tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44196874833953954792024-02-02T05:38:30.795+00:00The Blog from Welle House, East PrawleOccasional ramblings from a Bed & Breakfast cum small-holding in the southern-most tip of Devonwellehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08724267586375168747noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-67446163362917414082009-09-19T17:32:00.015+01:002009-09-19T18:05:13.895+01:00More birds!<font="verdana;">Muscovy ducklings hatched by their Mum 2 days ago.</font="verdana;"><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SrUILE9rm4I/AAAAAAAAALY/BnVZd-ZKgSk/s1600-h/20090919-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SrUILE9rm4I/AAAAAAAAALY/BnVZd-ZKgSk/s400/20090919-1.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383217915995331458" align="left" border="0" height="290" width="400" /></a></span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SrUITua7TvI/AAAAAAAAALg/tQxDUjiS52Y/s1600-h/20090919-2.jpg" target="_blank"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SrUITua7TvI/AAAAAAAAALg/tQxDUjiS52Y/s400/20090919-2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383218064562802418" align="left" border="0" height="341" width="400" /></a></span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SrUIamoGujI/AAAAAAAAALo/TGRZpuVUp14/s1600-h/20090919-3.jpg" target="_blank"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SrUIamoGujI/AAAAAAAAALo/TGRZpuVUp14/s400/20090919-3.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383218182729677362" align="left" border="0" height="305" width="400" /></a></span></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-87201107731838462602009-05-06T16:53:00.010+01:002009-05-06T17:29:43.896+01:00Here we go again<span style="font-family:Arial;"> Another year and more goslings, but this time they managed to do it properly!</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">We collected the first few eggs after our geese, Lola and Amelia, started laying in mid-February, and after that left them in the nests they had made in the frames left in their stall.<br /><br />Over Easter they started sitting, and I moved a drinker near to the stall, so they wouldn't have too far to go for food or water. I wasn't overly confident that the sitting would be successful. None of last year's eggs had been fertile, and the one time I saw Amos, our gander, doing what ganders are supposed to do, he seemed to be making a fearful hash of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I was able, after about 2 weeks to candle 3 of the eggs whilst the geese were having a short break for food and water, and they did seem to be fertile, although as I was only using a small pocket torch, it was very hard to be sure.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) target=" _blank="" target="_blank" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SgGyn4mH2MI/AAAAAAAAAHU/VdG1pu4Dohs/s1600-h/gosling-2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SgGyn4mH2MI/AAAAAAAAAHU/VdG1pu4Dohs/s400/gosling-2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332739832060303554" target="_blank" width="400" border="0" height="300" /></a></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">The expected hatching date, 4th March, came, and although there was no sign of any goslings, Amos' behaviour changed. During the sitting, he wandered around the paddock, looking somewhat lost, and although he would hiss if I approached the stall while he was there, it was more of a greeting than a threat. However, from 4th March, he would not leave the stall, but stood guard at the door, and making serious threatening noises and moves at any approach.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then, yesterday morning, when I </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">opened the stall for the geese, I was sure I could hear a "peep peep peep" under the hissing of the adult birds. And when I checked later that afternoon, sure enough, there was a little bundle of yellow fluff!</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I was able to get close enough this morning to count 8 goslings. They were all in Lola's nest. We still may get some from Amelia, but I suspect that either she was a less attentive sitter (and she did seem to be up and about far more than Lola), or Amos restricted his attentions to one bird.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Eight goslings is probably too many for the amount of land we have (although it would save on the lawn mowing!), and I'll probably try and sell half of them when they're a little older.<br /></span></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-85714857833490990252008-10-24T15:30:00.007+01:002008-10-24T18:23:38.325+01:00Leghorn Cockerel - 26 weeksOk. The plan was to put up a photo of the leghorns every week until they were grown.<br /><br />Then the season started, and the B & B takes up nearly all our time during the summer - certainly not leaving time for frivolous things like photographing chickens.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SQHch0IIeWI/AAAAAAAAAG8/YibTMKGQ9Io/s1600-h/cockerel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SQHch0IIeWI/AAAAAAAAAG8/YibTMKGQ9Io/s400/cockerel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260728313231997282" border="0" /></a><br />But the little chick that hatched way back on <a target="_blank" href="http://wellehouse.blogspot.com/2008/05/and-heres-fluffy.html"><u>12th May</u></a> has grown into such an impressive bird that I had to post a photo.