Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

&^%^&%$_)+_! I just lost a long long post. That irritates the crap out of me.
Hchicken, "Maybe I'm just over-tired, but that just cracked me up. I had visions of the hens reaching around and carefully taking off their saddles, putting them down and later, scratching their heads thinking "Now WHERE did I put that saddle?"
I LOL at this post. That was so funny.
Yes Karen John is a keeper. Now you can do your crafts out there when it is hot and he doesn't have to have chickens in the bedroom any more. Awesome.
MyABCs I forgot to congratulate you as well! That's great.
Trish I would have sent that rooster to freezer camp the day he flogged your granddaughter. I have no room for a mean rooster in the first place. If I had let the rooster from my childhood form my opinion about chickens there wouldn't be any around here. (I would sure have a lot more money but not nearly as many friends!)
That pie sounds delicious and fattening. I may try that. I have a family thing coming up later this month.
Thanks for pointing me to the Chatter. I PMd the gal. I hope this works out. I was going to go buy a couple of juveniles and hope for the best.
Josie if you run to VV That's be great. I wasn't suggesting you necessarily do that. I was just thinking it wasn't so far from you. And I would so much rahte split a bottle than pay for a whole one. I really would like to go there some day just to shop. I have purchased so many things from them because their prices are always great. If you do go you might check and see if they carry feed. I would bet they are cheaper than a lot of people.
Medawinks I was going to suggest muscovies for a quiet duck. My anconas are the quietest I have, the cayugas are a little noisier and the pekins are just plain loud. You can have a lone duck but it needs to be around something compatible. If you have it with chickens it will imprint on a chicken assuming the chicken won't pick on it. Regardless of breed though it will use up your chicken's water and ultimately make a mess of sorts.
I need to jump in the car and go to Topeka today. I need dog food and groceries. Yuk! I don't want to go anywhere!

 

[michelleml]

can you all recommend a feed for me. I was feeding chick starter dumor and sense recall would like to change feed. i was looking at naturewise but not sure how much it cost. Im going to look at another feed store today i just found and see what prices look like
I only have 4 chickens three hens and one rooster that are about 12 weeks old

Michelle

 

[chicken danz]

I prefer to feed Purina but it has had recalls as well. I have fed Manna before and am pleased with it. At this point I would feed whatever I could find that doesn't have a recall number on it. There are a couple of Kansas feed producers but I can't think of the name. I think it is Home something.You could check at your local co-op.

 

[Trish44]

Some CO-OPs may have their own mixture, but the one in Arkansas City only had the Purina starter & it's higher priced. They do have a layer mix they mix up, just not a starter feed. Just about all of the major feed companies have had recalls lately because they're owned by the same companies even though they may be labeled another name.

It's supposed to be 111 today, 115 tomorrow, & 111 the day after that here, it's not going to be a fun 3 days. Then 106 Sat. & Sunday finally 99. Some of the weather pages show a break coming up in the temps, let's hope that is true. This heat is just exhausting to try to keep birds & animals alive. I feel so sorry for anything or anyone that has to be outside for any extended time right now. We were sitting at lunch the other day before our eye Dr. appt & saw some construction workers & commented how awful that would be to have to work in those conditions.

Of course it has to be the hottest day we've had so far tomorrow when I'm going to get my baby guinea keets, naturally. I sure hope they have been outside & are used to the heat because I can't being guineas in the house, they're just too noisy, they would drive me & my DH totally nuts.

I've been monitoring the site on FB that is the Cream Legbar site in the UK & they keep saying that all of our birds from Greenfire have the wrong coloring. So I'm wondering if Greenfire got taken on the birds they imported, were they sold inferior birds to get rid of them or what? They're supposed to have 3 different blood lines now at Greenfire & so far from what I've read none of the birds have the correct coloring to meet the UK standard of perfection. They're saying that all of them are too dark, the cockerels have too much color coming through, the hens have too much gold around their necks & are too dark in color. But if you look at some of the birds in the UK they also don't all meet those standards, so are they seeking to get the breed lighter in color than even their own birds? I was told that the hens should have cream neck hackles, not gold & should be a lighter brown with only a light salmon breast. The cockerels should be all cream & grey with no rust coloring coming through & should also be lighter in color. They tell us that we should not be breeding these birds from Greenfire because we're spreading incorrect birds for the standard. I made the comment that we only have one source right now to buy birds, so we have what we have.

