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Small Talk.... a chit-chat thread for smallholders.

  • 03-02-2015 8:19pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 91 ✭✭


    So. How are folks doing with their holdings..survived winter? We've had our first chicks of the year from our Buff Orpingtons...bring on the mayhem!!





    Thanks to tattycat for the inspiration, the mods think that this is a perfect post to start off a Smallholding chit-chat thread..

    .....so... bring on the mayhem!


«1

Comments

  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,966 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    Buff Orpingtons.

    BuffOrpCklsUK.JPEG

    Nice looking chickens.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



  • Registered Users Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Boardnashea


    The hen run will finally be going into construction this weekend. Steel posts are all galvanised so digging holes and mixing cement on Saturday. Next decision is galvanised chain link or plastic coated???


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,277 ✭✭✭aonb


    Boardnashea: as long as the fencing is set well in to the ground, or attached to the cement base or something... The other think I would highly recommend, its the best thing Ive done, is to put a net (I used a pond net) over the top of your run to keep the wild birds out - off your hen food and keep infection to a minimum...

    Greysides: How do you find the Buff Orpingtons as layers? Any issues with them? Ive been avoiding pure breeds as Ive had bad luck with any Ive had, and have been sticking to hybrids...


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,966 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    aonb wrote: »

    Greysides: How do you find the Buff Orpingtons as layers? Any issues with them?

    Can't answer that. Sorry. I looked them up to see what they looked like.........:o

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



  • Registered Users Posts: 28,907 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    greysides wrote: »
    Can't answer that. Sorry. I looked them up to see what they looked like.........:o
    we used to have them, they are alot older starting laying and dont lay as much as other breeds. They are lovely looking hens though


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭Charliebull


    whelan2 wrote: »
    we used to have them, they are alot older starting laying and dont lay as much as other breeds. They are lovely looking hens though

    so what you are saying is "they are high maintenance but a good looking bird"


  • Registered Users Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Boardnashea


    Thanks aonb. They have about 250M2 of a run with a few well established trees so there won't be anything going over the top. We never had much of a problem with wild birds.
    I intend to plant a couple of rows of close planted ash in there as well to harvest over a 6 year rotation. I have done the willows but not quite as satisfying.
    The fencing will be going about 15cm or so underground.


  • Registered Users Posts: 617 ✭✭✭OUTDOORLASS


    :mad: Blasted fox took one of my Khaki campbell.s...I had her for 4 years, and as luck had it, she was the only one laying at the moment. Plenty of rabbits around, why did.nt he take one of them.....


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,277 ✭✭✭aonb


    once the fox knows you've got fowl, it will probably come back... so extra precautions required :mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 91 ✭✭tattycat


    Well as I said mayhem begins! ! We've Buff Orpington chicks, White Silkie chicks.7 Pigglets, 5 kid goats, 1 to kid, due y'day. Moscovy's ducks sitting on eggs, along with geese and various chickens (including a turkey hen that hasn't laid herself yet!!)
    Nd copious amounts of seeds, sown, potatoes planted nd abundant slugs!!
    By the way my Orps are always the first to lay (a good size egg) and are good mom's and are good eating!!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,923 ✭✭✭Kevhog1988


    tattycat wrote: »
    Well as I said mayhem begins! ! We've Buff Orpington chicks, White Silkie chicks.7 Pigglets, 5 kid goats, 1 to kid, due y'day. Moscovy's ducks sitting on eggs, along with geese and various chickens (including a turkey hen that hasn't laid herself yet!!)
    Nd copious amounts of seeds, sown, potatoes planted nd abundant slugs!!
    By the way my Orps are always the first to lay (a good size egg) and are good mom's and are good eating!!