<br /><br />Egg production has dropped right off for the moment, but when it picks up again in the New Year we'll put this chap (we haven't worked out a name for him yet) in a run with some unrelated Leghorn hens, put 2 or 3 dozen of their eggs in one of the incubators.<br /><br />We also have a Maran cockerel ( I'll have to do an item on him soon), and we'll do a similar exersise with him and the maran hens. That way we keep up the laying flock as the older birds' production falls away.<br /><br />The plan is that we'll hatch out the new chicks before we need the incubators for the geese and ducks. Ideally the geese will hatch ot their own eggs.<br /><br />We'll see.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-41113378909547884802008-10-21T21:04:00.004+01:002008-10-24T18:49:38.513+01:00Hello RangemasterWe decided some time ago that we wanted to do something to make Welle House greener and more fuel efficient in some way. I thought of solar panels, wind turbines etc, but nothing really seemed to fit the bill (and the available funds).<br /><br />I spoke to Devon Council, who are really into this stuff, and they told me that basically none of the new technology is cost effective yet and the best thing we could do (given its age) would be to change our boiler.<br /><br />We then spoke to our friendly, and utterly reliable, plumber. He checked out our boiler and basically said it wasn't worth changing it. It's a very good one and has been well maintained.<br /><br />What we needed to do was change the Aga. Shortly after that our oil tank went dry and we contacted our usual suppliers (and some others) who told us that it would cost about £1600 to fill it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H4DrQ4Rtp5p2gY9a9CGEuWs9Cam9Wrga-UyHg6Gxzcit4oNB45Jfr_XSL5YrwsGiW4HxbYcMfViD3LPXBi6U9Ea1rqyi84gUskoUYFkiafywK3lu5zJ7GWVANXIaGv4PECj27v5Tm8M/s1600-h/rangemaster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H4DrQ4Rtp5p2gY9a9CGEuWs9Cam9Wrga-UyHg6Gxzcit4oNB45Jfr_XSL5YrwsGiW4HxbYcMfViD3LPXBi6U9Ea1rqyi84gUskoUYFkiafywK3lu5zJ7GWVANXIaGv4PECj27v5Tm8M/s400/rangemaster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259700777881061634" border="0" /></a>We went for a half tank and started using the Aga only when absolutely necessary; switching on last thing at night and switching off after breakfasts.<br /><br />I became really adept at cooking eleven full englishes on two electric hobs!! Yes really! I am amazing!<br /><br />Anyway, we then did the research. Logically speaking, all fuel is going to go up, but the fuel that comes from non-renewable resources has to go up more as it runs out. We don't have natural gas here anyway (which was always my favourite, but the same reasoning applies) so that basically left electricity.<br /><br />We then read about "induction". Brilliant we thought! Less consumption. More efficiency. More control. And electricity can always be generated using green methods as well as fossil fuels.<br /><br />So I've got a new cooker!!! A Truly Super Duper job. It's an Induction Range cooker. Rangemaster Classic 110. It's only the second time Andy and I have ever bought exactly what we wanted (on electrical type stuff) instead of going for the cheaper option - the first being our lovely big TV (which I talked him into buying), and which is still going after almost 20 years - and STILL looks good.<br /><br />We've had the new cooker 1 day so far, and so far it's better than expectations.Mohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08442548270421695201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-25105179116725334562008-10-17T19:28:00.005+01:002008-10-24T18:49:38.513+01:00Bye Bye AgaWhen we first bought Welle House, we were thrilled to have a kitchen with a real Aga cooker. It <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SPjZtIzx6sI/AAAAAAAAAG0/fk6iBsHkerI/s1600-h/no-aga.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SPjZtIzx6sI/AAAAAAAAAG0/fk6iBsHkerI/s400/no-aga.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258191934437059266" border="0" /></a>was an old, probably 1940s solid fuel Aga, converted to oil.<br /><br /><br />We moved in just before Christmas, and coming into the kitcken with the all pervading warmth was a rreal treat.<br />Then we ran out of oil.<br /><br />We called in the oil men, who filled our 2500 litre tank for about £700. We soon found that running our particular Aga as it was meant to be run meant about 3 tank refills a year, even when we switched it off during the quiet times.<br /><br />Then came the massive rise in oil prices this spring. The tank needed filling, so I phoned our supplier. To fill the tank would have cost £1600. Three times a year, that comes to nearly £5000! Totally unsustainable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SPjZsyPLzcI/AAAAAAAAAGs/Uz8H3TK9WJI/s1600-h/aga.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SPjZsyPLzcI/AAAAAAAAAGs/Uz8H3TK9WJI/s400/aga.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258191928377986498" border="0" /></a>So we made the decision - the Aga had to go. And 3 days ago, it went. It took the best part of a morning to dismantle and remove it, and for this coming weekend, when we are full up for The Animals gig at the Pig's Nose, Mo has a a two ring work top unit to work with.