Consolidated Kansas

[cherwill]

Our big old poodle should have been named Vaccuum instead of Varick.... He just sucked up the 4 little eggs my Sera had in her little pinch pot on the kitchen...... Good grief!!! No pretty little displays of eggs when he is inside!

Do new pullets lay a few eggs and then stop for a week or more? Our white rock never laid an egg in the nesting boxes, just anywhere in the coop. We found them by the gate, by the water and in the middle of the yard. Now we haven't seen one for over a week.
Our splash silkie started laying though!
She did not crow!! Sera is thrilled! Her eggs are pinkish brown, darker than Blooms very light pink/ white ones. She is also very quiet. No loud goofy egg song :-(. But she has laid one daily.

My Aubri loves to draw and she is planning something similar for her bedroom on Sera's wall with pandas and bamboo. I am attaching a sketch she drew for a friend while waiting for me at school. She would not be happy with me for sharing, but I think it is pretty good. It is something she enjoys. I showed her your mural and it definitely seemed to not only impress her, but also inspire her

I saw chicks today at Orschelens!

I saw some here and had tell myself very sternly to walk away. Just walk away.

 

[sharol]

Step away from the chick bin. Keep hands and feet clear.

I have to keep reminding myself how much work chicks are. I told my DH yesterday that in the spring I want to get 3 or 4 chicks, and that a couple of our older girls aren't looking too good. He was more concerned about the 2 hens that are failing than he was about my having more chickens. He is definitely a keeper.

Sharol

I saw chicks today at Orschelens! Shock for me.... I guess I better get Feather to you soon Danz, so maybe there will be little d'uccles soon!!! I can't wait to see the changes you have made to the bird zoo

 

[chicken danz]

I've been hatching some again. Not intentionally for the most part. Is it ever intentional?? Anyway I ordered some more eggs yesterday but they are being shipped so who knows how that will turn out. Ultimately I just want a few more Lemon cuckoo and lavender girls to make it worthwhile to give them an area of their own. I just don't like to have birds confined to pens.
Another busy day here. I've got to run to a town about an hour away and pick up some pullets. I'm getting a few more redstars from a guy who decided to go with strictly bantams. Since I have a few missing I can use some replacements. They aren't quite old enough to lay but will be soon. I have all these eggs in the incubator as well for the redstar/brahma mixes. With that many hens I should have plenty of eggs in the future that I can let the breeders just be breeders.
I need to complete cleaning out and disinfecting the brooder house. Those people never showed or called yesterday. I had specific plans on where to put what but until they come get their birds I can't make it happen. Grrrr!
Then after I get back today I have someone coming to pick up a rooster. Add 10 birds, substract one bird = downsizing!

Only in m world!!

 

[chicken danz]

For those that were looking, Orschlens has their chain link fence panels on sale starting tomorrow for 25% off.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Well, I thought I would update on the real estate situation about which I posted a day or two ago. I wound up writing an email to the realtor explaining the concerns I had, and at the end requested that we void the contract and each go our separate ways. To her credit, she replied with an email apologizing profusely for her poor communication, and saying that she wouldn't want to hold me to a contract if it doesn't feel right to both of us, so consider us canceled. The relief I felt was instantaneous and last night I slept better than I have for days, since I didn't have to wake up in the middle of the night and toss and turn worrying about the situation. Around the time all this was going on, I had a sudden thought about a realtor whose signs I've seen in my neighborhood a lot, so I decided to call him. I figure he gets enough listings in that area that he probably knows the market there real well. He came out to look at it right away, and called me last night with a game plan. I feel 100% better about this than I ever did about the first realtor. I signed with her based on the strong recommendation of a good friend of mine, and against my "gut". What I have learned from the experience is that a) "one size does NOT fit all, and b) trust my gut.

I'm so glad that you got that resolved and feel better about it! That's great!

Our big old poodle should have been named Vaccuum instead of Varick.... He just sucked up the 4 little eggs my Sera had in her little pinch pot on the kitchen...... Good grief!!! No pretty little displays of eggs when he is inside!
Do new pullets lay a few eggs and then stop for a week or more? Our white rock never laid an egg in the nesting boxes, just anywhere in the coop. We found them by the gate, by the water and in the middle of the yard. Now we haven't seen one for over a week.
Our splash silkie started laying though!
She did not crow!! Sera is thrilled! Her eggs are pinkish brown, darker than Blooms very light pink/ white ones. She is also very quiet. No loud goofy egg song :-(. But she has laid one daily.
I am glad Fern is on the mend!! I wasn't able to read carefully. But had to search to see how she was!
Hawkeye, I love your mural!!!! You definitely have talent!! I am so envious! I want to see more! My Aubri loves to draw and she is planning something similar for her bedroom on Sera's wall with pandas and bamboo. I am attaching a sketch she drew for a friend while waiting for me at school. She would not be happy with me for sharing, but I think it is pretty good. It is something she enjoys. I showed her your mural and it definitely seemed to not only impress her, but also inspire her

