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Sweet chestnuts 🌰 from north devon

Sweet Chestnuts 🌰

So, we have a bumper harvest, what do we do? Whats the best way to cook and preserve?

After a bit of research, the following process seems to work.

  1. With a sharp knife, across the rounded side, cut a slit across from left to right. (Assuming the point of the nut is the top). Make sure to cut through the outer shell, but too deeply into the flesh.
  2. Soak for a minimum of 2 hours, unto 24 hours.
  3. Then put in a pre-heated fan oven at 200 degrees centigrade for 25 minutes (can be up to 40 minutes) until the nut has opened up where the slit was made.
  4. Once cooked, wrap in a damp tea towel and allow to cool
  5. While still warm, peel off the outer shell,

Once peeled, and cool, I bag them up and put them in the freezer

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Frosted emu. Check other the ice crystals on the head!

It’s Cold Outside!

We have had the first real freezing night of the year.

Down to -2 degrees centigrade to -5, Izzy the emu was nestled down in the field (her choice as she never wants to come into the stable or shelter).

In the morning she still has frost on her back and frozen feathers! It’s quite amazing to see how well she is insulated!

Emus are very well insulated. This emu has frost on its back which is cold and crispy. The emu is fine, running around apparently indifferent to the temperature!
Emus seem very well insulated and keep warm. This emu has frost on its back which is cold and crispy. The emu is fine, running around apparently indifferent to the temperature!

Considering emus come from Australia, this time of year they should be basking in 19 to 27 degrees centigrade in the Southern Hemisphere.

Emu on a frosty morning in the United Kingdom. Temperature was -2 degrees centigrade. Average for this time of year is 6 degrees centigrade.
Emu on a frosty morning in the United Kingdom. Temperature was -2 degrees centigrade. Average in the UK for this time of year is 6 degrees centigrade.
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Cutting the Christmas Tree for 2024 - Being watched by Izzy the Emu

Merry Christmas 2024!

We have cut this year’s Christmas Tree under the watchful eye of Izzy the Emu.

Hatched in April 2024, this is Izzy’s first Christmas.

The field with the Christmas trees is next to the field where Izzy is free to roam. With the chain saw roaring as we cut the tree, Izzy wondered over to observe. A nice sight, but not something I could have said I would have expected to see, this time last year.

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Emu eating grapes

A Grape Snack for an Emu

The Emus are loving grapes! Every afternoon I pop out and give them a little snack of freshly picked grapes. Fortunately, during September and October we have more grapes than we can eat, make wine or brandy from, Our excess would regularly go to the chickens, but now the emus too.

Emu snacking on grapes

My only concern is what their little treat is going to be come the end of October, perhaps diced apple?

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A September early morning view of an Emu in a Devon field within the UK

Good Morning!

Early on a September morning, I can honestly say I would never expect to open my curtains, look out and see emus roaming our fields.

Yet that is what we are so fortunate to see.

Here is Izzy walking around in the early morning sun. You can’t see Ozzy, but he is sitting just behind the hedge.

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Emus at a gate.

Emus at The Gate

For the past month Ozzy and Izzy the emus have had full access to the field.

Beautifully tame and inquisitive, they spend a lot of time at the gate being met by passers by.

Little ones visiting the emus!
Little locals saying hello to the Emus

The geese used to be the star attraction for passers by. The emus seem to now be taking font stage as the main attraction.

Having hatched them in April, it is still remarkable to think that they are only 5 months old! They are growing so quickly!

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Young Emu

Next steps

Ozzy and Izzy have now moved from the back garden to their nursery paddock.

3 month old emu chicks in their nursery paddock
3 month old emu chicks in their nursery paddock

This weekend we herded the emus out of the garden across the road and into their new home.

While they are young, I have sectioned off part of the field. They have access to the stable, where they go to bed at night and are locked away for safety.

During the day, they have full access to run around in their own little sanctuary.

After 9 months the plan is to give them free access to the field which they will share with the geese.

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Emu chicks 2 months old

There are emus about!

Emus having fun in the Spring
Emus having fun in the Spring sunshine

They grow so fast it is quite incredible the speed of growth. Now outside, they are enjoying the sunshine running around on the lawn.

They currently live in the back of our shippon (which is our log store later on in the year) with access to the garden.

We are feeding them on special emu growers feed, which we have source on line. This is rather expensive when taking into account the delivery cost, but amazingly our local feed merchant can source feed for us.

Amazingly they are putting themselves to bed at night which makes things so much easier. I am hoping that this continues especially when they are still quite small.

Longer term, we are going to move them to where we have our stable. Half of this has been turned into emu accommodation in preparation for their move.

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Emu hatching in an incubator

Emu Friends

Our first little emu hatched at 50 days incubation. This little one hatched on day 55.

Hatched emu in incubator. Hanging around as the incubator acts as a brooder.
Hatched emu in incubator. Hanging around as the incubator acts as a brooder.

So its name? The first was Ozzy, this is Izzy.

Normally to sex the little chicks you send off for DNA testing. This often involves using the membrane in the shell. However, the company I was going to use currently will only take blood or feather samples. I don’t feel it is humane to inflict either on the defensive little chicks.

As long as they have company that is what I feel is important.

Two emu chicks a couple of days old.
Two emu chicks a couple of days old.

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