Okies in the BYC The Original

[CityClucks]

Howdy everyOkie! I had a good trip out to Beaver - my folks took the opportunity to try to work me to death, but I survived. It seems that my parents are a lot nicer than they were when I was younger. When we were building fence my dad let me use the new wire cutters and the "good" wire clip tool to make it easier on me. We loaded up his Polaris and took it out in the pasture so we didn't have to walk the whole fence line back and forth. On the way home that night he noticed my wrists were bruised and abraded from the heavy horse cable falling on them while I was trying to attach the wire clips to the posts. Instead of poking my wounds with a finger and telling me to toughen up, he asked if it hurt much. A couple of days later when I got into a wasp nest while tearing down some metal panels, Dad actually asked if I wanted to STOP AND GO IN THE HOUSE to treat the stings with baking soda! Twenty years ago he would have just said "Walk it off!" I think the alien body snatchers got them.

Here is a photo of my folk's place.

 

[Sooner]

City I have to agree with you! My mom seems nicer too! I told my kids that she would of kicked me in the seat of my pants for some of the things that they get away with! We still tease her to this day that we had to go pick our own switch!

 

[GracefulBantams]

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[Kwartel]

I was able to get the pen for my young quail critter-and-quail-proofed and opened the door from their brooder area. They didn't know what to think at first. A few jumped out and looked around at the dirt like "What is this nonsense?" Then it was "Oh. OH! THIS IS AWESOME!" And the dust bathing commenced.

I passed along the BYC well-wishes to Bil. He says hi to everyone and wishes he was back home already, buying more birds than he has places to put them and starting construction on the next series of new coops.

 

[GracefulBantams]

I just saw another Oklahoman member here on BYC. Panhanle RIR

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Kwartel the quail look happy! I have never seen pharoles on the ground before. I hope they do well like that. It may be a problem getting the eggs,as they are not known to lay in nest. You may want to try bobwhites or moutain quail on the ground,they may be more acclimated to it. Good luck I hope they work out.

 

[sgtmck1]

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lol Thats what mine did too. but after putting them in there two days ago I haven't got any eggs. Wondering if there just getting to know the new pen? I want some white ones.

 

[Kwartel]

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These guys I hatched from eggs I bought on eBay. I have another pen with breeders that I've had for several months and I've had them on dirt since I brought them home. The only problem I've had with them was their burrowing down in the dirt by the fence. I buried an apron of wire around the perimeter and lined the rest of the run with lightweight netting to prevent escapes. They all have access to the inside of the coop and run in and out during the day. They all have their favorite spots for laying eggs so its like Easter every night.

So far they have been super easy to maintain. We'll see how things go this winter. They're native to some pretty cold climates but I'll be prepared to bring them into the coop if necessary. I wouldn't mind having some of the other breeds of quail, but I'm not so interested in getting the required permits and having People From The Government come out to inspect my setup.

 

[Kwartel]

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They are super sensitive about change. If you make even the smallest adjustments to their routine (new house, different food, changing roommates, etc) they will go on strike for a while. When I was sure that mine would be ok sleeping outside at night without me catching them and putting them up, they stopped laying for two weeks. And they hated being caught and put up. Go figure.

 

[nnbreeder]

Sooner when you go see the Tulsa fair see if there is a guy showing bantam RIRs named Jason Bates. He is from Arkansas and has some to-die-for RIRs. Him and his dad go by the name of Bates Bantams.

The reason I bring this up is because the hens would be a great outcross for your NN rooster. It will bring the size down a tad and his birds have nice, full and broad bodies to them and are very typey for the Standard for NN bantams. He is very reasonable on his prices too.

Once you hatch some chicks you will get about a 50-50 mix of NNs and naturally feathered birds. Save the ones of the NNs that best fit the body type and have no DQs as far as plumage goes And that will be your starter stock for a breeding program.