Consolidated Kansas

[mommahen10]

Thanks Danz, egg whites seems like a good first line treatment. I will try that now becauase it's killing me. Now that you mention collagen, I wonder if it would work on severely dry skin. My hands feel like sand paper. I have silvadene from when one of the kids got burned but it's old. I've never used colloidal silver, but we do herbs often. Your chicks are sooooo precious. Looks like a great hatch. What's the age difference between your new ones and the lemon ones? That's a lot of chicks.

Lizzy, I wish I had an aloe plant. I should get one next time the store has them out.

medawinks, what would a full thickness burn mean? It's red and whitish in the middle but not blistered. It's very swollen and even mildly warm water hurts it.

That's funny about the pic with all the texting in the background, although she looks so cute in her costume I didn't notice at first. I won't text in a check out line or talk on the phone.

Trish, I wouldn't use anything corrosive on galvanized metal, it will break down the coating. I don't think it makes it harmful to use it even if it does become damaged(?), but the metal wouldn't last as long without that coating. Check to see if it's a corrosive. I think Danz is right, if it's not on there long and you rinse it that should be fine. That's really scary about your son. That's soooo scary. My mom tonight was telling me a similar story about when my brother was little and I didn't remember it. I don't have a Walgreen's nearby. Do you think a plant start would make it through the mail? I really should have one. I had one before we moved out here but I don't know what happened to it. That was a long time ago.

Karen, good luck figuring out what to do with the watering/winter issue, we're still working on that too.

OMGOSH DANZ!!!! That's terrible about the septic tank. I hate that stuff, I'm so sorry. Did you figure it out yet? What are the Christmas lights for? Just for a little light so they know where to go? Looks like you did get it figured out, that's good that it's not stinky water. I agree, you need a schedule for it to be cleaned out or to check it or something. I didn't know they did that. We have a lagoon and it is a pain in the you know what. We've had issues with it from the start.

Hi CountryBoy, I'm couple of hours away from you so I can't answer your questions, well, I don't think I could anwser them anyway. There are several on here from Wichita that I'm sure can give you the information that you are needing.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Lizzy, I wish I had an aloe plant. I should get one next time the store has them out.

I wonder if there's a way to mail an aloe plant. My plant has babies growing up around the base. I'm going to need to re-pot it soon and remove all the babies.

 

[chicken danz]

Karen, as usual you are hilarious!

So since I'm in Wichita, and I'm new to the group i guess I'll start asking questions. Where is the best place to buy pullets, chicks and all natural feed in Wichita, or Kansas period? and whats the best breed of layers suited for Kansas Weather? I have been having a hard time locating 48 in x 50 ft. hardware cloth locally any suggestions...? None at Atwood's derby or andover and or tractor supply

I believe the best place to buy birds is from people right here. You know who you are dealing with and what you are getting. Also you could mail order or go to the Kansas Poultry Swap on facebook. Ideal or Welp hatchery sell chicks year round, plus you can buy smaller amounts. Some of the others don't sell during this time of year. At certain times of years Atwoods, Orchlen's, and TSC carry chicks. If you want layers as just good layers I would recommend RedStars or Leghorns. Try to avoid a dark colored bird due to the Kansas heat.

Thanks Danz, egg whites seems like a good first line treatment. I will try that now becauase it's killing me. Now that you mention collagen, I wonder if it would work on severely dry skin. My hands feel like sand paper. I have silvadene from when one of the kids got burned but it's old. I've never used colloidal silver, but we do herbs often. Your chicks are sooooo precious. Looks like a great hatch. What's the age difference between your new ones and the lemon ones? That's a lot of chicks.
I've thought about putting egg white on my face at night when my DH is working nights to see if it had any effect. I used to use preparation H. I know that sounds gross.

But it was only used for my face. The same products in preparation H are identical to the products in very expensive facial firming creams. I even bought a cheap brand and saved even more. I have no idea why I quit using it cause I used it for years.
Lizzy, I wish I had an aloe plant. I should get one next time the store has them out.
I used to have a ton and they kept multiplying. You can't find enough friends to take them. I finally let them freeze accidentally it was no great loss.

medawinks, what would a full thickness burn mean? It's red and whitish in the middle but not blistered. It's very swollen and even mildly warm water hurts it.
That would probably mean through all layers of skin into the tissue.

