Our chickens are free range. Very free range. In fact they are a bit too free range if you ask me. As soon as they are let out, they make a run for the bird table and hoover up all the seed and things that I'd put out for the wild birds. Then its back up to the field to scratch through the horses straw and hay and normally they'd pop in to the barn for some undercover scratching, but not any more.
After today, the barn door is closed at all times to those pesky chickens.
This morning I took them some sultanas as a treat. I did notice that only 4 of our six appeared. Now I know that Ginger is getting on and is becoming a loner so I didn't worry about her, but one of this years grown up chicks wasn't with the crowd. Probably in with the horses I thought and wandered back in to the barn. It was then that I heard a quiet clucking. An almost embarrassed clucking. It seemed to be coming from the old freezers that no longer work, but are brilliant mouse proof stores for animal food. But a chicken couldn't get inside the freezer, could it? No, the chicken was wedged behind the freezer. It was stuck between the freezer and the barn wall. How did it get there?
I have no clue. I guess it could have wandered around the end freezer and walked along the steadily narrowing gap until it couldn't walk no further. It seems that chickens can't go backwards. Its wings were wedged against its side so it couldn't fly out. Although it wasn't happy, it did allow me to lift it out. It doesn't like being touched, but I think it knew in its small chicken brain that this was the only way.
I'll keep an eye on her in case there are any problems arising from being stuck behind the freezer. Currently she's hiding in the chicken shed.
But, never again with those chickens be allowed in the barn unsupervised.
beggshill bothy.
Monday, 29 December 2008
Friday, 14 November 2008
unnoticed clues
Last week, something strange happened. As I drove down the drive on my way to work, I thought "I haven't seen the Woodcock this year, I saw one a couple of times around this time last year." And there in front of me on the road was a woodcock. It really didn't want to move and I had to go on to the grass to go round it. I got a really close view.
But why did I have that thought and then see it? I can only think that I actually saw it while out feeding the horses, or heard its call or something. Some inner part of me spotted the clues without the rest of me noticing and then that back part of the brain trundled up to the "flight deck" and handed a note saying "woodcock".
I wonder what else I see without really seeing. I have to admit at 6am, I'm not at my best and I'm working on autopilot.
I must try and pay more attention in the morning, I wonder what else I've missed.
But why did I have that thought and then see it? I can only think that I actually saw it while out feeding the horses, or heard its call or something. Some inner part of me spotted the clues without the rest of me noticing and then that back part of the brain trundled up to the "flight deck" and handed a note saying "woodcock".
I wonder what else I see without really seeing. I have to admit at 6am, I'm not at my best and I'm working on autopilot.
I must try and pay more attention in the morning, I wonder what else I've missed.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
mixed week
Well, its been an interesting week. We have had some amazing gales, thankfully we're relatively sheltered although the wooden table and chairs on the decking will have to be retired for the winter. Not even the heavy wooden construction could keep them upright.
On Tuesday morning I saw one of the Orionids which is a short lived meteor storm that occurs this time of year. The best time to look is just before dawn which is the time I'm out giving the horses some hay and so I was able to stand out beneath the clear sky and have a gander.
Speaking of ganders and geese, this week I have also seen my first big flock of migrating geese heading south away from their arctic breeding grounds. That is a sure sign of Autumn, never mind the leaves turning and then being ripped off the tree with the high winds.
But I also saw a bat last night. It must have been warm enough for it to chance feeding, but that's not a good sign for the bat. It mustn't have stocked up enough on midges over the summer if it needs to do some last minute feeding. They roost in the barn so at least they aren't going to be disturbed.
On Tuesday morning I saw one of the Orionids which is a short lived meteor storm that occurs this time of year. The best time to look is just before dawn which is the time I'm out giving the horses some hay and so I was able to stand out beneath the clear sky and have a gander.
Speaking of ganders and geese, this week I have also seen my first big flock of migrating geese heading south away from their arctic breeding grounds. That is a sure sign of Autumn, never mind the leaves turning and then being ripped off the tree with the high winds.
But I also saw a bat last night. It must have been warm enough for it to chance feeding, but that's not a good sign for the bat. It mustn't have stocked up enough on midges over the summer if it needs to do some last minute feeding. They roost in the barn so at least they aren't going to be disturbed.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
back to beggshills bothy
We were away for most of September enjoying the warm weather and hospitality of Oklahoma and now we're back.
And the Autumn storms are definitely back. Thankfully with all the insulation and a good heating system the bothy is a cosy snug place to relax. Don't let the weather keep you indoors, there are plenty of great walks and at this time of year with the leaves turning the woods and forests are looking great.
