Extra info during Bird Flu restrictions: The government imposed a nationwide mandatory housing order to separate poultry from wild birds due to outbreaks of bird flu around the country. These restrictions have recently been loosened but we still need to put the chicken’s food and water in the netted area to the left to reduce mixing with wild birds. We still need to have good hygiene. You will find a large lidded black container outside the chickens’ area. Please stand in this before and after going into the enclosure to disinfect wellies. Also, use the hand sanitiser on the shed wall afterwards. The area to the right hand side is open again so eggs could be found in any of the three coops.
Thank you for offering to look after the pigs, goats and chickens. Other than the height of summer, it is likely to be very muddy up there so wellies are recommended. An ideal time to go would be around lunchtime but it is not critical.
The main gate will probably be locked. If it isn’t, there might be a letting on e.g. football or someone might be working at the weekend. Please still get the gate key or you risk being locked in.
The gate key will be in a small key safe attached to the wall.
Caption: This area can accessed from the road just to the right of the main Junior building.
Caption: The key safe is on the wall just to the left of the double gates to the Woodlands Room Courtyard.
The code is 4607. You should find a gate key in there. You could open the gate to the car park there, or the main gates as shown below.
Youtube video: https://youtu.be/nQLtp8qRSCk
Pull the gate out into Cote Lane a little to open and close.
I would recommend leaving any car in the car park and walk up the pedestrian path by the classrooms up to the top of the building. If the large gate is open, you could go up the main farm track. Walk past the minibuses.
Caption: Take the pedestrian gate on the right. If you do need to drive up the farm track, the code is 111 if a padlock is on.
Caption: Walk up through the Access Garden to the top of the building and look for the lean-to greenhouse.
Caption: This is the door you are looking for.
You need to go into the greenhouse to get the animal food. The code for the lock is C4607Z and then turn the knob. The door does swell a bit in wet weather.
We will leave the food on the table in the greenhouse. If it’s a normal weekend, there will be two sets; on a bank holiday weekend there will be three. The larger pellets are for the pigs, the smaller pellets are for chickens and the more colourful, mixed food is for the goats. There should be a couple of red plastic chicken feeders to pour the chicken pellets into. There will usually be black containers with straw in too: these are for egg collecting.
Make your way up to the top field. It’s up to you which animals you do first.
The Three Little Pigs
The pigs are in front of the wind turbine. Go in through the single gate on the left hand side of the front elevation of fencing. This takes you into the viewing area. From there, you can go through another gate into the pigs area. Make sure you close the first gate behind you before entering the main enclosure.
The pigs will probably be up and about unless it is raining heavily in which case they may stay in the sty. There should be three of them. If there aren’t, please call 07484844475. We have opened up the area around the wind turbine for the pigs so don’t conclude that they are missing too soon!
The pig food is the larger type of pellet and we should have left a two thirds full black container of this on the greenhouse table. Share it roughly equally into the three sections of the main metal trough. The pigs will be quite assertive at this point and it will be tricky to pour out the food. Young children could be knocked over by a hungry pig so please shield them or pour it in from over the fence in the viewing area (recommended). Spring 26 update: Biscoff, the largest pig, is getting quite aggressive. She may try to knock the food container out of your hands. Feel free to pour food over the fence into a different area if necessary.
In the autumn, the pigs would appreciate windfall or ugly apples from the orchard nearby. (Toss them into the enclosure in multiples of three to minimise squabbling.) They also like big tufts of long grass. There is a hand sanitiser on the fence in the viewing area.
The Chickens
The chickens area is top right on the top field.
Caption: Drop the flap to find eggs. Please remember to put it up again. Also try the drop down door to the right of the flap.
Caption: Eggs in the shed will mainly be in the two far corners. Send a child to clamber over the roosting bars to collect them.
Caption: If they are in the left hand side: put the food container under here if there is a chance of rain.
Caption: Lift the yellow flaps on both sides of the plastic coop to look for eggs.
Caption: At least one water container should be working. At least one water container should be working.
The chickens will probably all gather at the gate. You could throw a little corn through the fence to tempt them away, or just slowly open the gate and push them away. Again, tossing a bit of corn or food can help. If any birds escape into the field, you should be able to tempt or usher them back in, especially if you have food.
The chickens will be very assertive and try to tell you that they have never been fed before! You may only be taking one food container so they will scrap a bit to get to it but there is enough for all of them and the ones that stand back will get some eventually. You could put your hand in and throw some of the pellets to the others. Hold the container high when you are walking through them. If it is raining, or forecast to rain, put the container under cover. Otherwise, put it anywhere. You don’t need to wait for the chickens to finish eating! (It is best to split the food into two containers if possible. Bring any empty containers back to the greenhouse please.)
