Contains forums, wildlife live webcams, diary, blog, artciles and pictures of farm animals.
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Getting very short on photographs.
WE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS IN NORTH YORKSHIRE THIS WEEK AND TOOK THESE.
WHITBY. LYNNE.
HELMSLEY. LYNNE.
THE FAMOUS DAFFODILS AT FARNDALE AS VIEWED BY MY ELLIE. LYNNE.
STAITHES. LYNNE.
ROBIN HOODS BAY. LYNNE.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Flower bed at my local park. Vicky.
Tulip. Vicky.
Swan grooming. Vicky.
Sunset at a local nature reserve. Vicky.
Song Thrush. Vicky.
I had no intention of doing a Diary today until I had a phone call from our local Police. The reason for the phone call is of little relevance until the sting in the tail.
Yesterday evening from our kitchen window we saw two people with their dogs walking on the footpath that passes through our Farm Yard. They were in my opinion, by the way they were acting, either being extremely nosey or possibly even looking for what could be stolen. On two occasions they trespassed on our property, once was onto our Cottages Car Park that was obviously not the Footpath. On seeing them trespass I had no alternative but to challenge them.
By the time I had put my shoes on and gone to challenge them they had reached the entrance of one of the Paddocks, and had again left the footpath. They were gesturing to what was in the Paddock. By this time I had challenged them from a distance. Instead of continuing on their way the man decided to make various unnecessary remarks. I am not the most patient of people and told them to (swearing)off. By this time what they were gesturing to showed its self. It was Thornton. The people allowed their dogs to put their faces onto Thornton’s face. One of the dogs was even making a low growl. Seeing this made me even more annoyed and I shouted again for the people to so and so. Turning to walk on, the man again made a couple of nasty remarks. As the people walked away Thornton started to follow them, making me have to run up to him to make him turn to return to the Farm. I told them again in no uncertain terms what the so and so did they think that they were doing A threat was made to me that they they would report me to the Police.
The phone call was to tell me that I should attend the Police Station to be arrested about the incident that happen with the walkers. I was told that if I did not attend I would be arrested at the Farm. I put the phone down with little intention of attending the Police Station. I have had a number of altercations with people using footpaths that go through the Farm. Always for trespassing or going the wrong way, not having the dogs on leads or interfering with property or the Animals. A number of those people have complained to the Police. Always a Police person has come to the Farm and asked what has happened. On hearing our side of the incident the matter has been closed, so it was strange that I was told that I was going to be arrested. With this in mind I decided to go to the Police Station to make a complaint.
I was arrested by a what an aggressive Women Police Officer, my photograph, fingerprints and DNA was taken. I was locked in a cell until I was interviewed on tape.
The interview that followed was carried out in a very formal way. Some of the questions I was asked and a couple of the remarks that were made to me were not what I would have expected. One being, was it unreasonable for the walkers to pet Thornton or any of the other livestock. I think that it is unreasonable for any person to interfere with any of my animals without my permission. As you know we nearly lost Thornton a few months ago and if we had not seen the incident yesterday the same thing may have happened. The walkers even made allegations that I had threatened them with violence. I didn’t and the word that were alleged that I had used are word that I would not use. After the interview I was bailed to attend the Police Station on the 1st of June.
The sting in the tail. The walkers were a high Court Judge and his Partner.
Before telling me who the people were, the Police Officer suggested that the the people did not look like robbers. Without a label or a robbers uniform can any one tell me what a robber looks like. I asked the Officer, she couldn’t answer. The Judge didn’t look like a Judge either. Not that it would have made any difference if he had.
I would not have been arrested if it had been any one else. I will be speaking to my Solicitor to make a formal complaint.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Just one days photographs left.
Christchurch Cathedral near the centre of Oxford. Clive.
The start of the Mesopotamia walk along the river Cherwell near Oxford. Clive.
The weir at the other end of the `Mesopotamia walk. Clive.