That's funny about the pic with all the texting in the background, although she looks so cute in her costume I didn't notice at first. I won't text in a check out line or talk on the phone.

Trish, I wouldn't use anything corrosive on galvanized metal, it will break down the coating. I don't think it makes it harmful to use it even if it does become damaged(?), but the metal wouldn't last as long without that coating. Check to see if it's a corrosive. I think Danz is right, if it's not on there long and you rinse it that should be fine. That's really scary about your son. That's soooo scary. My mom tonight was telling me a similar story about when my brother was little and I didn't remember it. I don't have a Walgreen's nearby. Do you think a plant start would make it through the mail? I really should have one. I had one before we moved out here but I don't know what happened to it. That was a long time ago.
I've had several plants shipped but an Aloe would freeze this time of year.
Karen, good luck figuring out what to do with the watering/winter issue, we're still working on that too.

OMGOSH DANZ!!!! That's terrible about the septic tank. I hate that stuff, I'm so sorry. Did you figure it out yet? What are the Christmas lights for? Just for a little light so they know where to go? Looks like you did get it figured out, that's good that it's not stinky water. I agree, you need a schedule for it to be cleaned out or to check it or something. I didn't know they did that. We have a lagoon and it is a pain in the you know what. We've had issues with it from the start.
I just put up a string of Christmas lights for a low glow. This was the first night for these chickens to be in a new house and they were lost and scared. I just happened to grab a short blue string which was a lot like having a night light up.
Hi CountryBoy, I'm couple of hours away from you so I can't answer your questions, well, I don't think I could anwser them anyway. There are several on here from Wichita that I'm sure can give you the information that you are needing.

I hate getting up feeling like I am rushed. That is what today is feeling like. I have the guy coming to pump the septic tank in an hour. I won't be able to figure out if that is the problem until DH is off tomorrow for sure and can run a snake through the line. We have to rent one cause the one I had was too short and it broke anyway. I would still rather have my septic tank than a lagoon any day. The biggest problem with it is that it was installed a long long time ago and it only has one lateral line. They are much more efficient now with multiple lines. I probably should pay to have them redone, but I talked to a guy that does them and he says I shouldn't worry about it. I also wanted to put in a back up valve but they cost several hundred dollars and I would have to have the basement floor torn up and replace to install it. I sure wish they made them so they were installed outside. You have to do periodic maintenance on them though so they have to be accessible. So that probably isn't going to happen.
So I have at least a two day job in the basement. I am going to have to move and clean a bunch of stuff. I really didn't want to do that right now with all the other things that need done.
I have a hatcher full of ducks I've got to get housing ready for. That means scrounging up another heat lamp, straw, feeders, waterers etc for them. I hope they aren't here long. I am out of chick starter so I need to go to town to get some. The house is a total mess but it will have to wait. Somewhere in there I have to find time to go out and feed and water everyone, work on some more pens, and move some more birds.

The other day I took a chandelier apart. It was kind of deco and had never been used but didn't work right. So I got all these light sockets and stuff from it. I think I am going to use a couple of those for cookie tin heaters as opposed to using stuff I bought. They only take a candelabra size bulb but I could still use a 40 wt bulb in them and have some decent heat output. I have the heated water bowls, but for inside a coop these work well because I can take the waterer out and dump it without having to unplug it. It's a little different than a premade socket so I'll have to do a prototype and see if I can make it work. I just seem to find a use for every bit of junk at some point.

If I remember right I have some more eggs to go in the hatcher today. That sucker is working over time. The lemon cuckoo chicks are maybe 5 days old. They mixed with each other without a hitch but it is pretty crowded in that bin. I am going to have to move some of them soon. I've got a big pile of fluffy little babies here.

 

[chicken danz]

I wonder if there's a way to mail an aloe plant. My plant has babies growing up around the base. I'm going to need to re-pot it soon and remove all the babies.

