Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Quail_Antwerp]

QA are you getting stuff done or hiding out from all the rain?

Getting stuff done!!!!

We started on the run for Robert and Fran and their A-Frame house. Hoping to have it finished today, and then I will post pics.

Also decided to re-do the run on the bantam coop. We're removing the old locust posts, putting in 4x4 treated posts, and framing up the wire with 2x4's to make it more sturdy, but also more professional looking, and at the same time, making it easier to cover the runs!

The layer coop is next on the list to have the run re-done, and we'll probably start that one in a few weeks.

Yesterday something pretty unexpected happened. I've been pretty down about losing my RP Hen, Lady Clara, and Lady Aslynn, my Naraganssett turkey hen. Yesterday SIL and I were working on taking the chicken wire off the locusts posts, when something big and brown came flying around the duck shed right at our heads!

It scared us to bits!!

After the shock, I looked and was stunned to see it was Lady Aslynn!!!!!!!!! She had NOT met the same fate as Lady Clara!!!!!! So we figured she had a nest around somewhere, and has just been setting those eggs religiously!

We kept an eye on her as best as we could while working on the run. We missed her heading off to her nest, but we took a look-see so to speak. DH found her and her nest!!!!! Not even 30 feet from the duck shed!!!!! She's been right under our nose the whole time, hidden away under some tall grasses....what's more, we've walked by her I don't know how many times!!

Not sure when her eggs are due to hatch, but we do know they should be fertile. She's sitting on 12, and I'll be happy if only 1 or 2 hatches!! I am just so thrilled to know she's OK!!

 

[keljonma]

Wonderful news about Lady Aslynn AND possible poults! I bet that made your day!

 

[PamsPride]

I hope you get lots of poults!

 

[lorihadams]

YAY! Congrats on the find! We lost our hen yesterday, our beloved Bertha. I know how you feel.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

We worked most of today on the re-doing the run on the bantam coop, and since we needed to take down part of the wire that lines the duck pen, we've decided to re-do the front of the duck pen while we're at it (and since we have enough 4x4 posts!) Duck pen isn't done yet, but we did get the run to the bantam coop re-done. I think it looks quite nice.

For Robert's and Fran's new abode we still need to add wire to one side and the door to the run. We would have finished it today, but we were rained out. It's supposed to quit raining by tomorrow morning but rain again in the afternoon, so we are hoping to get out there and finish Robert's and Fran's area between the rain showers.

Here's a couple pics to remind ya'll what my coop looked like before.....

And here's the work in progress. We have most of the wire on now, but it was raining by the time we got it up, so I don't have a picture of how it looks right now, but I plan to get one tomorrow before we put on the door.

We plan to take down the pallet gate on the duck run and build a new gate. It will come out at a 90 degree angle from the end of the run on the bantam pen, and then the front of the duck pen will be framed in like the run on the bantam pen.

We're pleased with how it looks. I can't wait until we start the layer pen and have the run to it all done. We're using recycled materials where we can, but the lumber is mostly new. The 2x4's are from my "fancy coop" I was intending to build for my Mille Fleurs, but that project has been put on hold until we have these runs done. Which includes covering with netting to keep them from flying out. They've anialiated my garden!!!!

 

[homesteadmomma]

That is looking good! I am so glad to hear about your turkey hen and hope you get a great hatch. I sort of want turkeys but not quite sure. What kind are yours? I was leaning toward Blue Slate.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

That is looking good! I am so glad to hear about your turkey hen and hope you get a great hatch. I sort of want turkeys but not quite sure. What kind are yours? I was leaning toward Blue Slate.

My adult turkeys are a pair of Royal Palms and one Narragansett hen. Then I have two Bourbon Red Poults, which we suspect might be a pair. Had more BR's but all but 2 died on me. Then we have 2 Blue Slate turkey poults, that we think are also a pair...we think that by the sounds of the chirps. One Blue Slate and one Bourbon Red are making the call of an adult Jenny already.

So far my Royal Palms and my Blue Slates are my favorites. The Bourbon Reds are my DH's favorites, but they get larger than my RP's and the last one we had became pretty aggressive.

IMO, go with the Blue Slate! They are gorgeous!! (but I am partial to blue poultry!)

 

[homesteadmomma]

Cool, thanks for the info. I just need to wait to hear back from the lady that has the turkey poults.

 

[Farmfresh]

I have never had blue slates before, but two of my turkey poults I just bought are just that. Now I am really looking forward to them getting their feathers!

 

[keljonma]

You sure have been busy! Great job!