The Victoria Arms at Marston on the bank of the river Cherwell, one of the Pubs featured in the Inspector Morse series, Clive.
The Oxford canal just outside Oxford. Clive.
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
ALL TOOK AT RUFFORD COUNTRY PARK NEAR WORKSOP LAST WEEKEND. LYNNE
Twelve Geese eggs were put in the incubator this evening. Ten that we purchased from a local breeder and two that our new Geese have layed.
The first night that the incubator has been working with eggs in it, all is working as it should be. The temperature is exactly right and the humidity is fluctuating one per cent either way. The incubator has a warning alarm if the heat rises or falls above or below the correct temperature. If the temperature of the incubator rises it will quickly kill the embryo. If it falls it is not such a disaster. As long as it is corrected within four or five hours the eggs will be OK. The other important part is to keep turning the eggs otherwise the embryo will stick to.
When incubating an egg it will need to loose 13% of it weight, so weighing the eggs periodically whilst incubating is a good way of telling if the egg will hatch correctly. The weight loss helps the membrane that you can see when you open a boiled egg needs to shrink, leaving a gap between the shell and the membrane that makes an air pocket. The air pocket allows the hatching Chick to breath whilst it is breaking through the shell. Controlling the humidity correctly allows the air pocket to get larger through the incubating period.
Whilst the Embryo is forming into a Chick it needs oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. The forming Embryo also needs food and feeds on the eggs yolk through blood vessels. The hatched Chick will also feed on the yolk for a day or so after hatching. Incubating eggs is very interesting, but it can be a worry. When we were incubating Ostriches we were very successful. Ostrich eggs are meant to be the most difficult to hatch, so hopefully we will get it correct when incubating Turkey and Geese.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Memorial for USS San Diego. Penny Chicago Chicago Chicago
Interesting Tree in Seaport Village. Penny Chicago Chicago Chicago
Here is another photo of a Ganada Goose in the fork of a tree where her nest was. She has her nest there every year. It is a very large tree with 3 forks coming off it. When the youngsters are ready to leave the nest, about 6 of them, they tumble down the tree and then their parents take then down to the water nearby. Occasionally a gosling does damage its wings and this shows up when they are ready to fly and can’t, which makes them very vulnerable to foxie loxie if the injured goose leaves the pond. Usually the park staff capture the goose and send it to a sanctuary to live out its life. These photos were taken in a beautiful Toronto Park. Rosie’s Mum in Toronto.
Couple of pictures for the gallery if you can include them. Pete.
Our incubator is now up and running and ready for our first eggs to go in to start incubating. 25 Bronze Turkey eggs arrived yesterday, they will go into the incubator tonight. We will be collecting 10 Goose eggs tomorrow that with the 2 that our Geese have layed will go in the incubator tomorrow. The temperature of the incubator is 37.5 c or 99.5 f. The humidity for Turkey and Geese eggs need to be at about 55 per cent.
Turkey eggs will take approximately 28 days to incubate. Geese eggs about 30 days. About two days before the eggs hatch they will go in to a hatcher. That is when we hope to be able to show the hatching on the webcam. We are trying to find one that will be suitable for the webcam.
It is better to have all the eggs hatching at the same time. That would need for the Geese eggs going into the incubator a couple of days before the Turkey eggs. For the first couple of weeks we will put the eggs in the incubator as we get them. We will also need to candle the eggs to see if they are fertile. That will need to be done after 6 days. We have got to cross our fingers and hope that most of the eggs are fertile. At this time of the year when the birds are just beginning to mate, it can be a bit hit and miss. I will try to take a photograph of a an egg when we candle them.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Eight of our new Geese.
The other four.
From the left. Chicken Egg, Turkey Egg and our first Goose Egg.
Well what a surprise, I have won this egg in a raffle at our local garden centre, I had already bought Easter eggs for everyone. Wish I could share it with you all !! We will still be eating it at Christmas! Rose W’canton.
