A new chimney

We have a new chimney. The Rayburn has been connected and is functioning. We are now in the happy position of being able to cook and generate heat from the wood on our own land. The new flue draws well and burns cleanly. After a short period of time the oven was up to 200 degrees and the hotplate was able to boil water with ease. However, the most exciting aspect is that the kitchen was comfortably warm.

Meanwhile the solar panels are working well. They are generating about 14 Kwh per day in the recent sunny weather.

Tadpoles

The frogspawn has started its conversion. Now a mass of tadpoles are busy in the pond and the leat. Tailed but legless they have started their transformation.

The two cockerels have settled in. Jeff enjoys his polygamous life and has been very active and hopefully helping us expand our stock. We we have created a box in the hope that one of the hens may go broody. Made out of recycled materials from the work in the boot room it will not be a great loss if we have to change our plans to an incubator. In the interim, Scampy is is using it as a refuge as he regains his health as Jeff and the girls do not tolerate his company.

We have started to get involved in the local gardening group and even at this early stage it has proven valuable.

Spring Arrivals

We have worked out the missing ingredient in our attempt to be self sufficient in chickens. It is the cycle of life, the baby chicks to replace the older birds, it is the need for a cockerel. 

We found two locally and Jeff and Scampy now have their places in the yard. Jeff has managed to set himself up as the head of the roost with his, currently tiny, harem.  Scampy is older and unwell so is spending some days in quarantine.. However, with rest, food and quiet he seems to be making a recovery.

We hope to get a much more poultry but will wait for the next poultry sale at the farmers' cooperative in town.