It's only been about 10 days since my last post - but it seems like 10 weeks. So may things have been going on here at the farm. It's been just a whirlwind of activity lately. Here are the updates on the multitude of projects we've got going on ---
QUAIL: Big John made his first sale!! Woo hoo!! We've started advertising, and he's had several inquiries. It's only a matter of time before word gets out and we're sellng like crazy. We're still hatching quail, with the next batch set to start popping on Friday.
We currently have about 190 two-to-four day old bobwhite and coturnix in the large brood box in the garage. There are almost 200 10-day-olds in a temporary brood room in the feed room.
The five-week-old bobwhites have hit the jackpot! They've been released into the flight pen to live high on the hog with the adult birds. We were a little nervous about combining them, but it seems the young ones didn't pose a threat to the big birds. They're all doing really well.
AMERACAUNAS: My newest chick have gone from this -
to this -
to life in the pigeon cage -
to now life in the brood pen in the chicken coop! They're growing like weeds and are as wild as can be. It must be a breed trait, because the Ameracaunas I had previously were just the same.
Yesterday, I put the chicks out in the playpen for their very first outing. As is always the case, everyone came over to investigate.
The chicks had the time of their life - running, flying, eating grass and bugs, and getting their first dust bath! It was such a sight to watch!
At first, I thought Tribett was just curious. He always checks out the newbies.
But he took a particular interest in these Ameracauna chicks, becoming very protective of them.
He spent several hours watching over the chicks, chasing everyone away who got too close, and even alerting me when a couple of them escaped from under the cage.
Good job, Tribett! I love that goose!
BUILDING: Big John and I put in a concerted effort over the past couple of weeks to get going on the building. We've been sidetracked with gardening and birds, but managed to get a lot accomplished recently. We focused on the commercial kitchen - canning is in full swing, and it would be incredible to have that 10 burner stove with 3 canners going at one time! We put up the tin ceiling.
And laid the floor.
We even had time to start on the window and wall trim. It's looking good!!
OTHER NEWS: We got a good start on a new bird building and flight pen. Hopefully it will be compelted this coming weekend, so we can move the coturnix into a new home.
Pea eggs go into the hatcher tomorrow, and should start hatching this weekend! I can't wait to see what we get.
The garden is in full swing. We started the Saturday Market last weekend, and sold very well. We'll be back there again Saturday morning, weather and hatches permitting!
Stay tuned for more farm news. Hopefully it will be raining next time I post!
