THE EMPIRE FARM

Smallholder Courses

We offer a range of courses on keeping livestock and on all of them we try to show the whole process from keeping the animals to their slaughter and eating the products.

The pigkeeping course, for example, covers keeping pigs and making sausages. Our poultry keeping courses not only look at husbandry, but also show you how to slaughter a chicken, pluck and dress it for the table. These are especially useful skills if you want to raise chickens for meat. Bee-keeping is becoming increasingly popular but it can be quite daunting. An introductory course is the perfect way to decide whether bee-keeping is for you.

We offer a wide range of courses to suit differing interests. All are suitable for beginners and even ‘old hands’ seem to learn something new and always provide great feedback for the group. You can read some of our feedback.

Our ‘A Day at the Empire Farm’ gift vouchers are popular gifts for birthday and Christmas.

Read about specific courses below or, to see all the courses currently planned, check out the latest course dates.

Smallholder Day

The Smallholder Day is aimed at the ‘would-be’ smallholder or the new smallholder wanting to find out more about running a smallholding, pros and cons of keeping different animals and about relevant rules and regulations.

Find out more ….

Bee-keeping for Beginners Day

The perfect course to get you started with bee-keeping, aimed at beginners with no experience of keeping bees.

Find out more ….

Beginners Chicken Keeping – Half Day

Want to keep a few chickens for eggs? Find out more on this introductory course. Ideal course for families.

Find out more ….

Keeping Poultry Day

This is a day learning about poultry, including how to house, feed and care for them. You’ll also learn how to slaughter, prepare and cook your birds.

Find out more ….

Keeping Poultry for Meat Day

This is a day learning about meat chickens, including how to house, feed and care for them. You’ll also learn how to slaughter, prepare and cook your birds.

Find out more ….

Keeping Pigs Day

So you want to keep a couple of pigs for meat? Not sure where to start. Then this is the course for you.

Find out more ….

Pigs and Poultry Day

Thinking of keeping pigs or poultry or both? Come along to this combined day, or just choose to come to the morning or afternoon session.

Find out more ….

Smallholder Day The Smallholder Day is aimed at the ‘would-be’ smallholder or the new smallholder wanting to find out more about running a smallholding, pros and cons of keeping different animals and about relevant rules and regulations. Find out more ….
Bee-keeping for Beginners Day The perfect course to get you started with bee-keeping, aimed at beginners with no experience of keeping bees. Find out more ….
Beginners Chicken Keeping – Half Day Want to keep a few chickens for eggs? Find out more on this introductory course. Ideal course for families. Find out more ….
Keeping Poultry Day This is a day learning about poultry, including how to house, feed and care for them. You’ll also learn how to slaughter, prepare and cook your birds. Find out more ….
Keeping Poultry for Meat Day This is a day learning about meat chickens, including how to house, feed and care for them. You’ll also learn how to slaughter, prepare and cook your birds. Find out more ….
Keeping Pigs Day So you want to keep a couple of pigs for meat? Not sure where to start. Then this is the course for you. Find out more ….
Pigs and Poultry Day Thinking of keeping pigs or poultry or both? Come along to this combined day, or just choose to come to the morning or afternoon session. Find out more ….