In this issue

Sale of the century?

The ring is king, as the saying goes, but Covid-19 has forced livestock auctions to go online and this could mark a permanent — and welcome for some — change to the way we buy and sell animals. Charlotte Cooper reports

7 mins

‘Without fail Broody Hen purloined her extras until we had a brainwave and gave her back two rubber eggs'

There is a summer of discontent in diarist Julian Hammer’s hen house as Broody Hen causes upset when ‘pinching’ others’ newly-laid eggs while also falling out with the ‘babysitter’

6 mins

From Fashion To Feathers

Higher Oak Farm’s poultry business has been flying during the Covid-19 crisis. Helen Babbs ‘visits’ the father/daughter partnership via WhatsApp and discovers how the duo who both once worked in sportswear is keeping up with demand

10 mins

The big move

Events this year have persuaded more people than ever that relocating to the countryside is for them. Liz Shankland looks at the implications for the rural property market — and the expectations of potential buyers

9 mins

Home sweet home

As the nights start to draw in, the time is right to consider where and how to house animals on the holding for the cold and wet winter months ahead. Stephanie Bateman looks at the options

9 mins

Grab an eight-pack

Grab an eight-pack Small, rectangular hay bales still have their place today, as do the labour saving devices used to bring them in from the field, says Kevin Alviti

3 mins

Bee(ing) natural

Natural beekeeping is gradually becoming more accepted and popular within UK beekeeping circles. In the first of a new series, Nicola Bradbear, director of charity Bees For Development, explains what the bee-focussed term really means

6 mins

Why not join the fold?

Poultry-keeping is going full circle as the many benefits of traditional methods, such as ‘folding’ poultry on grassland and in stubble fields after harvest, are once again appreciated, says Jeremy Hobson

8 mins

Food for thought

Poultry eat a surprising quantity of food, so why not grow some of your own, suggests Andy Cawthray

6 mins

Toasting Old Speckled Hens

In his series on birds that breed true, Grant Brereton takes a look at the distinctive ‘paint-splattered’, tricoloured plumage varieties that also boast a royal connection

6 mins

Read all stories from The Country Smallholder

The Country Smallholder Magazine Description:

The Country Smallholder is aimed at the ever-increasing UK audience interested in living a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable way of life. From people already living on a smallholding, to allotment owners; from those with a couple of acres of land, to those aspiring to get more out of their garden or even window box. With 73% of UK residents claiming to want to live more sustainably post Covid, The Country Smallholder has something for everyone.

Every issue will carry; free vet advice; helpful practical features on all aspects of smallholding, from keeping chickens to crop rotation; information on poultry, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, and alpacas; rural crafts; property; small tractors and machinery, as well as keeping readers up to date with all the latest news and innovations.