You can hand feed the chickens with corn if you would like. Crouch down and hold your hand out with fingers together. It will feel like something slightly pinching your skin but it doesn’t hurt. Chickens don’t have teeth! (During bird flu precautions, broadcast the corn rather than coming into unnecessary close contact with chickens.)
Check the water. There should be two containers and at least one should have water. If there is no water, don’t try to use the hose or try to refill the containers. Again, a black tub and a watering can will suffice for the weekend. There is a tap by the shed on the farm or there may be a wheeled water container nearby.
Have a look for eggs in the shed (high bolt), wooden coop (inc hatch) and both sides of plastic coop. If you go early, there could be chickens laying: you shouldn’t really rummage under them. After lunch, most of coop nesting boxes will be empty and any late layers may be broody. You can rummage under them or move them. Put the eggs in the black container and leave them in the greenhouse please unless it is hot in which case we would appreciate you taking them home and putting them in a cool-ish place and bringing them into school on Monday. (In the holidays, just keep them all for yourselves.)
Eggs are naturally seasonal. There will be fewer or even none in the depths of winter. Sorry if that happens to you! Our birds are also old – generally at least 6 years old – and don’t lay as much as when they were young. Commercial egg laying hens are ‘replaced’ after 18 months or so.
Take a box of eggs for yourself. The eggs may be dirty. We will wash them later. When you wash yours, do so in lukewarm running water. Try to let the mud wash off without too much rubbing. Use your nails to flick it off. Try to avoid rubbing into the shell.
The eggs will be good for three weeks. They should be delicious as poached eggs for the first few days.
There should be about 24 chickens.
There should be some hand sanitiser on the shed wall.
The Goats
Our newest additions are three goats: Buzz, Bluey and Bingo. Buzz (black and white) is the friendliest; the other two are wary. Buzz may accept some stroking.
The goats are currently at the top of the orchard. (Their enclosure includes the bee hives. It is usually safe to watch the bees at work, going in and out of the hives.) At the goat enclosure, check that you can see three goats (they may hide at the back of the enclosure, but should come out when you put their food into the enclosure). If you cannot see all three goats, please call 07484844475. Visually check the boundary fences for damage or any holes where the goats may escape from. You should be able to see all three goats walking around freely, without any limping. If you spot anything that doesn’t look right, please call.
Remove clip on the gate and enter the enclosure. Take care, as the goats may try to sneak out of the gate whilst you are entering. (In the event that a goat does manage to get out of the enclosure, you can usually tempt them back with some food. Don’t chase them. If you cannot return the goats to the enclosure after an escape, please call.)
Check the feed troughs are free of debris. Sometimes, the goats poo in the troughs. If the troughs contain any debris, empty this out. Then, split the food between the two troughs. In wet weather, you may wish to put the troughs under either of the shelters.
Their water should be replaced please: two half-full green buckets that can be refilled at the front of the first polytunnel (unless there is a water trailer already up there). Please replace the two buckets in the places you found them: one inside the shed and one outside. Finally, check the metal hay rack inside the wooden shelter. It should be full of hay. If it is not, collect some hay from the top of the bottom polytunnel to refill it (try not to confuse straw and hay. The straw is coarser and yellow). Try and break up the hay slightly as you put it into the rack, as it can be clumped together when it is baled.
You should see all three goats come to the troughs to eat once you have placed their food inside. They may wait until you have left the enclosure to do this. If, after a few minutes of you leaving the enclosure, any of the goats have not gone to eat and are looking reluctant or standing well away from the troughs, please call as this could be an indication that a goat is poorly.
When you leave the goat enclosure, ensure the gate is closed securely and the clip is reattached. Goats are very clever and will learn how to open the gate themselves without this! Double check that none of the goats have managed to sneak out of the enclosure with you – there should still be three inside the enclosure.
That’s it! Please make sure all the gates are closed and the key is returned to the safe.
Please send Mr Harris a text, email or WhatApp to confirm all is ok and done. 07484 844475 or peter.harris@farsleyfarfield.org.uk.
Notes for adults: If there is any problem, please call or text me. Animals do get sick, but that isn’t your job to deal with: message me. Animals do sometimes die unexpectedly; again, that’s not for you to deal with. If it is a single dead chicken, leave it where it is and message Mr Harris.
Many thanks!
The nightmare scenario is a fox attack in the chickens area on a family day. It has happened 2 or 3 times in the past 15 years (not on family days) and it is grim. Adults please look ahead as you approach the chicken enclosure and if there are no chickens in view, there could be a problem. If there has been an attack, call 07484844475 and keep the children away.