Tweety. So glad you are feeling better and the egg drop soup worked!! That is one our family's favorite comfort foods! I must get my act together and copy and paste the smoothie recipes for you! Sera loves them now, in preparation of needing to eat them.
I saw chicks today at Orschelens! Shock for me.... I guess I better get Feather to you soon Danz, so maybe there will be little d'uccles soon!!! I can't wait to see the changes you have made to the bird zoo
I saw an add on Craigslist for Buckeyes. I think we will hope to raise a few of them to add to our crew. I know the buckeyes sound like they will fit in well. We love our Marans who are so quiet. I hope the buckeyes will be too. We couldn't find the blue splash Marans anywhere.
If anyone sees a pullet for sale, please let me know

Great picture of Sera and her silkie! So cute! Glad that you have more laying now! Your other daughter is a really great artist! She should definitely keep up with it. Even if she doesn't go into Fine Arts in college (I didn't-- like I said, didn't want to be a starving artist) she can get her minor in it and be able to take all the fun drawing, painting and sculptor classes like I did and learn so much more! If she's REALLY into the arts, I would definitely suggest being a Graphic Designer-- it has taken me places I would never have guessed. I started out drawing technical designs for Boeing when I first hired on-- I was a Technical Illustrator. I loved it, but like I said, doesn't pay much and I went back to school to get into Electrical instead.

No, she didn't move there until after her husband was out of the military. Not sure what year that was. She would be 60 years old and has her hair a dark reddish brown color. Kind of short and heavy person who works as a church secretary. Not even sure what church. We kind of parted ways when I got married and I think I've only seen her once or twice since then.
I haven't heard anything from the people that were supposed to show up. They were several hours late the last time they were supposed to come. I guess some people just don't realize some of us have a life!!
I haven't gotten a tenth done I intended to today. For some reason I am just dragging.

You are having bad luck with those fancy birds of yours! SO sorry!! Did that guy ever show up? I would be angry too. I've had some bad luck dealing with Craigslist-- people are so irresponsible. I hope you find your friend! Have you tried googling her name and saying church secretary or something of the kind? Anymore, it's easier and easier to find people.

I went to see the BirdMan today and now have a pair of Royal Palm Turkeys - I am so excited for them to get settled in here. So far, they seem to be doing fine and adapting to their new environs. I am enjoying the sounds they make! The jake is a little younger than the hen and sadly, had his beak trimmed. I'm sure he will catch up with her in size in no time.

Congrats on your RP's!!! I know you'll love them!! Who is BirdMan?? Does he live near by? Someday I want another turkey or two myself. If yours breed, maybe I can get one from you in a year or two. Why did they trim his beak??? That is just terrible!! What is the thinking behind that?

Yesterday was crazy! Gone almost all day. Went and bought roofing for a coop and ran lots of errands. Then it was too hot to do anything. I've been outside this morning cutting and working and it's already getting hot on me. I came in for a break which is crazy, because I know this is the coolest part of the day. I hate this heat!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Step away from the chick bin. Keep hands and feet clear.

I have to keep reminding myself how much work chicks are. I told my DH yesterday that in the spring I want to get 3 or 4 chicks, and that a couple of our older girls aren't looking too good. He was more concerned about the 2 hens that are failing than he was about my having more chickens. He is definitely a keeper.

Sharol

OH so hard to pass them by when the chicks are back in the feed stores!! They are little peeping cuties! How old are your hens that are looking kind of bad? How long do most layers live?

I've been hatching some again. Not intentionally for the most part. Is it ever intentional?? Anyway I ordered some more eggs yesterday but they are being shipped so who knows how that will turn out. Ultimately I just want a few more Lemon cuckoo and lavender girls to make it worthwhile to give them an area of their own. I just don't like to have birds confined to pens.
Another busy day here. I've got to run to a town about an hour away and pick up some pullets. I'm getting a few more redstars from a guy who decided to go with strictly bantams. Since I have a few missing I can use some replacements. They aren't quite old enough to lay but will be soon. I have all these eggs in the incubator as well for the redstar/brahma mixes. With that many hens I should have plenty of eggs in the future that I can let the breeders just be breeders.
I need to complete cleaning out and disinfecting the brooder house. Those people never showed or called yesterday. I had specific plans on where to put what but until they come get their birds I can't make it happen. Grrrr!
Then after I get back today I have someone coming to pick up a rooster. Add 10 birds, substract one bird = downsizing!

Only in m world!!

I hope your shipped eggs get here with no problems! I would think the heat might be your biggest worry at this point. We were at 107 degrees yesterday and are expected to be around 104+ today. Bleah. Yeah, your downsizing methods aren't exactly typical... hehe!


How did everyone's birds fare yesterday? I had to hook up my misters again over the birds, it was miserable! 107 is NOT my idea of a nice day.

 

[HEChicken]

Congrats on your RP's!!! I know you'll love them!! Who is BirdMan?? Does he live near by? Someday I want another turkey or two myself. If yours breed, maybe I can get one from you in a year or two. Why did they trim his beak??? That is just terrible!! What is the thinking behind that?