Bird of Paradise in our Hotel Garden. Penny Chicago Chicago Chicago.
As you can see by tonight photographs, we collected our Geese last evening. The eight are a little moth eaten and will do and look better when they are are allowed out on the grass to graze. They are about a year old. To our surprise when we went to feed them this morning one had layed an egg. We don’t know how long that they have been laying, or if the Geese have been mating, but we will try to incubate the egg.
The Four Geese were hatched in the November and December last year. Very late for Geese eggs to hatch. We don’t know how they will be if we mix to two lots of Geese. There may be one almighty fight causing some of them to get killed or injured, so we will keep them apart.
There are too many Geese for us to keep on the Farm. A trio will be about right, so we will sell the remaining nine. I must admit hearing Geese honking is a nice sound to have on the Farm.
We changed our incubator today. The original incubator would incubate 190 Chicken eggs. To be honest I thought that on that working out, it would incubate about a 100 Goose eggs. On reading the instruction book it will only incubate just over 50 Goose eggs. Being we hope to hatch every week, we changed the incubator for one double the size. As you can see on the photograph, Geese eggs are a lot bigger. The one in the photograph is the one we found our Geese had laid this morning is not a very big one.
I emailed Rose, W’canton telling her to send her Giant Easter egg to us. We would well tuck into it, and it must be some thing to do with when Thornton was born, as he has managed to find some chocolates from time to time. The last one being just over a week ago when he was found in one of the Cottages, with a box of posh chocolates that had been part of an anniversary present. Thornton had reached up on his rear legs and pulled the chocolates down from a cabinet, and was found stuffing himself. Thornton does like his chocolate.
Late night again after collecting the Geese. Will do photographs including the Geese tomorrow.
One Family of Holiday Guests this week are from Wales. Seven altogether, five being Children. Other than the teenage Daughter all of the the other four have been helping us around the Farm. They must be enjoying it as they are getting up early to help with the mucking out and are with us for most of the day. We have needed to muck out a very dirty stable for the Geese to be housed in that we are collecting this evening. It has taken ten trailer loads of wet and very heavy muck to clear the Stable. All of the Children have helped. Mum also got stuck in. The job did take less time with the help that they all gave. The best bit being is that they all enjoyed it, especially the ride on the quad to the muck heap.
Joseph came out with a couple of funny remarks. He calls the Quad and Trailer the Poo Chariot. The best one though being that the smell of the muck cleared his nasal cavities. Every time I remember the remark I cant help but laugh. He is a funny Lad. All the Children are very good to be with. The youngest are twin Girls that I am having a little difficulty understanding their Welsh accent. The older boy Callum did work hard helping with the Stable. I reckon that they will all sleep well tonight.
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
3 of our new Chickens.
Another three. Well at least you can see another ones head.
Our incubator.
The Higher car ferry, Dartmouth. In June this year to be replaced by a much larger ferry. This one takes 16 cars, the new one will take 32!
Just got in after a long day. Got some Chickens. Will tell you about them in tomorrows Diary.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Here are some pictures from San Diego California where I am visiting with my husband (he is attending a conference). It is not as warm as one would think here, sadly, but is still very nice and warmer than Chicago where it is supposed to snow again! Penny Chicago Chicago Chicago
Thank you all that have sent in donations to keep the webcams broadcasting. It has stopped us from having to cut down the number of viewers who can view the webcam at one time for this month. It cost me many thousands of pounds annually to keep broadcasting. At this time of the year our visitor numbers increase so much that it is becoming uneconomical. I can see that most of you that use the Forum have sent us a donations. It is very much needed and appreciated. Hopefully donations and any revenue that we get from Google will keep the website going.
I started the webcams at Denbury Farm nearly six year ago to market our Holiday Cottages and to hopefully save on advertising. It would now cost me substantially less the advertise in the nationals papers every day than what it cost me to keep the website going. I do have to think of that as the webcams are not bringing in many visitors to the Farm that advertising would.