Lizzy as I mentioned it is pretty cold to mail a plant but if you could pick some time when there is no freezing weather predicted for a couple days you could do so. I've mailed a lot of plants. My method is to moisten newspaper and wrap it around the bare roots of the plant. Just moist, not dripping. Then put the whole thing in a zip lock bag and send it priority mail in a box. Use the lightest weight box you can to save postage. If you are prudent you could probably send several young plants for under one pound. The box and how much paper you use makes a big difference.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

So since I'm in Wichita, and I'm new to the group i guess I'll start asking questions. Where is the best place to buy pullets, chicks and all natural feed in Wichita, or Kansas period? and whats the best breed of layers suited for Kansas Weather? I have been having a hard time locating 48 in x 50 ft. hardware cloth locally any suggestions...? None at Atwood's derby or andover and or tractor supply

I agree with Chicken danz you can get nice healthy birds from people on here. Just mention what you are looking for and see who responds. I dont know about all natural feed, I dont get into all that organic and natural stuff mine eat nutrena and kitchen scraps. Good breeds in my opinion like chickendanz said try not to get dark colors unless you have a way to cool them, also look at the comb size a smaller comb will not frost bite as easy as a large comb. I have never had a problem with frost bite because I keep my coop ventilated. I dont know about the hardware cloth, try a hardware store they carry all kinds or fencing stuffs or a homedepot or lowes. Good luck and welcome to the site people on here are super nice and can help you with anything.

 

[HEChicken]

Well, it doesn't happen often but you guys completely overwhelmed me! I went on an all-day trail ride and then went out for a family dinner and by the time I checked the forum last night there were 7-8 pages of new posts and I was too tired to even begin. And of course by this morning there were even more. It looks like Danz has been having fun with Avatars

Danz, thanks for the tip on egg white for burns - I never would have thought of that but will try to remember for the next time I need to know. Eggs are something we always have in abundance - haha.

Right, right. I would never leave a wet diaper on for sure!! I have a friend who has a little girl who is over 3 years old and still in diapers and she is having a tough time with potty training. I remember both my little sisters learning to start using the potty when they started walking and were definitely potty trained by 2! I think the article mean't that a baby in a super duper absorbent disposable diaper that wicks all the urine away from them may not "know" as well when they have soiled their diaper and they have a harder time telling when they "need to go" because of that making it harder to learn when to go to the potty to begin with. I just like to find reasons to justify to DH why we are going to do something that is a bit more work for him than something that comes out of a box and gets thrown out! I think I already had him convinced when I showed him the price comparisons between cloth and disposable for the first two years!

If you are concerned about being green and carbon footprints, that is another reason you can use to justify yourself to DH. I hate the idea of anything that is "single-use" and "disposable", especially something like a diaper that takes how many bazillion years to break down in the landfill? With cloth, especially if you line dry, there is far less of a carbon footprint, and then when you consider that you can reuse the diapers for multiple babies, it gets even greener.

HEChicken, do you see hawks at your place? The hawks have stopped hanging around here -- maybe they see me out there too often or something. I don't know why they stopped hanging around. They were swooping down and really scoping out the birds on a daily basis but I rarely see them even over the neighbor's yard lately. They nabbed my Red Star but only injured her and she recovered quickly. After that they just didn't come around much anymore. Makes me wonder what exactly happened.

I've been fighting a virus for a couple days now and hoping to have a better day today. My kids are out of school the next two days so that will be fun. I'm so happy at how much they love these birds. My younger sons are in the same grade and at conferences the teacher asked if they would do a presentation on raising and caring for the chickens. They are all kinds of excited about it!

I hope you're feeling better by now. I haven't seen too many hawks around here. Or, I should clarify, I see birds that look like hawks up high, but they are small and don't appear to be a threat to anything but the smaller chicks - and my chicks are in a covered chick pen where they are safe. However a few weeks ago we were buzzed by what I think was a Golden Eagle and that bird was HUGE. Cyrus called a warning and in a split second, the chicken yard was like a ghost town. Even I couldn't see most of them and I knew where they took cover. And they went completely silent too. It was really pretty amazing. The bird did one more pass but seeing no potential victims, it flew away and I haven't seen it since.

Are Cochins good layers or good meaties?

I've always heard that not that good as layers and I don't know about meat, but their strength lies in being good broodies. I have some "Silchins" (silkie/cochin cross) courtesy of Josie, that I got specifically for their broodiness.