<br /><br />But on Monday, we get a Rangemaster induction cooker. Not cheap, but the saving in oil, even with reducing oil prices, will pay for it within a year.<br /><br />Photo to follow!Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-61239498140047704202008-08-27T16:09:00.008+01:002008-08-27T16:37:31.582+01:00More ducklings, with a hen for Mum!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SLVw7LGVmtI/AAAAAAAAADs/mSldRP0hF3A/s1600-h/ducklings-august-2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SLVw7LGVmtI/AAAAAAAAADs/mSldRP0hF3A/s400/ducklings-august-2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239217903409404626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Using the incubators, we have successfully hatched out 48 Muscovy ducklings this summer. 3 died in the first few days, which is a reasonable survival rate, although I hate losing any.<br /><br />The photo to the left shows the first two clutches that hatched in June. The eldest of these are now 10 weeks old, and are pretty sizeable birds.<br /><br /><br />Whilst the 3rd and 4th clutches were in their respective incubators, we had one of our Marans chickens go broody.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SLVyKpK5UUI/AAAAAAAAAD0/LRTAaMSIvKA/s1600-h/ducklings-and-hen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SLVyKpK5UUI/AAAAAAAAAD0/LRTAaMSIvKA/s400/ducklings-and-hen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239219268691251522" border="0" /></a><br />Chickens stop laying when they go broody, and you have the alternatives of putting them in a special coop where they cannot settle (we use a cat basket) with food and water for a few days, so the broodiness stops, or using the bird's natural instincts to hatch out some chicks.<br /><br />The muscovies were still laying, so as an experiment, we put 6 Muscovy eggs under the Maran in a run seperate from the other hens.<br /><br />Chicken eggs normally incubate for 21 days before hatching, whereas Muscovies take 35 days, so it was a big ask of the hen, but she stuck to the task diligently, and this weekend hatched out 4 ducklings. One died shortly after hatching, but the other 3 are doing well, and Mum had them out in the run two days after hatching. They could not be more adorable.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-12097489659801601272008-06-27T21:26:00.013+01:002008-08-27T17:04:48.405+01:00Now we have ducklings!The four birds on the right are Samson, Thelma, Louise and Delilah, our Muscovy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73V6FufpHhlNB-0U32uxsaG39cu4iAWaLXJqoBH5cSkdtXO-9r9hvw0vrBbqqXWXRCXaYBDGaAeIYfQBZrtFhjUdBn9bvQFVGsvph5BOz_Z8YNro2Hng7xU6S_-O5RiuJmJUbxNQE_jg/s1600-h/delilah-and-louise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73V6FufpHhlNB-0U32uxsaG39cu4iAWaLXJqoBH5cSkdtXO-9r9hvw0vrBbqqXWXRCXaYBDGaAeIYfQBZrtFhjUdBn9bvQFVGsvph5BOz_Z8YNro2Hng7xU6S_-O5RiuJmJUbxNQE_jg/s400/delilah-and-louise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223985386429656482" border="0" height="269" width="400" /></a><br />Ducks. Unlike "regular" domestic ducks, they are not descended from mallards.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDl_Na5BdLbiNhhDfMW5FpQ0BKNmVs38AiRd75lhsEqqJNCCRoO783lmzcTJO0uDJa2l9MJ70Jbwz006m5IQhk3i5eEi08qCPGsst_aGfCqyc3T-xCgghcM0E52VIITeXjPAPI0B8vH0/s1600-h/samson-and-thelma.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDl_Na5BdLbiNhhDfMW5FpQ0BKNmVs38AiRd75lhsEqqJNCCRoO783lmzcTJO0uDJa2l9MJ70Jbwz006m5IQhk3i5eEi08qCPGsst_aGfCqyc3T-xCgghcM0E52VIITeXjPAPI0B8vH0/s400/samson-and-thelma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223985382732255266" border="0" height="264" width="400" /></a><p><br />The wattling around the face, more noticeable in the drake, is an obvious<br />physical difference. The don't quack like mallard type ducks. The drakes are virtually mute, making no more than a hissing sound, and the ducks make various pipping noises.</p><br /><p>Their eggs take 35 days to incubate, unlike other ducks which take 28 (<br />see entries about Wee Curly elsewhere in this blog), and the offspring of a<br />muscovy/mallard cross will be infertile.</p><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SGVOzeiKe9I/AAAAAAAAADc/D0Cp_x1vZ0w/s1600-h/ducklings-june-20008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SGVOzeiKe9I/AAAAAAAAADc/D0Cp_x1vZ0w/s400/ducklings-june-20008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216662389655239634" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a>We put 2 dozen of their eggs in the incubator 6 weeks ago. We know they are true Muscovies, as we have all parents, so we knew it was going to be a long incubation (5 weeks).</p><p>The first hatched out 2 days early, and the last 2 days late. A few started, but never made it out. I suspect I had the humidity in the incubator too low (60%).</p><p>The small incubator has another 8 eggs due a week later (tomorrow!), and I have the humidity up at 74%. We'll see if that produces better results.<br /></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-18489432467594251162008-06-16T15:27:00.006+01:002008-06-16T16:28:57.833+01:00Leghorn Chicks - Cock & Hen - 5 weeks<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SFZ4jur-oxI/AAAAAAAAADM/nC7gpbYy1QI/s1600-h/16-06-2008a.