Sharing the Good Life - Communal Living

One way to make smallholding more affordable is to share with others. Here, Sarah Bunker starts a new series on communal living. It is an option that offers many benefits for those seeking to embark on ‘the good life’

The Perfect House Cow

The house cow is the hub of a smallholding. And the Jersey is the ideal house cow. So says Smallholder of the Year Jane Fanner. She talked to Marie-Claire Kidd

SMALLHOLDER OF THE YEAR: MEET OUR WINNER!

The winner of the 2009 Smallholder of the Year competition lives on a narrowboat and says her favourite shopping is at the dump.

Solving the mystery of blood spots on Maran eggs

Q - I bought four Marans point of lay that have just started to lay. The eggs of certain birds have red blood spots all over them, and when you inspect the yolk it always has two white bits attached to the yolk, one on each side

Problem of penile prolapse in waterfowl

Q - I have six Call Ducks, two males and four females. I keep them in a large aviary with a pond. About three months ago one of the males started prolapsing his penis intermittently, but then would self-resolve.