The poor wet conditions of winter look to be giving way to drier periods but the farm grounds are still awash with mud.
The web footed birds are having a great time sifting through the muddy water to feed while the chickens and goats are not very happy at all as they are being increasingly confined to ever decreasing areas of green pastures.
Then every now and then we see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel with a warm dry day that suggests spring is on its way!
The rock gardens narcissus and heathers flowering is a positive sign and welcomed.
The early season incubation of eggs only produced a single surviving duckling but “Clover” has been welcomed by the students and is now thriving well. Students have been able to witness the imprinting process as “Clover” cries out for and follows farm assistant Emma where ever she goes since Emma was the first thing that Clover recognised when hatched and now that bond is strengthened when Emma offers food and water.
The regular health checks of all the farm animals is important and students certainly get a hands on experience during club and lesson time.
Getting up close and preparing to carry out a health check on one of the rare breads of birds is Charlotte Ibbetson a yr7 students. Charlotte is one of our regular visitors to the lunch time Farm Club and has been learning how to examine chickens but especially what to look for in a healthy bird opposed to an unhealthy bird. So far Charlotte has only been able to find healthy birds. Charlottes interest has progressed to taking sole responsibility for looking after one of the rabbits at the farm with the opportunity to having her own rabbit at home in the very near future.
The yr9 students Drew Lewis and Katie Tennant along with Farm worker Emma are applying the preventative barrier “Scaly leg Ointment” to one of the birds – with prevention being considered better than the cure.
Then it’s a nail and beak trim a dusting for mites and the ladies are good to go – The chickens that is!
Our group of interested TRA members who visit the Farm and Allotments has gained another couple of members which is great news. This interest and enthusiasm so early in the season bodes well for the rest of the year.