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SFZ4jur-oxI/AAAAAAAAADM/nC7gpbYy1QI/s400/16-06-2008a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212486173951173394" border="0" height="335" width="373" /></a></div><br /><br /><p>The chicks are looking more like hens now.<br /><br />For the next few weeks, the only real changes will be in size, although as can be seen from the photo of the male, they are now learning to perch.<br /></p><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SFZ4rYGZ8YI/AAAAAAAAADU/XABbpz_Wd5s/s1600-h/16-06-2008b.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SFZ4rYGZ8YI/AAAAAAAAADU/XABbpz_Wd5s/s400/16-06-2008b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212486305326952834" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-250555022272911242008-06-09T14:38:00.004+01:002008-06-10T09:26:43.682+01:00Leghorn chicks at 4 weeks - Cock & Hen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SE0yptj5yoI/AAAAAAAAAC8/IiR832q_OnU/s1600-h/09-06-08_1400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SE0yptj5yoI/AAAAAAAAAC8/IiR832q_OnU/s400/09-06-08_1400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209876036123740802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SE0yqcVYFsI/AAAAAAAAADE/FZAP3i3Ubms/s1600-h/09-06-08_1415.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SE0yqcVYFsI/AAAAAAAAADE/FZAP3i3Ubms/s400/09-06-08_1415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209876048679278274" border="0" /></a><br />Changes are more subtle now. The birds are slightly larger, the feathering to the head is now complete, and comb and wattles are more developed in the first bird shown.<br /><br />This is the same bird as that shown at 3 weeks. Given the difference in "head furniture" between the two birds, I am assuming that the first is male and the second female.<br /><br />A yellow band can be seen on the leg of the second bird. I ring all birds at about this age (when the rings won't fall off), so that I can track which hatching a bird came from, once they have been introduced into the main flock.<br /><br />The weather is very warm now, and the chicks no longer need to be under a heat lamp, even at night. They are getting bigger also, and I have moved them from the (now crowded) brooding pen into a larger stall.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-5383994565485891102008-06-05T17:29:00.006+01:002008-06-06T12:48:16.411+01:00Lola's goslings aged 3 weeks<table style="border-collapse: collapse;" id="AutoNumber3" border="0" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><br /> <td><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/THXGUZLvF_4"><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/THXGUZLvF_4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /></td><br /> <td>After 3 weeks , the goslings are thriving.<br /><br />They have been out on the grass every day with the adults and are now 3 times their original size.<br /><br />Experience over the last 3 years tells us that fairly soon they will start looking scruffy, before the feathers start to develop.<br /><br />Because we didn't breed these birds, we don't have any real idea what their final colouring will be.</td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-52449944645881734412008-06-02T15:14:00.002+01:002008-06-02T22:11:29.777+01:00Leghorn chick - 3 weeks old<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SEQIMnwBJrI/AAAAAAAAAC0/rP9OUkq1jyI/s1600-h/02-06-08_1339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SEQIMnwBJrI/AAAAAAAAAC0/rP9OUkq1jyI/s400/02-06-08_1339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207296082068973234" border="0" /></a>At 3 weeks, the chick appears almost entirely feathered. <br /><br />There are bare areas on the sides of the bird where the down has gone but the feathers have not yet appeared, and the head is still largely covered with down.<br /><br />The comb has started to develop colour, and overall the bird is beginning to look more like a hen than a chick.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-62602410818906569222008-05-28T07:52:00.007+01:002008-05-29T12:35:05.348+01:00Scenes from Prawle Fair 2008<p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Every late May Bank holiday weekend, a village fair is held on the green here in East Prawle, with funds raised going to the upkeep and maintenance of the Community Hall.<br /><br />It is a fun, traditional country fair, and here are some pictures (none great art, I know) from the fair held last Sunday, 25th May.<br /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxg0W18efI/AAAAAAAAAB0/uRdIJZfrldU/s1600-h/fair.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxg0W18efI/AAAAAAAAAB0/uRdIJZfrldU/s400/fair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205141721934756338" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxg9m18egI/AAAAAAAAAB8/88fSTvqSmGk/s1600-h/hogwash.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxg9m18egI/AAAAAAAAAB8/88fSTvqSmGk/s400/hogwash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205141880848546306" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Hogwash provided traditional music throughout the afternoon.