The Edible Garden Show 2014

I've had a great weekend at The Edible Garden Show, with a right Royal visit.

This year the show has moved from Stoneleigh Park to it's new home at Alexandra Palace, so I went down to London on Thursday night to help set up our stand. As usual we were running late so most of it was done on Friday morning but it all came together in the end!

We were at the show to promote the keeping of chickens in the backgarden as well as showcasing some of the pure breeds of poultry.

We took along our signature ChickenWall containing 60 photographs of pure breed chickens in the UK as well as a table of day old chicks I hatched in my antique incubator and some adult birds too.

As we were at Alexandra Palace, HRH Prince Charles and Camilla visited the show on Friday morning and came over to the PoultryTalk stand to meet my Pekin Bantam chicks...

Prince Charles asked Jamie all about what we do, how long the chicks take to hatch and about the incubation process while Camilla held a chick and spoke to the school children on the stand.

The chick she held she also named with the school children; they decided on Rosie!

After that the rest of the weekend seemed to fly by and we had a great response to the stand.

I had a great time walking around the show networking, speaking with other stallholders and befriending celebrity botanist James Wong.

I did a talk in The Experts Theatre on Sunday afternoon with Naomi from British Hen Welfare Trust talking about the basics of how to keep chickens, what they eat and require for housing, where to site them in your garden followed by a Q&A session.

Looking forward to next year already!

For more information visit www.theEdibleGardenShow.co.uk or @EdibleGardenSho on Twitter.

No Lambing for me this year...

I've just had an email back from the Director of Uni Farms to say thanks for our application but we won't be lambing this year.

Apparently as its a university farm their procedures impose that the jobs are advertised internally and funding is made available to employ current students.
I'm a bit gutted that we won't be going back and have said we'll be available if they can't fill the rota but it was a good idea while it lasted!

Back to Aber for Lambing?

It's been ages since I've updated this blog so I thought I'd just post and keep it up to date.

Since graduating last summer I helped out at the theatre, worked a couple of festivals and then tried to find a 'real' job. I had a few interviews which I missed out on and then landed an office job at the end of September.
We were only ever meant to be set up as a temporary team until the end of December, which has now been extended until the end of March and I'm unsure what I'll be doing after that.

I'm really enjoying the office job but its not what I wanted to do and I really want to get back outside and working with animals!
I told my Team Leader I was thinking about leaving to go and ride around Wales on a quad bike chasing sheep and she thought I was joking but I've had two Lambing jobs in Aber for the last 3 years I thought I'd find out if I could go back.

I emailed the Uni farm to see if they'd advertised the positions yet, they were in the process of it so one of the girls off my course and I have both applied for the Night Lambing positions.
From our point of view we'll be free every night unlike the current students, we know the job (and are hopefully good at it!) and know the staff so would love to go back.

If we get offered it the Uni have digs we can stay in for a few weeks or we'll have to rent a cheap flat for a couple months.

Fingers crossed!

Dr Chicken with The Rookies in Country Smallholding

I went over to Helpless Homestead in Machynlleth in July to help them dispatch some of their poultry.
They had a batch of Ross Cobbs but we did a couple of Aylesbury drakes.

They write as The Rookies in Country Smallholding and the article was published in the October issue:

Poultry Dispatch Course Feedback

Just had 2 messages of feedback from the Poultry Dispatch Course this weekend and am really pleased!

"Just want to say a huge thank you to Lewis for a very informative Dispatch, Pluck and Gut Course which my husband Dave attended yesterday - he thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much - came home and was gutting chickens like a pro! Excellent course and highly recommended. Will be fantastic to be able to eat "home-grown" chickens from now on, no more supermarket rubbish  

A must-do course for anyone keeping chickens for eggs too, gives you peace of mind and confidence to know what you are doing when dealing with ill hens. THANK YOU!" - Lorraine L

"Hi just wanted to let you all know about the dispatch, pluck and gut course I have just been on, was not looking forward to this course,but felt I needed to do as I keep chickens. I arrived on the day I did not know anyone that was there but was made to feel really welcome. The course was brilliant, I learnt how to dispatch correctly without causing the chicken any discomfort, different ways to pluck. Lewis who runs the course was great at explaining and answering all questions that were asked, he made everyone feel at ease. I never thought I would be able to do anything like this 
but I came home confident and prepared a bird on my own. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone. Lewis if you read this many thanks not just for the course, but also for the new friends I have made."

