Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

Trish-I like your new avatar! Nice variety in that basket!

Tweety-So sorry about having to rehome your duck. Are you sure you couldn't just let him "free range" outside the pens?

Danz-Hope you are able to kick back and relax tonight. I could be a really busy weekend.

I'm sure tired of being laid up with this knee. I'm doing well with it, but I guess I'm just impatient and I want it healed up NOW!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Trish44, my sentiments exactly: Let's hope none of us have to worry about running for cover from the storms! Crazy weather for April. I'm going to hold you to coming by to see my menagerie! I love meeting people who actually love to talk about chicks, hatching, bunnies, etc. It's so much fun! Those little bitty bunnies were just adorable and very proud of themselves as they hopped around exploring while Mama rabbit looked on like "Oh good grief". Too cute!

Danz, I may just have to buy a few of your Cayugas to go with the ones I'm hopefully hatching. Won't the Cayugas look cute with the Anconas? One of my bunnies is black and the other is black and white so I'm thinking they're going to make great pics!

My oldest son, 16, who is an extremely bright kid with slight autistic tendencies, looked at the bunnies suspiciously and asked "What is the purpose of these bunnies"? I laughed and said "Pets" he looked at me with his serious face and said "We're not going to have any babies"? I said "Nope". Finally, he asked "Are we going to eat them"? I reassured him "These are just pets so it's okay to fall in love with them" He says "Good to know". and left. You'd have to see his expressions and hear his voice to get the full effect. Sometimes I feel like I'm being interviewed -- cracks me up.

 

[Trish44]

KarenS, that's so funny what your son said about the bunnies! Yes, those little stinker bunnies have been out several times now that they learned to get out of that box. Momma doesn't seem thrilled. She's like, well there goes my alone time! I just love when they're tiny like that.

 

[tweetysvoice]

Tweety-So sorry about having to rehome your duck. Are you sure you couldn't just let him "free range" outside the pens?

I wish, but unfortunately that's not an option. Our back yard butts up against a 4 lane 45mph road and we can't take the risk of a pet getting thru our fence and onto the road. That's the major reason for the double pens and not even letting them out into the outer pen unless we can keep an eye out for them. We also have eagles that circle our neighborhood. Saw one eating a rabbit just across the street last night (EWWWWWW!) There would be no protection for her in that regard at all.

I do believe that we might have found a couple options for a home. First, I am in contact with a couple I found on craigslist that was originally looking for laying hens for free. The wife has cancer and the husband is looking for some birds to keep his kids occupied and minds off of mom's condition. They own a farm right outside of town and already have chickens and a big pond. They are interested in taking her. Renee also mentioned to me that she has a friend that might be able to take her too, so at least I'll be letting her go to someone that won't eat her. That's my biggest fear, honestly. You are right Trish, it's hard to let go of a pet. I've only had to do it once (other than from natural causes) and that was cuz I had a cat in an apt where she wasn't allowed. I keep all my animals till they die of old age. I love them too much to give them up, but we had to make this tough decision (with tears, mind you) for the well being of all the rest of the flock.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Karen, congrats on the new little bunnies! My kids are really wanting a pet, but we have the two indoor dogs, so I'm not really going for it yet. My oldest wants a hamster or something. Those aren't really a lot of fun, since they sleep most of the day. When the little two get old enough that they wouldn't accidentally strangle an animal, I'm considering them having a bunny. But we'll see, that's a ways off and they are all on the young side for something like that. My youngest is 3yrs and not exactly trustworthy when I'm not there to supervise. I believe I got my first pet when I was 8 or 9. I had a hamster and my brother had a guinnea pig. They were alright, but their cages stunk. I think a bunny would be a lot more fun!

Trish, we have a basement, but it's not exactly a great one for storms-- because half of it is actually OUT of the ground. It's a view out, and while that makes living down there really awesome with all the light, it worries me in storms. I've noticed our storms always come in from the south-west -- so I figure the safest place in our basement is the south corner in the bathroom. It's got two sides that are completely buried to the top. It's just the west side that is low. The basement wall on that side is just a few inches above the ground and all the windows are along that wall. We have bedrooms, a play room and a living room down there-- and they all have a window or two in each room. Under the stairs and in the bathroom have no windows. Anyway, my parents are down the road a bit and they actually built a safe room in their basement. So smart!!! It's one of those super thick cement walls with a metal door that swings inward-- so if the house falls in, they don't have to push the door out into the mess and risk being trapped. There is also a nice cement roof on the room. It's big-- like 12X12 down there. If we stay here, our plan is to build onto this house, and i want to make a safe room like that under the addition accessible from our basement.