Oh, I wanted to tell you that you don't have to order the Ivermectin injectible-- Atwoods has it up front in their locked cabinet! I ended up being in such a big hurry, I forgot to get it on the way out. I walked in and asked for it and they said they had it. They won't let you take it until you get to the register to pay. But by the time I got all the stuff I went in to get, I forgot to ask for the bottle. Sigh. I'll have to try again. Hope you get that rooster sold. I need to list 2 more boys myself. Do they make plastic trays for your hutches? I would have thought the metal would be more ideal... but not if they are going to weigh a ton.

There was a production study done (which I couldn't locate again) but said something like after 3 or 4 days of incubation, they dropped the temps significantly for a certain amount of time and then raised it again. It led them to hatching a very unusual high amount of either boys or girls... or forget which. I wish I could remember where I read that study from. They were able to do it consistently with the first generation, and after that, the test failed if they used birds FROM those incubated eggs. So you had to go back to parentstock that did not result from the incubation to have the same results again. Their theory was that fluxuating temps at a certain point in the embryo's growth could (and in their case, did) effect gender. But dropping the temps too late resulted in a typical 50/50 hatch. So the timing had to be right on.

Oh wow - at the Andover Atwoods it wasn't in a locked cabinet. The cabinet has the ability to be locked but wasn't - I don't know if it was just that day or a regular thing. Anyway, I just went and browsed and when I saw what I wanted, slid the glass door open and grabbed a bottle. No employee ever even came over and asked if I needed help so it didn't seem like a big deal. Then I went around and did the rest of my shopping for feed etc. and then checked out. I didn't realize that wasn't the "standard" process.

That is a really interesting study on the temps in incubation but I wonder why it doesn't work with the next generation. It seems like if it were just a temp thing, it wouldn't matter how the parent stock came into the world.

I forgot to mention that I cleaned out my garden a couple days ago and left the gate open so the birds could go in and scratch around at the stuff that was left. It's awesome. If they keep their interest up I won't have to till it! Okay, so maybe that is an exaggeration, but they are doing a remarkable job of digging in plant matter and loosening the dirt.

Oh yeah, I always did this with my vegie garden in Wichita - they do a great clean up and tilling job! Plus they fertilize for you as a bonus.

I really want to try the Oxine just to see for myself, but in microbiology we learned that bleach too breaks down into nothing, leaving a powdery residue which is a salt. I don't remember all of the chemical stuff, I'd have to go back and look at my notes and I don't care to spend that much time on it. There has to be a reason why the Oxine is considered safer, maybe because it's mixed on the spot? Also, heating bleach makes it more toxic or mixing with other things like ammonia which would include urine. Bleach is made of hypochlorite, does anyone know what Oxine is made of? I've felt comfortable using bleach for years, even on baby things just because of what I learned in micro. Wouldn't it be terrible to find out I poisoned all of my children. UGH! I hope not. Even when I did day care, they told us to add a small amount of bleach to our rinse water for the dishes but that no further rinsing was required. I did rinse again because I don't like the powdery stuff.

I really dislike bleach and hardly ever use it. I get a sore throat almost immediately I inhale the fumes and get headachy shortly after that. It makes it really hard for me to feel that it is "safe" to use. Does anyone else have that problem with bleach and if so, and you've also used Oxine, do you have the same problems with it?

I'm new to BYC. I don't have hens yet but I'm trying to get my special use permit approved in Overland Park. I'll follow your thread!

Good luck with the permit. To answer your other question, I don't know about Overland Park specifically but there are a couple of people from Lawrence and a couple from just over the KS border in MO, so there are people not too awful far from you.

My youngest's peacock costume turned out fine. Not exactly what I wanted, but the shortage of time here is killing me. My oldest has had band every weekend and most evenings. Then 7am rehearsals.... Add soccer and music lessons and my own after school responsibilities.... I hardly know which end is up! Here is a quick snap in her parade. I will get a better one later this evening. Her big sister made her an amazing mask which she chose to not wear at school so that she could surprise people with it tonight.

Oh my, your schedule sounds a lot like mine - my kids have always been involved in both music and sports too and the "mom taxi" is constantly going, getting them to lessons and practices and performances! That peacock costume is gorgeous - I bet she had a great time trick-or-treating.

