Consolidated Kansas

[schellie69]

Well the last 2 times I watered my garden we got Rain so that was great but we still need so much more. I have a stubborn broody who won't quit so I moved her to my storage area of the coop and now she is sitting on her eggs, I think one of my other hens might be going broody not sure to break her this is the 3rd time the other 2 times the hens kept kicking her out of the nest. So might move her and see what happens. Any Roosters hatched will be processed and girls will replace some of my layers who have quit laying. I hope everyone stays cool, in this heat. I do worry we are heading for another dust bowl just hope we get some rain or have a wet winter.

 

[HEChicken]

Danz, sorry about the Red Star - I had one and she was one of my favorite birds.

Schellie, hopefully you are watering today so we can get some rain

Trish, you were so right! I went to Orschelns today and their feed prices are much lower than Atwoods. I was really shocked. I thought any difference would be miniscule and since I have to make a special trip to Orschelns but pass by Atwoods quite often, it wouldn't be worth it for the drive. Boy was I wrong. I decided to go there today to get dog food and found the food was $8 for a 40lb bag less than I paid for it last time at TSC. It was on sale for $4/bag off but even so, their regular price was that much lower. Then I went to the chicken feed aisle and my mouth gaped open at the price of the Nutrena All Flock. I had to check and double check the label. At Atwoods, it is marked at $17.59 but rings up at $16.69. At Orschelns it was $13.99!!! A full $2.50 off what it rings up for at Atwoods. That alone makes it worth the gas money to drive there. I had a coupon to get $5 off too, that expires the end of this month so couldn't believe I was walking out with 50lb of feed for only $10 after taxes.

Well, I contacted the lady I got Tory from, who had originally said we could do a trial and if it didn't work out, she'd take her back. Now she feels 3 weeks trial is too long and says she won't take her back. I contacted a GP rescue but they said it will take time. I also put an ad on CL but haven't had any inquiries.

In the meantime, yesterday and today she has been good as gold. It was two particularly difficult days with her that made us decide it wasn't working. But suddenly it almost feels like she turned some corner in her little doggy brain. In the past when she has charged the fence to go under it and chase something, calling her name had little effect - she just kept right on going. This morning she started to run and I yelled "NO!" and she stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me. I know she knows her name but is it possible when I called her name before she didn't apply it to needing to stop what she was doing? I didn't get another chance to tell her "No" and see if I get a similar reaction but I was certainly pleased with her that time. Later, I sat on the porch steps watching the dogs and she came over and sat next to me and didn't exactly lean into me but was clearly there to feel companionable. I think that is the first time she has done that and it made me realize that up until now she has been sort of aloof. This morning she definitely seemed to be saying she feels at home, and several times came and stood by me asking for pets, which again, she hasn't done in the past. Needless to say, all of that makes it harder to go through with rehoming.

So DH and I went out again and looked at the DogWatch fence we already have. We decided even though it isn't the right area for protecting the chickens, at least it does keep her contained to our property so we don't have to sit outside and watch her every second. It isn't working now but we think it is probably just that the collar needs a new battery. Needless to say it is a proprietary battery and isn't sold at Walmart or Orschelns, so I came home and ordered one online. It will be a few days before it arrives and I can try it out but if I can impress on her that she needs to stay here, I will feel better about her staying.

The other thing that has me wondering is your comment Danz, about if they are bonded to the chickens, they won't leave. Do you think it is possible for her to bond with them at this stage? I have not yet done the walk in the chicken yard/corrective collar thing because I figured if we weren't keeping her there was no need to do that. But if we do keep her, I'm willing to work with her if you think there is a chance. In the meantime, DS gave me a brilliant (I hope) idea this morning. Our lagoon is in back of the chicken yard (shared fence between them) and is fenced all the way around. Only 4' high fence but I've never seen her go over a fence, only under, so I think it will keep her contained. Until the battery arrives, I'm going to put her there at nights. That way I don't have to worry about waking up and wondering where she is. And, since the fence is shared with the chicken yard, she can see them through it and perhaps the proximity will be good for her? I dunno - I'm kind of winging it here, so any advice you can give.....

