Quail project....

We decided suddenly that keeping some sort of domestic birds was a good idea, but ruled out the usual domestic chickens as our daughter has a severe phobia of them! Even the sight of on chicken causes her to have a panic attack!

But having seen quails on Youtube, she said that we could try them if caged.

So, the first priority was a vermin proof structure: two half-telegraph poles made a strong frame, and then we put a steel mesh on the floor to prevent foxes from burrowing in. Metal sides were added, with their sides well dug in, and cemented too - no chance of getting in that way, foxes or rats!
Finally, a sturdy roof was added because quail like a dry dusty environment, not too soggy.

Getting young birds was not too hard...'Preloved' web site had many local people and equipment to view - although you have to be careful about your choice of young birds or fertile eggs. It was quite easy for us to build up a starter flock!

And from there we rapidly had about 30 birds in the cage. We had some interesting encounters with other local quail owners, swapping male quails. Driving them home, flapping around in the box, was an interesting experience for our bird phobic daughter!

They were a delight to watch and feed (they particularly liked half cucumbers of which we had an excess at the time!)

We rapidly collected a big bowlful of the small but beautifully marked eggs, and enjoyed quail eggs on toast. The flavour was normally eggy, but the health benefits are reputed to be enormous!

We had to terminate this brief but delightful project when neither Elaine or I could safely walk down to feed them, and Paul, the main protagonist went back to Nottingham to build a new life for himself!

However, the legacy of the project is a dry, secure fowl house that could be adapted to chickens with 10 minutes work with an angle grinder, just by cutting a chicken door in the front, et voila!

Straw bale pool

Last year we made a highly successful pool from straw bales

It took quite a few bales plus a roll of inexpensive polythene, but the water from our well was never going to achieve swimming depth, so we bought £300 quids worth of water from DWR CYMRU. Which was the biggest cost, but well, it was worth it. As these pictures show. The water came in an 8 wheel tanker?!

And gave enough depth for child swims and adult paddles! Great fun for all!

Grandchildren enjoying the pool!

We used borrowed lorry ratchet straps around the whole structure to prevent the bales from collapsing, and hold in the weight of the water.

Every one had a great time!

Fish or not?

The other day our gardener, the indefatigable Terry reported seeing a sleek heron striding away from the pond!

I am very keen on bird life and I greeted his news with delight! But it raised a question and an answer in my mind!

The answer was that the herons presence was probably why we haven't ever spotted any of the 5 grass carp that we released into the pond last year!

The question is...

Was it a good idea to stock the herons larder at all?

The pond had extensive grass growth from the banks, which amongst other problems threatened to block the outflow pipe which ultimately would cause the back of the pond to collapse! So, we bought the fish as the recommended way to control grass growth!There has been no evidence that the grass has been reduced at all. But I have reservations that maybe the low level pond life like dragon fly larvae might have already suffered too...?

Opinions welcomed, either respond on this blog, or tweet me, @Fron_Rafel with your view!

By the way, the fish were not inexpensive.

Summertime

Introducing....

Fron Rafel Beetroot Jam! Grown from seed using Welsh un-treated soil & watered with Carmarthenshire spring water. Our Beetroot is carefully selected and cooked to our family recipe.

Fron Rafel Beetroot Jam is a superior preserve.

Spread lightly over freshly toasted bread or as an accompaniment to a ploughman's lunch for maximum taste satisfaction!