The hellebores are looking lovely
January can’t be anyone’s favourite month, surely? Unless perhaps it’s your birth month and you have very generous, gift giving relatives? Here at Foxglove Farm we’re usually sliding about in mud at this time of the year, the skies are leaden and the feed bills for the livestock are at their highest. Short, often cold days make it harder to motivate yourself, but, of course, we must still be up bright and early to feed, muck out, change waters, rug the old pony and so on, no matter what the weather.
The cattery was almost full over the New Year and Hannah worked hard. Being out early in the morning she sometimes manages to get good shots of the beautiful Wolds skies. These are two particularly striking ones. Taken on the same day, the first one is a glorious purple, which matches Hannah’s shed and the second one a fiery orange with curdled clouds.
Finally, the struggle against avian flu continues. We’ve got a case within three miles, so last week Environmental Health inspectors came round to give us advice about the situation and today we had a DEFRA vet come out to inspect the hens’ accommodation. He’s gone away to write his report so we shall have to see what he says. We’ve been keeping both small flocks inside the poly tunnel as we always do when avian flu is a threat and we have a disinfectant foot bath outside, with extra overshoes that are only used inside the poly tunnel. The birds seem fine at the moment, but it’s an ongoing worry and apparently more prevalent this year than ever.
Foxglove Farm 