Wildlife and weather

Still some activity on Badger Cam but no cleaning out of the set so I am hopeful that means we have cubs in situ.  We are getting plenty of birds passing by the camera including a pheasant cock and this crow collecting nesting materials.  

The fields are greening up and about half the daffodils are out down the driveway now.  All the puddles and tractor tracks have frog spawn in them and we already have tadpoles.  As the weather dries up we are getting a chance to tidy up the fallen trees.  It almost feels like Spring...!

I've ridden a cow...

Well Jersey Ted the steer from Rosewood Farms to be more accurate.  He was at the Reivers Festival in Hawick and we popped up to see Natalie who also owns Chamfron Deja Vu.  Good fun and a tick on the bucket list!

Chamfron Lysander - Nine Months Old

Today on Badger Cam...!

Redwing (on Badger Cam)

Two redwings captured on Badger Cam this week, not many of these birds nest in the UK so I presume these are just winter visitors and will be heading off (to Iceland I think?) in the next few weeks.

Announcement

A wee change to our terms and conditions as we near foaling time for 2014.

***All foals in 2014 will be offered for sale and can be held on a deposit of £1000***

Regular followers of the Blog and Facebook page will notice that occasionally a foal is marked up as a sold and then doesn't leave home when it should.  Of course its not the end of the world, there is always space and food for that foal and if it stays a bit longer it will find the right home in the end.  That said generally by the time a buyer has dropped out a sale we've made business and breeding decisions based on that horse being away, we've invested time and effort keeping in touch with the "new owner" - sending them photos, arranging visits, measuring for rugs etc.  We are also pleased and quite excited about its future plans.

We don't believe increasing the deposit will in anyway discourage the good buyers (and they are the majority) but we hope that it will mean people just take a second longer to make sure that they do want that foal and will be in a position to take it come weaning time.

On a cheerier note - Oor Eagle Eye Cherry already has a fairly full udder and Fatima looks like a space hopper!

Rugs Off

Hope they don't have to go back on!!

Chamfron Bombero - Nine months old.

The Thingy-Fowl!

... and its friends!!  The new chooks have settled in wonderfully and are enjoying the spring weather.  One of the Faverolles has a deformed beak but they are other wise happy, healthy and very friendly.  The Guin (Guinea Fowl x Chicken), now named "The Thingy-Fowl" is still mingling with the chickens though it gets animated when it hears the Guinea Fowl.  

Google says it will be sterile though there seems to be some debate as to whether they lay eggs at all.  

Chamfron Morello Away

Our lovely spotty yearling Morello has started his journey to Devon today.  He has been sold to Rosena Edge and will be going showing so I'm looking forward to lots of photos of him out and about this summer.

Backed...

More Chamfrons starting out under saddle - Chamfron Firefly owned by Rebecca Crump, Chamfron Wakizashi owned by Victoria Scott and Chamfron Snow Goose owned by Chantelle Allanson, lovely to see.

Longtown Poultry Auction

No fox issues since Christmas so time to re stock the chicken shed with a trip to Longtown poultry auction.  Might of gone a wee bit wild... again...

We have a pair of Gold Laced Orpington hens, a trio of Silver Spangled Hamburg hens, a quartet of Salmon Faverolles, two Silkie cross cluckers, a Light Sussex and a crime against nature!  If there is an odd hybrid at public auction it will tend to come home with us (much to Marks joy) so please meet our first Guin - a Guinea Fowl x Chicken, the first one I have ever seen.  My "featherstock agent" was more than thrilled to be seen bidding on such a quality creature!

WES News Article

Issue 78 of the Western Equestrian Society's newsletter featured an article written by Kayreen Jones about Mark breaking in her Quarter Horse filly last summer.  

Two almost dry days...

... in a row.  Pest control and Head of Security have been enjoying the sun, though it would be fair to say that Silks just bimbles about in a senile but cheery way these days.  The mares are looking well, no sign of anyone bagging up but Bridget is the first due in just over a months time.  Fatima is, as normal a wide load and appreciates a good itch of the places she can no longer reach.

Chamfron By Dand - Rising six

His first trip out cross country schooling at Lindores yesterday - happily doing steps, ditches and drops into water.  Thanks to Tracy for taking the photos of Rebecca and letting me use them.

Chamfron Chipita - Rising five

Some lovely photos of Chipita owned by Linda Dykes and being schooled by Dawn Patrick.