Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Josie I was hoping you would jump in on here. I knew there were some antibiotics you could give a duck but I wasn't sure which ones. I would hate to see someone dose a duck and kill it in the process. I think the duck needs to be checked closer to make sure she doesn't have a cold or something.
I am buying the Orlandsk from Jon Burton from South Carolina. He has some excellent breeds and a great reputation. I almost bought a pair of blue English Orpingtons from him as well but I talked myself out of it. They are gorgeous fluff balls.I actually found him on www.rarebreedauctions.com/ and wrote him and went from there.
There isn't a lot listed right now but there was this weekend. Apparently people gear their auctions toward the weekends. Sometimes there are some rare eggs there too.
That pup of yours is a case. I'm glad my dogs never did that. I would have had to replace them. Once is a mistake. Twice is pushing it. After that they would have been gone. I hope she finally figures out that isn't the thing to do!!!
It is almost chilly outside. That is amazing. We can use this weather for sure. Now if it would rain about 24 inches in the next week we'd be set. I should be out working on the trailer but I really need to do some major cleaning in here instead.

 

[chicken danz]

the measurements on the free dog house are 34" wide, 24" deep, 24" high in the front, 17" high in the back.
Opening is 13" high and 11" wide.

Looks to me like that would work great if you have the room for it. Chickens love their privacy and I can really see them using that. I like the hinged lid too.

Josie I wish I knew more about genetics. I would so create my own blue partridge brahma. I've actually figured out I could probably do it with some of the stock I have around here. It might take me 10 years to get there though. Maybe they'll become popular so I could actually afford eggs to hatch and still get some in my lifetime.
If I knew this weather would hold I would so be right on top of getting these birds sold around here.
It's amazing how egg production has increased in the last few days. Just reducing that heat has helped.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, congrats on the Olandsk Dwarfs, they are very pretty birds. I have my eye on another rare breed, but I'm still debating with myself about it, it's another Swedish breed. Oh & congrats on your little Swedish Flower Hen chicks too, you will have to take pics so we can see what colors you got. I have 11 of them & have quite a few different colors. I wish that little Cream Legbar pullet I have in the crate would hurry up & grow enough so she & the last SF Hen chick could go out to the grow-out pen. It seems like those Cream Legbars grow really slow compared to some other breeds. I had seen that auction site online, but really haven't looked too closely at it. I was eyeing some eggs on eBay though that I still may go back & try for. I had thought I was done hatching, but if I find some for not too outrageous price I may go for it.

Sunflowerparrot, I know you're not really fond of cats, but wanting attention isn't unusual for most cats unless they're just wild feral ones. Those kittens are going to need to be fed twice a day for awhile until they're a bit older & I agree they're too young yet to go off hunting at this age, they're still babies. If you decide later on you want some more mousers I do have these 3 little ones here that aren't yet old enough to leave their momma. All of my cats are pretty good hunters & we just don't have a problem with mice here, but then we have quite a few outside cats too. I know that there are lots & lots of mice here because when I used to try to mow the front 5 acres I would see them running all over when I disturbed nests. When you have grain around like we all do for our birds you're going to have mice & you have the perfect setting where you are to have gobs of them. When your kittens get older they will be out catching them, but you have to let them grow for awhile & mature.

Wow, I was on yesterday & there just wasn't much activity & then came back this morning & there was quite a bit to catch up on. Josie, I think your pup is going to do a really good job when she gets through this little puppy stage, don't give up on her. Mine were holy terrors for awhile if you remember & one day they just got through it & started being awesome LGDs & they're doing a great job now. Even my DH, who I must say was kind of skeptical about the whole thing is very impressed with them now. Lily was the worst behavior wise of the two, although she never did attack birds or bother them at all, but I had that mean rooster to teach them right from the start too & they learned not to from him. If I had not had him I don't know what would have happened, it may have been a different story, but I will never know. The worst I have to put up with now with them is just the carrying things around & bringing me "gifts' almost daily. They do silly stuff like if I don't hide the broom from them that I keep on the front porch they will carry it off out into the yard. I have learned not to leave certain things where they can get them or they will take them. Jasmine love leather gloves & we don't leave them where she is able to get hold of them. But those things I can tolerate if they do their job.

I figured out yesterday that our two Peafowl are both hens, so now we're going to have to find a male to go with them. I told my DH that last night & he was kind of disgusted, he was really hoping for a male. I went out yesterday & got some of the livestock panels out & pulled them up closer to where I will need them, but it was hot yesterday & I got overheated doing it. Those panels are about 12 ft long & it was a struggle to get them over the fence & pull them up here. By the time I did that I was not feeling well at all. I had to sit down out there on my new coop floor & get my breath & I got nauseated. I finally was able to get back to the house & then it took me awhile to feel good enough to do anything. That's why I usually don't do things like that until evening, but I had just wanted to get them out so I could start on something. I sure will be glad to have some cooler weather so I can go outside & do something without dying in the heat. It's not too bad here today, it's supposed to be 93 today but right now it's still only 78.