BirdMan is down in Ark City so it was quite a drive for me but not so far for you

He has hundreds of birds of all shapes and sizes - chickens of course, but also ducks and the turkeys. I'm not sure what else. His property is just pen after pen in every direction you look. We also saw what looked like some disused rabbit hutches with good-sized runs attached to them. If I had a way of getting them back here, I might have even asked if he was looking to offload them, because they would make great chick brooders too.

I don't get the sense he is really in it because he loves the birds - its just a business for him. For example, yesterday he loaded up 350 pullets to take to the Mulvane Swap Meet. After selling 230 he returned home. His pullets are mainly BO/RIR X's, I think, so I don't know that he has that much in the way of rare or fancy breeds. I don't think he even normally has turkeys but his daughter got them from someone and he agreed to sell me a Jake. I don't think he was the one to trim the beak - I suspect it was already done by the people his daughter got them from. The rationale behind beak-trimming is to stop them pecking each other, but apart from the fact that they are maimed for life, the main reason I don't approve of the practice is because it is only necessary to do it if birds are kept in crowded conditions. Commercial chickens, both meat and egg breeds, routinely have their beaks trimmed too. Once it is done, it never grows back. Somehow it doesn't seem to affect their ability to eat (obviously or they'd never survive after it was done). I would far rather give them the room they need so they don't peck each other, than trim their beaks so they can be crowded together.

How did everyone's birds fare yesterday? I had to hook up my misters again over the birds, it was miserable! 107 is NOT my idea of a nice day.

It is SO hot out there already. I'm not worried about my main flock because they survived the whole summer without succumbing to the heat so I figure they'll be fine. The ones I'm worried about are my new birds because I have to keep them penned until they know this is home. I have them in a dog pen and it is set up where they will have shade from about 1:30pm on from the hedgerow. It was a good location all summer because the mornings typically are not that hot and by afternoon they're in shade but this morning it is just steamy hot already. I've been out several times to check on them, give them fresh, cold water, and just now put up some flattened cardboard boxes to block the sun streaming in there and make sure they have a place to get out of the sun. Hopefully they'll be okay. My 2 1/2 week old chicks are in the same boat. For their protection I have them in my little chick run so they can't really move to a shadier place either. I have the sun blocked on two sides to make sure it is largely shaded until afternoon too. All of them are panting but don't otherwise look too distressed.

 

[HEChicken]

Oh Hawkeye, I meant to say that I would love to help you out with getting some RP's next year. Hopefully this pair, who are not very old yet, will remain healthy through the winter and be ready to start producing some offspring next Spring!

 

[tweetysvoice]

Our splash silkie started laying though!
She did not crow!! Sera is thrilled! Her eggs are pinkish brown, darker than Blooms very light pink/ white ones. She is also very quiet. No loud goofy egg song :-(. But she has laid one daily.

Thank you very much. I would love some recipies I'll send you my email address if you want to just email me some when you get the time!

I saw chicks today at Orschelens! Shock for me.... I guess I better get Feather to you soon Danz, so maybe there will be little d'uccles soon!!! I can't wait to see the changes you have made to the bird zoo
No, please say it isn't so..

I thought I had until next spring to "not look" - I have to head out there next weekend and pick up some oyster shell, the birds are going thru the egg shells that I saved up like there is no tomorrow. I swear that they eat that more than the pellets. I did accidently get pellets instead of crumbles last time I was out, but they are eating it at least!

Then after I get back today I have someone coming to pick up a rooster. Add 10 birds, substract one bird = downsizing!

Only in m world!!

Would that happen to by my friend that's coming to get the roo? If so, i'm so happy that it worked out for you both!

How did everyone's birds fare yesterday? I had to hook up my misters again over the birds, it was miserable! 107 is NOT my idea of a nice day.

It got a lot hotter than i expected and I was up sick all the night before, so after finally getting to sleep at about 4am, I didn't wake up till noon and my poor birdies were hot. We turned on the misters again and they ALL ran under them. I made sure to get up this morning and turn them on again - i was really hoping to be done with this because I don't like having both a high electric bill as well as a high water bill.

 

[chicken danz]

Tweety, yes that was your friend. She just left. I gave her a couple of sussex chicks to take home because they thought the sussex were really pretty. Good business practice. She said if they grew up and were as pretty as mine she'd send people my way.
I had just an awful afternoon. I drove an hour each way to pick up 10 pullets. The AC quit cooling in my car on the way home. I got home with 4 dead ones and a 5th I am still trying to get to recover. It wasn't a good chicken buy with losses like that!!! I rushed in and butchered the 4 that died. They are young so there isn't much to them but at least they will make good soup stock or something. I do hope this other one recovers. She is sitting on a vent on the floor enjoying the AC. I do hope the others all do okay. You never know they long term effects of the heat.
Pretty heartbreaking.
Hawkeye I do know where my old friend is, I just thought Cherwill might know her since it isn't a huge city. I never did find the photo of that one picture I painted for my sister by the way.