Knock Knock

[Reeves]

Wasn't serious..... if I remember right, they need more heat than "normal" Peacocks. I happen to live in a "cool" area.
In fact, a couple days ago it was -32c. Been in the -20c area mostly. I'm working 7-8 hours north of my place ...... and the snow is at least 5' deep !

[slider]

You will just have to keep them in a heated barn during the winter months....No problem down here...

[Reeves]

I'll have to give it a think.
With spending so much on cars now, building a new aviary is not high on my list of things to do....

I have to build one for the Black Shoulder pair I have (still have 1 male & 3 hens hatched last year to get rid of as well).

New job means 4 days off a month. Lots of money.....no time !

[slider]

I have to build mine a new pen as well..I really like them. They are like no other Peafowl...

[Reeves]

Different calls ?
Details !

Grader came in today & plowed the 2000' lane way. Four foot drifts. It was 4x4 driving all the way to pavement, about 6+ miles.
Winter is still here.......

[Little Bear Game Farm]

Hey the forecast changed!!  Talking possible 40F on Monday 

We are looking for good operators down here, Reeves, if you ever want to leave the tundra.  I doubt our equipment is the size your used to but we have quite of bit of dirt to move.  Started putting feelers out to some old coworkers and not too many people willing to leave the position their in, can't blame them. 

[slider]

Mine are to young to call but I do not think that they do all the calling during mating season like the others do. Mine do alot of clicking when I am around. They are still pretty wild the males more so than the hen. She seems pretty dosale most of the time. Really never seen her have a panic attack like the males..

[Reeves]

Little Bear - Was trying to move to the States back in (I think) the 80s . I didn't try too hard though. Hate paying all the taxes in Canada & at that time (if I remember right) wages were near the same for a hoe operator.
I now make $35.00/hr. Over time after 40 hours a week and/or 8 hours a day. They pay me $100.00/day for my truck (which is about $60.00/day too low. Should be $160.00/day)
But, they pay $180.00/day SUB.
We work 10 hours a day min. 24 days on & 4 off. Paid to travel as well.
The above is "normal" for oil patch work. Construction (ie: water & sewer) pays less.
FYI - it is still in the -15c to -40c in the area I've been working. Plus 5' of snow ! This is a 7-8 hour drive north of Edmonton (High Level & west to Rainbow Lake).
Weather at home is still in the -20c area. Drifts 4' + and more wind & snow on the way.
I'll take a picture today....

What is pay like down there ?
Another FYI - Canada has some program to hire ex-military for oil patch work. Always a shortage of workers here. In fact, some new law was rammed down from up high, making it easier to hire foreign workers.

[Reeves]

Bill - Mine are "shy" during the off season. Male not shy at all during breeding season.
Of course, the parents taught the young ones this wary/shy thing.
I also think they were reaised by the guy only. From when I brought them home to the present time they are more shy with the wife. She calls them "Duck & Run" ! LOL !

During breeding season the male will walk up (sneek ?) to within a couple feet when I'm in the pen. Not shy when I'm in there cutting grass etc. Spooky sometimes, due to my memories of when I raised wild Eastern Turkey. That beast would attack at all times.

[Little Bear Game Farm]

Operators are up around $38 with another $19 in fringes.  We usually pay a buck or two more over scale with experience.  We pay WI scale even when working in MN to keep the guys happy.  We have same OT rules and typically work 12 hr days or more depending on time of year and the push.  We have been traveling quite a bit but are trying to stay within a couple hr radius so far this year with the bidding.  We haven't had to expand that yet but who knows as the year goes on. 

We have 3 main areas of business, guardrail, landscape/erosion control, and grading.  This year we are definitely grading heavy with some bigger jobs that we typically don't go after but they were too close to home to not hit them hard.  This would have been a great year for an early spring like last year.  We would aready be working but with the snowpack, I think it will be lucky if we are going by 5/1.

Snow finally quit here but the blowing has picked up.  Just had to go pull my wife out, she got stuck in our driveway 

[Reeves]

Good wages for the States !
If I was younger.....

[slider]

Reeves the guy that I got these from had about 100 juvies in a hugh flight pen and they were all real wild. These were the only Java`s in the pen but all the birds were crazy wild...he has around 100 breeder pens and 48 colors. The guy has a hell of a set up and also raises 15 or so types of pheasants. And 3 species of Jungle Fowl..

[Reeves]

PM the guys name. I may know of him ?

Woke to 4-6" new snow. Day before I had the grader in to clear the 2000' lane way of 4' drifts. Yesterday the wind came up high, from a different direction. New 4' drifts.
Calm today though. So far.

I have always found birds from "busy" places ( big breeders) to be wild. No time spent with them, they are just a way to make a few extra bucks.
Smaller breeders seem to spend time around the birds, if only to sit & watch them. These birds seem much more calm.

or

In the case of Reeves Pheasants, more rabid 

[Reeves]

About 8" new snow & still snowing. No wind......yet.
My blue 72 parts car......hard to tell in pics due to flat light. Snow is roof high on the drivers side. Two days ago I could walk around the car. Two different days of wind from two different directions burried the car.

[Reeves]

A few hours later & still dumping snow....