Quirky Quail

 

 

It was a few months back that "Jack-Jack" the rabbit visited. The children loved having animals in the classroom to study, and soon after, a few feathered friends made their brief debut. Smaller, and more fragile than the rabbit, pictures with each of the children were not easily attainable.

 

"Coturnix Japanese Quail"

 

At 3 weeks old, their feathers were just starting to come in.

They sang "cheer-up" as they ran around our circle.

 

 

As these little creatures timidly strutted their stuff, and we brainstormed names for the quail, that started (fittingly) with the letter "Qq". Quinn? Quinton? Quackers? Queenie?

 

We studied the lines on their faces - distinct "V" shapes were observed. Their sweet little faces inspired our display for the school's annual Art Gallery.

 

The portraits of our quirky quail were a mixed media creation,

using oil pastel and feathers.

 

A few weeks ago, when I started the task of clearing out the classroom, one of our JK friends gasped and panicked when she noticed that the quail were no longer there. In fact, they hadn't been present for a few weeks. She must have been absent the day we bid them "farewell" - they had been relocated to an outdoor "habitat" where they were (are), happily laying eggs. I had said that I would bring some of the eggs in to show her, but with the many projects that were underway, I regretfully never got around to it.

 

Here is my little update....

 

I collected three tiny eggs from the quirky quail tonight. The hens lay one a day. Usually when it starts to get dark. I love that no two are alike, and they have beautiful brown spots all over them.

Tiny spotted quail eggs in my fridge.

 

They make the cutest little fried eggs, but if you're going to substitute them for regular chicken eggs in a recipe, you need about 6 little eggs to replace 1 regular egg. They taste the same as chicken eggs, but because they are so small, they are tricky to crack open.

 

I am sure that the quail would like to revisit my

 kindergarten friends in the fall!

*We just won't let them drive the bus!*

 

Thanks for visiting the atelier.