'Oh gosh, this is hell!' thought this middle-aged poultry keeper to himself, as he trundled through the crunching snow and biting cold - torch in hand to shut away his various poultry coops. Three days into an unforgiving bout of winter flu, coughing, everything aching, the world looked (and felt) like a very different place. Can one imagine a more depressing chore in the depths of winter - when all one wants to do is curl up in the warmth? Yet it has to be done, so the moral is to make your 'overwintering' as easy and practical as possible, allowing for the fact someone else may have to take over for a day or so while you recover, which is what happened to me early December 2022. Thank heavens for treasured wives!
Flung face-first into winter 2022, none of us are quite sure of what conditions still lie ahead (hopefully not more of the same!). It was only recently that we in the UK experienced a good run of mild winters, which made 2018's 'Beast from the East' something of a shock for many. Mindful of this, I have cut my stock down to the minimum to 'overwinter,' because it can be hard work if a little consideration isn't given to numbers kept.
WINTER BITES
Winter can be a dangerous time for poultry. It has been known for hens to die from being too cold, especially the diminutive true bantams. You must remember that your hens still need their basics. If you make no provision for them, they will fret and go downhill. I always ensure my flocks have something to look forward to in the form of conditioner seed and mixed corn in with their breeders/ layers pellets. The mixed corn is said to take longer to digest, thus serving to keep the body warmer for longer.
Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av The Country Smallholder.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av The Country Smallholder.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Choosing feed for the autumn
As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds
