Consolidated Kansas

[checoukan]

mommahen10. painting the wood will be good, but I use scrape's of linoluem to put down. It is so nice and easy to wipe up spilled water, and shaving just slideout. You can disinfect the linoluem too, you cannot disinfect wood.

 

[mommahen10]

Good idea checoukan. I have some linoleum scraps.

My dad is ***DELETED NAME, because this is a public forum.***

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, sorry about the disappointment with your new boy - I hope you are able to make him work anyway.

What a gorgeous day today! After my post earlier, lamenting how little I had accomplished, I popped in to say hello to DH and he asked what I was up to. I told him what I told you guys, about not getting enough done and told him I was headed out to check on painting supplies and you know what he said? "Its too nice a day to be painting. You need to go get your Kindle and go and sit with your birds and enjoy the day". So I did. Without guilt. Because its what he wanted me to be doing

(And with an enabler like THAT is it any wonder I don't accomplish enough?)

My broody game hen is sitting solidly on her 3 Aloha eggs. Every morning when I go down there she is slamming herself against the wire cordoning off the broody area, frantic to get out. Whoever said chickens have no sphincter control never saw a broody hen. She doesn't want to poop in her broody area so by morning is desperate to get away from it so she can empty out and then refill. She then wants to go to the preening area and do a thorough preening job before returning to her broody duties. I hope she knows what she's doing. This morning she was gone for a good long while and I was concerned enough about the eggs getting cold that I let another hen (who wanted to lay an egg) in to sit on the nest and keep the eggs warm until broody hen was ready to return. Once she is back in, she is happy to stay there until next morning so I guess it is really her only time off the nest for 24 hours & its no wonder she needs to take a goodly break.

My oldest loves her face paints..... This is what she played with just for fun last night. Just makes me feel OLD!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Amazing paint job, and what a beautiful girl!

Well I just got back awhile ago & sat down to eat. I had just left my hairdresser's house when my DH sent me a text & wanted me to go look for something for him, so I ended up at Target in Derby looking for his stuff & of course had to look around while I was there, I don't get there very much. Then I went to Lowe's & looked at wood for a shelf I need, but decided to wait until I measure again & make sure I get the right thing. While I was there though I went out to the garden center, somewhere I shouldn't go, but did anyway, & found several bushes on clearance & some plants too. I just couldn't pass them up they were so cheap. They always have some good bargains when it's the end of the season, so if anybody needs bushes now would be the time to go. I lost several bushes this summer to the darned terrible heat & drought, I just couldn't keep every thing alive, so I was thrilled to find a couple of really nice big butterfly bushes & a snowball bush for $5 each, that was less than a third of normal price. Then I found several perennial flowers I wanted too. I ended up spending about $30, but got about $80 or more worth of plants & bushes, so it was a good deal. Then after that I went to Wal Mart & did my grocery shopping & ended up finding a few more plants on clearance there, so I'll be able to replace some things that totally died this summer. I will have to start over in some places because things just didn't make it this year. I just gave up at one point because I would water & it wouldn't even look like I had. I was surprised that some things after a few rains have come back up though, pretty amazing.

Wow, Hawkeye you have been busy, I had been wondering about you also. Things are getting more & more crazy here too the closer to November it gets. From the first of November until the end of the year it's going to be really busy for me too. I'm still trying to finish up putting up the tarps & plastic I need to get up on the pens outside. I got two more smaller tarps today & another roll of plastic so hopefully I can finish the pens tomorrow. I at least had gotten the major ones up before that cold snap & before we went out of town, so that helped, but there are still some backs of pens I need to finish up. I don't think I want to completely close the fronts & all in so there won't be condensation in there & they can still see out. I think if the back & sides are covered I would think that would give them enough shelter, what do you all think? I didn't close in the front of my pen the Ameraucanas are in last year & they did fine, of course we had a mild winter too. If we happened to have a bad winter it might not be enough. I do want them to be able to see out though, I think they would go stir-crazy in there if they couldn't. the pens all except the hoop house have a dog house in them so the birds have that to get in too if they need to. My DH was asking me if I was going to put a shelter in there for the guineas & peafowl, but I told him no, that the top is covered all the way the whole length of the top & down the sides with a huge tarp & I'm putting plastic over the rest of the way down the sides & will have it on the back too. I don't plan to close in the front of their pen either, it faces west, but they are in a very sheltered spot back under the trees, so I don't think they even get too much wind in there.

Just wanted to say "hello" to everyone.Hope everything is going great for everyone and the chicken math hasn't hurt anyone too bad.LOL I'll post more after I get caught up some.

Nice to see you on here! You'll have to check in more often!

Hi BamaProud!

