Chickens

 

Apart from a number of cats, dogs and ferrets living at Pool Cottage over the years, the first farm animals to arrive were the chickens: Hugh, Pugh, Barney Magrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub. We have kept a range of different poultry varieties since and they keep us well supplied with beautiful fresh eggs all year round. We now supply trays of eggs to friends in exchange for produce, such as prime beef.

 

We often hatch out our own birds, either naturally under a broody or using an incubator with reasonable success. We have also reared meat chickens at Pool Cottage. We keep them for approximately 70 days then they are dispatched, plucked and dressed for the table. They generally weigh in at 10-12lbs, enough for many meals. There is no waste as even the cooked carcass is used for either soup or stock.

 

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Pigs

We have always enjoyed good food at Pool Cottage and the pigs provided us with a whole new avenue of producing our own. Being able to make your own bacon and sausages is wonderful and it's amazing how many friends you have when a new batch is ready! We don't believe in waste when it comes to our pigs and nothing is wasted. Apart from the obvious joints, bacon and sausages, we use the head, trotters and even the tail to make the most delicious terrine. The kidneys, liver and heart form the basis of our pate and whenever possible, the blood and excess fat is used in making black pudding. The only thing we don't use is the oink!

 

We have had a number of different breeds of pigs on the smallholding; our first pair of weaners were Saddlebacks and these were ideal pigs for us as novice pig keepers. The following year we had Berkshire's, these prick eared pigs were mischievous but huge fun. We kept them right through to December and they enjoyed all the windfalls from our orchard. They tasted so sweet it was almost as though there was apple sauce running through the meat. Over the last few years we have had a number of Oxford Sandy & Black weaners and yes they all had names, the latest pair are called; Mac and Cheese. The pigs just love to run, some also enjoyed a game of football, though they seemed to prefer the rules of rugby. 

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Ducks

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The first ducks to arrive on the smallholding were a trio of Aylesbury's, which were bought at the local poultry auction. These were followed shortly after by a pair of Buff Orpingtons. The incubator was pressed into service once again, producing even more stock. Currently we have 7 ducks. Our duck eggs are just great with a few rashers of our bacon, a couple of our sausages and a fried tomato straight from the polytunnel, all mopped up with fresh warm bread from the oven. That's what we call self-sufficient heaven at Pool Cottage.

 

Geese

 

Then came the geese. These weren't planned, but we couldn't refuse when a mating pair were offered to us. They are wonderful characters and, as well as acting as guard geese, they have proved to be great lawnmowers. Mummy goose hatched out her first offspring the following spring and Dad was so proud of his boy. Junior is all grown up now and lives near Manchester with his own mate. The following year we decided not to have any goslings and collected the huge eggs for ourselves. However, Gertie managed to hide a clutch of fertile eggs late in the season and hatched out 4 beautiful goslings. These have since been given excellent homes. Since then we have managed to find all of Gertie's eggs and prevent a mass hatch, (last year we collected over 30 goose eggs).

 

 

Sheep

 

Our experiment with sheep started in 2014 and was a great success, Mork and Minty were huge fun following us around the smallholding on the scrounge for a sheep nut or two. After our initial reservations on the sheep front, we were sad to see them go, however, the meat that we picked up from the butcher was out of this world, receiving compliments from all who have sampled the joints, chops, sausages and burgers, the latter being made right here at Pool Cottage. Following on from them, we expanded up to an agreed maximum of 4 sheep at any one time (New Zealand beware!). We maxed out at 8 sheep!

 

 

Dogs

 

We have had springer spaniels, greyhounds and lurchers over the years. Since setting up as a smallholding we have had 2 greyhounds, who are sadly no longer with us.

 

Chucky took his oven guarding skills very seriously, he could often be found with his head as close as possible to the oven door, and seemed to be more attentive when there were cakes in the oven. He was also the most accomplished 'unpack hound', his ability to unpack the shopping is now stuff of legend at Pool Cottage . He was also partial to apples and tomatoes and often helped himself from the orchard or the poly tunnel (as well as the fruit bowl). His ashes are buried in his favourite spot in our field, along with his best monkey toy, an apple and a tomato, bless him.

 

Louby Lou, was a bit of an 'airhead' and has the looks to match. She would like to help eat the ducks and chickens, but particularly loved to greet the pigs and catch up on the days piggy gossip. Her main duty wass to act as the morning alarm call, often barking at first light, much to our joy! She is also buried in her favourite spot, this time in the shade of the magnolia tree.

 

In late 2018 Daisy Duke arrived at Pool Cottage. For gentlemen of a certain age, it wasn't the hot-panted Goddess from the TV series "The Dukes of Hazard", but a 8 week springer spaniel puppy.

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Daisy now "works" with us ensuring all the farm animals are fed and watered, checking all are safe and well. Her favourites are undoubtedly the pigs, and the pigs love her. Every day they share nose kisses and chase each other up and down the fence line until food is offered.

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In 2021 we decided that another springer was just what we needed to fight the covid blues. So, in late June of 2021, 8 week old Ruby arrived. The first 6 weeks at Pool Cottage were, to say the least, difficult, with Ruby earning the nickname "The 'Ickle Shit"! She eventually settled in and was working on her first organised shoot at just 9 months.