Consolidated Kansas

[prairie]

I would love to see your tunnel. I am the clutz in the building dept at our house -- hubby knows I am incapable of doing anything with a power tool except I did have a cordless screwdriver once. So he has to do the building and I just help and make sure he does it like I want it!

p.s I am always telling hubby that I don't need to measure because I eye-balled it. But you're story is sure funny!!!

I sure hope you post pics. I find my guineas roosting on the top of the tunnel but never have I seen them on the door. My 7 week old guineas have room to get on it but hopefully they won't. I might put up a piece of chicken wire to discourage them.

All my little guineas that just hatched -- 12 of them-- are so cute to watch. Such fun watching the mama chicken teach them how to eat!!

Prairie, DH and I got our chunnel built and installed yesterday! I'm so relieved. The day before, I started to really worry about the door when I noticed the guineas flying up and sitting on it near bedtime. Then, when they launched to fly down, I would see the door rocking a little on its hinges and it had me really worried since they are only 7 weeks old now so are only going to get heavier. So I told DH the chunnel was now a high priority and he agreed to work with me on it, even though he kept shaking his head that we are going to THIS much trouble for the poultry. I had to keep reminding him we are going to this much trouble to protect my investment - that door was NOT cheap. Anyway, months ago a friend who was renovating, gave me four internal doors, thinking I could use them on my coop. I used three of them on the coop - my two external doors and my internal door - but had the fourth sitting wasting away. It was a very narrow door - only 24" - so had limited uses as a door, but was perfect for the chunnel. I cut it in half, giving me 2 40" pieces, which became the sides. I then found some scrap plywood and used it as the roof of the chunnel. A couple of other scraps to triangulate and we were done. It really didn't take that long. Then we carried it down to the coop and set it over the door. It looks a lot like yours except it doesn't yet match the coop. I need to paint it to match and then I'll consider it really finished. But for now it keeps the guineas from sitting on the door, and it will also protect the door from wind and other weather so I'm really pleased to have it done.

Oh - funny story about DH while building. While I don't consider myself a great builder, of the two of us, I am the one with more building skills. He is always willing to help me out but lets me lead the projects. So we had the door laid out and I took my tape measure and marked my cut line, and then went to hook up my circular saw. DH asked "Did you measure both the top and the bottom?" I guess I was a little peeved that after all the things I've built he would still think it necessary to point out something as obvious as that, so, being the smart-*** I can be at times, I said "No, I just measured the top and eye-balled it from there". I guess I said it very dead-pan because he then took the tape measure and measured several places along the line and said "Wow, that's amazing - that line is dead on! I can't believe you can eye-ball it and get it that perfect". I'm just looking at him at this point, thinking he's pulling my leg, but he was serious. He actually believed I really drew a perfect line just by guessing. [Shakes head]. I did confess at that point that I was being snarky when I said it and we've been laughing about it ever since.

Last night DH and I went to music theater so were gone for many hours, and didn't get home until way past the chooks' bedtime. Until now, everyone has been going in at night except JB, my head roo, who is a silkie. I think he is having trouble seeing (I can't see his eyes which means he probably can't see well either). So every night the door closes and he is still out and I have to go out and put him in through the people door. I was a little worried about being out so late last night, hoping nothing would find him before we got home, so as soon as we got home, I headed straight down there to tuck him in. My flashlight revealed - no JB. Heart in throat, I opened the coop door and shone the flashlight around and there he was! He actually went into the coop BY HIMSELF last night. And what a night to pick to do it too - the one night I was not going to be there to help him in. We had stopped by the old house while in town for MTW and I picked up my clippers so I plan to trim his crest so he can see better and hopefully after this he will go in by himself every night and I can quit worrying about him.

One of my guineas buckwheated this morning! So at least I know the gender of one of them now. Only a dozen more to figure out....

 

[tweetysvoice]

Oh Tweety I didn't realize you didn't have any roosters either. I guess that could cause some weakness on the matter. I would guess that 99% of my eggs end up fertile and no one has ever complained. The embryo doesn't start growing until the conditions are right so an egg is an egg. I hope you didn't take offense that I said I laughed. I just assumed it was something about the ducks that was different. I really didn't mean to be mean.

LOL - I never once thought that you were being mean!

I know how it is when you just KNOW something and are surprised when other's don't! Happens to me all the time! I'll never learn unless I ask and that's what I love about ya'll!

