30 September 2019 From the journal. Here at Fairy Wren Cottage those really hot Summer days begin February through to March.  While some gardeners in warmer climates are already well and truly harvesting fruits & veg our cooler climate slows the garden right down in comparison. But still there is so much to do and pick. We already […]

Tasmanian Libraries now have a marvellous online catalogue of magazines and while reading one of them I came across an article with a heading “The Four Best Poultry Breeds to Keep”. Poultry Trends. It’s a funny old thing how trends change, even in the poultry world. These four breeds seem to be having their moment of […]

Polly, Daisy, Loveheart, Ta Dah and Amelia Cordelia the Indian Runner ducks were shifted into the Kitchen Garden while the Quince Orchard was being pruned. It’s not a big job to shift them. I go to the gate, call Duck Duck Duck, they walk over to me, I open the gate and in they waltz. […]

I had a question about keeping roosters and thought that I would answer it here, maybe it might help you too. Early Winter – it is that time of year when chicks that have hatched in Spring are maturing and being sold on by breeders, or backyard poultry keepers. The chicks were cute, there is […]

Yes that’s right, I deliberately put Honeybee in the middle of the garden bed that she isn’t normally welcomed into. There is method to my madness, I’m encouraging her to fossick about and find those slugs that have moved in and the grubs that have recently hatched and making a right mess of our brassica […]

It’s taken a while, with lots of trial and era to perfect this system in our garden. Much gratitude to the odd rogue chicken or duck that doesn’t like to follow my well intended plans, they have given me a birds eye view and helped point out any cracks in my system. Turn the negative […]

Mr Pickles, Jam and Chutney have a new home. They have gone to live on a flower farm with a lovely family who I know in my heart will love and care for them as much as we do. It wasn’t an easy decision but I am a firm believer that in life there are […]

An update: We hatched 11 chicks in the incubator. Five Buff Orpington x Australorp chicks have now gone to their new home with a broody hen. And for me the temptation was too much, I held onto 6 chicks…by now I think that you know me well enough not to be surprised! When I figuratively […]

Michael got a surprise this morning when four sweet little chicks peered up at him as he lent over to check the settings on the incubator. The chicks have hatched a week early and are somewhat of a miracle. The incubator was still on the rotating cycle (not optimal for hatching chicks), it wasn’t on […]