My DH got home last night about 11:30 from Missouri & had my little buck rabbit with him, boy is he a cutie. He's still a young one & he's so calm & nice, I can still pick him up & not get scratched or kicked. I have really been impressed with the rabbits I have gotten from this lady, they're such good quality, all of the have been pedigreed, which is nice because people can show the babies if they want to. Now I have two bucks I can use for breeding & I still would like one more color yet, but maybe I'll wait until Oct. when they have the show in Wichita & I can pick up one there. Some of the breeders from other states will be there.

Well everybody enjoy this weather, I intend to! I noticed we have one 100 degree day forecast for Weds., but the rest don't look too bad.

 

[michelleml]

Do you mean you will just be using it as a nesting box? How many birds do you have? That looks really nice! I love that the lid is hinged, so much easier to collect eggs and clean out.

yes just a nesting box i only have three hens

 

[JosieChick]

Josie I was hoping you would jump in on here. I knew there were some antibiotics you could give a duck but I wasn't sure which ones. I would hate to see someone dose a duck and kill it in the process. I think the duck needs to be checked closer to make sure she doesn't have a cold or something.
I am buying the Orlandsk from Jon Burton from South Carolina. He has some excellent breeds and a great reputation. I almost bought a pair of blue English Orpingtons from him as well but I talked myself out of it. They are gorgeous fluff balls.I actually found him on www.rarebreedauctions.com/ and wrote him and went from there.
There isn't a lot listed right now but there was this weekend. Apparently people gear their auctions toward the weekends. Sometimes there are some rare eggs there too.
That pup of yours is a case. I'm glad my dogs never did that. I would have had to replace them. Once is a mistake. Twice is pushing it. After that they would have been gone. I hope she finally figures out that isn't the thing to do!!!
It is almost chilly outside. That is amazing. We can use this weather for sure. Now if it would rain about 24 inches in the next week we'd be set. I should be out working on the trailer but I really need to do some major cleaning in here instead.

Yeah, waterfowl are very different as far as meds go safety wise. A lot of things are not bio available or toxic to waterfowl that can safely be used in chickens. Go figure! We use banamine in the ducks/geese for pain because it is much more effective as well. It sounded like an injury to the back or legs maybe?

My buff laced brahmas are from Jon Burton indirectly! He has some really nice birds. I can't look at rarebreedauctions or I just get in trouble!! Ohhh, blue orps, I love my orps. I just got a black english cockerel to put with my black and lavender girls. I can't wait for big fluffy english orp butts next spring!

I am about ready to flog the puppy. It is getting really old, she just carries them around like they are shoes or garbage she found. I have debated getting rid of her but at the same time it would leave Molly alone and we have so much money invested into her. She would be awesome with any kind of hooved creature, she does great with the horses and was really good with the goats. She lays out in the pasture and eats hay with the horses. She is a super hard worker she just can be unattended with chickens and ducks. If I am there she is perfectly well behaved. If a bird gets loose in the wee hours of the morning when she is bored they are in trouble. We don't have money for another puppy right now to replace her either which would leave Molly alone all winter.... If we do get re home her I am going to get a pure pyr from a breeder that has working dogs and a guarantee.

It is almost chilly, I had to go in and change cause I was cold!!

Looks to me like that would work great if you have the room for it. Chickens love their privacy and I can really see them using that. I like the hinged lid too.

Josie I wish I knew more about genetics. I would so create my own blue partridge brahma. I've actually figured out I could probably do it with some of the stock I have around here. It might take me 10 years to get there though. Maybe they'll become popular so I could actually afford eggs to hatch and still get some in my lifetime.
If I knew this weather would hold I would so be right on top of getting these birds sold around here.
It's amazing how egg production has increased in the last few days. Just reducing that heat has helped.

I saw some blue partridge eggs for sale for $25 an egg! That is a high risk hatching egg.

Wow, I was on yesterday & there just wasn't much activity & then came back this morning & there was quite a bit to catch up on. Josie, I think your pup is going to do a really good job when she gets through this little puppy stage, don't give up on her. Mine were holy terrors for awhile if you remember & one day they just got through it & started being awesome LGDs & they're doing a great job now. Even my DH, who I must say was kind of skeptical about the whole thing is very impressed with them now. Lily was the worst behavior wise of the two, although she never did attack birds or bother them at all, but I had that mean rooster to teach them right from the start too & they learned not to from him. If I had not had him I don't know what would have happened, it may have been a different story, but I will never know. The worst I have to put up with now with them is just the carrying things around & bringing me "gifts' almost daily. They do silly stuff like if I don't hide the broom from them that I keep on the front porch they will carry it off out into the yard. I have learned not to leave certain things where they can get them or they will take them. Jasmine love leather gloves & we don't leave them where she is able to get hold of them. But those things I can tolerate if they do their job.