Trish, congrats on getting the plants at such a good deal. I haven't figured out what to do out here yet. I'd like to plant some fruit trees but I have too many things on the to-do list yet so I think that will have to wait until next year. It sounds like you are getting all set for the winter.

I went to get everyone sorted out this morning and while letting broody hen out for her morning reprieve, I heard a squeaky little growl from the brooder containing 1-month-old chicks. I thought it strange but was too busy to see who did it. Then I heard it again, and again and again. Yup - a 1-month-old silchin is crowing! I even saw who did it. Josie it was the smaller blue. The larger blue - is that one older than the rest by chance? So far it is not showing any signs of being a boy but is so much bigger than the others, so I am hoping it is just older and that's why it is so much bigger. Anyway, I've been suspecting the small blue of being a boy for a few days and he confirmed it this morning. OMG what a tiny little sound - I didn't even recognize it as a crow at first. DS laughed really hard when I told him and suggested I try to get a video of it. It will probably have to wait until tomorrow morning because now they're out in the chick pen and he probably won't do it all day long.

Hilarious! You MUST get a video of that! Put it on YouTube and send us the link!

HEChicken --that is cute, I love first crows they are great. And then the mystery of who done it..

But you already figured that one out.

Just thought I would post some pics of our chicken tractor

Great job!!

*****please advise*****
Last night when turning eggs I found one to be seeping a very sticky substance, it didn't stink, I even put it to my nose to smell. Upon candling, it looked like the liquid was extremely liquid, not thick at all, and the air cell was kinda moving however I moved the egg. I saw no more veining. I discarded the egg but didn't go really look at it, it still bothers me to see them half developed and dead. This morning, when I went to turn the eggs one was stuck down a little when I turned it. I didn't force it or anything, I just turned it as usual but I could feel it was stuck. Well, a piece of the shell stuck to the wire, just bigger than I pencil eraser perhaps. My first thought was that the egg was bad, but I had to candle it first to ease my mind about throwing it out. It's not bad, there is a chick in there and it's moving around, there is more fluid than I would expect for day 16 but I'm just learning and I don't have anything to compare it to. What do I do with this little baby? Will it survive with a piece of the shell removed, is there anything I can do to help? I plan to lock down Thursday evening.

Looks like you got it all sorted out. I was going to say I use a piece of scotch tape that I cut to fit. I've used wax, too. (for a crack, not a hole!)

I am so far behind. I can't even begin to remember everything I've read.
Bamaproud good to see you back. How are things? You did know that Ivy is moving didn't you? I forgot to mention that in the PM.

I got my monster cage. It was more of a chore getting the pickup backed up to the porch to get it loaded than anything. Tiny little yard with a large curb and trees and a full driveway. I am so glad I don't live crowded up like that. Her front room was tiny and only had parrot cages, a huge aquarium and no furniture. I at least wouldn't take it that far! No parrots....just cages. She said she was done with them and they took too much time. Judging from her aquarium I'd say it was suffering from the same. The cage is huge. I need to give it a major cleaning once we get it off the truck. I wish my enclosed deck was done as I had hoped so I could put it out there and not take away from living space. I might see if I could hire someone to frame it in for me cause I don't think DH is ever going to do it. If they did the basic framing I could finish it. I just can't handle the big heavy stuff.
The owl that had gotten in my garage was back last night but this time he was walking on the ground inside where I ran the strands of bias tape. I hate to spend time and money closing that in but I guess if he is going to make it in there I will have to. If I only had my stuff done and ready as planned I wouldn't have to worry about it. I haven't even considered working on the chicken trailer again because I have so many other things I had to get done.
I never seem to even begin to get caught up. I got my roo delivered and they seemed happy with him. He is such a gentle boy I don't see how they could be unhappy. They have been loosing birds to hawks recently. When you have super expensive stock that has to really hurt.
I am feeling really irritable this morning. I think it is because DH is home and I can't just chill and start out my day relaxing.

Need a picture of this monster cage! I hope it works out perfectly for you!

Wishing I didnt have a very old computer and dial up. I could then actually reply to what people say; I want a pig. I do have an interesting story to tell here. I usually let a hen hatch some eggs for me every year. Replaces what the fox or coons get and gives me some new fresh girls that I dont have to raise in a box. So have these two white rocks that like to set. Both going on 8 years. One hatched ok the second one wanted to set and I gave her 8 marked eggs. Between fighting with others who wanted to lay in her nest she broke two of the 8. Cleaned the eggs and she sat kind of ok. She would get off to eat and be off the nest for hours. One day on the coldest day we have had so far, she slept on the roost. At this point I am sure the eggs are not going to hatch. I know she did not get on that nest that night, because it was after dark when I shut them in. Next day sitting on the nest. Today 3 of 6 eggs hatched. Man these little baby chicks are spartins! I know she let those eggs get cold at least 3 times and one over night. Any one else ever had this happen? Between hatchery chicks and now these chicks I have more chicks than adults. Not sure what I am going to do.

