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Quails hatching in an incubator

Quail Hatch Day

Came down in the morning to find our first quail had hatched. The little ball of fluff was chirping and wondering around lonely in the incubator. By mid morning Fluffy had been joined by two others.

Day old baby quail in a brooder.

Eight eggs remain in the incubator so fingers crossed and may the hatching continue.

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Quail eggs in an incubator

Hatching Quail Eggs!

Something new, never done it before. We were generously given quail eggs by someone who had purchased some of our honey. Told they were fertile, not having looked after quails before, we thought we would have a go at hatching.

As you can see, very small eggs – quail on the left, chicken egg in the middle and emu egg on the right.

The quail egg weighs 15 grams, the chicken egg 65 grams and the emu egg 750 grams!

To hatch a a quail egg the incubator temperature needs to be 37.1 centigrade with a humidity 50% RH.

A dozen eggs in our little incubator, I would expect about a 60% hatch rate. So possibly 7 quails, of which 60% or 4 will be male and 3 female. 23 days to hatch day and counting!

Check back for updates!

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Emu Egg Hatching!

Second attempt to hatch 🐣 Emu eggs is underway! Day 2. Another 48 days to go until we know if we have been successful.

This time we have borrowed the Mother of all incubators.

Fingers crossed 🤞.

Last time was not successful Last attempt but we only had two eggs and perhaps an incubator not up for the job?

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Cockerel Crowing on the gate

A Classic Cockerel

This year we acquired a new cockerel just after our former cock died from old age (6 years old!). The new cockerel is a very different character, and perhaps could be considered a classic cockerel. Very vocal and often finding a high point to crow from and remind us he is there and looking over the girls!

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Goose after fox attack

Lucky Escape for Lucy Goosey

In the kitchen and just considering going out to put the animals to bed, when there is a commotion in the goose field, the Geese flapping and honking at full volume.

Peering out, I could see a fox with its’ jaw tightly clamped around the rear end of our small Chinese goose.

The dog and I rushed out. We disturbed the fox which was rapidly pursued by our dog. However, the fox had a head start and this time managed to escape.

Poor Lucy Goosey, was lying low in the grass and bleeding quite badly. Fortunately, on inspection she had two puncture marks either side of her rump. She seemed quite calm (probably in shock), so we took her inside, cleaned the wounds and sprayed the wounds with disinfectant. This has a violet colouring to hide the colour of blood, birds have a response to peck at red, which we don’t want to happen!

After the attack and treatment, Lucy Goosey seemed OK, so we decided to put her away with the rest for the night. She waddled in to join the others.

Next day I let the animals out as normal, and Lucy Goosey came waddling out as if her ordeal had never happened!

I like a happy ending!

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Beautiful Mornings!

The mornings over the past few days have been crisp, bright and warm!

Letting the animals out is even more of a joy when the weather is so gorgeous. You forget what is going on in the world.

After all, they don’t have a clue and every new day is another adventure.

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First goose Egg of the year

First Goose Egg of 2020

Last year (2019) we had our first goose egg of the season on 25th February 2019, this year it was today, 26th February!

It’s amazing how nature’s clock is so accurate. It won’t be long before we have a goose eggs for sale (sorry, still local collection only).

I know what I am having for breakfast this weekend! Goose egg and soldiers….. delicious.

Soft boiled goose egg
Soft boiled goose egg. A meal in itself.
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