The Poultry Keeper

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

i've been thinking ,the oh says don't do that Rolling Eyes

,i've got 2 pigs coming for the summer next year only for 12 weeks it seems that a few people are getting some shetland cattle here now i know they're small but do you know what sort of amount of grazing one would need it would have the goats for company but i know they can go out when the goats cannot so it seems that it might make better use of the grazing and if it becomes a problem i could livery at toni's work at the dairy farm ,jaydee do you think it might work ,or anyone else that has shetlands know ,toni's experienced with the full size dairy cows haven't got room for them and they're not that layed back , Idea

suz

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:26 pm Post subject:

I don't have room for any Shetland cattle in my garden, much to Craig's continuing disappointment! My brother in law does keep them however - he has a couple of crofts so has the room! Wink

I don't know much about them as a breed - but they taste great! Confused

I did find some info a while ago for Nigel (I think) but I can't find it now.

http://www.rbst.org.uk/html/rare_breeds/cattle/critical/shetland.html

Bro in law's cattle:

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

thanks jaydee spoke to the shetland center ,i've got about 3/4 of an acre but can get more if i want for grazing ,i'm thinking about it seriously ,oh says stop thinking ,think i might see if anybodies got one for sale on the island ,i enjoy making cheese but don't really like home made goats cheese and you carn't make butter with it so a shetland might suit me better .if the brown one in the pice standing in the trough is a female then you couldn't just stick it in the post would you .
suz

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:39 pm Post subject:

Not sure what the postie would think about that! Those are last year's calves anyway and that one would be a bit bigger now! Bro in law started with one cow in calf to help secure the breed, as you can see he has a few more now - so be warned , not sure if they are as addictive as chickens but ......

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:42 pm Post subject:

....they might be

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

posties deliever anything here ,i was good today there's some chickens free to good home ,i managed to walk away
am i cured ,
i could do chickens and cows i can handle it .
suz

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

toni says lovely quality ,she lives and dies cows ,don't talk to her about them or ...............
toni says shame you're so far away Crying or Very sad

,
suz

debcat · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:01 pm Post subject:

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

there's 12 hens
1 cockeral leghorn
6 ducks
6 drakes
1 muscovey
didn't really take any notice .
i'm going to try and convice oh that it's a did goat with a sore throat Very Happy

,
suz

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject:

Who are you 2 trying to kid?

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

i didn't ,i didn't get a pen to write the no down ,got a pig course tomorrow i might see if anyone there is interested ,
wonder what breeds they are ,it said different breeds .
suz

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

We had a Shetland from Linda McCaig's herd on order, but she wasn't putting on the weight as she should have been - a possible liver weakness from a liver fluke attack when she was younger. Best to leave her with her breeder. We'll have one for next summer though. Had a long talk with Linda on the suitability of the Shetland cows for small holdings. It's what they are bred for. Sue - you should be able to put a cow on the common grazings in Tong. You need to get a hold of whoever is the local grazings clerk for Tong and see about it. Luckily here in Upper Coll, we've got rights to the peat moor, our place (severely overgrazed from the horses) and the machair at Coll beach. Generally in this area, the cattle keepers cooperate with each other and move the cattle from park to park, will look after your beast while on holiday. So Suz, if you get a moo coo, you can put her with ours if need be! Much more cooperative than those of us with horses. Our horses are not allowed on the machair (pity, all that lovely grass) or the common grazings apart from the loch. We don't dare to put our horses by the loch as it's far too dangerous for them.

Holls

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

holls found some on the island ,promised oh that i wouldn't go looking but if one turnred up in the front garden then i'd keep it Wink

,don't worry there will be no problem with grazing thanks for the offer ,
suz

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 11:04 pm Post subject:

Well if one miraculously turns up in your front garden, I may sneak down with a torch and a galvanized steel bucket one night... Laughing

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

not quite in the front garden but met a man who has a herd in carloway Smile

,and they're pure breeds really enjoying the pig course spent about an hour talking about ai Shocked

and the naughty habits of pigs ,found out that it's quite easy up here for movement because we're an island great to know ,he used to teach pigs down in the south of england Shocked

,

suz