News & Advice

With the shortest day of the year fast approaching, it will soon be time for foxes to start their annual breeding cycle. Vixens will be screaming at night and dog foxes will be wandering far and wide in search of a mate, so now is a good time to get on top of these animals before…

Over the past few nights, a fox has been stalking around our partridge release pen. He’s been pushing in the wire and scaring the birds in his attempts to get inside, but as yet, he’s only been able to kill one bird outside thepen. With the electric fence and rabbit netting all around the pen, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to get…

Spiral feeders are a unique and effective way for feeding poultry or game birds. Designed with practicality in mind; the spiral feeder is easy to install, makes the birds work for their food, reduces waste and helps keep pests at bay. Filling with grain (whole wheat or barley) or standard poultry/gamebird…

Anyone who rears, works with or handles poultry, game birds or any animals en-mass should have measures in place to safeguard the health of their flock. Maintaining high biosecurity standards can help keep birds healthy and disease free. It will also reduce the spread of disease, keep disease control costs…

Among flocks of poultry and gamebirds, feather pecking is a very serious issue that leads to as many as 220,000 poultry bird deaths each year in the UK. Feather pecking can be light and inquisitive (something that is not really an issue) or heavier and more damaging (this is where…

Be them eggs bound for consumption or for incubation and hatching; egg washing is an important part of the poultry rearing process. If eggs are left unwashed, bacteria can work its way through the pours of the shell in to the egg and lead to food poisoning in humans and…

One of the most aptly named chicken breeds; Jersey Giants are well known for their very large stature and rarity. Jersey Giants are the product of selective breeding that took place in the state of New Jersey in the lead up to the start of the 19th century. They were bred…

A rather unusual yet popular (especially here in the Solway Feeders office) breed of chicken is the Silkie. The breed originates from China but exactly how they came to be is still a mystery. The earliest known written account of Silkies comes from the Venetian merchant and traveller Marco Polo…

If its eggs you want; leghorns are the breed for you. Originating from the Tuscany region of Italy in the early 1800s, leghorns are some of the most prolific layers amongst chickens and lay large white eggs almost all year round. They average one a day with egg production dropping…

Plymouth Rock’s are one of the most popular chicken breeds among smallholders and it’s easy to see why. The breed hails from America and was first introduced to the world in the early 19th century. They have become well know as not only a reliable layer but also as a great…

One of the most common and well known chicken breeds is The Rhode Island Red. When you think of chickens, a Rhode Island Red (or Rhodes for short) is usually the image that comes to mind. Rhodes were first developed around the turn of the century in the American state…

Hailing from the English town from which they take their name; Orpington are bred for their good level of egg production and excellent quality of meat. The original Black Orpington was first bred at the turn of the 19th century and was an instant success. They soon spread across the globe…

Where the Double Entry Fox Trap Comes into its Own by John Cowan John Cowan looks at the effectiveness of a double entry trap for catching foxes that are targeting his gamebirds. In my book, Advice from a Gamekeeper, I suggest, in the chapter on trapping, that a fox cage should…

Over the past few years, we’ve been noticing a serious influx of rats and mice. Several of the little pests have found our wheat store in an old farm outbuilding, and the characteristic signs of mouse droppings are now clearly visible all around the ripped feed bags. Rats and mice feed very differently, and their leftovers also provide some important clues as…

We’ve been working a line of Solway Spring Traps for stoats and weasels all year, but as the seasons revolve, these predators take on new habits and it’s always a good idea to have traps ready to go out to block new paths and trails. New Solway Spring Traps need to be thoroughly weathered before use because the manufacturer supplies them to us in immaculate condition. Shiny galvanised…

Over the past few nights, a fox has been stalking around our partridge release pen. He’s been pushing in the wire and scaring the birds in his attempts to get inside, but as yet, he’s only been able to kill one bird outside the pen. With the electric fence and rabbit netting all around the pen, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to get…