I figured out yesterday that our two Peafowl are both hens, so now we're going to have to find a male to go with them. I told my DH that last night & he was kind of disgusted, he was really hoping for a male. I went out yesterday & got some of the livestock panels out & pulled them up closer to where I will need them, but it was hot yesterday & I got overheated doing it. Those panels are about 12 ft long & it was a struggle to get them over the fence & pull them up here. By the time I did that I was not feeling well at all. I had to sit down out there on my new coop floor & get my breath & I got nauseated. I finally was able to get back to the house & then it took me awhile to feel good enough to do anything. That's why I usually don't do things like that until evening, but I had just wanted to get them out so I could start on something. I sure will be glad to have some cooler weather so I can go outside & do something without dying in the heat. It's not too bad here today, it's supposed to be 93 today but right now it's still only 78.

That is kinda lucky on the peafowl! You might be able to get a nice male next year this time when people are selling them after they molt their tails for pretty cheap. I have seen several year old male peacocks for sale up her for $35-$50 after they lose their tail.

I don't mind all the other naughty things the pup does but damaging and killing birds is just too much for me. I can't stand the stress of worrying about her injuring them if they accidentally get out. I love letting them free range but only do it if I am around to supervise which is not nearly as much as they would like to be out. She is skating on super thin ice right now. The only saving grace is she is a super hard worker and she barks all night. I keep thinking that if they weren't out working I could have a coon attack like a guy on the cochin thread and he lost 35 birds the other night when one climbed in his window. That sounds worse but I don't know if keeping her around is worth it either...

yes just a nesting box i only have three hens

Oh, that will be perfect then! They will love it, nice and cozy and private in there for them to lay their eggs.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Just was catching up on posts and sorry that I didn't reply to this right away.  I can tell you that this is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! I am on the service excellence committee and good friends with our patient advocate. She'd love to hear you tell this story so she can set things right and make sure that this doesn't happen to anyone again. I'm appalled that someone at our hospital would treat you they way that they did! Even though it's not my place, I apologize sincerely for that!  If you want to speak with her, please PM me your "real" name and I"ll be sure to have her give you a call so you can air your grievances to someone that has the authority to do something about it! 

Tweety,
I wanna thank you for all that. There is no need. Id hate for him to lose his job, tbey are hard to come by right now. Karma will bite him in the backsside soon enouvh

 

[chicken danz]

Josie, I might be a crazy bird lady but there is no way I'd pay $25 an egg. That's a pipe dream. I probably should have never found rarebreedsauctions for the sake of my financial future. I actually found it doing a search for the orlandsk. (There is an auction about to end right now for 8 buff laced brahmas on there right now.) I'll hold out for the blue partridge some day. Of course I never thought I would pay $65 to have a bird shipped either! The weather worries me some. I don't want cooked babies for sure.
Trish how did you sex your peachicks? I've read several things. I am just curious. I'd love to know what my little baby is. What color of peafowl did you get anyway?
If you want a male you really should go to the Gardner auction next month. I plan to be there for sure. I would buy this fall because they will be much cheaper than in the spring. Your girls aren't going to breed for another 2-3 years anyway. There were yearlings and 2 year olds that sold dirt cheap last spring. I am hoping to pick up another one of two if I can get one the right colors and price.
I'm also going to try to buy some more young pheasant hens. My red goldens are just gorgeous. They are just now getting their adult colors. I need more Lady Amhurst girls too. I only have pairs so far and that is going to create a problem if I don't get some more ladies for them. I really don't want to sell the males because they are total eye candy.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, I looked on http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/. They had photos of young peafowl to tell sexes & I also found another forum page that I was able to see by the markings that mine are female. Mine are both India Blue & the males & females have distinctly different markings. So how dirt cheap are you talking about as far as price for a male peacock? I have found someone up by Newton that has some they are selling & she is asking $50 each. Is that a good price for adults or should I wait? I got mine as chicks so I don't really know what a good price is for an adult male. Gardner is a 3 hour drive one way for me, just pretty far for me to make in a day really for one bird. We have a couple of swap meets close by to me in Arkansas City & Mulvane that I may have to try to get to & also there is a brand new one that is supposed to start up here in Winfield in Sept. so there will be possible opportunities coming up if I know what price point to look for. It will be kind of nice if this swap makes it here in Winfield so I don't have to go anywhere to swap meets. They have just started having them in Arkansas City recently too, which is only 13 miles away for me.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish I saw yearling and 2 year old India blues go for as little as $25 at Gardner. Now when you get into the fancier colors the price goes way up. I paid $120 for my pair of white eyed. Yes you can tell by the chest color on India blues. Too bad the rest aren't that easy. Like this solid white sweetie I have. Supposedly you can tell from the feet too but that's a little trickier.
Actually if you made a day of it at Gardner it wouldn't be your last time. That is an awesome auction to go to. There are a lot of rabbits there too, but as far as animals it's limited to birds and rabbits. They do sell some equipment as well. I bought a roll of 2 x3 welded wire at the last one for half of what it is in the store. Of course you can't be sure what all is going to sell there.
I'll check out that website to see what I can find out. I have read a lot but haven't found any real definitive information for when they are really young.
My India Blue hen is sitting on at least 3 eggs by the way. I think maybe they have a week at most before they hatch....if they do. I'm letting her do the work. I really have to get out there and try to get some more wire up around the bottom of that pen or the babies will run out of there. But I'm trying to focus on cleaning in here as much as I can stand right now so I'll be ready for company this weekend. So anyway there's another possible option for you.
Why on earth did I raise such neat freak kids??????