Last night DH and I went to music theater so were gone for many hours, and didn't get home until way past the chooks' bedtime. Until now, everyone has been going in at night except JB, my head roo, who is a silkie. I think he is having trouble seeing (I can't see his eyes which means he probably can't see well either). So every night the door closes and he is still out and I have to go out and put him in through the people door. I was a little worried about being out so late last night, hoping nothing would find him before we got home, so as soon as we got home, I headed straight down there to tuck him in. My flashlight revealed - no JB. Heart in throat, I opened the coop door and shone the flashlight around and there he was! He actually went into the coop BY HIMSELF last night. And what a night to pick to do it too - the one night I was not going to be there to help him in. We had stopped by the old house while in town for MTW and I picked up my clippers so I plan to trim his crest so he can see better and hopefully after this he will go in by himself every night and I can quit worrying about him.

My silkies are the same way! I have to pick them up from where they've decided to bed down and put them into the coop every night. They seem to go to bed earlier than the other birds do as well. It'll still be light outside (9ish) and they are already bedded down and the others are still pickin at grass and bugs. I figure that they'll eventually get it.

We're eating and selling our fertile chicken eggs. I don't tell anyone they are fertile and so far, no one has asked or noticed that they are! LOL Unless you know what you're looking for and are looking closely, no one is going to know they are fertile-- least of all you!

This is really good to hear! I'm not gonna mention it to anyone either! LOL

I lost a gold laced brahma chick yesterday, I was pretty heartbroken but I think it was just a failure to thrive because it was about 3-4 days old.

My babies are doing well this morning!! We are not out of the woods but I nursed with vitamins and electrolytes yesterday after giving them a warm bath and they are doing so much better. They can hold their heads up and are all cheeping at me!! And most importantly they can drink on their own now! I will have to get pictures soon, they are itty bitty babies!

I'm so sorry about the brahma chick, but Yay about the others!!

I have worked & worked with this peafowl chick, it's really frustrating trying to teach it to eat! I finally wet some chick food along with some oatmeal, it seems to like the oatmeal really well, so since it hasn't eaten that much just anything it will eat right now is OK by me. I put the wet food in a small jar lid I keep just for this kind of thing & you have to get it's attention first, so I start pecking with my finger to get it over there. Then I peck in the lid where the food is & this time it started pecking where my finger was but was getting a bite every so often when it missed my finger. After awhile I pulled my finger out & it did eat a little on it's own. It was kind of like watching a light bulb go on in that little brain, oh food! I hope it remembers when it wakes up from it's nap or we'll have to go over it again. I also am using a little bigger jar lid for water & they are attracted to the color green, so I just happened to have some of those flat marble like glass things & put some in the jar lid of water that has vitamins in it. I'm hoping it will get the idea because they are attracted to shiny things & green, so they are both. Boy this is a lot of work trying to mimic a momma peacock!

Wow - you really are a dedicated bird mommy! Just a question - are you making the oatmeal and mushed/wet food with the electrolite water? That might help get some more down him until he gets smart and learns how to do it on his own!

 

[HEChicken]

I would love to see your tunnel. I am the clutz in the building dept at our house -- hubby knows I am incapable of doing anything with a power tool except I did have a cordless screwdriver once. So he has to do the building and I just help and make sure he does it like I want it!

p.s I am always telling hubby that I don't need to measure because I eye-balled it. But you're story is sure funny!!!

I sure hope you post pics. I find my guineas roosting on the top of the tunnel but never have I seen them on the door. My 7 week old guineas have room to get on it but hopefully they won't. I might put up a piece of chicken wire to discourage them.

All my little guineas that just hatched -- 12 of them-- are so cute to watch. Such fun watching the mama chicken teach them how to eat!!

I will take some pics and I really will try to get some pics posted soon - I promise. See, when we moved, we weren't able to fully move into the house because the contractors hadn't finished the work. They *still* haven't finished so our bedroom stuff is *still* mostly in boxes in the garage. Let me tell you, there have been some funny conversations around here when we're trying to get dressed. Anyway, my camera cable is one of the things I still don't know where it is so I will take pics but it might be a little while yet before I can get them downloaded and posted.