- Tazmin O

Next one is at Cotswold Chickens on 6th October!

Poultry Dispatch Course in Wales

I ran a Dispatch, Pluck and Gut course this weekend in Aberystwyth and had a great time.

We ended up with 5 people on the course and then as families arrived later on we had 11 plus us for the BBQ.

The course went well, everyone seemed to enjoy it and feedback has been really good.

We dispatched in Angela's new goat shed and hung the chickens from beams:


Then went into the mock Medieval Tavern for gutting.

We spatchcocked and BBQ'd the chickens and ate them out on the decking

Then when I got home I roasted mine...

...was the best roast chicken ever!!

It sounds corny but you really can taste the difference between homegrown and supermarket chickenl I found it cooked much quicker too.

Really looking forward to the next course on 6th October at Cotswold Chickens now!

Didn't get the job...

I've just had an email to say I didn't get the job with Premier Nutrition which I'm gutted about, though it's not all bad news...

Unfortunately on this occasion you have not been selected, however Dr P*** really wanted to express his enthusiasm for your application and at how well you interviewed. He has suggested that you would be suitable for consideration for our Graduate programme – so please look out for an email from them.

I will also keep your details on file should other suitable roles become available, unless I hear otherwise from you.

Second interview with Premier Nutrition

I've just been to a second interview with the Nutrition Director and the Sales Manager of Premier Nutrition for the Transition Cow System Developer job.

I think the interview went really well, I answered all the questions and got on with them both really well so it just depends on how the other person interviews.

Last week Andrew emailed me a link to the apps they use with three demo farms set up on it and asked me to prepare some comments based on the score generated and implications they may have for the farm.

I went through each demo farm with my notes from last year, did some reading online and then made a list of comments with examples.

Then went through the comments and suggested what could happen if the issues weren't resolved.

At the interview they went through how the company car scheme works, the geographical areas we could be covering and working hours. They also asked when I'm available to start which is pretty much straight away!

I'm down to the final 2 candidates for the job so I guess now its just a waiting game!

Transition Cow System Developer Interview

I applied for a job with AB Agri last week and have just heard that I have an interview!

The job title is Transitional Cow System Developer and from what I've gathered it means driving round various dairy farms to look at nutrition, body scoring and other data collection to pass on to the nutritionists. Transitional cows are defined as the period of 3 weeks before she calves through to the three weeks after calving.

It sounds very similar to the research work we did on the uni farm, only with Dairy cows and it would be working on UK wide farms!
The job is well paid, includes a company vehicle as I could be in Devon one day and Durham the next so would be really exciting.

Premier Nutrition are a massive company so even though its only a 12 month contract there could be an extension or scope for other work after that.

Anyway, I've just been to have my hair cut and the suit is ready for tomorrow morning!

Poultry Dispatch Course in Wales

I spent the afternoon at writers from Country Smallholding magazine, Helpless Homestead near Machynlleth, showing them how to Dispatch & Dress Aylesbury ducks and then they'll do their Ross Cobb meat birds.
They have a great set up in the little strip of land they have - a flock of laying hens, a pen of growing meat birds, a couple of tamworth pigs for meat and a big polytunnel for growing all their fruit and veg!
Cleverly, as they're in a valley, they have diverted a stream that runs through their land to run into a pond for the ducks and I think the plan is to do the same for drinking water for the other animals!

First we dispatched and plucked then dispatched and skinned the next duck, which was a lot quicker + easier with the ducks two layers of waterproof feathers!

Adam skinning an Aylesbury Drake:

They have a batch of 5 week old Ross Cobbs which will be ready for the table in a few weeks time - they grow so fast and were struggling with the heat! I suggested they try Ixworths next time, the ideal Smallholder dual purpose bird; cockerels are great meat birds, growing fast and putting on a lot of muscle and the hens can be reared as laying birds.

