A lovely video about Exmoor ponies -
but with a very important message:
PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY
Pheasant News Latest!
Well they are getting bigger - almost LOOK like pheasants now!
Follow the story:
1st August - how we found them
update one:
27th October update two
Follow the story:
1st August - how we found them
update one:
27th October update two
Make Hay While The Sun Shines...
.... never a truer word!
For the last few months we've had a lot of rain.... not always every day, but on enough days to not be suitable for Haymaking. This involves, cutting it, drying it - turning it and drying again... then baling and bringing inb. Wet or damp hay goes musty and ndusty - and can cause fires as it combusts.
Last weekend we had a "window of opportunity" from Thursday to Sunday when the forecast gave dry weather for four days.... so we went for it!
For the last few months we've had a lot of rain.... not always every day, but on enough days to not be suitable for Haymaking. This involves, cutting it, drying it - turning it and drying again... then baling and bringing inb. Wet or damp hay goes musty and ndusty - and can cause fires as it combusts.
Last weekend we had a "window of opportunity" from Thursday to Sunday when the forecast gave dry weather for four days.... so we went for it!
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| Luna surveying her dinner! |
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| Hay is cut.... |
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| hay is baled... |
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| hay is brought in.... |
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| Mab the cat surveys her cosy summer residence! |
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| last load.... of several. We had 540 bales |
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| One empty field... until next year! |
Update on the Pheasant Chicks!
well, it has been a couple of weeks now since 15th July when we found a dead hen pheasant in our quiet back-of-nowhere lane - along with five of her orphaned chicks (and sadly, several dead ones, also run-over)
(see previous article here )
but look how the four surviving chicks have grown!
they live in one of the stables now - on a diet of fruit, hard-boiled egg and meal worms. They will soon be getting their full adult plumage and when that happens we'll either let them out into the front garden (fairly enclosed) or transfer them to a run in the orchard, let them settle, and then open the door.
If they then want to stay they can (we'll put food down and keep their nest box for them) but they are wild birds and once full grown will need to return to the wild - and take their chances with nature (and sadly, the foxes)
We are expecting that they might just decide to hang around though - but we'll have to see..
(see previous article here )
but look how the four surviving chicks have grown!
they live in one of the stables now - on a diet of fruit, hard-boiled egg and meal worms. They will soon be getting their full adult plumage and when that happens we'll either let them out into the front garden (fairly enclosed) or transfer them to a run in the orchard, let them settle, and then open the door.
If they then want to stay they can (we'll put food down and keep their nest box for them) but they are wild birds and once full grown will need to return to the wild - and take their chances with nature (and sadly, the foxes)
We are expecting that they might just decide to hang around though - but we'll have to see..
Five Little Orphans (and five more pets!)
15th July 2015
Monday afternoon we (myself, husband and daughter) drove to South Molton (bread and milk needed, I had some US currency to change back to £ sterling....)
On the way back we turned into our (narrow) lane. It's just wide enough for one car, even walkers have to squash into the hedge.
This part of the lane only leads to our house and our neighbours, so the only vehicles are the residents', delivery vans (i.e postman) and the occasional farmer seeing to livestock in the fields (though Frank usually walks.)
Therefore, very limited traffic and what there is doesn't go very fast,
We were saddened to discover a dead hen pheasant. She had very obviously been run over, so it seems that a delivery van or someone unfamiliar with the lane had driven down.
Rather than squash her even more, we got out of the car to remove her - and were dismayed to discover a couple of dead chicks underneath her. The poor lady had obviously been trying to protect her babies.
Then we heard a forlorn 'peep-peep-peep' coming from the bottom of the hedge. A live little chick, very frightened and wet from the rain hiding in the undergrowth. We managed to catch him (or her) and off came my hat as a safe place to put her (or him). More 'peep-peeps' - another chick? I followed the sound down the lane - yes! Ron and Kathy found another one! And another... and then a fifth. They were all frightened and cold, all calling for their Mummy - but they seemed to like being inside my hat.