 

[JosieChick]

Just a quick note to tell you my great news. I told DH about the units on CL that Hawkeye posted. He didn't want to buy those because he figures with our luck it would last a week and then be done. So he did lots of research online and made some phone calls and found a floor unit at Sam's that they gave him a 20% discount and it only cost $240. The portable ones were around $500 for my room size. The one he bought is a window unit but he's willing to put it in through the wall so as not to block the windows. The windows are sliders also, so that makes it a little more complicated. But now, I'll be able to cool the craftroom down enough to keep the birds from dying on me. Maybe next year I'll get one for the coop? We'll see. It's going to be such a relief to have a place to cool off the birds that really get stressed. I was really worried about spending anymore right now but he's more on top of the money stuff than I am so it's doable. I'm so happy to think I'll have A/C out there this weekend!

Woohooo!!!

Yeah for AC!!! Your DH is awesome!!

In fact, there are

The reason I got muscovies over any other breed of duck is that they don't quack - they are almost completely silent. As ducklings they peeped but once they stopped peeping, they went quiet. I understand that they will hiss when threatened or broody but other than that, they are very quiet. I haven't heard mine hiss yet. I've always thought ducks were cute but a) didn't want to mess with the mess they make around water and b) didn't want the noise. Muscovies are perfect for me because they aren't as interested in water as other ducks. Oh sure, they like to get in and sit in it in this heat (but then, so do the chickens), but from what I understand, they don't need a water source for swimming. They are a heavy bird that doesn't like to swim as much as other ducks because their feathers fray. One source said they are not a duck per se but a "perching water bird". But they look so much like ducks, I find myself calling them that anyway. They wag their tails like dogs and have a little crest on their heads that they can choose to raise or lay flat on their heads. They raise it to show emotion, and wag their tails then too. I read one article that called them "extremely intelligent". I don't know if I'd go that far but when you look in their eyes, even as ducklings, there is a serene wisdom looking back at you.

When I started researching them, they seemed almost too good to be true - a good meat bird that is also a good layer that is also a good mother and is also quiet and doesn't make a mess around water? So far I've found the hype to be true. Mine aren't laying age yet but everything else I read has been spot on so far.

That sounds divine. I can't wait to try it....

I don't know if I've said this before but....your DH is a keeper. Seriously, congrats - that will be awesome. And when the craft room is not occupied by birds you can still enjoy the A/C.

Maybe I'm just over-tired, but that just cracked me up. I had visions of the hens reaching around and carefully taking off their saddles, putting them down and later, scratching their heads thinking "Now WHERE did I put that saddle?"

That is interesting about muscovies, I never knew all of this. Maybe I have the wrong ducks! The chicken saddles....I read that last night and was laughing so hard that I didn't respond. All I could imagine was hens stripping of their saddles and hanging them on fence posts and things...my mind was in the gutter. Thanks for the good laugh!

Josie, no, don't think I'll be getting peas. Unless we move out of this neighborhood. Not sure the neighbors would appreciate that.... but then again, I don't know. Since we could be moving, now wouldn't be the time to get any large bird like turkey or peas. Just don't know what we're going to do. I think I'm going to build wire pens in my horse barn along the side of the wall up front. That means we need to get rid of a ton of crap in there. Mostly kid junk. I'd like to have my silkie breeding pens set up in there and it would be a great place to have them for this winter. It stays pretty nice in there when I shut down all the doors. And there's plenty of electrical outlets in case I do need to hook up a heat lamp if they are suffering just in case. These silkies do seem like they require a bit extra care, for sure. Ah well.... totally in love, can't stop now! LOL!! I love that pen of yours-- what a score!!!!