I've noticed that our chickens are not such fans of this weather. This morning they were still in the hen house at 8.30 and didn't really want to come out. And yesterday they were in around 5pm which is pretty early. They are free range and I guess this means they are free to laze around in the coup as well as range free in the field and garden. Guests at the bothy will meet them as they always like to pop over in the morning and see what's happening in the bothy. They are very nosey.
The horses on the other hand don't seem to mind this weather. They really like hooving up the fallen leaves from the trees. If only they wouldn't make the field sooo muddy.
beggshillbothy
And the Autumn storms are definitely back. Thankfully with all the insulation and a good heating system the bothy is a cosy snug place to relax. Don't let the weather keep you indoors, there are plenty of great walks and at this time of year with the leaves turning the woods and forests are looking great.
I've noticed that our chickens are not such fans of this weather. This morning they were still in the hen house at 8.30 and didn't really want to come out. And yesterday they were in around 5pm which is pretty early. They are free range and I guess this means they are free to laze around in the coup as well as range free in the field and garden. Guests at the bothy will meet them as they always like to pop over in the morning and see what's happening in the bothy. They are very nosey.
The horses on the other hand don't seem to mind this weather. They really like hooving up the fallen leaves from the trees. If only they wouldn't make the field sooo muddy.
beggshillbothy
Monday, 8 September 2008
the busy season is over...
well, I say that, but what I mean is that the nights are drawing in. Its dark by 9pm and I've already woken once to find ice on my car in the morning.
These are all signs that things are slowly down in the natural world. Plant growth in the polytunnel and elsewhere is reduced. This is a good thing because it means I won't have to mow the grass quite as much, but its also a bad thing as there are some crops that need another month or so.
This year, I'm trying my hand at growing things over the cold winter months. I've got winter cabbages, kale, leeks and neeps in and they are growing happily. Hopefully these hardy crops will supply something for the table during the cold months. I had heard that cauliflowers are a nightmare to grow but I thought I'd try them anyway. Half are gone already, it seems that the slugs aren't slowing down just yet. And that cauliflowers are difficult to grow.
The shortening days means that there is less time to work outside in the evenings, but it means that I'll be on the computer more and more so this blog will be updated regularly and the website needs an upgrade...
So busy season isn't really over, its just moved indoors.
pete
inthehills
These are all signs that things are slowly down in the natural world. Plant growth in the polytunnel and elsewhere is reduced. This is a good thing because it means I won't have to mow the grass quite as much, but its also a bad thing as there are some crops that need another month or so.
This year, I'm trying my hand at growing things over the cold winter months. I've got winter cabbages, kale, leeks and neeps in and they are growing happily. Hopefully these hardy crops will supply something for the table during the cold months. I had heard that cauliflowers are a nightmare to grow but I thought I'd try them anyway. Half are gone already, it seems that the slugs aren't slowing down just yet. And that cauliflowers are difficult to grow.
The shortening days means that there is less time to work outside in the evenings, but it means that I'll be on the computer more and more so this blog will be updated regularly and the website needs an upgrade...
So busy season isn't really over, its just moved indoors.
pete
inthehills
Monday, 30 June 2008
cheep cheep
One of the hens has been broody. She has sat on the eggs and complained to me every time I came in to see how she was doing. Eggs take between 21-23 days to hatch. I checked on Saturday and although she was still sitting I could hear a faint cheeping. This time, when I tried to move her, she didn't just cluck, but pecked me. As I tried to move her without being pecked this little cutie appeared at her side.
By Saturday we had two fast moving, black balls of fluff causing mayhem in the hen coup. Boy! can those things move. Not even the mother can herd both of them when they are running around in opposite directions.
Today, I've shut the pop hole keeping the mother and chicks in the coup and the others are all outside enjoying the sun.
I know that they are just going to be trouble. I knew that as soon as one escaped in to the outdoor run, squeezed through a tiny hole and was making its way across the grass before I could blink.
But they are cute!
By Saturday we had two fast moving, black balls of fluff causing mayhem in the hen coup. Boy! can those things move. Not even the mother can herd both of them when they are running around in opposite directions.
Today, I've shut the pop hole keeping the mother and chicks in the coup and the others are all outside enjoying the sun.
I know that they are just going to be trouble. I knew that as soon as one escaped in to the outdoor run, squeezed through a tiny hole and was making its way across the grass before I could blink.
But they are cute!
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
summer is here!