Don't have time to answer right now. ^&%$*)()_*( I just figured out how the cat was getting wet! I would have preferred he had been in the toilet. I went to the basement to get a string of Christmas lights to put in one of the coops where I moved birds to today. Of all my lousy luck!!!!
My septic tank is backing up into the basement. It overflowed the toilet that is down there which doesn't even have the water turned on to it right now. So now I have to figure out if it is a block or the tank needs pumped!

Oh dear - so sorry - who needs that? I hope they are able to get it pumped out easily and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get it fixed.

Hello Kansas

To answer your question about Wichita supplies....you can try Tractor Supply (West Kellogg at Maize (I think) and East Kellogg at Webb), Atwoods (Derby, Andover or Park City), Orschelns in El Dorado or Newton (I think on that last one). You can also try Lowes, Menards, ACE or Home Depot for the Hardware Cloth. There are a couple of Independent feed stores too - Valley Feed and Seed is on South Meridian, just past the railroad tracks, and Hillside Feed and Seed is on Hillside, one mile south of Kellogg. There is also a store called CW Feed at about 12th & Mosley - that is a really great store and so unexpected because you don't expect a huge farm store practically downtown. For chicks, as Danz mentioned, a good resource is this thread - are you looking for specific breeds or just birds that are good layers?

Well, that whole time Mommahen was having furnace trouble, I never dreamed I'd be joining her. Ugh. Our furnace is only a year old so should NOT be giving us any problems. Hopefully someone on here can offer some advice. What we have is a heat pump and furnace. The guy who installed it (the previous owner) set it so it runs the heat pump until it is a certain temp outside (maybe 30 or 32) and then it switches over to the furnace. Well, it has been so warm here we haven't had to turn any heat on until that cold spell a few nights ago. That evening, I set the thermostat to heat and told it to run. It immediately kicked in and we had heat. Throughout the night, when I was awake, I heard it kick on and off several times. That night I couldn't sleep so got up to read and about 4:30am I heard it click on, heard the gas light (we're on propane), then heard the gas turn off. It did that 3 times. I woke DH up and told him I thought there was something wrong with the furnace, so we went in and took the cover plate off but couldn't find the specific problem. Here is what I think is happening: as long as it is warm enough outside to run the heat pump, it works fine. So there isn't a problem there - the blower works just fine to distribute the air throughout the house and hold the temp where it is set. The problem is when it gets cold enough that it switches over to the furnace. It tries to light the gas, and succeeds but then something is telling it to turn off the gas so a second later it goes off. It is probably something simple but we can't figure out what. Any ideas? If we can't figure it out, I'm going to have to call someone out to look at it and I hate doing that because they charge and arm and a leg just to drive out here....

 

[checoukan]

Ok, I'm really busy today, but wanted to respond to some posts.

For burns, a long time ago, I ran a small cafe. I was cleaning the grill one evening after closing. I was scrubbing away with a grill brick, and the brick flipped, and my hand went sliding across the HOT grill top!! Holy cow you talk about burn, the other lady that was cleaning heard me yelp, and asked me what happened, I told her, I was standing there holding my hand, she grabbed my arm took me to the sink, reached down grabbed the bleach, and poured it over my hand. I was sure I was gong to be blistered everywhere on the palm of my hand. The bleach immediately took the pain and redness away, I was like the burn never happened. I would not have believed it, but I happened to me.

Country boy,

glad you joined us.

danz, with only 1 lateral line, why don't you just dig a Big hole at the end of the lateral line, like with a big excavator, buy some limestone rock lateral size, fill the hole with the rock lay lateral line cloth over rock, run the existing line in the the top of the rock, cover with dirt. The only thing that is going to go into the hole is the extra water from your septic tank, no solids with go out, that way the extra water will have somewhere to go, and will filter and evaporate like it is supposed to do. My husband has been in the septic, waterline, business for almost 35 years.

