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Well well there are a few entries on the forum…

Well, well there are a few entries on the forum that are judging me for telling that if I cant protect our Chickens, Geese and Turkey with electric fencing I will have to shoot it. I may have misunderstood today’s entry by Maria that I am encouraging the Fox by feeding the Badgers. If it had not been for the Badgers in the first place there would never had been the Wildlife TV website and the web cams. So I make no apologises for feeding the Badgers. Before we started to feed the Badgers we had our Children’s Chickens taken by a Fox. Feeding the Badgers is not the cause of the Fox taking the Chickens.

Yesterday after leaving the Chickens, Geese and Turkey in their housing housing for two days we let them out to stretch their legs and our Black Rock Chicken was taken by the Fox, and that was even with us checking them every ten to fifteen minutes. And no Mick (Hampshire) it was not a Stoat or Mink, it was a Fox.

Unfortunately after having a very careful look at the possibility of electric fencing it will not be practical as there are to many access points and gates that are in constant use. I even considered a large fenced area for the Chickens, Geese and Turkey but the cost of such a structure is prohibitive and it takes away our choice of having the Birds free range and the Birds their freedom. I purchased the Geese as they were confined in an unsuitable area and I felt that they should have their freedom.

I like most welcomed the ban on hunting with dogs. But with no natural predator there is no way of that the Fox can be controlled other than them being shot. Why should they be controlled? There are to many. Even before the hunting ban their natural boundaries were extended into out Town and Cities where they are classed as vermin. Because of their scavenging for food around dustbins that have caused an increase in rat population. Hunting although I still believe is cruel, it is a much better option than shooting. They are even killed outright or get away. With shooting there is always the chance that the Fox will suffer weeks of agony with wounds.

I believe that all of our Wildlife is important and have over the years done more than most to protect it. I do not relish even the thought that it may be necessary to kill a Fox, but domesticated Animals and Birds are of no less of importance than than those in the Wild. I introduced the Chickens, Geese and Turkey to Denbury and I have a duty to protect them from predator. Is it right that the Birds are slaughtered, some times not even as a meal without giving them protection. It could be that some of you may feel that domesticated fowl are less important than a Fox. I don’t.

We know and feel for all of the Animals and Birds that we keep at Denbury, as you would your own Pets. Would you allow your pets to be attacked or killed without doing all you could to stop it? I spent many hours and a lot of money electric fencing the Lake to stop the Fox and Otter from killing the Canadian Geese. More for the Geese and Ducks than our Fish. It was a bonus that it protected both. Unfortunately electric fencing will not work to protect the Birds.

No doubt some of those judging me are the same who sit down to eat their Sunday joint and two veg. The joint that got its way to your table starting as a living Animal at a Farm, travelling maybe hundreds of miles in a crowded lorry to a livestock market. To be penned up for hours tightly packed waiting to go into the auction ring where they are prodded and poked to keep them moving, before being put back into their pens to wait hours to be shipped to holding farms before finishing up in a slaughter house, again waiting for hours smelling the fear of death before they are shot in the head or electrically stunned, hung up within seconds with the chance that their skins and hides are ripped off of their backs before they are properly dead. Or maybe you had a Chicken for your dinner. The same Chicken that was hooked upside down by one leg before having its throat cut still flapping its wings trying to escape why being plucked. Maybe you had Fish. The same Fish that was trawled and netted by the thousands. So much weight in the nets that other than those Fish at the top where squashed, then allowed to die a lingering death on the deck of a trawler. If it is necessary to kill a Fox it will be done to protect, not for gain

Sue, Middlesex. I don’t allow links.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

ALL TOOK IN MY GARDEN LAST YEAR

THRUSH. Lynne.

LONG TAILED TIT. Lynne.

YOUNG BLUE TIT. Lynne.

YOUNG BLUE TIT FEEDING. Lynne.

NUTHATCH. Lynne.

Very close to the entrance of the Farm we have found the decaying remains of a dead Badger that going from where we found it must have come from our Sett. It had been hidden by long grass that had been recently been cut. The amount of decay would have made it nearly impossible for me to see how it had died. A month or maybe not so long ago I saw eleven Badgers at one time at the main feeding site and other site below. The most I have seen recently is seven at one time. I didn’t see it but a few of you put entries on the Forum that there had been quite a fight. In the Autumn this is a way of reducing the size of the Sett. The dominant Males will chase some of the younger Males away, but not normally at this time of the year. I would have expected to see most of the Sett feeding at the same time. Let me know on the Forum if you see more than seven Badgers at one time.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

ALL TOOK AT RUFFORD COUNTRY PARK. LYNNE.