According to the calender, the summer has started. At this time of year, we only got 3 hours of near darkness. But can someone tell the weather. Summer started with gales, heavy rain and then it cleared for a day. Monday was glorious, clear blue sky, warm yellow sun. But I was a bit surprised to discover I needed to scrape the ice off my car windscreen on Tuesday morning. Its the 24th June! Why did we get a frost!?!
Well, the do say that Scotland has four seasons in one day, but that is ridiculous!
Pete
inthehills
Well, the do say that Scotland has four seasons in one day, but that is ridiculous!
Pete
inthehills
Sunday, 4 May 2008
the thin duvet
We have, just this weekend, changed to the thin duvet on the bed. Why am I telling you this piece of household trivia?
Well, more than seeing swallows...which appeared a week ago, more than frogspawn... which was round in March, when the wife says change to the thin duvet, then I know that spring is here.
Sure enough, I think spring might actually be here. There is new grass growth in the field, the elm is showing green leaves. Although the hawthorn is called the mayflower, up here it'll have to be renamed to the mayleaf.
It is now staying light until nearly 10pm and its light at 4am, I think I can safely say spring has come to the Beggshill Bothy.
pete
inthehills
Well, more than seeing swallows...which appeared a week ago, more than frogspawn... which was round in March, when the wife says change to the thin duvet, then I know that spring is here.
Sure enough, I think spring might actually be here. There is new grass growth in the field, the elm is showing green leaves. Although the hawthorn is called the mayflower, up here it'll have to be renamed to the mayleaf.
It is now staying light until nearly 10pm and its light at 4am, I think I can safely say spring has come to the Beggshill Bothy.
pete
inthehills
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Isn't it spring yet?
When I lived in the NW of England, at this time of the year I'd search the sky for the first swallow. Up here in Aberdeenshire, I tend to see them at the end of the month. But this year I suspect they'll be later. The snows of March kept visiting all through April. We even had a light dusting two days ago. It actually makes for a lovely drive in to work. The sun is shining brightly, the air is clear and cold and the tops of all the hills around us are white with snow. Its lovely.
The big problem with these late snow flurries is that the temperature at night is still dropping down to -3 to -4°C. I dare not plant anything outside and even in the polytunnel I'm having to protect my peas and broad beans. I guess everything in the garden will be late starting again.
Still, at least its not raining.
pete
inthehills
The big problem with these late snow flurries is that the temperature at night is still dropping down to -3 to -4°C. I dare not plant anything outside and even in the polytunnel I'm having to protect my peas and broad beans. I guess everything in the garden will be late starting again.
Still, at least its not raining.
pete
inthehills
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Snowed in at the bothy
Well, there should be some pithy phrase about March. Something along the lines of "in like a dove, out like a blizzard" or some such. Early March had me fooled, I'd even powered up the ride on mower and mowed the front lawn. The first cut of the year. We had guests arrive on saturday and the snow arrived on Saturday night - Sunday morning. No one was going anywhere Monday and even Tuesday the top road was blocked with drifting snow.
Today I woke up to clear skys and relatively clear roads. It was -9°C at 6am. I dread to think how cold it was at 2am. It doesn't actually feel that cold when there is no wind and you are lugging bales of hay around. I know that sound travels well in cold still air, but the din of the morning chorus was just that, a din. It sounded like someone had turned up the volume. I managed to drive out on to the main road, although the car sized gorge the snow plough had cut through 6ft high snow drifts were something to see.
pete
Today I woke up to clear skys and relatively clear roads. It was -9°C at 6am. I dread to think how cold it was at 2am. It doesn't actually feel that cold when there is no wind and you are lugging bales of hay around. I know that sound travels well in cold still air, but the din of the morning chorus was just that, a din. It sounded like someone had turned up the volume. I managed to drive out on to the main road, although the car sized gorge the snow plough had cut through 6ft high snow drifts were something to see.
pete
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
March madness
March is often a month of storms up here in north east Scotland. We had our worst snows in this month 2 years ago, but this month has been mostly wet and very windy.
Signs of spring are very evident despite the inclement weather. The dawn chorus is getting loader and earlier. This morning when I got up, it seemed like every bird was making its voice heard. Even the chickens were getting in on the act complaining that it'd been light for a while and I hadn't let them out.
As I fed the horses I noticed five or six deer in the clearing opposite. They were chasing each other around and generally enjoying themselves. And the hare was out on the road testing its acceleration against my car. It won, my car doesn't do acceleration up hill.
pete
Signs of spring are very evident despite the inclement weather. The dawn chorus is getting loader and earlier. This morning when I got up, it seemed like every bird was making its voice heard. Even the chickens were getting in on the act complaining that it'd been light for a while and I hadn't let them out.
