Consolidated Kansas

[JosieChick]

Oh, it works! I had to re size the picture and make it a bit smaller. Anyway, here is my new pea cage/flight pen for the baby peas! I got it from a lady that was moving into town and had it for sale on craigslist. She was a wildlife rehabilitator and used it for squirrels, wild birds and owls!



Just got home with it on the trailer, it was a long, slow drive!



The peas!

 

[HEChicken]

That cage is awesome Lindsay! I'm so envious because I often see things like that but without a trailer, or even a vehicle capable of towing one, I am so limited.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

If I knew throwing a temper tantrum and screaming would cool things down, I'd be willing to go so far as to getting arrested for my behavior...

I worked all day (tomorrow is my last day!) and couldn't wait to get home to check on my chickens and keets. Everyone is fine! I immediately hosed down the chicken area and they came to see what they could find in the wet grass. They look great and are behaving great - just panting. The keets seem to be doing very well... I assume because they are just about 4 weeks old. I also refreshed everyone's water with cold water (even the kitties). I will go out in a few more hours and check on everyone again before bed.

I am so excited for tomorrow to be over with so I can focus on my home, animals, knitting, reading, cooking, etc.

Trish - I will pick up the keets Thursday morning about 8:15... want to meet me there? Or do you want to come to my house later and pick out your 10? Maybe we can go to Oxford too and look at that feed with Susan.. let me know so I can call my friend.

Hope everyone is doing ok in this heat - 110 right now in Winfield.

 

[Trish44]

Josie, that's an awesome pen, so jealous! I'm the same way HEChicken, we have an old old truck, but don't like to take it very far any more, but we don't have a trailer. We would have to borrow one if we needed one & that's always kind of a hassle. Usually the things I see on CL are way on the other side of Wichita or out in Goddard, somewhere farther away. Then you have to weigh whether it's worth all the gas that the old truck takes to get somewhere & back & the risk just of driving it there. It I saw something really truly worth it though I probably would go for it.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

HEChicken, I see in my zeal to discuss Alohas I forgot to address your question about the pond. So here's what seems to be working well for us. Keep in mind I run fresh water in it approx 5 nights of every week to keep the water level up. Because I have 11 ducks in it, I use Oxine AH (no activator). Just pour a whole gallon in once a month all around the edges and any accumulated algae slowly disintegrates. I keep the ducks in the hen yard for a day or two while the Oxine works its magic and then let them go back in and everything's fine. The Oxine seems to kill the algae but it doesn't bother the vegetation that grows in it. There is this vine like plant that the ducks like to snack on and it doesn't seem bothered in the least by the Oxine. I have tons of frogs and turtles and all seems well. I had to do something to help disinfect the pond because of the ducks. The water can go bad pretty quickly in these high temps and then it can be toxic for the ducks. Two weeks after I pour in the Oxine I pour in a gallon of Apple Cider Vinegar which seems to prolong the effects of cleaning the water. I know there is something about it that improves the pH balance. So far, so good and those ducks love their pond and I love to watch them. They are very interesting to watch.

 

[HEChicken]

Thanks Karen! Hmmmm....our pond is so big I don't know how much of that would work for us. Although its definitely not as big now as it should be - you can see the line on the bank where the water *should* be and after two years of drought the level is way low now. Our dog Sammie loves to go out and submerge to cool off and she has to go out a ways before she has to swim.

There are numerous fish and frogs so I know it is healthy enough to support them but I still worry about it.

Hawkeye. Great job on the Welcome to Consolidated Kansas smiley. Now we need a

dance smiley. Or perhaps a chicken danz smiley.

 

[HEChicken]

Sunflower, I meant to say, congrats on your retirement!

 

[sapphireblu76]

I really need to get on here more often, I can't get caught up on all the posts!

I did see about some of you using cattle pour-on and horse paste for worming birds. I don't have any geese, though. How much of each would I use on Pekin ducks, 2 month old chicks and other chickens? Also, is there a withdrawal time on the eggs?

My black hen seems to be fine now, I have no idea what was going on with her, maybe it was just the heat. She still isn't laying, though. The other 2 girls aren't laying very often now, again, I think it's just too hot. I have a bantam Cochin and an OEG that have started laying daily...weird birds.

Desperately awaiting cooler weather and more rain. We got a little the other day, but it really didn't do anything for the already dead grasses. I'll take what I can get, though.

 

[cherwill]

Oh, it works! I had to re size the picture and make it a bit smaller. Anyway, here is my new pea cage/flight pen for the baby peas! I got it from a lady that was moving into town and had it for sale on craigslist. She was a wildlife rehabilitator and used it for squirrels, wild birds and owls!



Just got home with it on the trailer, it was a long, slow drive!



The peas!

That looks like a great set up and the peas seem happy with it. I can't imagine how slow you had to drive!

 

[chicken danz]

Love the pen, Josie! Very nice. I could use about 10 of those. My peachick is still in the house. Did you get 4 peachicks? I am trying to count in the picture.
I have a baby lemon cuckoo who is gasping a little and sneezing. How can you catch a cold when you are inside in a bin that has been disinfected and you are with the chicks you were hatched with. My peachick is in the same bin. I gave the chick a little vet RX and put probitiotics in their water. I have some tylan injectable but no powder and I don't feel I could inject a chick that young without over dozing. Anyone have any ideas? I don't want to loose any birds.
I had one of my biggest best cochin hens dead this morning. I assume she must have died late yesterday. I didn't go in the hen house to check after about 3Pm but all was well up until then.
I also had one other young pullet die after I put her in a cage with some other pullets. They were mostly in the shade and had water but she must have gotten too hot.
I thought it felt better out today but the chickens seemed to suffer more.
DH says it is because it has been so prolonged. Their systems are weakened by day after day of this heat. I think he may be right.