 

[Trish44]

Well the peafowl chick isn't going to make it, I don't expect to see it alive by morning. I couldn't get it to eat tonight & it still won't drink. If I had been able to get the other older chicks sooner maybe they could have taught it, but I have tried everything I can to get it to eat on it's own & it just won't. Now it's not eating what I'm trying to feed it even off my fingers, it seems to be failing tonight. I feel so bad for the poor little guy, I just don't know what else to do. I hate seeing anything living suffer.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Yikes, I'm going to be dropping farther behind on posts because this week and the next are going to be insanely busy. For the next couple of days we're getting ready for our annual 4th party (like 60 people show!). Then tonight, we had our 4-H club project tour talks! Which means the club drives out to 3 homes to see farm animals that we can't transport to the club for our talks. We had the club out at our house and my son told them all about our silkie project and we passed out babies like candy for everyone to hold. No one had seen anything like them! It was so funny-- someone asked me if I was SURE they were silkies! LOL! Then we went to two other homes and saw their sheep, goats, ducks, etc... Had a great time and then scarfed down lots of soda and snacks at the end of it. Whew! Then next week begins the craziness! We'll have to get our yeast bread baked and chickens washed, and get out to the fair and get our cages, water, food set up. Then go out there every. single. day. to check in and clean our cages and refill food/water. (and it's an hour drive to get there) This will be interesting. My oldest is going to do Showmanship, so we've been doing flash cards and chicken quizzes every day for the last couple of weeks now. (if not longer) to get ready for it. So anyway, if i fall off the map for a bit, or don't reply to everyone, I'll be back to normal after next week is over!

Trish, I hope your pea comes around and starts eating on it's own! You are a saint for working with it like that!

Josie, sorry about the chick and there was something else.... ah, crud. I dont' remember!! I should have hit the "multi" button.

HeChicken, congrats on getting your chute set up! And that's great that your silkie put himself to bed on a night you all were out late. I know that feeling where you know you can't get there in time and you are crossing your fingers nothing is going wrong.

I've spaced, the rest! I'm sorry! Have to get up early tomorrow, have grandparents picking up the kids so I can get the house cleaned and ready to go for the 4th! Off to bed!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Well the peafowl chick isn't going to make it, I don't expect to see it alive by morning. I couldn't get it to eat tonight & it still won't drink. If I had been able to get the other older chicks sooner maybe they could have taught it, but I have tried everything I can to get it to eat on it's own & it just won't. Now it's not eating what I'm trying to feed it even off my fingers, it seems to be failing tonight. I feel so bad for the poor little guy, I just don't know what else to do. I hate seeing anything living suffer.

Oh no!! I'm so sorry Trish!! That is so terribly sad! You have tried all you could and gave it your best. I don't think anyone could have done better.

 

[HEChicken]

Well the peafowl chick isn't going to make it, I don't expect to see it alive by morning. I couldn't get it to eat tonight & it still won't drink. If I had been able to get the other older chicks sooner maybe they could have taught it, but I have tried everything I can to get it to eat on it's own & it just won't. Now it's not eating what I'm trying to feed it even off my fingers, it seems to be failing tonight. I feel so bad for the poor little guy, I just don't know what else to do. I hate seeing anything living suffer.

Trish, so sorry - I know how hard you've tried. How is he doing this morning?

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Trish, I feel so badly for you, that's just sad. We do our very best for these guys and sometimes that's not enough.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I am wanting to check in with Trish before I head out to mow and do lawn chores! How is your pea? Whatever happens, you are a great bird mama!

 

[chicken danz]

So sorry Trish. Now I'm really scared about my ability to keep a peachick alive. I moved my pea eggs to a different broody yesterday where one is sitting more consistently. Its hard to get them to really stay put in this weather regardless of how broody they are. I have a few that sit in a little shelter on the ground but don't know if being brooded in there is the best thing.
I was going to buy those peafowl eggs locally this week but I've about changed my mind because of the heat. It would all depend on how fast she gathers them I guess. Managing chicks in this heat is such a chore.
Hawkeye we'll miss your input this week. I know how it is when you are so busy. Best of luck with the 4H stuff.
I can't believe you have that many people for July 5th. That's crazy. There is no way I would ever try to host that many people. If the weather were nice and everyone was outside that would be one thing but geez! I have friends that do something similar every year and shoot off a couple thousand dollars worth of fire works after a big feed. I'll be content to sit and watch them on TV by myself since DH is working that night.