Tuesday 28th February 2017
We're out!!
And so today we let out the poultry! The three month lockdown has come to an end (for us, but not for everyone in the country) and normal-ish service is resumed.
We wondered how the birds would react and we guessed there would be a little bit of reticence about once again stepping out into the great wide world. There was certainly not the scrum there usually was back when we let the poultry out every day but most did venture out after a minute or so, the ‘follow my leader’ approach proving hard to ignore. For several minutes there was then a flurry of frantic grass eating or in the ducks’ case, massive mud dabbling. A couple shot off under the green lane gate to favourite dust bathing places and a few more headed for the hedgerows. There was a general reluctance to go into the main area of the poultry paddock which we surmised was probably due to it being quite open. Having been copped up for so many weeks, venturing into big open spaces (albeit ones they were once familiar with) may require a few more gulps of bravery!!! The turkeys did begin an approach but one of them got a tad freaked and within seconds all five were back in the stable, gobbling and muttering and then pretending that everything was fine!!
The poultry paddock is wet, very wet in places. Last night we obviously had some snow flurries which this morning, after a brief frost, had melted. So, happy ducks!!
Mucking out was VERY easy with no birds in the way and being able to walk in and out of the stable without having to keep the doors closed all the time. We finished in double quick time but then on returning to the stable after washing all the truggs, we found that all five turkeys, over half of the chickens and one duck were back inside!! The wind may have sent them back in - it was VERY windy today – but maybe being back outside is going to take some getting used to. There is also the fact that drinkers and feeders are still inside (part of the DEFRA rules) which means the birds have to come back in to eat and drink, although there are enough puddles for the drinkers to be a little redundant for the moment!
Weather wise today has been better than predicted, plenty of wind as said but not as much rain and a fair bit of sunshine… all good!!!
The poultry paddock is wet, very wet in places. Last night we obviously had some snow flurries which this morning, after a brief frost, had melted. So, happy ducks!!
Mucking out was VERY easy with no birds in the way and being able to walk in and out of the stable without having to keep the doors closed all the time. We finished in double quick time but then on returning to the stable after washing all the truggs, we found that all five turkeys, over half of the chickens and one duck were back inside!! The wind may have sent them back in - it was VERY windy today – but maybe being back outside is going to take some getting used to. There is also the fact that drinkers and feeders are still inside (part of the DEFRA rules) which means the birds have to come back in to eat and drink, although there are enough puddles for the drinkers to be a little redundant for the moment!
Weather wise today has been better than predicted, plenty of wind as said but not as much rain and a fair bit of sunshine… all good!!!