I WONT BE FEEDING THE BADGERS UNTIL 8.45PM

I have not been watching the webcams a lot after I feed the Badgers, so I didn’t realise that the Rooks had been taking most of the Badger bread before the Badgers came out. It was only because some of our Holiday Guests had wanted to go to the hide last night after I had fed the Badgers that I realised. I don’t normally let people go up to the hide after I have fed the Badgers in case it disturbs them, but on looking I could see that there was very little bread left.

The Rook Chicks will leave their nests over the next two days, the 5th and 6th of May so the parents a busily feeding them and will do until they can fly so the Badger food is easy pickings.

All of the twelve Geese and six Chickens are free range now, other than three new Chickens that we got on Saturday. We put all them away at night. The Chickens have got use to being shut up of a night and are all in their house by eightish. The Geese haven’t learnt yet but they are not a lot of bother getting them into their Stable. Hopefully they will learn to house themselves soon. It is nice seeing all of them around the Farm, and our Holiday Guests enjoy them and the fresh eggs that we supply. The Fox is a concern as they will try to get both the Geese and Chickens. Unfortunately that is nature and other than keep them locked up all day there is not a lot you can do about the Fox. Badger also will take Chickens and Geese but as the Badger is rarely out in the day he is not such a threat when they are housed of a night.

All of the first Chicken that we got are now laying eggs. A little small at the moment as this is the first time that they have produced eggs, but they are getting larger. Mind you we have had a couple of double yolkers. At first they were laying here, there and every where, but over the past couple of days they have been going back to their house to lay their eggs. A couple of the Geese are also laying. These we are incubating as we have seen the Gander mating with the Geese.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

There are no photographs left for tomorrows Photo Page.

Ducks and a swan in our local park the other day. sue.

Some horses that we like to visit in a field not too far from us. sue.

Sorry to those who may not have known that we feed the Badgers as if the clocks were not altered. Every time that we have to change our clocks I moan. There really is no reason for it.

Whilst the Badgers were feeding Thursday night I checked the Lake on my private view of the webcams to see if the Geese were about. When I looked at the Island I saw a rat slipping into the water to swim to the far bank. At first I thought that I had seen one of the Geese on the bank, but on a second look I saw that it was a Heron. The infra-red lamp did not quit allow for a good image on the far bank but it did look as if the Heron may have had a Fish in its beak. I didn’t hang about just in case it was not and it was going to continue fishing. By the time I had reached the Lake it was flying away. It probably heard me approaching. What surprised me was that the the Heron was on the Lake in the dark, let alone fishing. I had always believed that Herons return to their heronries at night. I not sure that I mentioned that some while ago I saw a Heron swimming on the Lake. I know I wasn’t dreaming but when I have told people they have looked at me as if I was mad.

I am a bit concerned about seeing rats on the Island as the Geese eggs will be left until all of the eggs are laid, giving the chance of a meal to the rats. I will monitor the Island to make sure that the Island is not being used by the Ducks, Moorhens or Coots to nest. If not I may decide to try to get rid of the rats.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Here are 5 photos of the badgers taken from the hide at denbury with my infrared camera. Vicky.

The white blob a couple of you have mentioned is a small rowing boat.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

The Towers Cleveleys, large gardens of a mansion long gone, that has been turned into a secret haven for locals to enjoy. As a bonus it is just a minutes walk away from us, so armed with a packed lunch is a great place to spend an hour or two. Pam, Cleveleys.

Although it looks as if we are in for a cold spell for part of this week, spring is well on its way at Denbury.

On a walk around the Lake this afternoon I could see that the Flag Iris’s and Marsh Marigold are starting to show them selves above the ground and a few of the Tree are starting to bud. We are also seeing some rough grass starting to show through. The way that that a pair of Blackbirds are darting about instead of waiting around the animal feed bins I am sure that a pair of Blackbirds are building a nest. I will try to see where it is. If I am right and find it I will put a camera up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen it is about time I told you about the so called Otter that you have been seeing. We do have Otters at Denbury as Karen and some of you saw in the Valley last year. But they are not Otters coming to feed at the Badgers feeding area. They are are or were rats. I have poisoned two areas to get rid of them and by the amount that I have seen over the past few nights most have gone.

Otters are much larger than what some have believed you have seen. The Otter in the Valley last year was very big. A rough guide to the size would be a large Cat plus the strong tail. With the amount of water around Denbury the Otters would be hunting Eels and Fish. If for any reason they were to be about the Badgers feeding area, they would have made a meal of the rats, as would Stoats and Weasels that we also see at Denbury quite often.

