yearling has only been here a couple of days but so far has been fine with all our other animals. Animals are so sensible, I find the owners usually create the problems.

Our British Lop sows have both been served so we will have at least one January litter. We have had some very good gilts from our July litters so will be watching closely how they come along over the winter.