Duckpit Valley Free Range Turkeys Kent

Farming in the snow

2010-11-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Moving sheep close to the farm.

Despite the snowy weather the turkeys still like to venture out in to the fresh air and enjoy the valley.

November 2010

2010-11-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

It has been another eventfull month at Springfield Farm.
The turkeys continue to grow and feast on marrows and apples. They are a particulary inquisitive group, enjoing following and watching the going ons around them. Orders for turkeys have been flying in, so if you haven't ordered yet, please do so soon.
This week we housed the cattle for the winter, and they have all settled in to the barns well. The calves will be wenaed soon, which will be a noisy affair!
Ian has had to take most of this month easy, after treading on some nails and damaging his foot, thankfully he is now back to work and well mended.

News from the valley

2010-10-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Turkeys:
The turkeys have been with us since July now. They are growing nicely and enjpy roaming the field and tucking in to surplus marrows and apples.

Sheep:
It has been a year of changes with the flock. Firstly a new lambing barn has been built, and secondly we have increased the size of the flock to over 700 breeding ewes.

Fresh turkeys in kent

2009-12-23T10:26:00.001-08:00

After a couple of cancellations due to the weather, we have two fresh turkeys left . Call 01227 700062 asap if you would like to order.

Free range turkeys

2009-12-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

Our turkeys are not far of the final stage. They have done really well this year, benifiting from thw warm autumn. There are only a few left, so order soon to avoid disappointment.

Very proud of Ians interview on BBC radio Kent yesterday, about rearing turkeys.

Award winners

2009-12-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

It has been exciting week on the farm this week. The Ashford Cattle show went very well. with all the family attending. On tuesday at the show dinner, we were very pleased to be annouced as winners of the farm diversification competition. Ian was a little embarassed that this then meant a video of the farm with him commentating was shown in front of all 300 guests! But we were so delighted to have won.

Elsewhere on the farm a poorly cow has been worrying. She is one of the older cows and had stop rumenating and passing faeces. After 2 days of rehydating her with plenty of electrolytes and using liquid paraffin to help her motions, she is back to her normal self and eatting well. If any cattle farmers read this we can strongley recommend an aggers pump for rehydration adult cattle.

It is Janet and Richards Ruby wedding anniversary today, and we wish them all the best for the next 40 years!

Turkeys finishing well

2009-11-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

The turkeys are finishing well, and the orders are still coming in, so please order soon if you haven't already.
The cattle have all settled in to the shed now, though Ian is getting used the extra work of feeding and bedding down daily.
The rams will be coming out next week, and we need to leave the ewes quietly over next month so not to disturb the early stages of pregnancy.
Tomorow is the Ashford cattle show, Ian is stewarding , Richard is judging, the niece and nephew have entered the paining competition and I am vetting. If you haven' t been before it is a nice afternoon out, seeing the stock frmo local farms and enjoing a beef bagette.

2009-11-16T02:20:00.000-08:00

Well it has been another busy week in the valley. Most of the week has been spent housing the cattle for the winter. It was also time to wean a number of the calves, so it was a very noisy few nights in the barn.
With most of the ewes served now the tups are starting to wind down and take life a little easier.
Today Ian and Richard will be draughting through the remaing lambs to see if any are ready for market.
Turkey orders are streaming in, so order soon if you havn't already!

Busy Tups

2009-11-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Tups have already reached the second cylcle, and there marker crayons have been changed. Most ewes have been marked, and fingers crossed non return fro the second cylcle.

They we keep asking for rain, this mornings downpours and wind was a little excessive while feeding round!

a good week

2009-10-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

A productive week on the farm. All the cattle sheds are now cleaned out ready for the winter, lambs have been wormed and fences fixed.

Turkey orders are flying in, which is very encouraging, in light of the current finacail crisis.

Hot day for mucking out

2009-10-26T02:27:00.000-07:00

We welcome the warmer weather following the wet weather last week. The unseasonal warth will be great for the new grass seed oplanted last week. Also it will promote a late spurt of growth, a welocme fresh bite for the ewes and cows.

We are getting ready for housing the cattle for the winter, so it it is a time to well overdue mucking out of the sheds and same building maintenance. One shed down, two to go!

Ian

Tups

2009-10-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

Well its been a busy few weeks on the farm, but at last the tups (rams) are in with the ewes, and we hope they are working hard to give us a good crop of lambs in the spring.

The turkeys are in prime health, enjoying regular feasts of pupkins, marrow s and squashes!

We are hoping the rain will continue to help the grass, which has struggled over the dry summer months. At the moment Ians rain dances seem to be working.