<br /></span></p><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxhdm18ehI/AAAAAAAAACE/a52Pvt1tayw/s1600-h/bbq.jpg"> <img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxhdm18ehI/AAAAAAAAACE/a52Pvt1tayw/s400/bbq.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205142430604360210" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The BBQ did a roaring trade.<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxhpW18eiI/AAAAAAAAACM/9NBfdEezfRk/s1600-h/boatride.jpg"> <img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxhpW18eiI/AAAAAAAAACM/9NBfdEezfRk/s400/boatride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205142632467823138" border="0" height="276" width="400" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Old and young alike enjoyed boat rides around the village.</span><br /></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxh0m18ejI/AAAAAAAAACU/o6olvEnWf24/s1600-h/toys.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxh0m18ejI/AAAAAAAAACU/o6olvEnWf24/s400/toys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205142825741351474" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Finding a bargain on the toy stall.<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><br /></p><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxiZW18ekI/AAAAAAAAACc/mBT5vQyS-qI/s1600-h/swing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxiZW18ekI/AAAAAAAAACc/mBT5vQyS-qI/s400/swing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205143457101544002" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The traditional swingboats are always a favourite.<br /></span></p><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxiyG18elI/AAAAAAAAACk/DA3gB1gU800/s1600-h/chillin%27.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxiyG18elI/AAAAAAAAACk/DA3gB1gU800/s400/chillin%27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205143882303306322" border="0" height="245" width="400" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Enjoying the sunshine amongst the frivolity!<br /></span></p><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxi6W18emI/AAAAAAAAACs/5LxcoIEA-5E/s1600-h/pint.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDxi6W18emI/AAAAAAAAACs/5LxcoIEA-5E/s400/pint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205144024037227106" border="0" height="400" width="172" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A pint on a stick!<br /></span></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-76946938937611073992008-05-26T17:02:00.003+01:002008-05-26T17:14:42.755+01:00Another week, and a lot less fluffy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDrfWG18eeI/AAAAAAAAABs/Hvv166ATQ0k/s1600-h/26-05-08_1429.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDrfWG18eeI/AAAAAAAAABs/Hvv166ATQ0k/s400/26-05-08_1429.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204717890267019746" border="0" /></a>Now the wings and tail feathers are well developed (the chicks can now fly a little), and the fluff on the body and head is giving way to the beginning of feathers.<br /><br />The beak is growing, and the chick is about twice the size it was when it hatched.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-77166000954977718402008-05-19T17:16:00.003+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.587+01:00Fluffy one week on<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDGoLNeceTI/AAAAAAAAABk/35UBVNDjSQs/s1600-h/19-05-08_1424a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SDGoLNeceTI/AAAAAAAAABk/35UBVNDjSQs/s400/19-05-08_1424a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202123955139017010" border="0" /></a>I can't be sure this is the same chick I photographed last week, but all the Leghorn chicks look virtually identical.<br /><br />As predicted, the feathers on the wings are much more developed, and tail feathers have started to show, although they are difficult to make out in this shot.<br /><br />In another week, the chicks will be slightly less "cute", as they start to loose their body down, and feathers start to show on the back.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-3237704985211327302008-05-14T14:32:00.005+01:002008-06-05T18:14:42.042+01:00Whatever happened to Lola?Back on 27th April, I said that I wasn't hopeful for the clutch of eggs being sat on by one of our West of England geese, Lola.<br /><br />At that stage she had been on the for 31 days. The normal incubation period for geese is 28 to 31 days, and there was no sign of anything happening, although it was difficult to be certain, as she was very defensive of her nest.<br /><br />I left her on them for another 4 days, but when there was still no sign of any goslings, I armed myself with a dustbin lid, and removed the eggs from the nest. Although Lola was getting off the nest for short periods to eat and drink, I did not want her sitting indefinitely. Besides, assuming the eggs were infertile, they were likely to start going off!.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I had taken the eggs laid by our other West of England, Amelia, and had six of them in our small incubator. Amelia continued to lay, and I put her later eggs into a nest I had made in their stall, in the hope that she might sit. No such luck. As soon as I had removed Lola's eggs, Lola moved herself onto this new nest, and sat there prepared to wait another 4 weeks. She really did want goslings!