Sunday 27th January 2008
Sorry for the late posting, I've just spent the last hour and a half breaking open a padlock on one of my parrot cages. George and Charlie, my two greys have lived together for the last 11 years, they are male and female and have laid many eggs, although Charlie the female is a feather plucker and is not able to keep the eggs warm enough.
Anyway, over the last few months, George the male has become a little aggressive, so I separated them into different cages. Charlie has stayed in the larger cage, as it has the nest box and she sleeps inside to keep warm. Well George has always been a 'Houdini' and can escape from anywhere so the door was padlocked up. The key to the front door was lost along time ago and the only access has been through the double top opening section.
So tonight, now the great escape artist has been moved on, I drilled out the lock. Not being a locksmith, I made very hard work of it, but all is well now.
My easy day today, although that will not be the case when the season gets going. In Japan the breeders I feel have an easier life than me, they spend the summer months breeding koi and culling, but have no customers calling as the the koi they have kept over are spending the summer in the mud ponds and their greenhouse facilities are empty. Then when they have completed their harvest in Autumn, the customers come flocking in.
For me it is a little harder, summer is my flat out time, spawning, culling etc and it is also my 'selling' time, customers come and view the koi, some buy, some just come for a day out. But that's my business, but it is also why I have to work on an appointment only basis. Just imagine, you have planned a 10/12 hour day, culling a pond of fry and then a customer turns up and the plans have to go out of the window, or worse, I'm in a position where I cannot stop, as the fry will be in danger if left for any length of time.
So that is why I have to work by appointments, I'm open 7 days a week and rarely, as long as I have a phone call the day before, will anyone be disappointed.
The tosai which yesterday were looking a little rough are today chasing around constantly looking for food.