Smallholder Range

Smallholder Range High-quality, Non-GM feeds for smallholders. Crafted for poultry, waterfowl, goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs.

24/06/2026

Feed storage in summer: are you doing this?

The warmer the weather, the more your feed storage matters.

Most people think about feed storage in winter — keeping damp and vermin out. Summer brings its own challenges, and they're easy to overlook.

Here's what to check this month:

• Is your feed stored away from direct sunlight? Heat accelerates the breakdown of vitamins and oils — even in sealed bags
• Are you using older stock first? The 'first in, first out' rule matters more in warm weather
• Are bags being resealed properly after every use? Open bags left in a warm feed room can lose condition quickly
• Is there any sign of clumping or an unusual smell? Both are signs that something has gone wrong
• Are feeders being cleaned regularly? Old feed left in damp feeders in summer can harbour bacteria

Good storage isn't just about preventing waste. It's about making sure the feed you put in the feeder is delivering the nutrition it was made to deliver.

Any storage tips of your own? Drop them below.

Find out more about the full Small Holder Feed range:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/ or click the link in our bio.

With temperatures climbing, and set to remain high over the coming days, it's worth taking a fresh look at your drinkers...
23/06/2026

With temperatures climbing, and set to remain high over the coming days, it's worth taking a fresh look at your drinkers.

Something as simple as moving them into the shade can make a real difference, particularly if you're using galvanised metal drinkers, which can warm up surprisingly quickly in direct sunlight. Remember that algae will grow quickly in the heat so it’s helpful to clean your drinkers our regularly.

It's also worth refreshing water regularly throughout the day. Cool, fresh water is far more appealing than water that's been sitting in the sun for hours, especially when birds and livestock need to stay well hydrated.

A few extra minutes spent checking water supplies during hot weather can go a long way.

21/06/2026

Summer changes things for waterfowl.

More daylight. Warmer water. Ducklings and goslings from earlier in the spring are now well into their grower phase — you can almost watch them change week to week.

It's also the time of year when things can go quietly wrong if feeding isn't keeping pace.

Some things to watch for with ducks and geese in June:

• Are they eating well, or picking at feed and leaving it?
• Is their water always fresh? Waterfowl contaminate drinkers quickly and will avoid stale water
• Are growers developing evenly across the group, or are some falling behind?
• Are adults maintaining good condition through the heat?

Our Goose & Duck Grower/Finisher Pellets are fed from 3 to 4 weeks and are designed to encourage a slower, more natural growth rate to finish — rather than rushing birds on.

What are yours up to right now? Share your summer waterfowl pictures in the comments.

Find out more:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/waterfowl/goose-and-duck-grower-finisher-pellets/ or tap the link in our bio.

Omega 3 quiz: the answersThe correct answers from Wednesday are A, B, D and E.A) Feather condition — TRUEOmega 3 fatty a...
19/06/2026

Omega 3 quiz: the answers

The correct answers from Wednesday are A, B, D and E.

A) Feather condition — TRUE
Omega 3 fatty acids contribute to healthy skin and feather quality. Birds with a good supply generally carry better condition through the year, including during and after the moult.

B) The nutritional profile of the egg — TRUE
Diet has a direct influence on the nutritional content of a hen's eggs. Hens receiving Omega 3 in their feed can produce eggs with higher levels of Omega 3 in the yolk — which is good news for whoever's eating them too.

C) Shell strength — FALSE
Shell quality is primarily driven by calcium and Vitamin D3. Omega 3 plays a supporting role in overall health, but it is not the main driver of shell thickness.

D) Immune function — TRUE
Omega 3 fatty acids play a well-established role in supporting healthy immune responses — which matters for laying hens all year round.

E) Healthy skin — TRUE
Skin condition is closely linked to fat intake. Hens with a good Omega 3 supply tend to carry healthier skin condition, particularly relevant as summer heat and dust bathing take their toll.

Our Natural Free Range Layers Pellets include added Omega 3 as part of a complete, Non-GM formula.

Find out more:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/poultry/natural-free-range-layers-pellets/ or tap the link in our bio.

17/06/2026

Most people know that Omega 3 is good for us, but do you know what it does for your hens?

Which of these does Omega 3 support in laying hens? Just a head’s up! There may be more than one correct answer.

A) Feather condition and overall coat health
B) The nutritional profile of the egg, including the yolk
C) Shell strength
D) Immune function
E) Healthy skin

Share your answers in the comments. We'll reveal all on Friday.

Natural Free Range Layers Pellets from Small Holder Feed includes added Omega 3 — one of the reasons the feed supports your hens from the inside out.

14/06/2026

Sheep shearing month: what's in the feeder right now?

June is shearing month for most UK smallholders with sheep.

The weeks around shearing are actually one of the more important feeding windows of the year.

Freshly shorn sheep lose their insulation overnight. Even in June, temperatures can drop — ewes that were carrying a fleece are suddenly much more exposed. Their energy requirements can shift quite quickly.

If grass has been looking thin, or your flock is carrying some of this spring's lambs, the pressure on condition can build faster than you'd expect.

A few things worth checking this month:

• Are ewes maintaining condition, or starting to look a little lean along the back?
• Are lambs continuing to develop well, or relying more and more on grazing alone?
• Is the grass actually delivering what you think it is, or is it lush but low on substance?

Sheep Mix from Small Holder Feed is a quality all-round maintenance mix suitable for ewes, rams and lambs from 5 weeks. It can also be used as an essential energy source when forage is in short supply — useful in dry summers when grass becomes limited.