At home we found a temporary 'house' (a hamster cage) and stuffed some straw in it. Kathy had visitors coming so we thought best to leave them to recover (the pheasant chicks, not the visitors!)
When I checked the babies, one was still wet and looking very poorly. Other measures were needed! A warm hand (sorry I drew the line at putting it in my bra) fresh straw and a cardboard box (with air holes). Ron prepared a hot water bottle which went under the straw. We found a soft toy owl (right-ish size and colour to Mum Pheasant) and tucked the brood up warm and safe.
Never expecting them to survive to e honest.
But by the evening they had pecked at a bit of mashed-up hard boiled egg and chick crumbs (our hen's food) and were running about quite lively!
So sweet to see them all cuddled up and going to sleep in daughter Kathy's lap.
Tuesday morning they were all doing fine - even more lively.
We got hold of some live meal worms, which they gobbled up - so they were all eating and drinking, There's hope they will survive!
Wednesday - still all OK.
Eddie our pup is fascinated by them - so here's a very short clip of the Orphans and their watchdog Chick-sitter!
(you may need to turn the sound up - the 'peeps' are fairly quiet.
These are not our chicks - but very interesting videos.
Monday afternoon we (myself, husband and daughter) drove to South Molton (bread and milk needed, I had some US currency to change back to £ sterling....)
On the way back we turned into our (narrow) lane. It's just wide enough for one car, even walkers have to squash into the hedge.
This part of the lane only leads to our house and our neighbours, so the only vehicles are the residents', delivery vans (i.e postman) and the occasional farmer seeing to livestock in the fields (though Frank usually walks.)
 |
| as you can see the lane is quite narrow |
Therefore, very limited traffic and what there is doesn't go very fast,
We were saddened to discover a dead hen pheasant. She had very obviously been run over, so it seems that a delivery van or someone unfamiliar with the lane had driven down.
Rather than squash her even more, we got out of the car to remove her - and were dismayed to discover a couple of dead chicks underneath her. The poor lady had obviously been trying to protect her babies.
Then we heard a forlorn 'peep-peep-peep' coming from the bottom of the hedge. A live little chick, very frightened and wet from the rain hiding in the undergrowth. We managed to catch him (or her) and off came my hat as a safe place to put her (or him). More 'peep-peeps' - another chick? I followed the sound down the lane - yes! Ron and Kathy found another one! And another... and then a fifth. They were all frightened and cold, all calling for their Mummy - but they seemed to like being inside my hat.
At home we found a temporary 'house' (a hamster cage) and stuffed some straw in it. Kathy had visitors coming so we thought best to leave them to recover (the pheasant chicks, not the visitors!)
When I checked the babies, one was still wet and looking very poorly. Other measures were needed! A warm hand (sorry I drew the line at putting it in my bra) fresh straw and a cardboard box (with air holes). Ron prepared a hot water bottle which went under the straw. We found a soft toy owl (right-ish size and colour to Mum Pheasant) and tucked the brood up warm and safe.
Never expecting them to survive to e honest.
But by the evening they had pecked at a bit of mashed-up hard boiled egg and chick crumbs (our hen's food) and were running about quite lively!
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| (16th July: sadly, this little one didn't make it) |
So sweet to see them all cuddled up and going to sleep in daughter Kathy's lap.
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| fast asleep! |
Tuesday morning they were all doing fine - even more lively.
We got hold of some live meal worms, which they gobbled up - so they were all eating and drinking, There's hope they will survive!
Wednesday - still all OK.
Eddie our pup is fascinated by them - so here's a very short clip of the Orphans and their watchdog Chick-sitter!
(you may need to turn the sound up - the 'peeps' are fairly quiet.
These are not our chicks - but very interesting videos.
1st August update:
The remaining four chicks are doing very well - getting big now
and will soon be ready to be released back into the wild
6th August update
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