Yeah, I had a silkie hen last winter that kept kicking out eggs. I marked one in particular, because it kept getting kicked out over and over. I think it went several hours in the cold without heat and it ended up hatching! Amazing!! I didn't think it would make it because I found it twice and it felt cold to the touch.

I was wondering where you were! You are usually on here fairly often. Sorry about your boy, hope he is still useful. Did you see a pic before he was shipped?
They are little pistols those small blue cockerels! They shouldn't be too far apart in age but it was a staggered hatch so it could be about a week older? It might just depend on who mom and dad were too.
LGD means Livestock Guardian Dog. I didn't feel very good yesterday so I didn't get Lucie over for her staples but the new antibiotics seem to be helping and the wound isn't oozing as badly today. If you send a bird to K State for necropsy (or any animal for that matter) first they do gross necropsy where they just open the bird up and look for something totally obvious that could have caused death. For example a bowel obstruction would be something they could find on gross necropsy. If they don't find anything they can order more tests based on what is looking suspicious or on what the birds symptoms were before death. They can culture tissue to see if something bacterial grows and recommend medication for any other sick birds in the flock or in my case with my last death even birds that were asymptomatic since the first symptom of fowl cholera is usually sudden death. They are fine one minute and gone the next and it is contagious so everyone got treated to prevent losing anymore really expensive birds.
I have four brooders and DH build a bar that goes across the top so each brooder has its own heat lamp and bulb. I just bought heat lamps and red bulbs at the feed store. There are two outlets on each end of the brooder and each outlet has its own rheostat to turn the lamp up and down depending on the temp in the garage and age of the chicks in each brooder.


Well I am wiped today and was yesterday too. My little jelly bean is wearing me out and I have to go to work tomorrow. I am going to haul Lucie up with me so I can care for her so that is going to be a chore getting her in and out of the jeep. I found a used crib (not that old and barely used) that I love so I am going to message them about that. We are going to try to buy some of the big furniture used to it doesn't sink us as much. Plus there are lots of nice things out there that are barely used and just sitting in peoples garages. I have read several do and don't lists on buying baby furniture and what to look for so I think we should be in good shape. I need to get outside and take care of critters, don't know why I feel so drained today already.

No, I didn't see a picture, I'll have to tell you what happened. It was a trade sort of thing, and this is a very reputable breeder. I'm thinking she sent me a non-bearded on accident..? OR.... she thought I meant non-bearded. Sigh. Well, either way, he's got great genes, just lacking a BEARD. sheesh!! That's kind of a big deal. I figured up about 3 generations (I hope not more!) to get the beard back by breeding back into my best bearded birds. That means that the wattles will have to switch over to being linked to bearded and non-existent vs the non-bearded which is genetically linked to the larger wattles and more red color in the combs. Sigh. I actually haven't told the breeder yet, I don't know how to go about it without sounding really ungrateful and mean. I don't want to cause any trouble and I know she didn't do it on purpose. Maybe luck will be on my side and the beard will show back up in offspring in the 2nd generation....

I know people out-cross ALL the time, so it can be done. I'm not saying it can't. Just was sort of hoping to dive right in without having to worry about genetic linked traits that will force me to cull even harder. I may have tons of cuties with no beards next year up for grabs! LOL I'm guessing the first hatch will be 50% with (sparse beards) and without. Take the sparse and breed back to my best beards, and then see what happens... But in the mean time, the foot feathering, the size, the wings... all of that is what I'm wanting, and he has those in spades.




We had a shed built on our property this morning. It literally took the guys like a little over 4 hours!! Insane!! It's just a storage shed, and it's all built of 2 X 4 with the T1-11 siding and a shingle roof. I like it so much, I want to save up and have them back out and build me a silkie coop! It cost half of what my big coop cost me out there!

 

[lizzyGSR]

I don't remember how much the shipping was at this point. I ordered bulbs last year. I can empathize with Mikesfarmer. We have very few choices for Internet where we are and reception is always a problem. There are days I can't get a signal. We had Satellite once and it was the worst of the worse.
Wow! a 30 amp breaker is huge. I have no idea what his welder is running but that is an awful lot. You would be safer with a smaller breaker to prevent overheating. I hope you have a large gauge power line to the building. It's so hard to see what is going on without looking at the wire etc. I'm not an expert.