Tweety, I'm so sorry about having to rehome your duck. But it sounds like you have a couple of great options already, and that's great. I wonder if they make pinless peepers for ducks?? My barred rocks pick on my Polish, and since I put the Peepers on them, the Polish tails have started to grow back in! Anyway-- exciting about the silkies!! Post lots of pictures when you get those! What colors are you going to be getting? My favorite color I think is the Splash. But the Buffs and Partridge are really pretty too. I think you're really going to like them. Hold them often and they will become more friendly than your other chickens, most likely. Mine are.

Danz, I've been praying for your mom. I hope you have a good visit with your brother.

Ivy, glad to hear your knee is steadily doing better. With all the things you've been doing, I was worried you might have a set back. I hope you get your Royal Palm couple!

Well, I was supposed to go to Hutchinson to see the big chicken show they have down there. The weather has made me nervous to be too far from the house, though. The news did say that our storms should be here this evening, so I probably have time still to run down there and back. I don't know, seems a waste of gas to rush down there and not be able to take my time looking around and talking to people. I think I'll just hold out for our next poultry show. My mama Yoda is doing well teaching her chick everything. It's now old enough to run around the kennel and she is clucking at it and seems a bit upset that it's not staying right near her. She keeps following it and sitting next to it. Then the chick is off again and she gets up and goes to sit down next to it again. At least she is getting some exercise from sitting all day long. She's been eating really well again, too.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye, don't you love that cluck cluck cluck the mama hens do? They seem to be such worry warts.
No you can't put peepers on ducks because their nostrils are all part of their eating and cleansing thing. They have to remain open to live. Plus their bill is so long it would be ineffective any way.
Speaking of ducks, Chopper has discovered the close to the ground window in my bathroom and seems to be spending most of his time in there. He really likes looking out the window. I wish I had room to put his crate in there. I have tile on that floor so it's easy clean up. I started shutting the bedroom doors just to keep him out of those rooms. He was very tired last night and went straight to his crate when it got dark. I normally have to herd him in there.
It sure looks gloomy out. I'm not sure those storms are going to wait until evening. I am really glad we didn't get any last night though.
Karen, I got sevin and diatomaceous earth in the brooder and the house where I put the chickens yesterday. I sure don't want an outbreak of mites especially in the brooder. I have ivermectin to use on the older birds but I wouldn't know how to dose a young one.
I swear my bird medicine cabinet is getting fuller than my own!!! And I take a huge amount of meds.I haven't noticed any more colds or anything in the group. I am just wondering if that one bird was stressed with being moved twice. I didn't notice anything until I got her in the car and headed for Olathe . So does anyone know? Can a bird catch a cold within 30 minutes of being stressed? How is she doing Pikeman? Also can mites cause sneezing? The diarrhea thing is a total mystery to me. I checked the shavings and found no evidence that there was any like that where I had them held.
Chickens can be so vulnerable.
All of the winter colds around here are gone and those birds were no where near or in contact with these birds. I can't help but wonder where some of these things come from.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, don't you love that cluck cluck cluck the mama hens do? They seem to be such worry warts.
No you can't put peepers on ducks because their nostrils are all part of their eating and cleansing thing. They have to remain open to live. Plus their bill is so long it would be ineffective any way.
Speaking of ducks, Chopper has discovered the close to the ground window in my bathroom and seems to be spending most of his time in there. He really likes looking out the window. I wish I had room to put his crate in there. I have tile on that floor so it's easy clean up. I started shutting the bedroom doors just to keep him out of those rooms. He was very tired last night and went straight to his crate when it got dark. I normally have to herd him in there.
It sure looks gloomy out. I'm not sure those storms are going to wait until evening. I am really glad we didn't get any last night though.
Karen, I got sevin and diatomaceous earth in the brooder and the house where I put the chickens yesterday. I sure don't want an outbreak of mites especially in the brooder. I have ivermectin to use on the older birds but I wouldn't know how to dose a young one.
I swear my bird medicine cabinet is getting fuller than my own!!! And I take a huge amount of meds.I haven't noticed any more colds or anything in the group. I am just wondering if that one bird was stressed with being moved twice. I didn't notice anything until I got her in the car and headed for Olathe . So does anyone know? Can a bird catch a cold within 30 minutes of being stressed? How is she doing Pikeman? Also can mites cause sneezing? The diarrhea thing is a total mystery to me. I checked the shavings and found no evidence that there was any like that where I had them held.
Chickens can be so vulnerable.
All of the winter colds around here are gone and those birds were no where near or in contact with these birds. I can't help but wonder where some of these things come from.

