Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

The warm weather continues, as does the increased risk of little beasties crawling onto the animals and causing problems. In the same way we can get stung by wasps and bees or bitten by flies and midges, animals too can get attacked by a variety of insects and other invertebrates, some of which can pass on nasty diseases. We are keeping a careful eye on the sheep in case we get a repeat of flystrike - see 31st August (although they should still be protected after the last spraying we gave them). We also keep checking the poultry houses for red mite: these are particularly unpleasant insects as during the day they hide under the cracks in the wood of the poultry houses and then at night sneak out and suck the blood from the birds. This causes the birds to become very weak and if nothing is done they can actually die. Various sprays and powders can keep them at bay if used regularly BUT once you get red mite in your houses it is REALLY hard to get rid of them. Most poultry owners have to totally dismantle their houses, power wash and disinfect them and then leave the houses empty for ages before putting the birds back in!!
In the meantime yet more sunbathing and 'chilling' is evident all over the holding although in the turkeys' case, they are 'chilling' just a little too much by flying over their fence and wandering into all the other paddocks. Judging by the feathers on the ground, the geese for one weren't too impressed at their space being invaded - when geese get hold of something in their mouths they really can hold on tight... We have realised that the turkey wings need clipping again as in most cases they have already grown back: another on the 'to do' list for tomorrow.