As I fed the horses I noticed five or six deer in the clearing opposite. They were chasing each other around and generally enjoying themselves. And the hare was out on the road testing its acceleration against my car. It won, my car doesn't do acceleration up hill.
pete
Friday, 22 February 2008
changes in garden bird visitors
How would you know what time of year it is, if you didn't have a calender? Well, I guess you could go by the state of the flora and fauna in your garden.
Here at Beggshill Bothy, I'm noticing a change in our avian visitors. Nothing drastic, but a subtle change. I've noticed that we're not getting mixed flocks of fieldfares and redwings but I do see the occasional oystercatcher working the roadside, searching for worms. For most of the winter the only time I saw oystercatchers was on mudflats along the coast.
What does this change mean?
Well, I'd like to think it means that spring is coming, but past experience tells me that March can be a harsh month. And to quote Tom Jones...its not unusual...to see snow in April.
But for the moment, its unseasonably warm. I'm not complaining and the chickens are enjoying it. I think we've got two laying now. Soon we'll have too many eggs, but I'm sure visitors to the bothy will help us deal with any excess.
pete
inthehills
Here at Beggshill Bothy, I'm noticing a change in our avian visitors. Nothing drastic, but a subtle change. I've noticed that we're not getting mixed flocks of fieldfares and redwings but I do see the occasional oystercatcher working the roadside, searching for worms. For most of the winter the only time I saw oystercatchers was on mudflats along the coast.
What does this change mean?
Well, I'd like to think it means that spring is coming, but past experience tells me that March can be a harsh month. And to quote Tom Jones...its not unusual...to see snow in April.
But for the moment, its unseasonably warm. I'm not complaining and the chickens are enjoying it. I think we've got two laying now. Soon we'll have too many eggs, but I'm sure visitors to the bothy will help us deal with any excess.
pete
inthehills
Monday, 28 January 2008
best laid plans of chickens and men
Well, I haven't posted much this month because my plan of not having chickens until the summer didn't last.
When a friend said that she needed a home for her chickens 'cos she was moving home, I jumped at the chance. Well, they'd have been homeless without me. So I now have 4 hens and a cockeral.
Which means more work for me. But hopefully a steady supply of eggs and a serious reduction in pest insects, snails and slugs.
Chickens are supposed to be brilliant at eating things that are bad for the garden, so we'll see. If I can keep my chickens out of the new veggie patch (that I haven't made yet, its on the list of things to do!) then hopefully I'll get to eat more of my own veggies rather than watching the slugs eat my veggies.
Oh, and if I can keep the fox away obviously.
pete
Saturday, 12 January 2008
you never know what you're going to wake up to
As a small holder I like to think I'm in touch with the weather. I can smell the snow coming, I know that those clouds will bring. Ha! Not a chance.
These last two weeks have shown me you never know what you are going to wake up to. Two weeks ago it was blizzards, then the very next day we had a spring like day. It was warm, the birds were singing, everything had defrosted. It was lovely. The following day I woke to more snow. Where did that come from?
Three days ago, I fed the horses at 10pm under clear skys. There were millions of stars up there and Mars was shining bright. I knew I'd wake to frost and ice. Nope. The temperature hadn't dropped below 4°C all night. Yet, the last two nights it was lovely and clear again and -5°C over night. In fact, today as I was working in the horse shelter the mud was freezing while I was out there.
As I sit here typing, its -1°C outside. Will it stay frozen over night? There is a full cloud cover and the weather man says rain or snow. But I know not to try and predict anything. Who knows what it'll be? I'll just have to deal with it when I get up tomorrow.
pete
inthehills
These last two weeks have shown me you never know what you are going to wake up to. Two weeks ago it was blizzards, then the very next day we had a spring like day. It was warm, the birds were singing, everything had defrosted. It was lovely. The following day I woke to more snow. Where did that come from?
Three days ago, I fed the horses at 10pm under clear skys. There were millions of stars up there and Mars was shining bright. I knew I'd wake to frost and ice. Nope. The temperature hadn't dropped below 4°C all night. Yet, the last two nights it was lovely and clear again and -5°C over night. In fact, today as I was working in the horse shelter the mud was freezing while I was out there.
As I sit here typing, its -1°C outside. Will it stay frozen over night? There is a full cloud cover and the weather man says rain or snow. But I know not to try and predict anything. Who knows what it'll be? I'll just have to deal with it when I get up tomorrow.
pete
inthehills
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