If you want to keep slugs away from your plants then get some ducks. As soon as we let them out in the morning

they are off, rooting around the raised beds with their rounded beaks. They are searching for slugs and snails and they feast on them.

If you have “Netflix” then try and watch the documentary The Magic Pill. Towards the end the filmmakers talk to farmers and one of the interviewees explains how she got into ducks to keep her garden slug free. It really works and the bonus is a flock of adorable and comic, Call ducks.

I returned the cow halters that we borrowed last week on the fateful day of the visit from the vet. Because of the risk of spreading TB I had to wash the rope halters before giving them back to Kate. We are not at all convinced that Beattie has contracted TB. She is fat and glossy and never coughs. But go she must and the day has been set for next Thursday. Until then she will continue to be given treats of apples and concentrates and new hay.

When I was at Kate’s I admired the flowers in her garden. There are always unusual varieties and in the golden evening sun everything looked beautiful

There is also a prolific vine on the wall and it produces small, but delicious, grapes.

I was given some bunches to take home.

What’s it like having two females fussing over you like mother hens?

The three little chicks daren’t step out of line with two mothers watching over them. Mr Bantie cockerel keeps on escaping into the garden, perhaps to get away from being hen pecked.

He seems to return happily after a short time away.

Mrs Silkie and her chicks have moved to the quarters she shared with their late father.

She has started laying again but I hope she won’t get broody until the spring.

All the adolescent birds are feeding well but not yet laying. One of them (the biggest) is definitely a cockerel who may not be here for too much longer.

The slightly younger birds in the adjacent run are rather timid but very pretty. I often catch the smallest and give her a cuddle and stroke her silky feathers. I’m not sure if she likes this but I do!

Mother and son (but maybe daughter) are now in an open run in the orchard. I really hope the chick turns out to be a female as she has lovely colouring and fully feathered Bantam feet. Mother and chick are quite devoted to each other.

One more Maran hen is still sitting on some eggs. They are due to hatch in two weeks or less. Both goslings tried to bite my hand this morning and one was hissing which indicates that they are both ganders. We will have to wait until next year and hope that we can tell if they begin to lay eggs. If anyone knows an easier way to sex geese please let me know. Male or female, they are beautiful birds and they don’t frighten me …… yet.

And a quick lick and a promise in the sunshine

More to come

Royaltys and Runners prolific after days of sun and rain.

Bud, Widget and Tally

Maybe they will join us next week

Three chicks hatched this morning underneath the Bantie co-parents. Two more eggs might still crack. Good girls.

The sunflowers are opening and the nasturtiums are blooming