I have one hen wearing a saddle right now-- been wearing it for weeks. Yes, even in this heat. My rooster just won't leave her alone and I don't have another place to put him. But I can't imagine her getting that saddle off. It has elastic with snaps and it fits perfectly. I bought it from someone who specially makes them for silkies. So maybe the fit has a lot to do with it. I have more saddles from her, and had one on my other hen, but my rooster rarely breeds her or even looks at her. Odd. Anyway, she didn't need it, and in this heat, decided not to burden her with it. But the fabrics I picked out are just adorable! I do enjoy seeing them wear them. So sad about your hen with the messed up back. That's going to take quite a while to heal. You might try a saddle again and see how long you can get it to stay on when she is on the mend.

So far haven't noticed my dogs shedding, but they are kept really short and go to the groomers every few weeks. Interesting, though!

When do you guys find out about moving? I hope you don't have to move! One of these days I want to get a real horse trailer so we could meet up and go for a weekend trail ride! I have some super cute chicken saddles too and haven't had too much trouble keeping them on. I can catch all my biddies pretty easily though so it isn't a big deal to re saddle someone if they lose their clothing! My favorite is a pink on with cupcakes on it! Seems like the hens are happier with them on too and don't lose feathers due to clumsy dumb boys floundering around on top of them. I wonder how I get all these dud ball roos. I see other peoples birds and their roo just jumps on the squatting hen and does his job and jumps off. My boys are dragging everyone around by the neck and falling all over themselves and the hen and the hen is carrying on screaming. Maybe I need to get them a book....

Josie if you run to VV That's be great. I wasn't suggesting you necessarily do that. I was just thinking it wasn't so far from you. And I would so much rahte split a bottle than pay for a whole one. I really would like to go there some day just to shop. I have purchased so many things from them because their prices are always great. If you do go you might check and see if they carry feed. I would bet they are cheaper than a lot of people.
Medawinks I was going to suggest muscovies for a quiet duck. My anconas are the quietest I have, the cayugas are a little noisier and the pekins are just plain loud. You can have a lone duck but it needs to be around something compatible. If you have it with chickens it will imprint on a chicken assuming the chicken won't pick on it. Regardless of breed though it will use up your chicken's water and ultimately make a mess of sorts.
I need to jump in the car and go to Topeka today. I need dog food and groceries. Yuk! I don't want to go anywhere!

Topeka seems so far away from you. Do you go somewhere special in Topeka that they don't have down here? I think I might run to valley vet but I may wait until DH is around because I am scared I will spend a bunch of money!! That is my only hang up, it is less than an hour away and I have always loved their website and they have fabulous customer service. I am just scared to get in there and go on a shopping spree!

I prefer to feed Purina but it has had recalls as well. I have fed Manna before and am pleased with it. At this point I would feed whatever I could find that doesn't have a recall number on it. There are a couple of Kansas feed producers but I can't think of the name. I think it is Home something.You could check at your local co-op.

Yeah, I guess the problem is higher up in the supply chain for the feed companies so most all the feed companies have some recalls. Appears to have stemmed from a computer glitch when formulating a portion of the feed.

 

[HEChicken]

Oh, I forgot to mention one other tidbit of info about muscovies, which is that they are the only duck breed that is not mallard based, and that is why there is such a difference in them compared to other ducks. I guess all other ducks descended from Mallards way back when, so they all share certain traits in common (like quacking) but Muscovies developed completely independently so developed all of those traits that separate them from the Mallards.

One other thing I have found about mine is that they are very sociable birds, in a quiet sort of way. They do NOT like to be handled. In fact, if I had to pick one up, I'd have quite a job. But every evening when I take my lawn chair and kindle out to the yard, I set it down in a different place. The muscovies will all waddle out and plonk down about 3' away from me and just sit there, nibbling at the grass around them, until its time to waddle back to the coop and go to bed. So although they don't want me to touch them, they do apparently want some kind of social interaction with me. I talk to them while they sit there and they make eye contact with me and it seems like they're trying to understand what I'm saying.

