Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

Oz, you've done what you can, now it's up to them to live up to the challenge. Hopefully they see it as a good chance and everything works out. By the way, are there any respectable enough businesses that you could keep either a tab or a prepared system with in case you're worried about leaving them with cash? Although if you can't trust them to handle money they might not be the kind of employees you want to keep around.

I am not worried about leaving Bernie with cash. I don't leave much - somewhere around forty dollars. If something sudden comes up I can send cash via Xoom and it can picked up at a zillion locations within a minute of sending. I could get credit lines at stores but the sugar cane farms secretary can just as easily give them a check and it's a lot cleaner. Yesterday was our final payment on the Mitsubishi. I really don't want to owe money.

Bernie is in a very different position to when he left. We were rapidly expanding and everything was piling up on him. The helpers were taking orders from him so he was responsible for their performance as well.

Now the roles are clearly defined. Bernie and Jun are similarly aged and get along well. He is happy with his salary, he gets to go home often and his wife can visit. When Analou was here, she had fun helping sort chickens and dressed five roosters. At the staff meal she was very cordial. Bernie loaded the three of them on his bike and to them home last night.


The concern is really whether we need to find replacements for jun and Rona but there had been some improvement. Some people get employer/employee etiquette straight away, others need it spelled out.

We have been told that they really want to make it work so there is hope. Prior to coming here they survived on much less. Its probably just a matter of a fortnight of being pennyless that will set them straight. We make sure they will always have something to eat by giving 50kg of rice per month as part of their compensation. They also have the vegetable garden which has lots of ready to eat produce and plenty on the way.

 

[ozexpat]

I do hope that they work out this time. The 'salt mine' might just be easier then what you just went thru 
Hug the kiddos and kiss the DW for me.
Have a good flight, and take care of that knee.
Scott

Thanks Scott. I have actually really enjoyed my time here. I love our little piece of paradise. It's been a challenge to get it on track but it was a blessing to be able to do it when I had the time available.

Hugs and kisses passed on and sent back your way.

Surely piglett is a pappa by now......

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: Has anybody heard anything about Miss pigglet?
I do hope it works this time!

Scott

 

[ramirezframing]

Wondering, with a smile on my face of carouse, if Piglett is doing his new mini me up as a piglet for their first Halloween?

 

[ozexpat]

I got up at the crack of dawn yesterday and made a solo trek to Bacolod.

I arrived at the Philippines airline's ticket office at opening. I get on really well with the people that work there. They were kind enough to waive all change fees on my ticket and I am confirmed for today

I was back by 2. A killer trip.

Inday will follow on Monday and hang out in LA for ten days.

Its actually happening. The mad scramble to get things perfect then four hours to the airport.

Fingers crossed.

 

[ramirezframing]

 

[piglett]

I am hoping to bring over a few dozen Ameraucana, barred rocks and buff orps next trip. I need to bolster my stock.

In the spring I will do a mega shipment as my last big one.

Cream legbars
Austalorps
Rhode island whites
New Hampshire
Delawares
Silver laced wyandotte

Most of those are to get my sex link production business up and running. The losses on Dominic's watch set me back a year.

figured i would pop in to see what kind of trouble you were into OZ
when will you need buff eggs?
i'll be glad to send some you direction
we are now into the F2 buffs & they should be show quality or near it

The only pea comb birds too have are local visayas and wyandottes.

I bought eggs from a guy on eBay. There were white rocks and rhode island whites. He did not label the cartons. I figured the Rhode islanders would have pea combs.

California white are supposed to be a leghorn with some white rock in them.

I may even have pure bresse in the mix but I did not think any hatched but that was the hatch where Bernie left and there was pandemonium. Black Bresse lay white eggs but white Bresse lay a light brown egg. They do have gray legs but I am not sure of ear lobes.

The gray legged birds are pretty big. There are a few that I am pretty sure that are leghons because they are quite small.

I may have to wait to see egg color. I will be surprised if any lay a brown egg.

My original hatch had a few Ameraucana cross polish that lay blue eggs. I crossed then with a blue wyandotte and the crest is still present. They are a very pretty bird. I now have a coop full of them.

Oh... I did have some white Marans eggs. I have two other white birds with feathered legs so they are identified.

my new england whites lay brown eggs & have grey slate legs

a pure Bresse will not have grey legs till they are a few weeks old (not sure why)

the leghorns i have had sported yellow legs

hope this helps


piglett


PS: wife is 4 days past due

so we wait

 

[piglett]

.

I will be on the hunt for true Rhode islanders as I want them for sex links. The Bresse I may just keep for personal eating.

i have my lone Bresse hen in with 6 of her new england white daughters

when it's time i'll put my Jubilee roo in with them for a few weeks

the resulting chicks should all be sex linked

 

[ozexpat]

I am back in the USA!

The flight was a good one. I sat next a guy from Beverly Hills that made the awake time interesting.

Before I left we made a self unit for the garage. It is 8'x8'x2'

The coco lumber was the hardest I have ever used. It could not be penertrated with a nail gun. Next were concrete nails and a palm nailer. No go either. Then we used a 3/8 speed bore drill bit. it just spun until i changed to hammer drill mode. it twisted the spade section. Finally we used a 12" long 3/8" masonary bit and bolts. Yikes.

@piglett

did I miss the report on your child?

I am heading back again in late Nov/Early Dec if the birds and weather are cooperating.

 

[Jucknath]

Oz, Interesting and challenging to keep up with you.