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCrv6teceSI/AAAAAAAAABc/oX2xg68gA-I/s1600-h/13-05-08_1603.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCrv6teceSI/AAAAAAAAABc/oX2xg68gA-I/s400/13-05-08_1603.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200232511671400738" border="0" /></a>We had timed the incubator for a hatch one week after our return from the Scilly Isles. Candling before we left had been inconclusive, but after our return it was clear that these eggs too were infertile. It would appear that Amos, our gander, was not performing, and the likelihood was that Lola's new clutch would also come to nothing.<br /><br />So, yesterday I phoned around a few breeders and suppliers I know, and by good fortune found that one was at market, and was expected back at around 3 pm, probably with some goslings. We arrived there at 2 minutes past 3, just as he had unpacked a number of goslings and ducklings, including 6 day old goslings. We bought all 6, and rushed them home, where we put them in with the chicks that had hatched out over the weekend.<br /><br />Then, once it had started to get dark, and the birds were settling down<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCrqLdeceRI/AAAAAAAAABU/ycwik_mnUok/s1600-h/Lola-and-her-goslings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCrqLdeceRI/AAAAAAAAABU/ycwik_mnUok/s400/Lola-and-her-goslings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200226202364442898" border="0" /></a> for night, we took the goslings up to the goose stall, and I gently placed them into Lola's nest. Mo & I watched anxiously, in case the geese attacked the youngsters as unwelcome intruders, but all 3 examined them with incredible gentleness.<br /><br />I removed the eggs from the nest and put them in the incubator (I'll candle them this weekend), and left them to it.<br /><br />And when I went out to check on the birds this afternoon, there was Lola, out behind her stall, carefully watching over her babies, and feeling very pleased with herself for at last managing to hatch them out! ( I don't think I'll tell her the truth, she probably wouldn't believe me).Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-21853249665863445552008-05-14T14:02:00.002+01:002008-05-14T14:31:47.666+01:00Early Purple Orchid - A Regular VisitorWe look forward every year to the return for the summer of the swifts, swallows and martins, the latter of which have a number of nests under the soffits around Welle House.<br /><br />But here is a here is another harbinger of summer, who never really goes away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCrmIteceQI/AAAAAAAAABM/LeJuhmMkFtk/s1600-h/orchid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCrmIteceQI/AAAAAAAAABM/LeJuhmMkFtk/s400/orchid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200221757073291522" border="0" /></a>During our first spring here in East Prawle, when cutting the grass for our self catering accommodation, I came across an orchid growing near to the northern wall. I carefully cut around it, and it stayed with us for about 10 weeks.<br /><br />The following year, we had forgotten all about it until, in mid-April, there it was again, in exactly the same spot (unsurprisingly). And again last year. So that this year, along with the return of the birds from North Africa, we eagerly awaited the reappearance of this beautiful flower, and it did not disappoint.<br /><br />There is a bank on the lane that approaches Stokenham, about 4 miles from here, that has a profusion of these, but this one shows no sign of spreading. Nonetheless, we feel privileged to have this one.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-510695728248369152008-05-13T10:23:00.002+01:002008-05-13T10:38:55.461+01:00A surprise newcomer.Mo is a keen gardener, and when it comes to rabbits in the veggie patch, she takes the same view as Beatrix Potter's Mr McGregor - put them in a pie!<br /><br />But we couldn't do that to this little chap. I was moving a pallet we use as a gate, so I could get through to cut the lawn for the self-catering accommodation, when there was a flash of white.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCleT9eceOI/AAAAAAAAAA8/HRi37fC41Pc/s1600-h/Mr-Snuffles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCleT9eceOI/AAAAAAAAAA8/HRi37fC41Pc/s400/Mr-Snuffles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199790941788731618" border="0" /></a><br />I followed it onto the guest patio, and there was a tiny albino rabbit, trying to hide in a corner. He seems to have been driven out by his more conventionally coloured family. There is no way he would survive in the wild - if our cat didn't find him, the fox that patrols our garden every night certainly would.<br /><br />We have an old rabbit hutch that we originally bought for broody hens, so I dusted it off, bought some hay and rabbit treats (dried artichoke leaves) and put him in there with a saucer of water.<br /><br />I would love to keep him, but Mo doesn't (worried about the veggie patch), so feelers are being put out to local families with small children.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-42493757826572621972008-05-12T21:14:00.006+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.588+01:00And here's Fluffy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank"" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCimNNeceNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/T96VFFUuRJs/s1600-h/12-05-08_1511.