There are still a few rats about. I will need to find their holes in the bank that the Badgers Sett is in, to put the bait in. We have been baiting the areas for a long time, probably over a month if not more. We changed the bait we used from a product called Slaymore (just in case any of you have a vermin problem) to our normally excellent Farm Supplies own brand. Although the two bait was based around the same grain the rats would not take it. As soon as we changed back to Slaymore the bait started to be taken. For sure the rats had been to the bait as we put a plastic petrol can with holes at either end, this we put inside a cage. This is to stop Birds from getting to eat the bait. The rats ate half of the can and left the bait.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Tetatet mini daffs cyclamen around a tree all taken at Hodsock. Sue.

These are photos of Hodsock Priory near Worksop. Sue.

When I changed the webcams over this morning I could only see two Reindeer in the field, so I went to the Field before we gave the Horses their feed. On entering there is usually one of the Reindeer waiting in the area between the gate and the Field that we made so that our Holiday Guests can get close to the Reindeer, she was not there and no where to be seen in the Field. I thought that she may have got out so I would look for her after the Horses were fed. Just as I was leaving the Field I noticed a movement behind one of their two houses at the far end of the Field. When I got to to where I seen the movement there she was well and truly caught up in some netting that was behind two fence panels for added security to keep the Reindeer in. The netting was twisted many times around her antlers, but as much as I tried I could not untwist it. In the end I needed to return to the Farm House for a knife to cut the netting away. Once it was cut off she was not bothered at all, running to the feeding troughs to make sure that she was not missing out on the breakfast.

The Badgers are all starting to come out together for their feed. At the last count when they were all coming out together last year, there were eleven. This year at the two feeding areas I have counted nine at one time, so there is a good chance that there still eleven occupying the Sett, plus however many Cubs there are, for I am sure that the amount of time and bedding that the Badgers are taking into the Sett, there are at least one family of Cubs. I have also seen one Badger that seems to have lightened up on it head. It is usually out feeding on the bottom feeding area quite early. I don’t know if it is changing because it is getting older or it is on of last years Cubs.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Here

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

A few shots taken at Newstead Abbey last week

Found this gent fishing in the pond in the gardens. I think he’s all hand woven.

Some Funghi in the woods. I think its called Cup Fungi or Peziza succosa.It is Poisonous.

View across the lake.

Some strange weavings. Again all hand made

Just for Jordan, a young Red Cap (Fly Agaric) Very Poisonous. From Judy.

Only photographs for one day are left.

I believe that the Otter may have tried to get onto the Lake on Sunday night. The electric wire on the stream side had been disturbed as if it had tried to get through. It is not a very large shock. just enough for any thing that touches to think about not wanting to touch it again. It should not stop the Otter from returning to the area of the Lake but it will remember the wire when it sees it and will not cross it.

Unfortunately electric fencers do stop other animals. We can see by Badger tracks that they use the Lake to drink from, As Badgers have short legs they will be unable to get across the wire without touching it, although it is only about twelve inches from the ground. The Fox would naturally jump the low wire. We walked around the Lake to show one of our Holiday Guests the Lake. Without realising Thornton was following us and he touched the wire. He only ran a few yards back, but I can tell you he wasn’t best pleased. We will need to fix a permanent fence with a gate to protect the Lakes. There is a little Leat Pond that water flows into the Lake from that the Badgers will be able too use.

The Female Reindeer’s damage around her mouth looks a lot better today. She is still eating and drinking well but the scouring has not stopped. As soon as it does we will be able to return her and the Female that is keeping her company back to the Reindeer Field.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

I am sure you will like this one. Elsie

This will wind the ladies up. Elsie

The ladies will certainly not like this one.
Elsie

Three photos I took on the 27th Sept. Rose W’canton.

We have finished electrifying around the Lake to stop the Otter from getting any of our Fish. We had hoped to start on the Pond that is next to the Lake but our contractor who will need to top the area has hurt his foot and cant drive his tractor. It is not goods news as one of this weeks Holiday Guests who is on a Fishing Holiday has seen a very large Carp in the Pond. There are a lot of fish in the Pond. It was never our intention to stock the Pond but the fry have gone through the Lakes overflow pipes that goes into the Pond. Now that we know that the Pond is well stocked we will get it ready so that it will be able to be fished next year. It is going to be a major job preparing it as a some years back we stocked it with a number of different varieties of Bullrushes. Not one of my better ideas as now it is three fifths full of the things. Around the Pond is also well overgrown as we left it to encourage wildlife, all it has managed to encourage is very thick bramble. So before we can make a start it will need to be topped.

It was Branston that spooked the Badgers tonight. Some how he had managed to knock a gate down that separates where he wanders about and the Badger Field. Rattling a bucket of feed soon got him out of the Field. We did notice one of the Badgers was lame on its offside rear leg.

The photograph of the Mushroom Rose sent in is a variety that we use to get in our Fields when we had Cattle. We also use to get one the same but opposite colouring. When we stopped having Cattle the Mushrooms disappeared. They were the best Mushrooms we have ever tasted.