Was a bit too hot in 30 degree sunshine but was great weather and scenery for it!

Next on to the gutting, we gutted the ducks ready for a roast but with the skinned bird it can be just as easy to joint it so you have the meat from legs, breasts which is a lot quicker and less mess if you're doing a large batch of birds!
You can use the rest of the carcass for stock or give it to the dog!

Gutting one of the plucked ducks:

Cutting the wings and legs off a plucked and drawn meat bird

One Aylesbury duck, ready for roasting!

Looking forward to going back to Wales in August for my next Dispatch & Dress course near Aberystwyth - www.DrChickenCourses.co.uk

Graduation

Today, I graduated from Aberystwyth University with a BSc Hons 2(II) in Animal Science! :D

Had the most amazing week ever.
Spent it with my best friends in 30 degree sunshine, on the beach and in the sea!

BBC Gardeners' World Live at the NEC

I've been working on the PoultryTalk stand at BBC Gardeners' World Live and Good Food Show at the NEC this week - has been really good!

Pure breed eggs on display from The Rainbow Egg Company:

We spent HOURS setting the stand up only to come in the next morning to find the roof had leaked all over it so had to move it all in half an hour, but other than that we've had a great week.

I did 4 Chicken Keeping for Beginners talks on the stand everyday which were really well attended, as well as a few talks in the VIP area.

I took Mabel and Doris the Pekins with me and we had a table full of chicks for people to touch and see; I think we were the most photographed stand at the exhibition!

We also revealed #ChickenWall at the show - a 4 x 2 metre long display with 60 photos of pure breed poultry in the UK!

It was great to be able to show people the variation in size, breeds and the different uses for poultry!

We had a PetzPodz animal house on display to show people different types of housing available

...as well as a more traditional wooden ark (with Mabel + Doris on top) and an Omlet Eglu in the background!

BBC Gardeners' World Live 2013

I've been at BBC Gardeners' World Live and Good Food Show at the NEC this week with PoultryTalk and had a great time!

Pure breed eggs on display from The Rainbow Egg Company

We set up the day before the show, planted all our new raised beds and came in on the first day to find a leak but the staff were great, sorted us all out and managed to move our stand to a new site in less than half an hour, other than that we've had a great week.

I did four Chicken Keeping for Beginners talks on the stand everyday which were really well attended, as well as a few talks in the VIP area.

I took Mabel and Doris the Pekins the Pekin Bantams with me and we had a table full of chicks for people to touch and see; I think we were the most photographed stand at the whole of the show!

We also revealed #ChickenWall at the show - a 4 x 2 metre long display with 60 photos of pure breed poultry in the UK!

It was great to be able to show people the variation in size, breeds and the different uses for poultry!

We had a PetzPodz animal house on display to show people different types of housing available

...as well as a more traditional wooden ark (with Mabel + Doris on top) and an Omlet Eglu in the background!

We've loved chatting chickens to people all week and think we've definitely encouraged people to think about keeping chickens in their backgarden.

Spent the day being a Welsh Smallholder

I spent the day being a Smallholder near Aber helping a lady out who's just had her hip replaced.
I did a mini Dispatch, Pluck & Gut session and lesson for 2 people, to sort out a pen full of cockerels.

I dispatched them, showed them how to pluck and the others helped pluck. We then gutted them after leaving them to hang for a few hours.

I also made friends with goat kids, pigs and llamas!
She's struggling keeping too many chickens and ducks so I rehomed 3 to a friend and am trying to sell a few of her ducks for her.
Was a good day :)

After, we went to see Danny and Lady (the horses) to drop off 3 chickens and while we were there I tried to sort out a Silkie with really bad lice and Scaley Leg Mite problem - we gave her a bath but she was really struggling so had to dispatch her too.

Afternoon riding

Had an awesome afternoon riding Danny round the paddock!

Love this photo of Danny sticking his tongue out:

Victoria my flatmate and horse expert took the photos which I think turned out really well!

 

Dissertation

Can I use this photo in my Dissertation to sum up my Materials and Methods section?