 

[HEChicken]

All of my birds love catching and eating mice. But I go through bucket after bucket of mouse bait and we never seem to get them under control any more. I think the drought has driven them here more because there is food and water. I have can sitting all over with bait in them and a hole cut in the lid so the chickens and dogs don't eat it. I'm starting to believe they've developed an intolerance to it cause it doesn't seem to work at all.
I know a guy that raises top quality buckeyes. If you have an incubator I can send you some contact information and you can ask him about getting eggs. He lives in Missouri.

I had a red sexlink who was an awesome mouser. I used to get mice that nested under our Dogloo so every few days, I'd call her over and ask if she was ready. She'd stick her head down so she'd be ready to see the mice as soon as I lifted it, I'd count down "3-2-1" and on "1", lift the Dogloo. She'd dash under and more often than not, come out with a mouse in her beak. Then she'd thunk it on the ground a couple of times, tilt her head back, and down the hatch it went. I kept hoping the others would learn from her example but although they'd happily steal her prize and eat it, it didn't occur to any of them to catch their own. She is gone now and the rest of the flock seems quite happy to have "pets".

yesterday after working on the pool. I noticed Dh was on hands in knees in the grass so i ran over thinking maybe he had a seizure but when i asked if he was okay he said yes I'm trying to catch grasshoppers for the chickens

That is awesome!!! He is a keeper for sure

I am proud to say I am buying a trio and a pair of orlandsk dwarfs. I don't think I'm even going to mention to DH what I am paying for them. He would just die!!!! There is no way in my wildest dreams I ever thought I would pay that much for a little chick! These will be 6-8 weeks old. I'm not sure how on earth I will house them initially. I want to be sure they are totally protected against everything. I sure hope this turns out to be a good business deal. I would love to be selling some of these beauties next spring.

Congratulations. I need to go and Google Image them so I know what they look like.

Mice! Ugh. I have one barn cat and she is pretty good about rodent control. I have heard from one of my friends that her light brahma roos are serious mousers too. I have one buckeye chick that was an accident from a mixed batch of eggs I bought. It is the friendliest little thing, I think you will really like them. I am hoping mine is a pullet but it is too little to tell at this stage in the game.

I can't believe you got one by accident! They've been on my wish list for about three years and it never seems to work out to get them. The times I've had broodies, it has been times of the year I didn't want to risk shipped eggs for heat and the rest of the time we seem to have something or another going on so I haven't wanted to run the incubator.

Well if the pup ever grows up we will be all set right?? I go out the door this morning and there is a duck on the front lawn. I thought it was dead but it lifted its head. Don't know what is worse sometimes, injured bird or dead bird. Molly was laying about 10 feet away from it and when the puppy came running up she chased her back into the backyard so I think Molly has made the connection that the puppy chewing on my birds is bad news and that I become irrational in the presence of injured fowl. It had some minor abrasions but I think Molly took it before the pup had too much time to cause serious damage. I could kill that puppy some days. So I brought it in and it is resting in the bathroom.

I'm so sorry she's still giving you fits. I certainly know that feeling of never knowing what you're going to find and it really cuts into the enjoyment of owning the animal. For us with Tory it was the roaming. Never knowing if she'd be there when we turned around, and stressing over upsetting our brand new neighbors. Now that she is respecting the invisible fence I am relaxed for the first time since we've had her. I also don't trust her around the birds but the invisible fence also prevents her getting near enough to them to be much danger so I'm even feeling better about that.

I figured out yesterday that our two Peafowl are both hens, so now we're going to have to find a male to go with them.

Isn't that always the way? When we want hens we get roos and when we want males we get females.