    Your flat out... I only have a pet lamb


  • Registered Users Posts: 617 ✭✭✭OUTDOORLASS


    Morning all, with all the prep being discussed about preperations for the arrival of the Beast, what should we do for our hens/ducks...
    Is there any special precautions we should do......
    Thanks, ODL.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,277 ✭✭✭aonb


    Morning all, with all the prep being discussed about preperations for the arrival of the Beast, what should we do for our hens/ducks...
    Is there any special precautions we should duvets o......
    Thanks, ODL.
    Last big snow, I just made sure that the water was never frozen. Hens feathers are like duvets! I put many layers of newspaper on the floors of their coops to act as insulation. I threw an old carpet over the roof too. Gave them hot mash, hot water in their pellets. Cleared a bit of a path from the coop doors, they were pretty freaked by the snow. I also increased their fat/carb intake for a few days. Spoiled brats. Keep an eye for combs and wattles, if very cold you could put some vaseline on, to protect from severe cold /frost.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    Great weather lads!

    The rested field is getting green at last.

    The ducks are all laying. A recently acquired goose is sitting on 5 eggs as far away from her warm shed as possible, the gander is very protective.

    The chickens are banging them out, last years lambs are as fit as a fiddle and looking ready to go soon, the ponies coat is starting to gleam, the dogs are stretching out and soaking up the sunshine and the fruit and veg are starting to yawn.

    I love this time of year.

    Be nice to have a dry spell for a while.

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



  • Registered Users Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Boardnashea


    The hen run mentioned above has been bare earth for the past few months. I can't wait for it to start greening up again as the weather warms up again. It is divided in two so am keeping them out of one side to give it a start. Just got to control the nettles and other undesirables.
    Three goslings hatched over the past couple of days which are lovely. One more egg being kept warm so fingers crossed.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭realitykeeper


    Recently I was in the market in Cork and I wanted to buy raw cheese (i.e. made from unpasteurized milk). I found it but a lot of it seems to be sourced from abroad. An obvious solution to low milk prices is to use your milk to make raw cheese.

    Another obvious solution is to get out of dairy. Most Irish vegetables have to be imported. Whatever reasons may exist to explain why Irish farmers do dairy instead of other stuff, one cannot deny that going against the grain may stand to you in times of systemic crisis. Think of veg as gold to the contrarian. So, that is my tuppence worth.


  • Registered Users Posts: 135 ✭✭Eamonn8448


    Alot of labour goes into veg, big overheads to get started and then the nightmare of trying to sell it , alot of ups and downs in it , those few who do stay at it are a rare breed these days and glutens for punishment :-)


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭realitykeeper


    Eamonn8448 wrote: »
    Alot of labour goes into veg, big overheads to get started and then the nightmare of trying to sell it , alot of ups and downs in it , those few who do stay at it are a rare breed these days and glutens for punishment :-)
    Another way of looking at it is that dairy is great if you want an easy life. I wonder why so many farmers in Ireland want an easy life. What do they have in common?


  • Registered Users Posts: 135 ✭✭Eamonn8448


    Ah i wouldnt say dairy is easy , far from it at times like this ( not dairy myself btw), main point about veg i was trying to make to you is trying to find a market at a fair price for it, i remember many years ago going back to another fellas yard and loading up boxed broccoli @ say 2.50 a box and then delivering to a retailer for 4.80 a box, farm i was working with had a market for it the new guy hardly broke even , veg is a very tough game at times and so too is dairy, your tied to the place 24/7 in both


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    Recently I was in the market in Cork and I wanted to buy raw cheese (i.e. made from unpasteurized milk). I found it but a lot of it seems to be sourced from abroad. An obvious solution to low milk prices is to use your milk to make raw cheese.

    Another obvious solution is to get out of dairy.
    Most Irish vegetables have to be imported. Whatever reasons may exist to explain why Irish farmers do dairy instead of other stuff, one cannot deny that going against the grain may stand to you in times of systemic crisis. Think of veg as gold to the contrarian. So, that is my tuppence worth.

    I take it you have never worked on or even seen a dairy farm or cheese making farm in operation?

    Either that or you must be that lad Johnny Lynch that imported the buffaloes from Italy to Kilnamartyra.

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    Another way of looking at it is that dairy is great if you want an easy life. I wonder why so many farmers in Ireland want an easy life. What do they have in common?

    How is being tied to a job that involves looking after a herd of cows and milking them twice a day, 365 days a year come hail, rain or high water easy?

    I love the easy life, who doesn't? That's why I wouldn't take up dairy farming if you gave me the land and the cows for nothing.