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCimNNeceNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/T96VFFUuRJs/s400/12-05-08_1511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199588515685103826" border="0" /></a><br />One day old, and straight off a chocolate box!<br /><br />If you look at the photo closely, you can just make out the beginning of feathers on the end of the wing.<br /><br />In a week's time, that feathering will be much more pronounced, and tail feathers (and possibly back feathers) will also have started.<br /><br />BTW, the eggs and birds in this little series have switched between dark and light. I put two types of egg in the incubator, Leghorn (which lay pure white eggs, and in the variety I have are pure white feathered) and Marans (which lay dark brown eggs, and will end up black and white mottled - or "cuckoo").Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-63794348698267268972008-05-12T12:20:00.003+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.589+01:00Out at last!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCgoU9eceMI/AAAAAAAAAAs/cuG5HY-Y9dc/s1600-h/11-05-08_1507.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCgoU9eceMI/AAAAAAAAAAs/cuG5HY-Y9dc/s400/11-05-08_1507.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199450110363990210" border="0" /></a>After hours and hours of struggle, the tiny chick at last manages to push away the top of the shell, and with a twist of its body, emerges to start it's like.<br /><br />It is still wet at this stage, and very exhausted. I leave it in the incubator until it is dry and fluffy, before transferring it to a brooder pen under a heat lamp.<br /><br />It carries sufficient reserves from the yolk within the body to sustain it for 24 hours or more, so there is no need for food or water within the incubator, but the brooder has a feeder full of chick crumbs, and a drinker kept full of fressh clean water.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-20245389650199111202008-05-10T21:53:00.002+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.589+01:00Ready to hatch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEFqvH5tQdF-K4ikt2KJEMaOOO-Bp2MCzSbQOO6n_tS2ZkXLwHPr_8jEqDSMGLYIQ0NnPMbwHgGhIV9Vc3DGp01VvYLk7K3AcP4HzIRVXXG9O0oaard88Myt1zutLdtgXVySnkoSNkoE/s1600-h/10-05-08_2054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEFqvH5tQdF-K4ikt2KJEMaOOO-Bp2MCzSbQOO6n_tS2ZkXLwHPr_8jEqDSMGLYIQ0NnPMbwHgGhIV9Vc3DGp01VvYLk7K3AcP4HzIRVXXG9O0oaard88Myt1zutLdtgXVySnkoSNkoE/s400/10-05-08_2054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198854642646233922" border="0" /></a><br />Most of the work has been done now.<br /><br />The top of the shell has been separated. One more push, and the chick will hatch.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-65074754258837661442008-05-10T17:33:00.003+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.590+01:00Half way to hatching<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCXObpmo3DI/AAAAAAAAAAk/o0UnSapqi8g/s1600-h/10-05-08_1409.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCXObpmo3DI/AAAAAAAAAAk/o0UnSapqi8g/s400/10-05-08_1409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198788319288810546" border="0" /></a><br />Here, the chick has been working slowly around the shell, and is about an hour away from removing the top section, enabling it to extricate itself.<br /><br />It can take 24 hours or more from the first pip to hatching, and the chick will emerge wet and exhausted.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-48189455881384890542008-05-09T15:57:00.003+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.590+01:00First pip.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCRmoZmo3CI/AAAAAAAAAAc/0QoXQgnPzPI/s1600-h/09-05-08_1535.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCRmoZmo3CI/AAAAAAAAAAc/0QoXQgnPzPI/s400/09-05-08_1535.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198392714146143266" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a>This photo shows one of the eggs in the incubator which has just started the hatching process.<br /><br />The build up of CO<sup>2</sup> in the egg has caused the chick inside to jerk its head involuntarily.<br /><br />At this stage, the beak has a small hard protuberance, known as an egg tooth, on the tip, which initially breaks into the air sac in the round end of the egg, and later to start breaking the shell. This is known as "pipping".<br /><br />The chick develops in the egg curled up, and as the hatching process develops, it slowly unwinds, and makes a series of "pips", eventually breaking away the blunt end completely (a bit like a soft boiled egg!), enabling the chick to hatch.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-9777578776464690232008-05-07T16:06:00.003+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.591+01:00More Egg Candling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCHFj7kMjgI/AAAAAAAAAAU/2Vj9kmXUsic/s1600-h/06-05-08_2227.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SCHFj7kMjgI/AAAAAAAAAAU/2Vj9kmXUsic/s400/06-05-08_2227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197652666037865986" border="0" /></a><br />Here's another photo of a candled egg, taken last night.