Egg numbers increase

Egg numbers are definitely increasing! Yesterday we had 13 hen eggs, out highest so far this year. Sadly, only 11 today!

Coal close to giving birth

Coal, one of our nannies, is close to giving birth. This will be her first and following the loss of Georgina earlier this month, we are not taking any chances. It's nearly midnight and time for bed but I'm going to pay her a visit just to check she's okay.

Found in the hedge

After a long search for eggs in hidden corners of the allotment following a recent drop off in numbers, the sight of a hen carefully climbing up some planking to a small hole in the fence up against the hedge rather gave away where one hen at least was secretly laying. I found 14 eggs there. They are all the same colour and tone so I'm pretty certain they are from one hen only.

Milking Spot

Earlier this month I had a go at milking Spot, our nanny who has three times given birth, but had not previously been milked. The plan was to break her in gradually. It wasn't very successful. I will have to rethink the plan.

Baby Gertrude

We have at last named Spot's baby. She is to be called Gertrude. She is growing fast and is quite self-confident. Today, with Spot and Snow, she had a relaxing day in the sun!

Goodbye Georgina

I have some sad news to report. We lost Georgina, our head nanny goat, on Saturday morning. She had gone into Labour through the night but she suffered an internal rupture. She was dead when we found her in the morning, none of the babies were born.

She went to the knackers yard yesterday morning. We now have to decide whether or not to replace her.

Photo above was taken in winter last year just after giving birth to 3 babies.

Sunniside table top sale

Yesterday I had my first jam sale of the year. It was held at Sunniside Methodist Chapel Hall, close enough to my house to take everything over on my trolley. It was the first time I had had a table at the hall and I'm pleased to report it was quite a success. I sold nearly half of what I took.