Above 1200 Sq/FT Harley Jim's place

[harley jim]

Nice.
Our quail cages are maybe a foot tall.
Maybe...

We used to raise a bunch, 20 years ago.
Now just a dozen or so.
Wife uses them to train this idgit.

I know I made them too tall, They are 20", If I don't like quail then I can put rabbits in there.
My buddy talked me into these but he didn't have to talk too hard, lol

 

[harley jim]

So I had this pile of stuff

And I made two waterers for the quail cage.

Then I put a bulkhead fitting into a five gallon bucket.
I positioned the cage in the shed and attached it to the wall, then I put the water manifold in the top cage and hung the bucket from the ceiling beam! Then the skies opened and the cold hard rain came poring down, I grabbed the tools and headed for the carport, secured the tools and scout and headed for the house. I wanted to get the quail moved today but that ain't happening, so I'm setting in my rocking chair on the back porch with Hefe and an adult beverage watching the rain come down, and the humming birds fighting over the feeder! Tomorrow is a new day!

 

[Boostingaz]

We spent today butchering chickens. Got 8 done in about 2 hours.

 

[harley jim]

AZ, they look real clean, what defeatherer do you have?

 

[Boostingaz]

AZ, they look real clean, what defeatherer do you have?

Yardbird Chicken Plucker

The Yardbird Chicken Plucker takes the hassle out of back-yard chicken processing. Fully defeathering a bird in 15 seconds or less, the Yardbird revolutionizes what is typically the most painstaking and messy chore of processing a chicken which can take up to 30 minutes plucking by hand. Model...

yardbirdpluckers.com

They take about 20 seconds to get that clean.

I got it at tractor supply.

 

[harley jim]

AZ, I need to start looking into one of those!



I put 37 eggs in the incubator this morning, my Son and his family are going to be here mid July so I'm hoping that they are hatching when my grandsons are here!
These will be the first batch from the new rooster, I'm hoping these will be bigger than the last ones.

I got the waterer system working in the quail cage.

I may get a smaller bucket, it depends on how fast they empty it.

So I guess it's time to put them in there new place.

They are pretty scared right now, I just made sure they had water and food then left, let them settle in a bit.

 

[Boostingaz]

That's a great set up Jim. I'll have to take pictures later of how I did the water system. So far it's working out great. I've got mine on a 5 gal bucket too, just a little different delivery system.

 

[psiv92]

AZ, I need to start looking into one of those!



I put 37 eggs in the incubator this morning, my Son and his family are going to be here mid July so I'm hoping that they are hatching when my grandsons are here!
These will be the first batch from the new rooster, I'm hoping these will be bigger than the last ones.

I got the waterer system working in the quail cage.

I may get a smaller bucket, it depends on how fast they empty it.

So I guess it's time to put them in there new place.

They are pretty scared right now, I just made sure they had water and food then left, let them settle in a bit.

Looks like a good set up! Does the hardware cloth floor extend all the way to the wall? I had something similar and didn't extend the floor so there was a small gap and wouldn't you know it, they would find their way under the floor on to the poop tray lol

 

[Hellpig]

We spent today butchering chickens. Got 8 done in about 2 hours.

My kids used to raise 25-50 broilers every year as a 4H project. We used to scald and hand pick. Made for a long day, or two.

The last year they did it, we borrowed a homemade drum picker, WOW.

Also, these shrink bags are nice, but like everything, prices steady going up

We still use them for rabbits.

Texas Poultry Shrink Bags

Professional Look For Storage Or Resale Food Safe and BPA/BPS Free Keeps Your Poultry Meat Fresh Longer Commercial Quality Shrink Bags.

texaspoultryshrinkbags.com

 

[Boostingaz]

@harley jim

Here is what is rigged up on ours for water. They are almost like a tire needle type waterer. The bowl is on a spring and as it gets heavy the water stops. As it gets lighter the spring pulls it up into the needle which releases water. Working pretty good so far. Even if they try to roost on it, it just pulls it down so water stops. So really hard to waste water.

 

[harley jim]

Psiv92, yes the hardware cloth goes wall to wall, I actually made the floor frames, attached the HC to them first then installed them. There was a small gap on the sides, but a small scrap was Stapled into that crack. I think I got it all covered, I hope!

AZ, I do like that set up, I'm still playing with the water, from November to February I do have to deal with freezing so I'm not sure where I'm going to land.

 

[xtremek]

How many quail are you planning on raising?

 

[Jayman17]

Those Quail have gotten a lot bigger than the last photo you posted. Looks like a good set up.

 

[harley jim]

Kirk, I'm not sure at this point, the way its looking I may be able to sell the eggs and not have to deal with raising birds. I would like to put a couple dozen in the freezer for myself.

Thanks Jay, they do grow pretty fast, they will start laying eggs in as little as 18 weeks!

 

[Boostingaz]

Jim, the quail eggs are really good hardboiled too. Our kids love them!

 

[harley jim]

I have heard that they are good that way, I love hard boiled eggs in my salad, I'll definitely be trying them.

 

[psiv92]

If those are coturnix quail (they look like it but didn't see if you said a breed) they should be ready for the freezer at six to seven weeks and laying eggs at eight. They are very good in the smoker, but a little tedious to get all the meat off and their eggs are awesome - just need a lot of them to fill you up...