How are yours looking coming into shearing? Drop some pictures in the comments, or let us know about your shearing or feeding tales.

Find out more:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/sheep/sheep-mix/ or click the link in our bio.

Pot-bellied pig quiz: the answersDid you get them all? Here's the answers:1. Pot-Bellied Pig Feed is suitable for Kune K...
12/06/2026

Pot-bellied pig quiz: the answers

Did you get them all? Here's the answers:

1. Pot-Bellied Pig Feed is suitable for Kune Kunes and micro-pigs as well as pot-bellied pigs — TRUE
Pot-Bellied Pig Feed from Small Holder Feed is suitable for Kune Kunes, micro-pigs and all other pet pigs, and can be fed from 7 weeks.

2. A pig that always seems hungry is definitely underfed — FALSE
Pot-bellied pigs are expert performers when food is involved. The behaviour is part of their character, not always a sign they need more. Going by body condition over time is a much more reliable guide than their enthusiasm at feeding time.

3. Overfeeding is one of the most common issues pot-bellied pig owners face — TRUE
It really is. Pigs are brilliant at gaining weight, and it can creep on gradually. Our Pot-Bellied Pig Feed has high fibre levels and lower protein and energy levels to help avoid obesity.

4. Pot-Bellied Pig Feed is also formulated to help reduce heat stress — TRUE
As well as being specially made to keep your pigs trim, our Pot-Bellied Pig Feed is formulated to help reduce heat stress — something worth keeping in mind as the warmer months arrive.

5. You can judge condition by belly shape alone — FALSE
The belly on a pot-bellied pig will naturally be rounder than other breeds — it's a characteristic of the animal, not a condition indicator. Looking at the spine, hips and ribs gives a more accurate picture.

Find out more:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/pigs/pot-bellied-pig-feed/ or click the link in our bio.

Pot-bellied pigs: true or false?Here's one for our pig-keeping community — five statements about pot-bellied pigs. How m...
10/06/2026

Pot-bellied pigs: true or false?

Here's one for our pig-keeping community — five statements about pot-bellied pigs. How many can you get right?

1. Pot-Bellied Pig Feed from Small Holder Feed is suitable for Kune Kunes and micro-pigs as well as pot-bellied pigs
2. A pot-bellied pig that always seems hungry is definitely underfed
3. Overfeeding is one of the most common issues pot-bellied pig owners face
4. Pot-Bellied Pig Feed from Small Holder Feed is also formulated to help reduce heat stress
5. You can judge a pot-bellied pig's condition by looking at their belly shape alone

TRUE or FALSE — leave your answers in the comments. We'll reveal all on Friday.

Pygmy goats: does their feed pass the bucket test?If you keep pygmy goats, you'll know about the bucket test.Put the fee...
07/06/2026

Pygmy goats: does their feed pass the bucket test?

If you keep pygmy goats, you'll know about the bucket test.

Put the feed down. Walk away. Come back two minutes later.

Is the bucket clean? Or is there a pile of dusty fines (fragments) left behind?

Goats — pygmy goats especially — are selective feeders. They pick through what they like and leave what they don't. When feed is left behind, it's not just waste. It means they're not getting the full benefit of everything that's in the feed.

Pygmy Goat Mix from Small Holder Feed is made with the pygmy goat's unique nutritional needs in mind. It includes dried fruit and vegetables — carrot, apple and pineapple — similar to those which pygmy goats would naturally forage for. There's also fenugreek and mint in the mix, which adds palatability and helps keep even selective feeders interested.

One thing worth knowing: the mint and alfalfa leaf in Pygmy Goat Mix are finely chopped, so the feed should be dampened before serving to make sure those ingredients mix in with everything else, for great taste in every bite.

Does your mix pass the bucket test? Tell us in the comments how yours get on.

Find out more:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/goats/pygmy-goat-mix/ or tap the link in our bio.

Thank you to everyone who had a go! Here are the answers:1. Hens need a source of calcium every single day — TRUEShell f...
04/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who had a go! Here are the answers:

1. Hens need a source of calcium every single day — TRUE
Shell formation happens overnight, so calcium is used constantly. Without a consistent daily source, shells soften and quality quickly declines.

2. Longer daylight hours always mean more eggs — FALSE
Light does stimulate laying, but summer heat can actually suppress production. Birds under stress — from temperature, overcrowding or poor nutrition for instance — can lay less, even on long days.

3. A hen's yolk colour is directly influenced by what she eats — TRUE
Many people don't realise just how much diet influences yolk colour. Natural Free Range Layers Pellets from Small Holder Feed include ingredients such as marigold flowers, alfalfa and maize gluten. It's these natural, high-quality ingredients that contribute to that lovely, rich golden yolk. No artificial colourants needed.

4. Natural Free Range Layers Pellets are suitable to feed to ducks and other waterfowl — TRUE
If you got this right, well done! Not many hen keepers know this one. Natural Free Range Layers Pellets are drug free and contains no coccidiostat (an antimicrobial feed additive), making it suitable to be fed to ducks and other waterfowl as well as hens.

5. Free range hens still benefit from a complete layers feed — TRUE
Foraging adds variety, but grass and soil alone won't deliver the balanced vitamins, minerals and protein laying hens need. A quality complete feed remains the foundation.

How many did you get right?

Find out more:
https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/poultry/natural-free-range-layers-pellets/ or tap the link in our bio.

Address

Norfolk Mill
Thetford
IP257SD

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+441362822902

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