The Poultry Keeper

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

This is my farming diary for the summer holidays.

Monday 4th August 2008

When I woke up yesterday I went and opened the chickens and let them out into the yard and gave then some wheat for their breakfast.

Once I had finished my breakfast I went out with Spana’s OH (John) to go round on the mule to check the cattle. When we had finished we went to Holsworthy to get a new electric fence unit because lightening last week had blown up the old one. As well as that we got some damp proof course for Spana’s new kitchen extension also we went to a place which mends farming machinery because our mule isn’t working properly.

When we got back from Holsworthy me and John went to have a brew up with Spana and Auntie Katie.

By this time it was 11:30 am

I wanted to go lawn mowing but it was too wet, so I helped John on the extension. I went lawn mowing after lunch.

Now it’s 9:00 pm

Me and Spana went to shut the hens up for the night when she said
“ I haven’t seen the broody for a couple of days”
So she went to have a look at the nest which the broody had made in an upturned coop on top of the Dorking house. Spana opened the door of the coop and 7 chicks were already hatched and 2 others had been squashed.

We put the hen in the cat basket and the chicks in a card board box. We set a little broody house up on some clean grass, dipped the chick’s beaks in water and settled them all down for the night.
I had a bath and went to bed.
The chicks are all out in the run today and looking well.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

sounds lke a busy day ,

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Tuesday 5th August 2008

After the usual poultry and cattle jobs in pouring rain, we helped Auntie Katie load up her car. She strapped her dogs into their new safety harnesses, but wags had chewed through the seat belt, by the time she had driven 10 miles.

We went down to the veggie garden and helped Spana pick some beans.

After lunch I helped John cut up an old yard gate, as it was too big and heavy for us to lift. Once we had cleared it up, me and John put the rear bale spike on the tractor ready to bring in the hay bales from the fields.

We had an brew up and an ice cream then I helped John collect the rubbish and recycling from the holiday cottages and took it to the top of the drive in the mule.

I got washed and changed ready to go out to dinner with my Mum, Dad and sister.

I’ve just shut the poultry up for the night.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

sounds like you are having a great time Very Happy

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1768 Location: Clawddnewydd

I am really enjoying reading your blog Bradders, I hate having to do jobs in the pouring rain too Rolling Eyes

Little Chick · Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Cambridgeshire

Hi Bradders Very Happy

I like your farming diary. Very Happy

From Little chick xx

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Wednesday 6th August 2008

When I had finished the morning Poultry jobs i had to give Little Chick a ride round the cattle before she went home to Cambridgeshire. Very Happy

When we came back mum and dad were just putting last bag of clothes in the car, they were already to go by 10:30 am

When they had left Me, Spana and John went in to have a brew up Very Happy

When we had finished it was about 11:00 am

John wanted to do a bit on the Kitchen extension but it was too wet so we went down too the work shop and John did a bit of his model and I painted some chicken statues for Brads grave. Very Happy

After lunch me and John went down the work shop for a bit more, just too finish of our models while it was still raining. Very Happy

It was now 2:30 pm

When it had finished raining me and John went and fitted the damp proof course on the new extension. Very Happy

When Spana came back from shopping we had another brew up.

Then after that me and Spana went round to the veggie garden to pick some vegetables for our dinner.

It was now 6:30 pm

When me and Spana came back from the veggie garden I went and fed the hens.

After dinner me and John went to check the cattle on the mule and fed the calves in the creep.

When we came back from checking the cattle I helped spana shut the chickens up for the night.

I phoned my parents and went to bed.

Teasal · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:59 am Post subject:

I like reading your farming diary, Bradders.

You sound very busy down in Cornwall with all those jobs to do!! I have always wanted to go to Cornwall, but sadly with all the animals here to look after have never been abe to go. You seem to be having a lot of rain - we usually get it here, but yesterday was quite nice for a change!!

Auntie Katie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 435 Location: Cambridgeshire

I've also noticed they have a lot of brew ups! Very Happy

No wonder he comes home so exhausted!

Keep writing your diary GB, I love reading them - they cheer me up to know what you've been up to down there.

Try not to be too sad - Joe would want you to be happy when you remember him!

Heart fill with love

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Thankyou Katie Very Happy

I'm crying while i write it again Crying or Very sad

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Thursday 7th August 2008

After my morning Poultry and Cattle jobs, John had to go to the Dentist so me and Spana went to clean out the chickens and did a red mite check.

When John got back we had a brew up and I spoke to my mum and Little Chick on the phone.

It was now 11:30 am

Once we had finished our brew up me and John went down to the workshop to do a bit to our models while it was still raining.

Then after lunch John brought some bales down on the back of his tractor and me and Spana finished doing the red mite check.

It was about 7:00 PM when we had dinner a John got a few more bales down. There were 4 more left in the field and it just started raining so he had to stack all of them in the shed and it was about 10:30 an till we got in for the night

I had a bath and went to bed.

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Friday 8th August 2008

Yesterday Spana and John had to muck out their cottage that they use for holidaymakers. Because Auntie Katie’s dog died (Joe) I had a little bit of a weep about that every now and then. But after it stopped raining I went out and played in the yard on my go – Kart for a bit while they were still mucking out.

It was now 2:00 PM

Once Spana and John had finished the cottage we had our lunch and John went off up the field to collect some more of his bales and I went lawn mowing for about 45 minutes. When it was dinnertime John stopped bringing down the bales and I gave the chickens their dinner then I went in and had mine.

It was now 7:30 PM

Once we had dinner me and John went to check the cattle on the mule and gave the calves their dinner.
Then we went and helped Spana feed the ducks.

Then I had a bath and went to bed.

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1011 Location: Cambridgeshire

Saturday 9th August 2008

It was 8:30 am when I got so I had to let the chickens out in to the yard and gave them their breakfast.

Then I went in to have mine.

When I had finished my breakfast me and John went to get a newspaper for the cottages and for us.

Then because it was pouring down with rain me and John went down to the workshop to do a bit on our models.

Then about 1:00 pm spana came down to pick some of her veg for our dinner to night in the pouring rain.

It was 2:30 PM when we went in and had our lunch.

After our lunch we had asleep and watched the tele.

It was now 3:30 PM

Then from 3:30 PM to about 7:00 PM me and John were down the workshop just to do bits to our models and then for about an hour me and John were trying to fix an old lawn mower.

Then we went and checked the cattle, shut the chickens up for the night and after that phoned my parents had a bath and went to bed.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

i love reading them as well bradders ,there do seem to be a lot of brew ups ,i do like that part of the country Cool