 

[harley jim]

If those are coturnix quail (they look like it but didn't see if you said a breed) they should be ready for the freezer at six to seven weeks and laying eggs at eight. They are very good in the smoker, but a little tedious to get all the meat off and their eggs are awesome - just need a lot of them to fill you up...

I'm really not sure what breed I have, they were supposed to be Bobwhite, but the bigger they get they are looking more like coturnix, I had a friend look at the pics last night and he thinks they are coturnix also. I don't know the supplier so at this point I'm not sure!

 

[Bob Heine]

Jim, to my untrained eye, those quail look like the Delicious breed.

 

[Hellpig]

If those are coturnix quail (they look like it but didn't see if you said a breed) they should be ready for the freezer at six to seven weeks and laying eggs at eight. They are very good in the smoker, but a little tedious to get all the meat off and their eggs are awesome - just need a lot of them to fill you up...

Yeah, they'll start laying EARLY.
As early as 7 weeks.

When our kids were little, they'd dye the eggs for Easter.

And at Thanksgiving, wife would pick a quail for each kid, roast it, then serve them each on a little plate. Surrounded by baby carrots, and a dollop.of mashed potatoes lol.

Guess I need to bring back the tradition for the grandkids

 

[LeonardY]

I'm really not sure what breed I have, they were supposed to be Bobwhite, but the bigger they get they are looking more like coturnix, I had a friend look at the pics last night and he thinks they are coturnix also. I don't know the supplier so at this point I'm not sure!

Don't name them...
Although, I named the calves, Yummy and Delicious.

 

[Bob Heine]

Don't name them...
Although, I named the calves, Yummy and Delicious.

My father named ours Toughy (or Tuffy). I was 6 so I didn't get it until the new freezer arrived, followed by a lot of brown paper wrapped items to fill it. I was half-way through a really really good steak when he told me it was my pet steer.

 

[Sifan]

our "bottle babies" roamed the farmyards until started to knock kids over, then to feed lot. When they got big enough, went to a petting zoo in Indianapolis

 

[Sifan]

young "Blackie" Loved back rubs and if you quit before he wanted you to, he would headbutt, so off to the feedlot.
Even in the feedlot, Blackie would see you entering the gate, lower his head, charge at you and then at the last minute, slide up next to you for a back rub

Our 5'5" feed salesman and I went through the gate to see what feed we needed to order and here came Blackie. As Blackie slid up to me, our salesman was hurdling the 4' gate

 

[harley jim]

Worked in the garden this morning.

Had to bush hog a couple acres

Whitney's uncle Ben bought her a horse.

So we mowed this spot that John forgot to do when he was bailing hay, were going to fence it for two horses to stay in.
Pat Canned 28 quarts of green beans today!

 

[Strouty]

Glad to see you keeping busy, looks like you are going to have quite a bit of food for a while.

 

[xtremek]

Looks like the garden is producing well.

 

[harley jim]

Strouty, it is a busy time here, the garden needs attention every day, but that's what we want, Pat has canned 47 quarts of green beans so far off of the first crop and it's still producing, the second crop hasn't even started to bloom yet, we should go over 100 quarts easy, the cucumbers are starting to come on fast!

Kirk, It is going great, I'm just glad that there are four of us working the garden.
I had to run to Athens this evening, I just now got home, a guy called and said he had 30 ½ bushel boxes of peaches that he needed gone now, so Pat and I went and got them.

I gave half of them to a buddy, I'll have to start processing mine in the morning, there is aprox 350lbs of peaches setting in my shop, I would say that maybe half of these will be too ripe or too bruised to use so that will help.
The ratio is about four lbs of peaches per gallon of wine. So that's about 37 gallons of wine!
Did I say it was a busy time here.

 

[bugnut]

The chickens will love the overripe peaches, don't be shy about it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Hope you have a great 4th!!

Funny you mention peaches cause my bride and I might take a little 5 hour drive to pick up a few boxes freshly picked off the trees on the other side of our state

I know you are busy but I bet all the new birds are happy you spent all that time bringing them into this world whether you end up just eating them or their eggs

Take care and don’t be driving that cool cart after drinking your freshly made wine. Cheers!!

 

[harley jim]

I have been so busy the last week that I haven't had time to think.
We put together a food concession booth at this year's festival Saturday in Benton, we had a good day and sold a bunch of hot dogs.

 

[Ford52PU]

Hi Jim,

hope your doing well! miss seeing your posts hope everything is ok!

 

[racer-john]

Ditto!

 

[harley jim]

Been going through some things, I hope to be back soon.

 

[Boostingaz]

@harley jim

No details needed. Whatever it is, keep your head up bud PM if you need a word of encouragement or anything we can do. It doesn't have to be me, but reach out if you need too.

 

[Bears Fan]

Hope all is well in Tennessee

 

[harley jim]

It's been raining a lot, I haven't been able to get outside as much as I would like and my projects are suffering. Pat went through some health issues and spent some time in the hospital, all is well for now and I'm going to try to get back to some form of normal, if that's a thing!
I have a few things in the works but nothing is finished so be patient, thanks guys!!!

 

[Michael B.]

So sorry to hear that Pat has been sick. I hope she will have a speedy and complete recovery.

 

[welder4956]

Glad to hear an update. Tell Miss Pat we hope she gets well soon.

 

[LeonardY]

Sorry Pat has not been feeling well. I hope she and you will be felling better soon.
Hang in there, brother!