Animals-and-Pets
The Country Smallholder
Terrors In The Coop
The Hidden Threats Facing Backyard Chickens and How to Beat Them. Nettex offer some solutions to a perennial problem
3 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
eBay's egg ban ruffles feathers
A sudden shift in eBay's policy has left UK bantam breeders lost, with sellers like Carolann Pirie struggling to navigate the fallout. Cara Wheeldon explores what this means for backyard breeders, rare breeds, and poultry passion projects.
5 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
Taking the first steps in smallholding
Don't wait until you are about to make a move, you can start right now!
5 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
New plans from the UK Government to safeguard animal welfare standards welcomed by the RSPCA
Commitment to not lowering food standards in trade deals
2 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
The history of Silver Laced Wyandottes in the UK
And why it’s vital we keep them going... says Grant Brereton
5 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
How to recognise and control internal parasites
Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS says you need to take action to avoid ill health and even fatalities
2 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
The apples of his eye
Richard Bradbury visits Chiltern Heritage Orchards
4 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
Cluck and carry on
Sue Cook returns with another side-splitting glimpse into the lives of her bantam brood. Full of wit, whimsy and winged wisdom, this light-hearted follow-up celebrates the joy of chicken keeping in the most delightfully absurd ways.
3 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
Playing with tractors - how a work horse became multi-purpose
Liz Wright looks at the changing role of vintage, veteran and classic machinery with even the modern tractor coming out to play
3 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
Preserving Fruit as a leather provides tasty fruit snacks all year round
Hugh & Fiona Osborne grow as much of their own food as possible and to ensure tasty foods all year around, they use lots of preservation techniques. Fruit leather is an easy technique to produce tasty snacks from fruit for many months to come
6 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
Consider keeping one of sixteen breeds of British rare breed ducks
Rare Breeds Survival Trust Chief Executive Christopher Price looks at a selection of the UK's rare native duck breeds.
3 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
It's harvest time on the farm again
Henrietta Balcon goes wild this month with a rabbit dish
2 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
The Joyful Chaos of Baby Goats
With the stress and anticipation of birthing now a weight off your shoulders, you may think that it will be smooth sailing ahead. I am afraid, however, that the hard work is only beginning, as you pit your wits against the madness of baby goats.
2 min |
August 2025
The Country Smallholder
Make the most of summer on the veg patch
Lee Senior takes a look at key tasks for July to keep that fresh produce coming for the months ahead
5 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
When one gets away!
Claire Waring discusses how to collect swarm and hive it
6 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Poultry Housing Orders
Housing Orders to help combat the threat of Avian Influenza have been used by the UK Government since 2016. The most recent iteration in the winter of 2024/25 saw a move from National Housing Orders to Regional Housing orders in England, the handling of which has left many poultry keepers with serious concerns about whether APHA/Defra understand the balance of risk and animal welfare and the challenges of small flocks. Fiona & Hugh Osborne look at the issues.
9 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Let's hear it for the girls - women in the tractor seat
Agricultural journalist, smallholder and editor of Ford & Fordson Tractors Magazine Jane Brooks, joins us for her regular look at the world.
4 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
How can I help my grass grow?
Q Because of the dry weather my grass looks really bad and its got me thinking that I need to start planning some serious management for it. I’m thinking its about time we started to think about fertilising on a regular basis but I’m not sure of the benefits.
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Shelter from the sun as well as the rain
I have alpacas, sheep and donkeys and I am looking for some shelters that can be moved around from field to field and will be practical in all weathers. I also wonder how much shelter you need in a field.
1 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Woodland Heritage launches Open Woods & Workshops
There’s plenty to see and do on those warm, long days so make your summer full of countryside fun
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Inside the world of a busy alpaca stud
Alexandra Verhoef of Alpaca Evolution brings us up to date with what's happening on their alpaca farm
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Pure Breeds: What are they?
Grant Brereton poses the question...
9 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Preseli Hills Farm means pigs, bees and computing
Helen Babbs visits a smallholding in west Wales that's raising the profile of local pork
5 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Picnics and a pigeon recipe for the month of July
Henrietta Balcon makes lashings of lemonade and pan fried pigeon
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
You're Kidding - welcoming baby goats into the world
As a sanctuary, Buttercups does not breed goats. However, this does not mean that we never have kids born! Such an event occurred recently, when no less than five pregnant pygmy goats arrived into our care.
3 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Road-tripping rooster
When Ellie Fant first adopted a tiny Serama cockerel, she had no idea he would become her best friend and travel companion. From waterfalls to supermarkets, Fergus was not just a chicken... he was family, as told to Cara Wheeldon
4 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA advice on Escherichia coli septicaemia
Q How post mortem testing can provide answers in piglet deaths
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Waste not - want not
The government estimated figure of approximately 9 million tonnes of wasted food annually in the UK. Paul Goddard of Waste Solutions sets out to change that and you can benefit
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
The Leghorn chicken called after a hat
Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS has surprising facts about this excellent layer which had the first specialist breed club in Britain
3 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Magnetoreception
This month, Paul Donovan explores the hidden world of Magnetoreception in chickens.
8 min |