A full but satisfying day.
Suddenly realising how close the end of term (for those wot go to school) is, we have started to pack in lots of trips out etc. Places are much quieter during term time. So, today my son and I, along with my Mum, went to visit Buckland Abbey - former home of Sir Francis Drake, it was very interesting, particularly the huge barn, massive cider press, and Drake’s Drum (which we noticed was in a glass box.. so no one could try it out… prolly just as well.)
The rest of the day was for smallholdery things – first we had to treat Saffron, one of our ewe, for an absess on her neck – it wasn’t bothering her, but we went with the vet’s advice.
We dug potatoes, cut cauliflowers, more calabrese and picked some peas. Cauliflower cheese with spuds and peas for tea, the other caulis and veg blanched and tucked away in the freezer. (must do something about buying a new freezer). Sold lots of eggs to neighbours.. pity we have two broody hens sitting on plastic eggs, and another planning on joining in. We are hoping to use a broody or two to raise any chicks that might hatch.. but three broodies is too many – so the one sitting the longest was evicted. It seems that trying to stop them being broody is quite stressful for a hen, but taking her off the nest after a week or so, and they get over it really fast. She went and had a dust bath, picked a few fights, then went about her chickeny business.
There is now actually space on the egg skelter, the egg mountain gone, so I hope they start laying big time soon, or we shall have to stop selling for a bit. Himself says we need more hens…
