Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[jenlyn9483]

QA I sure hope your spirits have risen. I know exactly how you feel. I was having a very low morning yesterday. Thankfully by noon I got my act in gear and got busy and by the afternoon got here I was feeling a little better. I have alot of pressure and thing going though my mind since my wedding is only 2 and 1/2 Weeks away so im going through an emotional roller coaster right now. Funds are low and Wedding expenses are High and its putting alot of stress and strain on us wondering how we are going to do it all. Me and brandon are making a very good effort of trying to be extra nice to each other and not take our flustrations out on one another which would seem 10 worse right now sense feelings are so close to the surface.

looking forward to hearing about your new chooks. Cheer up we are here for you!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Last evening was pretty eventful.

Becca and I had decided to go in together and get two breeding pens of call ducks, each pen having two breeding flocks. Becca had found them on Craigslist almost a week ago. We'd been pm'ing about it for days.

We finally came to the decision to do it and made arrangements to pick them up last night.

We had another friend that was going to go with us with their trailer to haul one of the pens home, but something came up at the last minute and they weren't able to go. So, we were scrambling trying to figure out how we would get the second pen, since Becca could only fit 1 pen on her trailer.

Becca called the lady and asked about measurements and did they think that a pen would fit in a truck with an 8 ft bed? She said it should fit, so we got a friend to watch all five of my kids (that's a feat in itself!) and Ernie and I drove the truck.

I must admit, Ernie wasn't too pleased about going. He kept asking me, "How'd I get roped into this? This wasn't my deal!" He totally changed his attitude once he saw the call ducks!

In one pen was a breeding group of 5 White call ducks and 4 Magpie call ducks. They are gorgeous! The second pen held 5 Blue Fawn/Pied Call ducks and 4 Pastel/Butterscotch call ducks. They are just beautiful!!!

We'd kind of decided before hand that Becca would get the Whites and Magpies, and I would be getting the Blue Fawn/Pied and Pastel/Butterscotch calls. I think all 4 breeding groups are gorgeous, and I'm happy with any of them!

Becca's out of town for the next few days, so both pens of call ducks are here at my house so I can take care of them until she returns from her business trip.

Here's a few pics:

This is the pen of Patel/Butterscotch and Blue Fawn/Pied calls. I took this today before we unloaded the pen. Not the best picture of the pen, but I'll take more of the pen later.

This is a blue fawn/pied duck. The drake has a bright green head!

And these are Becca's White Calls and Magpie Calls.

I'd like to add, the pictures do not do any justice to these birds. Their previous owner took grand care of them, and was very proud of them. With good reason, too. These birds are absolutely gorgeous! Even Ernie was impressed when he saw them, and even though he grumbled about going, he couldn't contain his appreciation of how beautiful they are.

We've spent a good bit of time outside today just admiring them!

 

[keljonma]

They ARE beautiful birds! It looks like all of them are very healthy. Congratulations to you and Becca!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Thank you!

I forgot to say, Ernie and I are going to try to build more pens like those. We figure that if we leave the little pools out of the pens, then they will make good bantam hutches or rabbit hutches. Going to try to build a couple for my own use, and take pictures, advertise, and take orders to sell some.

 

[keljonma]

Going to try to build a couple for my own use, and take pictures, advertise, and take orders to sell some.

Oh, you don't have enough to do already, huh?!

 

[jenlyn9483]

Gorgeous Calls! They are adorable! Good find. I love the pens too. A pen like that would be awesome for raising up baby ducks too!

 

[Farmfresh]

Beautiful birds! I bet I am almost as excited about you having them as you are getting them.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Yes, I'm very excited. I need to email their previous owner again, though, and ask her a couple questions, as I'm a little fuzzy on some of the details (you know, sometimes in your excitement you don't catch or remember everything lol!).

I know she put a lot of time and money into these calls, because she was breeding to the standard and for show. I *think* she said she had taken some to the show, and won or placed with some, but I can't remember.

I do know that she told Becca that the two groups we got were the "cream of the crop" or the "best of the best" and Becca said as we were leaving with them, the previous owner had that sigh that just told you it was hard for her to see these ones go.

Yes, keljonma, we have plenty to do! But we see the making and selling of the pens as a possible new income source, and we need to explore every venue of that nature!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I also wanted to say, this week, I've really been feeling like I'm rich!

Rich in friends that is. I'd rather have the wealth of friends that I have, than all the money in the world.

 

[keljonma]

That is a wonderful feeling, isn't it?! We feel pretty enriched by you.


I completely agree about building and selling the pens. I was just teasing you because I think you already have 24 hours a day pretty much fully scheduled.

Have you had any luck selling the goats or Emmy yet?