Machinery Matters

In this month’s issue Jane Brooks looks at the venerable Ferguson tractor, still a popular tool on many smallholdings, but beware it takes a little getting used to.

It's ime to plan your patch

Kim Stoddart explains how to maximise produce growing opportunities this year...

Fear and stress in chickens

All animals show fear and stress and as their keepers, it should alert us to their needs. This month Paul Donovan investigates its role in poultry and how to reduce it.

Rearing chickens, ducks and geese to eat

Experienced smallholder Lorraine Turnbull discusses how to get the best return from your meat birds.

Growing Stages

Grant Brereton looks forward to getting excited about growing stock...

Get off that nest!

Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at what to do when you don't want a broody hen to hatch eggs When it comes to hatching fertilised eggs a broody hen is best at the art of incubation. Broodiness normally occurs in a chicken once she has laid a clutch of eggs that she will be able to cover and incubate effectively. The number of eggs in a clutch varies between breeds but an average ideal number is between 10 - 12. But what happens if you don't want her to be broody?

Hatching and beyond

Fiona Hugh Osborne guide you through the hatching process and how to handle common problems.

Beautiful bantams are ideal for the smaller garden

Lisa Mancell, National Sales Co-ordinator at Farmgate Feeds gives her top tips on caring for bantams.

All about Alpacas

Introducing Camelidynamics - learn how to work with the natural behaviour of alpacas for calm handling

Are you ready for the responsibility of livestock?

Without sufficient knowledge, new livestock owners can find themselves stumbling along says Catriona Benson. But help is at hand

Breed Focus: Black Welsh Mountain Sheep

Helen Babbs meets this attractive and thrifty breed from Wales

Meet the therapists!

We look at how Grace Olson discovered the healing power of sheep

Help your pet to ditch that itch

If your dog is scratching excessively it’s uncomfortable for them and frustrating for you. Here, vet Julie Lawrence offers some sound advice to help identify skin problems and considers the treatment and management options available

Foot and Mouth Disease and other Exotic Diseases

David Harwood BVetMed, FRCVS asks if your goats and other livestock are still at risk?

It’s a Dog's Life Down on the Farm and on the smallholding...

In his bi-monthly series, Jeremy Hobson continues to discuss the life of the smallholders’ dog as a working companion and pet

Alpaca Fibrehow to get the best from it

Joy Whitehead discusses fleece production and uses

Making soap at home

Fiona and Hugh Osborne make their own soap from leaf fat to use every part of the animal

The Orwell Herd of pedigree Gloucester Old Spots and Large Whites

When Georgina Woolf first met her now-husband, Ben, in 1995, she didn’t like livestock, but she quickly mucked in. Fast-forward, and she now enjoys looking after the cattle and is in charge of the pigs which were her idea!

All about Bee Hives

Claire Waring continues looking at how bee hives developed.

Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet

David Parsons MRCVS says do have your say on the proposed registration of all poultry keepers

Three Different Approaches...

Grant Brereton quite engaging weighs up the benefits of three methods of breeding

Ready, Set... Go!

In the third in a series on chicken breeding using broody hens, Fiona & Hugh Osborne guide you through supporting your broody hen during the incubation period.

Have a healthy hatch!

Lisa Mancell, National Coordinator from Farmgate, gives her advice on how to prepare for hatching season

Top tips for choosing the right chick feed this spring

Joanna Palmer, Nutritionist for Smallholder Range offers advice on choosing the right feed for your chicks

Bovine Abortion and Stillbirth Investigation

From Vanessa Swinson and Alan Murphy, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Cattle Expert Group

Flower Power - good for mind, soul and income

Andrew Oldham explains why you cannot have vegetables without flowers

Simple Elderflower Wine

Fiona and Hugh Osborne say you too can capture the flavour of spring by making this distinctive wine

Weighing up what you can drive

John Sones looks at driving licences and towing trailers

Keep it Local for Livestock Welfare

Megan Perry of the Sustainable Food Trust, examines why small abattoirs are essential for farmers, smallholders and all those who value local food production

A Common Interest in Rare Breeds

Rare Breeds Survival Trust Chief Executive Christopher Price celebrates people, places and their livestock