<br /><br />Where the last photo showed a system of veins, with the heart showing as a dark spot, here the whole top end of the egg is dark, where it is occupied by the now nearly fully developed chick.<br /><br />Over the next few days, it will continue to develop, and as it does, there will be a gradual build up of CO<sup>2</sup> inside the egg.<br /><br />When this reaches a certain level, it will cause an involuntary jerk from the chick's head, which in turn will cause the beak to make a small hole in the shell, starting the hatching process.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-31524398740666403362008-05-06T16:03:00.002+01:002008-05-09T18:01:39.470+01:00The adventures of my son and the Salcombe 'C' Crew at the 2008 World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvFv_uw6HxE644knPOh7sLa-yOIQu5L1aPYQsp9-UTNlXgHWjKd4VifL82JMYjT_I9fo6yPyk1sVv-SMQBZuHHRCvZGeFdXeave4mt2wSmbzOUvc9MvJ4yCTeLl8BD6WBHVWyA9wNGnE/s1600-h/Mens-St-Agnes-Start.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 415px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvFv_uw6HxE644knPOh7sLa-yOIQu5L1aPYQsp9-UTNlXgHWjKd4VifL82JMYjT_I9fo6yPyk1sVv-SMQBZuHHRCvZGeFdXeave4mt2wSmbzOUvc9MvJ4yCTeLl8BD6WBHVWyA9wNGnE/s400/Mens-St-Agnes-Start.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197362316915245394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniKuzSII2LfSLVsYWtmIhTfwPRAU1hkJGPGzuVug-sSSt4pbtI5BWb_kpC5TUDx5usObDtiw34w2D1o5QDOuMSZIsaXOcb5VR68GmhiLUxRGTnQyiTKn60MJdCb8Mp-vknWjOoOYFG_U/s1600-h/Mens-St-Agnes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 401px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniKuzSII2LfSLVsYWtmIhTfwPRAU1hkJGPGzuVug-sSSt4pbtI5BWb_kpC5TUDx5usObDtiw34w2D1o5QDOuMSZIsaXOcb5VR68GmhiLUxRGTnQyiTKn60MJdCb8Mp-vknWjOoOYFG_U/s400/Mens-St-Agnes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197362523073675618" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UdFvJHgyF59NoZemYvtr_d4x9TD4TQj8OSgs5_cWVgyUUoecyATEeglnsu3iKwYCsZ79hZl8SvHysJL4cNQgbS_1N6_T1phxh8LSw5EfLuXB4PuM5GjEUWiapVoUCYKRKsAHsy3M5Y4/s1600-h/Bolt-nearing-home-from-St-A.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UdFvJHgyF59NoZemYvtr_d4x9TD4TQj8OSgs5_cWVgyUUoecyATEeglnsu3iKwYCsZ79hZl8SvHysJL4cNQgbS_1N6_T1phxh8LSw5EfLuXB4PuM5GjEUWiapVoUCYKRKsAHsy3M5Y4/s400/Bolt-nearing-home-from-St-A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197363433606742386" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo9wNCnKEDtMDuv-HEagWbtPxZ1_3j0tS-VR3O2FmGRI-sY2Lc4IrE8S3p426zfDsjAGr0HyynUBR-iUswj79tM0ewLY945bo8qA8C-oHk8nhMbqx-qftoUWSPVOkAKM0ROS4ZVfgDmM/s1600-h/Heading-for-Nut-Rock---Heat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo9wNCnKEDtMDuv-HEagWbtPxZ1_3j0tS-VR3O2FmGRI-sY2Lc4IrE8S3p426zfDsjAGr0HyynUBR-iUswj79tM0ewLY945bo8qA8C-oHk8nhMbqx-qftoUWSPVOkAKM0ROS4ZVfgDmM/s400/Heading-for-Nut-Rock---Heat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197364253945495938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSn2gxDlRNVE37HJ0ZqiBiAVw-jCk5ha-i25KHrenKaSF2xMa45sV1boBlDoL9imjsd_phteoQKaxLNQvraeXrEw734yHnkkNyePc-7ARluNFhjlq5BEJJdfdylvxX-OwZaQ4kzbiyLQ/s1600-h/Bolt-Mens---heat-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSn2gxDlRNVE37HJ0ZqiBiAVw-jCk5ha-i25KHrenKaSF2xMa45sV1boBlDoL9imjsd_phteoQKaxLNQvraeXrEw734yHnkkNyePc-7ARluNFhjlq5BEJJdfdylvxX-OwZaQ4kzbiyLQ/s400/Bolt-Mens---heat-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197364649082487186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RYtTkfs3H4-sf7BSiLRzskmIUBP3b_a0Lmzyx99HRz2nO4saqwAi_NahqqPHZwW-Q__qyHngbZ0QjlT_l9phhhahnj_eCkxfGYv3zv5VoYWMSLG__CtNFxULi_RcNoQK8PyYB5LMt30/s1600-h/Bolt-Mens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RYtTkfs3H4-sf7BSiLRzskmIUBP3b_a0Lmzyx99HRz2nO4saqwAi_NahqqPHZwW-Q__qyHngbZ0QjlT_l9phhhahnj_eCkxfGYv3zv5VoYWMSLG__CtNFxULi_RcNoQK8PyYB5LMt30/s400/Bolt-Mens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197365022744641954" border="0" /></a>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419687483395395479.post-20051102012011868702008-04-27T11:17:00.006+01:002008-05-19T17:29:21.591+01:00Egg candling<span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SBRTB6Bl4fI/AAAAAAAAAAM/anJMI87QOis/s1600-h/26-04-08_2113a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GcuRnbc91V4/SBRTB6Bl4fI/AAAAAAAAAAM/anJMI87QOis/s400/26-04-08_2113a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193867562485932530" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is a photograph I took last night of one of about 30 eggs I have in our big incubator. The egg is being held blunt end to a powerful light source, so that I can see what is happening inside.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's not a particularly good photo, being taken with my mobile phone, but it is possible to make out blood vessels around the shell, and a dark area towards the top right, which is the heart.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'll try and get more photos as the incubation progresses, to show how the chick embryo develops in the egg.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lola's eggs haven't hatched yet. She's been on the nest for 31 days now. They should hatch after 28 days, so I'm not hopeful, but I'll leave her there for a little while yet, just in case.</span><br /></span>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194630667473297344noreply@blogger.com0