Newsletter November 2021

Mantel Farm Gift Vouchers...

A great present for any garden farmer...

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....

Winter Poultry Care...

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.

Bee Kind Heat Logs...

New UK Made product from waste materials

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...

2022 Courses and Workshops...

New courses being added...

Chicken carriers £3.95 each...

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.

Videos from our Apiary...

Watch our final inspection for the year...

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...