 

[chicken danz]

Heather, The best exposure for her would be to be with the chickens but not penned up with them. Maybe you should get a few sacrificial chickens and let them in the yard with her and correct her if she gets too playful with them. Marshmallow my oldest was raised as a goat dog and then I got chickens before I got rid of the goats. I had the chickens in a pen but after discovering how much they liked free ranging and they went back to the coop at night I let them free range. They had been around her but not directly, but once they were part of the yard gang she accepted them as belonging here. These dogs are the most intelligent dogs I have ever been around and I've been around some remarkable dogs. They just have that natural instinct to protect. And they seem to know what belongs and what doesn't. The best chickens of course would be those that have been around dogs and aren't afraid of them. I would gladly donate a few mixed breed half grown chicks to you if you or someone else is coming this way and could pick them up. These would be birds that are used to the dogs and used to free ranging so they wouldn't be running off or away, which is something that might spark her playful interest in her.
I think NO is the correct word to use. I can call my youngest and she ignores me calling her by name, but a firm No gets the attention of the dogs. Now if they are in pursuit of a predator I wouldn't tell them no. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing. But if they are chasing a jogger or something that would be a time to be firm. I'm thinking maybe Tory sense you relaxed a little thinking you were going to get rid of her and she had been sensing your tension before. Dogs are very keen on reading people.
Actually Trish, that sounds better than what I get. I just have my grains milled and add a protein additive which contains all the vitamins, supplements, and minerals as well as some other milled grains. You can adjust it to whatever percentage you need by how much you add. It is pretty pricey by itself but the co-op figures it all out to get 16%, I have some hog 40% which I can add if I want to add more protein as well. I have calcium available for them to nibble on as they please although there is some calcium in the supplement.
I also have layer ration in a feeder they can eat at any time. They much prefer my mix over the layer feed so the layer last quite a while. I buy it when it is on sale. I normally have a bag on hand in case I under estimate how long my feed will last. If I used layer ration all the time I would feed 2 bags a day!
I also always feed chick starter to the babies and game bird starter to the game birds. It is pretty important they get a good start and I don't trust my ability to formulate things right for them. As long as they are brooded they get chick starter for sure.
I think one of the main things that keep my birds healthy is being able to free range and get bugs and seeds or whatever they scratch up. My game birds don't have that advantage. That's where you can add a lot of things like BOSS and any kind of additional feed and protein to help them.
It's a hot one today for sure. It got to 108 here yesterday , and when Dad and I left the church at noon the sign at the hospital said it was 107 already. I know it has gotten hotter since then. I was feeding and trying to cool birds so I haven't had a chance to check the temp for a few hours.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

I'm going to have kittens that grow up to be cats the cluck and crow These kittens hang out with the chickens like they are one of the flock. I cannot WAIT till I get to put pictures of my puppy with the chickens Will be about another 9-10 weeks..

Here is a picture of one (out of 3) of my kittens enjoying some scraps with the chickens.

 

[chicken danz]

Love the kitties Sunflower!
We had a close call. I was out watering the birds and walked back up to the house. There was a flame about a foot high at the back door. DH had a plastic bucket with sand in it that he drops cigarette butts in so as not to catch our dried up yard on fire. Well instead he had our dried up house on fire. The bucket was melted and the siding was getting scorched and melting. Thank God the water hose was right there. I keep going out and feeling the wall to make sure it isn't warm on the inside. I doused it with water but it was a close call. Of course my first thought was,What if we had left and gone somewhere.
I told him to please let me increase my insurance and move some precious items out of the house then he could let another butt fire erupt! I could use a new house!

I have to joke about it or I would probably cry instead.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, so if I get the 22% feed then it should work for the turkeys & peafowl also should it not? That's the protein percentage I have been feeding them in the game bird starter. I feed my chickens BOSS in the evening anyway for their bedtime snack, they love it. Sometimes I give a little to the peafowl chicks also just for a treat.

It's so darned hot out there right now, it's 107 here & I just saw that Weds. & Thurs. are going to be 111 & 113. I'll be out there all day watering down the birds, I won't get much else done if it's that hot. Today I have the mister on & am just moving between pens off & on. I go out take the mister off & spray down under the bush where the chickens hang out & then put the mister back on & move to another pen. I've been out there at least every two hours.

My granddaughter is here today too & she has been out at intervals playing with my new kittens, but it's too hot to be out too long.

Everybody stay cool & be safe!

Oh Danz, you just posted while I was, how frightening, gosh maybe you should move that bucket farther out!