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭realitykeeper


    I take it you have never worked on or even seen a dairy farm or cheese making farm in operation?

    Either that or you must be that lad Johnny Lynch that imported the buffaloes from Italy to Kilnamartyra.
    Wrong on both points.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    Wrong on both points.

    To be honest I was fairly confident you weren't Johnny Lynch.

    Would you be willing to share your experience of the other point?

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭realitykeeper


    How is being tied to a job that involves looking after a herd of cows and milking them twice a day, 365 days a year come hail, rain or high water easy?

    I love the easy life, who doesn't? That's why I wouldn't take up dairy farming if you gave me the land and the cows for nothing.

    My concern is to do with food security for Ireland. Relying on imports for veg is unwise given that international trade is subject to market forces which can sometimes change suddenly. Needless to say I am expecting this to happen otherwise I would not be concerned. How soon? Too soon.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,967 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    My concern is to do with food security for Ireland. Relying on imports for veg is unwise given that international trade is subject to market forces which can sometimes change suddenly. Needless to say I am expecting this to happen otherwise I would not be concerned. How soon? Too soon.

    How prepared are you?

    Not your ornery onager



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    My concern is to do with food security for Ireland. Relying on imports for veg is unwise given that international trade is subject to market forces which can sometimes change suddenly. Needless to say I am expecting this to happen otherwise I would not be concerned. How soon? Too soon.

    You quoted my post but managed to totally ignore it at the same time.

    I'll give you an easier question, how much per kg was the cheese you purchased?

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    Esel wrote: »
    How prepared are you?

    He's got a block of cheese.

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,633 ✭✭✭✭Buford T. Justice XIX


    Recently I was in the market in Cork and I wanted to buy raw cheese (i.e. made from unpasteurized milk). I found it but a lot of it seems to be sourced from abroad. An obvious solution to low milk prices is to use your milk to make raw cheese.
    Making it is the easy bit, after spending a significant sum to buy and set up the equipment. Waiting for the cheese to mature is going to cost hugely in terms of cash flow, the longer the maturing process needed, the bigger the hit on cash flow. Then there is the whole seeking out markets, which in itself is time consuming when done alongside the day to day management of running a farm and the not insignificant time needed to make and process the cheese. And the obvious necessity to actually sell the cheese to try to recoup some of the money already spent with years in getting to that stage.
    Another obvious solution is to get out of dairy. Most Irish vegetables have to be imported. Whatever reasons may exist to explain why Irish farmers do dairy instead of other stuff, one cannot deny that going against the grain may stand to you in times of systemic crisis. Think of veg as gold to the contrarian. So, that is my tuppence worth.
    Dairy has traditionally been carried out on poorer land where it was necessary to have as many sources of income as possible to allow bills to be paid. The better land was traditionally in beef and tillage as it would still be possible to derive an income even in poor weather which isn't always possible in poorer years.

    So the land already in dairy would be poorer land which wouldn't be possible to convert to tillage in any meaningful way.

    The old saying, 'We can grow anything we want in Ireland, we just can't harvest it', still rings true.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,966 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    Dairy has traditionally been carried out on poorer land where it was necessary to have as many sources of income as possible to allow bills to be paid. The better land was traditionally in beef and tillage as it would still be possible to derive an income even in poor weather which isn't always possible in poorer years.

    I'm not sure that's the case nationwide. The difference might be the passage of time and specialisation but in the areas I've worked dairy was on the better land with sheep or beef on less suitable ground.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,181 ✭✭✭Lady Haywire


    Recently I was in the market in Cork and I wanted to buy raw cheese (i.e. made from unpasteurized milk). I found it but a lot of it seems to be sourced from abroad. An obvious solution to low milk prices is to use your milk to make raw cheese.

    There's LOADS of raw Irish cheeses out there. English Market caters for a certain amount but you'd prob need to visit a proper cheesemongers to get a true gauge of the amount of Irish cheeses out there.
    Good list of cheese producers here- Both raw & pasturised, from 2010 so rest assured there's a lot more out there now.
    https://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/aboutfood/farmhousecheese/FarmhouseCheesesGuides/FarmhouseCheeseBooklet.pdf


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