I completely understand what you mean about the internet. I work from home and so am constantly on the internet/computer. However, I live out in the middle of nowhere, and satellite internet is the ONLY high-speed internet connection available out here. When we first moved out here, I looked into EVERY possible alternative I could think of, and everything fell through. I love out house and its location, but being in the middle of nowhere definitely has its disadvantages.

While we're talking about electric stuff here, I've been trying to come up with a way to put a light on a timer in my coop. The problem is that we don't want to have to run an extension cord across the yard if we don't have to... Something that is also somewhat inexpensive would be good as well... The coop isn't very big 4'x4'x8', so we wouldn't need much in the way of wattage for a light bulb, but I'd prefer to have something that I didn't have to go out and manually turn on/off. Any ideas???

We had a shed built on our property this morning. It literally took the guys like a little over 4 hours!! Insane!! It's just a storage shed, and it's all built of 2 X 4 with the T1-11 siding and a shingle roof. I like it so much, I want to save up and have them back out and build me a silkie coop! It cost half of what my big coop cost me out there!

The whole shed was built, start to finish, in 4 hours?!?! Wow!! I'm impressed! We've been working on building a barn for weeks now (only one day a week, due to my husband's work schedule and out carpenter's work schedule). This shed will house (2) 12'x13' stalls for the horses, one tack room (4'Wx13'L), and two vehicles. Here's a picture of progress, as of lunch time today:

 

[mommahen10]

That's so awesome on the shed Hawkeye! I know Lizzy! Isn't it amazing? I've never had anything built that fast around here. It looks like you're getting down to business with your shed too. It'll be finished before you know it.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

Maidenwolf, your tractor is coming along nicely too. I'm curious why so many of the tractors are A-Frame. Is there a specific reason for that?

I made a tractor, wish I'd made an A-frame. Mine is too heavy, I have 4 wheels on it now and it's still not easy to move around. Part of the weight problem is we didn't have access to plastic or metal roof material local and we had left over shingles so I used plywood, paper and "free" shingles, by that point I was ready to have it done and get the chicks in there....big mistake! I may take the roof off and replace it with metal or plastic roof. I should have realized the shingles would add a so much weight, they were heavy when I was carrying them to put them on. The up side was 60+ mph winds didn't bother it. It's a good place to put the chicks from the brooder let them grow, then move them in with the big chickens. I hope I have grandchildren some day and they enjoy the tractor.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye who built the shed? Was it tuff shed? They are the only ones right off hand I know that does that but I am sure there are others.
Well I really did it now. I think I killed my pig!!! I got DH to come out and help hold him while I castrated him. Didn't go as smoothly as I thought but I thought it was fine. I went out later and saw he was bleeding. The dumb pig managed to rip his whole hind end open and his guts were coming out. I tried to clamp it together so I could super glue it but he just ripped the clamps out. I tried to put gauze on and vet wrap to stop the bleeding and he tore that off.
So I gave him a shot of medacam to try to calm him down and reduce the pain. I told DH I didn't think there was anything else we could do because even if it was stitched he is so crazy he would rip it out. But he called the vet and is on his way with the pig. I have already done my stint at crying. I have castrated tons of pigs in the past and never had a dang problem at all. I told DH I didn't want to spend $100 for a vet bill for a $20 pig that is mean as spit but he took him anyway. I'm afraid the vet will just euthanize it anyway.
I feel like a murderer. I never hurt anything on purpose and I dang sure don't want to kill something. I NEVER puke but I was so close and covered in sweat! Why the heck didn't I just buy an older pig that was already cut? Sometimes I feel like a total idiot.. .and now I feel like a total failure on top of it.
I just wanted to raise some food and ended up murdering a pig.

 

[checoukan]

DANZ!!!! you did not murder that pig!! I can't figure out why that thing was so mean to begin with. Almost sounded like a wild pig someone caught!! Why would he attack himself like that? We helped dad years ago castrate pigs. I don't ever remember them tearing themselves up like that!!
They would shake theirs butts cause the iodine burnt Im sure, and might have an extra twist in their walk for a couple of days, but tear themselves up, never seen that!!!

 

[mommahen10]

Holy Cow Danz!!!! I'm sooooo sorry. That pig isn't only mean but he's stupid. He just hurt himself. You didn't murder the pig, get that out of your mind right now. I know and I'm sure everyone else does too that you would never do something to hurt an animal. This pig had a chance to have your love and care and he's being very stubborn. I hope he makes it through this. That's a crazy pig. I feel bad for him, but I feel worse for what he's put you through. Take some time to breathe, it would make me feel sick too because it's gross and because it's just even more sick that he did this, it didn't have to be that bad at all. That's just like a horror movie. You didn't do this, the pig did. You know your intent, we all do. We're all here for you. *HUGS*

 

[mommahen10]

That crossed my mind too checoukan, maybe it is just a wild pig.