OK, gotta get birds bathed for Saturday big show. I am so nervous, never thought I would ever be able to show my birds in the Rosecomb National!! Wow, what a super chance to see all the great breeders and their birds. Really almost overwhelmed with it!! I will have to leave at 4:30 Saturday morning. Coop in starts at 7 and the judging starts at 8:30. That should give me an hour and a half to get my cages sprayed down, allow to dry, and spot check the birds I am taking, and get them in the coops. Rosecombs show first since this is the big NATIONAL. Several other clubs are having their state meets and such, don't know what other clubs are doing what. They are not having sale cages at Fayetteville, but will allow people to post for sale signs on cages after those birds are judged.

Plan on going to the state and special meet in Hutchinson on Nov. 17Th. They will have sale cages there, so if someone is looking for something, should be able to find it there.

May not be around much the next few days, as soon as I get home, got to get some time in for hunting, Ivy will be back this weekend, so will try to spend some time with her, and well every body enjoy this fall weather!

 

[Trish44]

Countryboy47, Welcome to BYC & the KS thread! I'm originally from Wichita, grew up there, but moved where I live now 14 years ago. I still shop a lot in Wichita, but maybe some others can respond also. I haven't seen the 48 inch wide hardware cloth anywhere I don't think. I know the last time I bought some at Atwood's they had 24 & 36 inch widths. You might check at Lowe's, sometimes they have other sizes of things, it's higher priced, but you might find it there or check Home Depot or Menards. I don't remember seeing it that width at Orschelyn's either, just up to 36 inch. I agree with the others, there are lots of people on here that hatch chicks, I am not presently hatching any, but I will be in the spring again. There are many breeds that do well in the Kansas heat. I have Barred Rocks & they powered through even this hot summer we had this year without a hitch, the Red Stars or any production red are good layers, leghorns, & either black or red sexlinks. It depends on what you're wanting, if you just want good layers then those I mentioned are the best. If you want colorful chickens too then there are plenty of breeds of those. I will be hatching Speckled Sussex, three different colors of true Ameraucanas that lay blue eggs, Salmon Favorelles, Swedish Flower Hens, & possibly Cream Legbars that also lay blue eggs in the spring along with olive eggers if anyone wants those. As far as feed the best places really to get feed are at the local CO-OPs. I don't know where in Wichita you are but there is a nice one in Mulvane where I bought feed for years when I lived in Derby. They are cheaper then the stores like Atwoods, TSC, & Orchelyn's now that feed has gone up so much. I have also found the feed to be fresher at the CO-OP than the stores & better quality. Some others can weigh in with their opinions, but those are mine. Oh & we do also have a Kansas Farm Swap & Kansas Poultry Swap on FaceBook if you're on there. If you're interested I can post the links again later or you can just do a search on there & find it. Just ask to join & one of us will approve you.

Well I'm off for awhile, we have an appt. this morning & it's going to be another busy day. It should be another nice weather day today, so everyone enjoy it while you can.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Sounds like everyone is super busy today, that is good.. I am going to be too. I am putting finishing touched on my grow out pen, you know there are always changes,, I have 2 beautiful cochins in there right now so hope they dont mind me banging around. My 4 week old pullets are doing super, They dont need a light anymore and powering thru the nights like champs,,oh course they are in my bathroom. But I closed the vernt to that room and it got 62 degrees in there last night and when I peeked in this morning they were all perched on the side of the plastic kennel lid with their beaks under their wings sleeping. They have half their head left to feather and they will be fully feathered. I want to get them outside but dont want to shock them,, should I wait??? Maybe make it cooler in that room for them alittle every day?

 

[lizzyGSR]

Lizzy as I mentioned it is pretty cold to mail a plant but if you could pick some time when there is no freezing weather predicted for a couple days you could do so. I've mailed a lot of plants. My method is to moisten newspaper and wrap it around the bare roots of the plant. Just moist, not dripping. Then put the whole thing in a zip lock bag and send it priority mail in a box. Use the lightest weight box you can to save postage. If you are prudent you could probably send several young plants for under one pound. The box and how much paper you use makes a big difference.

I mailed some aquatic plants that way, as well as one house plant, earlier this week. I wasn't aware it would work for cactus-type plants. For aquatic plants, there are heat packs that you can get to keep the package from freezing. I don't know how much they are or where to buy them, though. I also don't know if it would work for houseplants. Thanks for the info!