Fireside stories, preparing for winter and Christmas Shopping
Fireside stories, preparing for winter and Christmas shopping...
One of the great things about our business is meeting so many interesting people, and over the last few months its been lovely to open up the shop again and welcome people, so we really hope we don’t have to go back into another lockdown! We always look forward at this time of year to lighting the fire in the shop and sharing fire-side stories with customers. Garden Farming attracts so many different people from all ages and all walks of life and just this week we found out one of our customers used to exhibit and judge Pekin Bantams! (I hope ours passed the test!) - it was great getting a little window into this part of the chicken keeping world and how the breed has become what we know today. Paul has very kindly written a little article for us to share in our newsletter, please see the link below to have a read.
With the frost this morning there is no denying now that winter is on the way and with the clocks changing last weekend we are back to long dark evenings. Its time therefore to prepare your hens for winter; have a look at our Winter Poultry Fact Sheet on our website for tips and advice, and when you get back indoors from your chickens why not light a fire? As well as eco-friendly, sustainable kiln-dried logs, kindling and fire lighters we are now also stocking Bee-Kind Heat logs made in the UK from waste beehive materials.
Bird-flu is unfortunately back in the news with a few cases in the UK and good biosecurity at the this time of year is always important so we recommend having a read of our help sheet to remind yourself of the requirements should we have to shut our hens in again. STOP PRESS - WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED AN ALERT THAT AN AVIAN INFLUENZA PREVENTION ZONE HAS COME INTO FORCE ACROSS GREAT BRITAIN AS OF 5PM ON 3 NOVEMBER 2021 - we will therefore check the up to date requiements and send a seperate newsletter shortly.
Longer evenings are also a reminder that Christmas is not too far away! Why not solve your present buying worries with a unique Mantel Farm Gift Voucher? or if you know someone who would enjoy a particular course then book them a place - just let us know its a gift and we will send a gift certificate to you. We have lots of courses planned for next year including new beekeeping improvers days , hive building workshops, willow workshops , chicken and pig keeping courses and other craft courses. 2022 Dates are being finalised and added to our website as they are arranged.
Why not solve your present buying worries with unique Mantel Farm Gift Voucher? Our vouchers can be usesd in our shop, for animal holidays or for any of our courses and workshops. Valid for 12 months.
Exhibiting Pekins in the Seventies and Eighties...
By Paul Goldsmith
In the mid-seventies I started keeping bantams; Speckled Sussex, White and Buff Pekins, the Pekins became my specialist breed and it was around this time, one of the foremost exhibitors chose to import Cochin bantams from America....
In the poultry keepers year, all weather conditions bring 'pros and cons' ...
When the winter rains or frozen thaw comes, everything can turn to mush, particularly the pen floor, Provided it’s not too deep (if it is you’ll need to shovel some out!), you can then tip in some fresh wood chippings, this is great for soaking up the mud and re-stabilising the ground. Read more tips for Winter Poulty Care.
These heat logs are made in the UK, 100% natural, recycled cedar wood and red wood sawdust and shavings.
Compared to logs wood briquettes burn hotter for longer (making them more economical) they are much cleaner to handle and produce less spitting when lit. They also produce lower tar residues. With no glue or additives, 100% renewable energy from compressed cedar wood and redwood sawdust and shavings...
Join us on one of our fun and informative courses and workshops in 2022. Learn how to make a beehive, become a beekeeper, find help and identify the bumblebees in your garden, make a willow basket or a traditional sussex trug. We are adding more courses this month but take a look at our 2022 programme so far...
With the drive to recycle and the increasing costs of materials it has become necessary to charge for our chicken carriers...
If you are collecting hens, please bring along a recycled cardboard box where possible. We will ensure there are adequate ventilation holes and seal the top for you using paper based tape.
Alternatively, puchase our animal carriers; made from sustainably sourced cardboard, we add a recycled liner so they can be used again. Each carrier will hold 2 hybrids or 3 bantams.
Roger and Josh carry out the final insspection in the apiary, ensuring all is well before leaving the bees for the winter...
Amandas Beekeeping notes ...
It is important to check entrances regularly, one of my colonies is still throwing out drones as of 20 th October and they may get wedged in the entrance especially as you probably have mouse guards on by now. My entrances are 5.5mm high so I don’t need a mouseguard but drones do get stuck in them sometimes. Wasps are still about and I saw one disappear into one good tempered hive. The more defensive ones can defend themselves better but even my shallow entrances are still reduced right down with foam until the wasp threat disappears...
This email was sent from Mantel Farm to Mantel Farm | Mantel Farm, Henley Down, Catsfield, East Sussex, TN33 9BN, United Kingdom