May 4, 2019 Update

May 4th and I've got some eggs in the incubator. around 80 Gambel's,70 Valleys,20 Blue Scaleds,and only 15 Mountains.
 My Mountain Quail took a while to get going this year. I got my first egg around the middle of last month and they're still just getting rolling,one hen here,then another hen there. I'll be setting another batch in a few days and will candle the ones from the week before.They usually lay until the third week of June here in Maine so I can still salvage a half decent season as long as they keep going. Anything is better than 2018. I've never had a year where my Mountain Quail didn't lay until that one.
 We'll see how the Mearns do this year. Last season they laid pretty good but the fertility was spotty for the first time ever. In all of my past seasons with Mearns,most hens laid around 50 eggs each,and all fertile right up to the very last egg in late August / early September. I knew something was strange when the birds weren't calling in April and early May. In all past years the pairs called back and forth on and off all day starting in April. I'm a bit concerned because this season they aren't calling either. Most hens start laying by the middle of the month so we'll see what happens.Their sand boxes are all sifted,and they've had their beak trims,and pedicures for the season.
 Even someone who's had quail for a lot of years like myself,learns something new now and then. Last year I learned that I can't always rely on even the old faithfuls. Years of laying just like a bobwhite,then BAM - little to nothing the next season. When I was active on Facebook and having people comment on my posts,the Three Golden Boys used to come on now and then under their fake profiles last year and make comments laughing about my Mountains not laying and not putting out a lot of Mearns. Well I've been at it for 20 years or so,and now that I think of it,I don't consider that bad at all. Hell,most Mountain breeders didn't set the world on fire last season,and there weren't a whole hell of a lot of Mearns around either,but I did raise the most Bensons in the country. These guys have been at it for four and five years now and think it's a guarantee every year. It's going to be funny when they do their usual year round taking of thousands of dollars in deposits from people and then have a season where their eggs aren't fertile or their birds don't lay at all. Do you think they'd give the customers their refunds ?😀
 I guess it's been a month or so now since I turned my Facebook page over to an administrator. It's been nice and peaceful since. I'm seeing a lot of views on my last four videos on YouTube, Maine-ly Quail-Exotic Quail. Like and subscribe ! 😀 I'll have some more on here,there,and my website in the near future. I'm told that The Three Golden Boys,Earl,Young,and the Egg Nazi,Ms.Peterson watch my sites as close as ever. They all really need to get a life but I guess it's too late for that now.
 I came to my senses a few weeks ago and decided to wash my hands of a guy who I've been trying to make up my mind about for around three years now. Lives down south. Always seemed like a pretty good guy but was and is buddies with one of The Three Golden Boys. I often asked him what the hell was up with that. He'd always complain about him,and knows of his bad reputation but keeps on helping him with everything ! He'd always have a lame excuse that he feels sorry for the guy because he has no friends. Well that's why !  You can't be a shyster and a wiseass and expect to make many friends. This guy spoon feeds him with tips and advice on everything there is,and even helped write the instruction sheets that he puts in the box with his egg orders. Then like he did with me,argues with every bit of advice he gives him. He more than just tolerates him. They're good friends. 
 People have been telling me for a few years that he plays both sides. Well I finally had enough of trying to figure that one out. If a guy is good friends with one of my worst enemies,then I don't want anything to do with him,and it hit me all at once that he's helping a known shyster stay around in this business,jerking around and screwing people for the past couple years. The guy bails him out with birds and eggs that he runs his face for but can't come up with,and all the tips and advice for the guy's customers that he doesn't have an answer for himself. I believe that he sent him some Mountain Quail eggs early this season and a female Benson Quail that he bought from me last fall. If that's the case then all Three Golden Boys got Bensons from me in a sneaky roundabout way last year. I'd never sell directly to them if they paid me three times the cost. The other two had guys that they know pay me for them and send to their own addresses. This guy told me that Whaah Whaah sent pictures of my boxes to his buddy.They all had a good laugh. I feel worse for the birds knowing that they went to those shitholes.
 All of the finishing touches are done on my 12 new pens. I built a new 4' by 8' brooder table along with four new brooders. I'm wrapping up building nest boxes and sand boxes this week and then all of the building should be over and it'll be on to my lobster gear. I just got two White Peking ducklings for pets and mascots for the farm. Cute little buggers.😀
 I'll keep everybody updated. Oh yeah,before I forget,I'm still getting requests for hatching eggs. I haven't sold eggs since 2017,except for my pheasants. No quail egg sales.

 Until next time....