 

[JosieChick]

Danz- I wouldn't say our dogs are bonded to my chickens either but more to the property and us? I wish they would bond to the chickens but it just hasn't happened for us. Lucie is totally bonded to our horses, go figure. Biggest, least in danger animal on the property. The other day she was laying in their hay eating it with them. Ugh. I don't care if she hangs with the horses, I just don't want her to chase and torture my chickens.

I am afraid this is my mistake with Lucie. All our chickens are very wary of the dogs and scatter when they come around. They are better if I am there but if I am not they will run. They are especially frightened after the dog attack with our retriever. Molly knows to avert her eyes and walk very slowly when she is near the birds and they aren't nearly as scared of her. Should I try exposing her to younger chickens that are not afraid of her? She doesn't bother the geese because they hiss and chase her. In fact she is terrified of them. If I raised some chicks/ducklings with her would she extrapolate that all the other birds in the yard are like the birds she is living with? Obviously I would only allow them together under strict supervision but if they were young and got used to her they wouldn't run away which is all the fun?
HEchicken- I am sorry this happened, I am kind of surprised someone would re home a dog with a trial period and not take the dog back! I hope you guys get it all figured out and something pans out for you. I will trade you the puppy any day!!!

Molly is just such a fabulous dog, I wish I could have two of her. She did roam off a lot before we fenced them onto the property but you know when she was able to stray off our property the coyotes didn't come so close. They are really close at night now which I don't care for at all.....

 

[Trish44]

Josie, honestly I can't say my GPs are bonded to the chickens either because my Big Red rooster has never allowed them to get too close when he's around. He made that clear to them 3 days after I got them as little pups that they weren't to bother HIS hens. They free-range all over the yard & the dogs are out there, but don't pay much attention to them. I would say that mine guard & protect all that is here as their job, which is what I was told they should do. They know what belongs here & what doesn't & they keep what doesn't out of here & that's exactly what I want them to do. Lily has been sleeping during the day under one of the big rabbit hutches under the trees because I go out & spray off the rabbits & it's wet under there & cooler. The chickens & roosters all scratch around under the other hutches & she doesn't even blink an eye. I know some of you were concerned when I told about the rooster going after the pups that they wouldn't do their job here then, but I think it just made them not want to mess with the chickens so I think it was a good thing. They have never gone after one of my chickens to play with it or anything due to that rooster teaching them early that wasn't the thing to do. I just see the GPs as overall protectors of the property & that includes us as well.

 

[Hawkeye95]

After Tuesday, I will be joining the retirement world
I have a little additional comment about wearing large t-shirts for nighties - I threw on an over-sized t-shirt last night and then this morning wanted to run out and get the memory card out of the game cam (have one aimed at the chicken coop to see what takes place at night around it).. anyways.. I first went over to the coop to let everyone into their fenced area - went and took the card out of the cam - plugged it into my computer... the t-shirt isn't as long as I thought.. especially in the back bending over to open a coop door Next time, I will turn the game cam off before bending over in front of it

Congrats on the retirement!! I think your stay at home plan is fabulous! I hope it works out well with the client. SO FUNNY about seeing yourself in the camera! Got a good giggle over that.

I also tried to take some pics of the older Swedish Flower Hen chicks today. They were picking at my feet while I was trying to take their pic.


I think she is my favorite, this pic doesn't do her coloring justice, the contrast of the oranges & grays are really striking.

WOW-- I love these birds!!!! I love the neat little crest going on, too! Funny! Their coloring is really amazing!

DH has reinforced one of the breeder pens and managed to complete the screen doors for my coop. I'm just so happy to have both of the screen doors installed. He even painted them white for me. I'll have to get a pic in the next day or so. I'm feeling so much more confident in my birds being safe again. I plan to finish cutting a hole in the south wall of the coop and covering with hardware cloth. I'm not quite sure how I will keep rain out, assuming of course that we ever get any in the future, but I'll figure something out.

Hawkeye 10 acres is more than enough for a GP. 5 acres is more than enough. It's all a matter of bonding them to the stock. If they don't bond they are going to run.