Yes! Yoda seems constantly worried and stressed about her baby. If it's up and running, she is telling it to "Come back and sit down with me". If it dosen't, she gets up and goes and tries to sit on top of the chick! LOL Anyway, she's happiest when they are both eating and drinking together and then she just does that happy cluck to tell it "Good job!". Yeah, this weather is making me really nervous. I keep thinking about the show I am missing in Hutchinson and I'm totally bummed about it. I am wondering if I should just run down there quick anyway. But I was just out a few minutes ago with the kids and we have some dark clouds moving in. I never would have given it a second thought and I would have been in Hutch by now, had it not been for all the newscasts saying we are in for it and we're expecting tornados. I mean... sheesh, that's some doom and gloom. But if they really think so, then I have no business on the road so far from home with my kids, I guess. Sigh.

OH, and yeah, back a while ago, someone on the emergency board was saying how mites can cause head shaking and some sneezing. I'm not really sure about the sneezing, though... I wonder why they would do that for mites.

I can certainly see it would cause head shaking.

 

[Ivywoods]

Well, my chicken killing dog just went to his new home. His new owners were thrilled to have such a great tracking dog. I have no doubts that he will have a good home, plus he will be able to do more of what he loves to do... track. They do not have any poultry to worry about, so Digger should be no problem for them. He really was a good pet, other than his chicken obsession.

We are going to leave shortly to go get some royal palms. I know I must be nuts. With the price of gas and all it will make these some pretty expensive birds, but I want them now to call in the wild ones. My others had already started calling and we had wild turkeys in the back yard for a couple days before Digger did his evil deed. The guy I am getting these from said they gobble all day long. Maybe I should get an extra tom or two, just to be sure they do plenty of gobbling. I can't believe how quiet my blue slates are. I still have never heard this guy gobble. If anyone wants to raise turkeys but don't want all the gobbling noise I guess I could recommend these blue slates. They sure are quiet compared to any other turkeys I've ever had.

 

[Trish44]

IVY, congrats on finding a new home for your dog, I know it was hard, but it will be better for him in the long run & you that you don't lose more birds. Good luck with getting your Royal Palms today. Hopefully I will hatch out some before too long. We'll see how we like them. Hawkeye, does your Seymour make a lot of noise or is it just the Tom's that do?

Well some of my little chicks will be going today & more tomorrow & then Tues. until they're mostly gone. There has been nothing yet from the eggs I put in the hatcher, hopefully soon.

I think the weather service just wants us all to be on alert just in case since the conditions are right for bad weather. If they can get people to pay attention maybe it will save some lives if something does happen. They're saying people hear so much about storms & all that they have become too casual about it. Bad weather always makes me nervous, living in Kansas all of my life you have to pay attention or it could cost your life. When I was growing up I lived in Wichita & we didn't have a basement, but our neighbors did across the street. Many, many nights we had to run across the street to their basement & I remember one night hearing a sound like a freight train overhead as we ran, not a good sound.

 

[Mandilynn]

Hawkeye: Don't feel too bad about missing the show here in Hutch, I went this morning and MANY of the entries were from Oklahoma and did not make it because of the weather they had yesterday. It was my first time to go see a show, so I was still impressed, but my grandfather and many of the others there assured me it was a very sad turn out. There were tons of cages empty. There seemed to be a better turn out for rabbits though.