Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

A much damper day today than usual (although thinking about it, not really at all unusual for us at Minions!!). Most of the poultry ventured out for a while before heading back in after a quick run and flap! The goats took one look and stayed put and the sheep could not make their minds up so spent most of the day wandering in and out.
We chopped down more willow for everyone: a consolation prize for having to stay in. Briar coped brilliantly with being in his own stall and set about his willow branches with much enthusiasm. The twins Cheddar and Gorge are showing no signs at all of coming into season: there is just a small amount of worry creeping in now: it is not unheard of for goats to not come into season but there are usually reasons: being overweight or ill are the main ones... and we are fairly sure neither of these apply to our two. We will keep everything crossed until Christmas and then perhaps have a re-think!!!
Meanwhile our poor Red Orpington is now in her sixth or seventh week of moulting. It is hard to believe she has any feathers left when we see how many she sheds each night and at the moment there are few signs of the new ones coming through. She continues to look a tad pathetic and so we don't hassle her to go outside at all. She is eating and drinking as usual and so for the moment we cannot ask for more. Moulting is, as explained on 30th September 2103, entirely normal - it is all to do with the bird shedding old tatty feathers and growing smart new ones for the winter - so for the moment we don't need to be at all worried.