Bailey on Slug Patrol

Just to finish this stream of blogs of the feathered variety and since the ducks haven't had much of a look in recently... here's Bailey, the drake, checking out the opportunities in the newly planted up tyres. 

Bob Flowerdew would be proud of me. They work really well as instant raised beds, particularly good for potatoes, as you can keep adding another tyre on top as you "earth" them up and Bailey provides the alternative to slug pellets. The old carpet underneath hides an already dug over bed with a deep layer of chicken muck and straw preparing for planting later in the year. I haven't decided what but it lets me think about it and when the tyres are finished with I just knock them over, lift the carpet and spread the compost on top of the bed below. 

Well thats the theory, we shall see how it works, this is my plan for low maintenance vege gardening while I am off doing things with camera or dogs or both.

Meet our new cockerel, still looking for a name for him

This is the culprit that scratched Fly, the Ganders eye, which resulted in three trips to the vet, eye ointment twice daily and three jabs of antibiotics. I originally called him Charlie but I think I might have to find something a bit stronger. He is giving the hens a much higher place in the pecking order. Before they were always pushed out by the geese but Charlie is not having that now. After about a month of putting up with it, he chased Fly half around the field, both of them nearly flying. I may have to put out the food in two seperate places to stop any disagreements over food. Remind you of any discussions about dogs and food sharing?

Didn't realise I needed to use a Weanafeeder with my feathered friends. 

 At the end of the day he is probably just doing his job, looking after the girls.

Squirrel's pups have all found really great homes

One of the most important things for any one who is looking for homes for their puppies is to spend some time before any decisions are made, talking to potential puppy owners to be sure they can give the right homes for your pups.  

Choosing the right homes from the start can help make sure the pup never has to be rehomed later in life. As well as making sure the potential owners undertand the needs of your breed of dog, there is the issue of personalities and lifestyles. 

If you get the match right with pup and owner personalities then everything else falls into place so much more easily.

Mo the Steinbacker Goose is sitting on four eggs

Fingers crossed there are some goslings on the way.

Murphy, the Winner of the Most Handsome Dog at Scruffts, Manchester heat

Well he is rather handsome isn't he. 

But we're a bit biased as he's part of the 

wellbalancedpup family

Meet Molly, chilling out at work at WCF

Spring is here: From Rose

Its really warm out today, the daffs are open and you can almost hear the grass starting to grow again. Scout and Lilly look ready for anything. All being well, this time next year or the year after, Lilly will be mated and we will be expecting our own spring puppies. But first its the round of health checks for her and we'll be spending this year looking for a healthy, happy and handsome mate for her.

Lilly has such a great temperament and she is the sort of dog that if she was your first you would think you were a great dog handler but actually she is simply a great dog. Sue Jones chose her for me from Annie's litter based on knowing me and having watched her from a tiny pup and she got the match just right. I will only mate her if I have a list of people I would be happy homing one of her pups with and if I find a dog that "is good enough". I feel rather like the potential mother in law from hell - no dog will be good enough for her unless they really come to scratch. But she is such a great dog that if we get it right I have no doubt she will have some great puppies who will bring as much joy to their owners as she has to me.

But before that comes the health checks, starting with hip scores, which to be honest i am a bit nervous about. I don't like the idea of her having a general anaesthetic unnecessarily. I have heard that you can have it done under a sedative in some places so perhaps i will investigate that. The bottom line there is no point looking for a mate for her unless her hip scores are good, so watch this space. Her dad, Fox, has a really low score and Annie too so all being well they should be good.