Farm News

Ambers, Golds & the Vivid Reds of Autumn at Morvern Valley.

Autumn is breathtaking at Bundanoon, not only the magnificent colours - but even driving through the streets with the leaves falling down all around like snow, with even the slightest of breezes. Then you have those fabulous drifts of leaves on the ground, a natural mulch protecting the ground from the cold weather to come in the months ahead. Fantastic autumn fungi is really colourful and easy to see down near our creek.

Rare White Peacocks

After three years of searching NSW high and low, really networking in peacock and game bird circles, the phone rang late one night! Two days later we drove out to Bungonia and picked up a pair of white peacocks.

Just 5 mths old they really like each other.. rubbing their little necks together and hooting delightedly, they have settled in well and are living on the island in the middle of our farm dam - safe from foxes!

The peacock will start to show his tail in the first Spring, and each Spring it will get fuller and fuller with many more ‘eye’ feathers. Here is a photo of a mature white peacock from Bungonia, the father of our peahen!

Winter is here folks, lovely crunchy frost as you walk across the paddocks. Juicy marshmellows over the fire –trying to get them just right…..really melty - but not too burnt

Already the bulbs are coming up, the jonquils, daffodils and iris’. From the rich earth the first shoots are working through - giving a promise of the new years cycle ahead. The Morvern valley guesthouse property was a daffodil & bulb farm since 1910, the blooms cut and sent by rail to a flower stall at central Railway station.

Sunny and Cookie arrive at Morvern Valley.

A pair of lovable donkeys has arrived at Morvern, very friendly they will come up for pat and are very excited when their favourite treats are on offer. They get on well with all the horses and are good guardians at the property - protecting all our poultry by scaring away pests such as cunning foxes wanting a purebred poultry feed.

Alecia Cottage now opened

Alecia Cottage opened late March, great reviews and guest comments by all. Overlooks the paddocks - lovely and private. the finished result is of a very high standard, one bedroom is wheat and apple greens with a French Provincial feel, the other bedroom has a masculine rich damask feel, the third bedroom is really lovely and feminine with handmade lampshades, and gingham and rose elements.

Morvern Valley Shock Win at RAS 2010

The Sydney Royal Easter Show was our very first for our ducks ! Our drake was named Champion Welsh Harlequin and received a fabulous Red, White and Blue fringed sash. We were also awarded first place, and second place for our Welsh Harlequin ducks.  We have been interviewed for the Southern Highland News - it has been a most exciting time for us.

Quacker of a duck at Bundanoon

LEAH O’BRIEN                                      Southern Highlands News - Bowral                        23 Apr, 2010 09:37 AM

LITTLE duck, Lucky, from Bundanoon made good his name by taking out a champion harlequin ribbon in the big smoke at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

He did have a little help from his owner, Julie Peacock; after all, she has created the bloodline from which he came, from ducks that she bought five years ago.

Lucky is a Welsh harlequin, a breed of domestic duck originating in Wales. It is known for its vibrant plumage.

Julie, who owns Morvern Valley Farm Cottages, said she saw the Welsh harlequin at a poultry auction about seven years ago.

“I didn’t buy them that day, but I thought about them because they were just so pretty,” she said.

“Normally ducks are quite plain and only a drake is beautiful. Why have one beautiful creature and a crowd of daggy ones following it. Why not have a whole clan of beautiful looking ducks?”

By breeding her own ducks she has been able to change some characteristics such as yellow beaks in females to a slate grey. She would then pick two more ducks to breed the next generation.

Not to worry about the ducks that don’t make the cut, they get to live out a long and happy life on the farm. The ones that do get selected travel to the shows.

Julie’s interest in poultry started at an early age with the purchase of an 80 cent chick from Paddy's market. She has always entered at local shows but never up in Sydney.

Mrs Peacock said she was always scared of entering of the Sydney Royal Easter Show because it is the pinnacle.

“When I won the Moss Vale Show, not only the champion but the reserve champion, someone said to me ‘I don’t think you know how good your ducks are’,” she said.

“I had a very good poultry mentor, Cec Denney, who died last year and he wanted me to go in the Easter show. He really wanted me to go in the show.

“So I entered and, lo and behold, champion first time".

Lucky won over the female and the male section to be overall champion.

“If they don’t think any duck is superb, they won’t award it at all,” Julie said.

She still pinches herself about the win and plans to get Lucky’s ribbon framed.

Although he is a champion duck, he isn’t the only Lucky on the farm as Julie’s children, Braedon and Alecia, always call all the winning ducks, Lucky.

Alecia's Cottage had a Special Guest this week

A Tawny Frogmouth stayed for days on the fence outside Alecia Cottage's front door!