Well, I think I have the guineas sold so thank you to all the people who suggested listing them vs. eating them. I'm really rather glad as processing is not my favorite chore and they're nice enough birds to have around - I just didn't want Cyrus dying of heat exhaustion trying to stay away from them. Interestingly, by processing just the one, I apparently upset the balance enough that today they've left him alone, but I suspect it is a temporary reprieve and they will resume where they left off soon. The guy isn't getting them until the weekend and you know how that goes - people say they'll call and then never show so if he doesn't show up and the guineas continue to behave, I don't mind if they stay.

Josie, let's keep our fingers crossed Hawkeye gets to stay! We'd really miss you on this thread Hawkeye!!!

 

[chicken danz]

I hope if you leave, Hawkeye you'll stay right here. Who says you have to live in Kansas to talk to people in Kansas?
Well I made a phone call and maybe can work something out to trade one of my turkey girls for a boy. I may have to do it this evening to get it done though which is going to throw off all my other plans.
I go to TSC to buy my dog food Josie. Topeka is the closest one. My dogs like it better than anything else and it has a high protein content. Seems to be a good fit. My dogs are really picky eaters. And most dog foods I bought regardless of how expensive, they would tire of and quit eating before the 50 pound bag was gone. I just buy two or three bags at a time when I go.
It was actually a little cool here around noon. The wind came up out of the north and I was out feeding and actually felt a little chilly. It didn't last but it was great. Heaven knows it was probably still hot cause the birds were standing in water as usual but it felt cool to me.

 

[chicken danz]

Bad news. The gal had a hen and a Tom and didn't know it. So I guess I'm back to buying babies to get a Tom turkey. Dang it!!!!

 

[Trish44]

Yes Hawkeye, even if you have to move somewhere else we all hope you will still keep in touch on here with us, we would miss you too much otherwise.

I went out a little earlier than usual this morning since I had to get up to go for a Dr. appt at a new Dr. with my DH this morning & even though it was 91 at the time it felt a lot cooler than it has been. However, I just went out & it's blazing out there & the poor chickens are just having a hard time. I just sprayed everyone down & took my blue ice things out for the water & for the little chicks to sit around in their tub. It's pretty amazing how fast those little chicks will figure out how nice that ice is to sit on or around. The Cream Legbars really love to sit right on it. I wonder if since they're from the UK originally that they are less heat resistant since they have a lot of rainy, dreary weather there? It was just a thought & the Swedish Flower Hen chicks just love the mister right along with the Salmon Faverolles who originally came from France. They don't seem to take the heat very well either. Really my best heat resistant birds are the plain old Barred Rocks, they lay right through the heat. I'm going to try some of these other breeds of birds this year for laying, but if they don't pan out like some of the ones I tried this last year then I may just have to get more of the Barred Rocks & Red Stars next year. I need some consistent layers for my general laying flock that I can count on. The Black Australorps & the Black Copper Marans have really been a disappointment to me for laying. They have both been broody more than they have laid lately & while I like the really dark eggs they just haven't laid that much. Everybody told me the Australorps were such great layers & I haven't really found that to be so true. One of mine has been broody for a least a month & I can't break her of it.

Well I need to run to the store before some people come to pick up one of my baby rabbits I have for sale. I sure hope they have somewhere safe to keep it out of the heat or it will be gone in no time.Oh sorry Danz, bummer, I had hoped you had found a tom.

 

[michelleml]

the weather was nice this morning it was cool and breezy but about 2 this afternoon clouds are gone and the heat is on. No luck on feed at Orscheln today going to try later today or tomorrow at holton feed store

Does anyone have goats we are wanting to get a few to clean up our pasture but the fencing is crazy expensive.