February 29th 2008
I was asked by Tim @ Field Day if farm cats are healthy or prone to illness.
Everyone at work tells me off for talking about my cats so much - but it sounds like you’re every bit as much a cat lover as me! I always thought that farm cats tended to be healthy because they were tough - someone recently said they can be more prone to ills, however, because they’re often exposed to all sorts of viruses at a very young age. Any thoughts?
Tim Relf
Tim poses an interesting question which needs some research but my initial thoughts are that farm cats may have weakened immune systems if their parents and themselves have not been properly vaccinated. Farm cats may also be more exposed to a range of illnesses as they are free to roam and therefore may come across more germs and bacteria.
However from my experiences I have found my farm cats to be quite resilient and if they are poorly a bowl of milk or the even more popular, bowl of tuna fish tends to sort them out.
What are your experiences with farm cats?
Cat Behaviour Cat Injuries Cats My cats
February 28th 2008
Charolais cattle have been bred and reared on our farm for nearly 50 years as they are a large fast growing breed of beef cattle. TBird asked about the temperament of Charolais cattle.
What kind of temperament do your cattle have. My husband thinks Charolais are famous for a not-so-great temperament.
We raise Hereford/Angus cross. We have 3 calves (2 bull and 1 heifer) on the ground already and are awaiting 5 more. We don’t usually have any more than 20 or 21 head at a time. Tbird.
My husband says that the Charolais has a fairly docile temperament towards humans, but they do sometimes fight with each other. They are a large, late maturing breed who have a tendancy for badly overgrown hooves.
My father in law who has been breeding Charolais cattle for nearly 50 years says this breed are reasonably good to deal with and are certainly not as flighty as the Limousin breed. He says that at calving time the Charolais cow will get very protective and can be bad to deal with. He feels that the advantage of raising Charolais cattle is that they are a large fast growing breed with good confirmation.
Cattle Cattle Breeds Charolais
February 27th 2008
Incubation Period
The incubation period for Canada Geese eggs is 35 days.
Incubation Temperature
The temperature in the incubator for Canada Geese eggs is 99.5 degrees fahrenheit.
Humidity Levels
The humidity level (wet bulb thermometer) for Canada Geese eggs is 86-88 degrees fahrenheit.
Final Day Of Egg Rotation
The final day of egg rotation for Canada Geese eggs is day 32.
Please note that all of this information is only a guide and that this information may differ according to the incubator manufacturer’s guide.
Always consult the manufacturer’s guide when using an incubator and automatic egg turner.
Click on the image below to visit Amazon.co.uk to find out more about this book or visit one of the Farming Friends Bookshops.
Canada Geese Canada Goose Egg Rotation eggs Geese Humidity Incubation Temperature
February 26th 2008
The winner of the Farming Friends “Foto” of the Month Competition for January 2008 is Marian, so well done Marian a gift will be on it’s way to you very soon.
Marian saw these Lambs in early January. Marian said, “I don’t know when they were born, but they look to be growing up very fast, just look at the size of them!. I don’t know what was in the bucket but they looked as if they were about to investigate when Mum arrived and lead them away.”
Farming Friends would also like to thank TopVeg for their entry.
TopVeg grow a wide variety of unusual vegetables and this Chinese Mantanghon Winter Radish looks a real unusual beauty.
If you like taking photographs then why not enter our Farming Friends ‘Foto’ Of The Month Competition for January.
The photographs need to have a farming theme and can include the farming landscape, farm animals, farm machinery, farming life or nature and wildlife on and around a farm.
Send your photographs by email (leave a comment or use the contact form and I will send you my email details if you don’t know them.) keeping the photograph attachment to a size of about 600 x 400 pixels.
Please supply some details about the photograph - the name of the person who took the photograph, when and where it was taken and what is happening in the photograph.
Click on this link for details of this month’s Farming Friends ‘Foto’ of the Month Competition.
Photograph of the Month Competition
February 26th 2008
Sage is a perennial herb that is easy to grow and the seeds can be sown between February and April.
The TopVeg website was able to provide me with excellent seed sowing information.
Farming Friends & TopVeg have now collaborated to create a How To Grow Sage growing card.
Click on the image to enlarge and if you wish to print off this growing card, right click on the enlarged image and then click print picture to print out a copy.If you would like this document as a pdf, just contact farmingfriends and I will email you the document.
I intend to print off copies and then laminate the sheet so that I can use the growing card in the future.
Teachers, children, vegetable growers and anyone interested in growing sage are welcome to print off this growing card for their own use.
Other growing cards we have already created;
If you have any other growing cards that you would like Farming Friends & TopVeg to create then please leave a comment and we will be happy to create it for you.
Growing Cards Herbs Sage
February 25th 2008
“What, exactly, IS a courgette? Sounds like some type of squash. Must be a British thing,”asked Boggywoggy.
A courgette is;
- A small squash or marrow.
- The fruit from the plant.
- Also known as a zucchini.
- Yellow, green or light green in colour depending on the variety.
- Known scientifically as the cucurbita pepo.
- Often shaped like a cucumber.
- Used like a vegetable rather than a fruit.
- Usually eaten cooked.
Click on the image below to visit Amazon.co.uk to find out more about this book or visit one of the Farming Friends Bookshops.
Courgettes Fruit Vegetables Zucchini
February 24th 2008
The first daffodils of the year have bloomed on the farm.
Do you have any daffodils growing in your garden?
Join
Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As The Garden Grows for more information.
Daffodils