Heather, You struck fear in my heart talking about the drought. It kind of made me feel panicked. That is a huge what if. After the dust bowl here, that is when farmers began to plant hedge rows, the purpose not only for fencing but to keep the soil from blowing away. Now everyone is ripping out their hedge rows to make more open country and it's a huge mistake. If the drought continues they will regret it for sure. Rather than research why they were planted in the first place, people think nothing of tearing them out. Sad! It has also ruined part of the habitat for quail and turkey to nest safely.

If 10 acres is enough, I still couldn't have them roam off the property with the trigger happy people a couple miles over. I would hate to try to put in an invisible fence on the entire property. and YES-- it is so sick that all these farmers are bulldozing down their hedge rows! Idiots!!!!!! I love ours. I know it harbors coyotes, but they are so important for so many reasons.

I put blankets on the line to dry. I'm doing my part to make it rain.

Started bumblefoot soaks today with tri-cide neo. If I don't see improvement in the girls in a few days, surgery. The roo will need surgery since he is actually limping, and Lily my original EE hen will have to have surgery again. Hers is a continuation from last fall when we didn't get it completely cured. I hate it that I didn't insist on checking him earlier. He was so good this morning getting his feet soaked.. He didn't struggle or flap around at all. Can't say that for a couple of the girls, though.

I've noticed round spots on two of my birds feet..... could it be bumblefoot even if they aren't limping or showing any swelling or any other symptoms???

I'm going to have kittens that grow up to be cats the cluck and crow These kittens hang out with the chickens like they are one of the flock. I cannot WAIT till I get to put pictures of my puppy with the chickens Will be about another 9-10 weeks..

Here is a picture of one (out of 3) of my kittens enjoying some scraps with the chickens.

Cute picture!

We had a close call. I was out watering the birds and walked back up to the house. There was a flame about a foot high at the back door. DH had a plastic bucket with sand in it that he drops cigarette butts in so as not to catch our dried up yard on fire. Well instead he had our dried up house on fire. The bucket was melted and the siding was getting scorched and melting. Thank God the water hose was right there. I keep going out and feeling the wall to make sure it isn't warm on the inside. I doused it with water but it was a close call. Of course my first thought was,What if we had left and gone somewhere.
I told him to please let me increase my insurance and move some precious items out of the house then he could let another butt fire erupt! I could use a new house!

I have to joke about it or I would probably cry instead.

Holy Smokes!!!! That is really scary!!!! Good thing you caught it before it really caught fire on the house! Whew! I'd be checking it every so often, too!!! Yikes! You sure do have all the excitement up there.

Danz- I wouldn't say our dogs are bonded to my chickens either but more to the property and us? I wish they would bond to the chickens but it just hasn't happened for us. Lucie is totally bonded to our horses, go figure. Biggest, least in danger animal on the property. The other day she was laying in their hay eating it with them. Ugh. I don't care if she hangs with the horses, I just don't want her to chase and torture my chickens.

Oh my gosh-- that is so funny that she loves the horses so much. Yeah, they can definitely take care of themselves. Sigh. And eating hay?? I hope it all comes out okay.


Well, its been a long day here. Church, family stuff, then out to eat and then home again. But it hit 112 here and I have all the misters going and I've been out to check on my silkies. They are panting and stressed, but so far, everyone looks like they are hanging in there. Poor things. This is just brutal. I was dying just being out there. They are all hanging out under the mister and look like wet cats--- but I can't blame them.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Josie, honestly I can't say my GPs are bonded to the chickens either because my Big Red rooster has never allowed them to get too close when he's around. He made that clear to them 3 days after I got them as little pups that they weren't to bother HIS hens. They free-range all over the yard & the dogs are out there, but don't pay much attention to them. I would say that mine guard & protect all that is here as their job, which is what I was told they should do. They know what belongs here & what doesn't & they keep what doesn't out of here & that's exactly what I want them to do. Lily has been sleeping during the day under one of the big rabbit hutches under the trees because I go out & spray off the rabbits & it's wet under there & cooler. The chickens & roosters all scratch around under the other hutches & she doesn't even blink an eye. I know some of you were concerned when I told about the rooster going after the pups that they wouldn't do their job here then, but I think it just made them not want to mess with the chickens so I think it was a good thing. They have never gone after one of my chickens to play with it or anything due to that rooster teaching them early that wasn't the thing to do. I just see the GPs as overall protectors of the property & that includes us as well.

Josie-- maybe you need a really mean 'ole rooster???