Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

David the coop tour sounds like a good idea. The only problem being that a lot of people don't want other people coming in that have chickens and possibly bringing in disease. What all would that entail? Of course I don't live in the Wichita area, but it seems like an excellent idea to get more people interested in chickens. Nothing is more convincing than a cute little coop and some nice chickens.
So glad you've decided to get chickens again. What kind are you going to order for yourself.
That was so nice of you to offer to help Karen.
Trish I had thought maybe you had an underground spring in that particular pen. You could put some small gravel in that pen to help it drain and keep it dry.
I haven't checked my blue slates yet this morning to see how they are adapting to their new pen. I sure hope they accept it well. Since they are next to the wild turkeys I'm not sure if the boys will try to fight through the fence. I hope not.
I've got to get my vet called and see if I can get my cat in for a shot. I have to go meet Josie in a little bit and it would save me making two trips if I can work it out.

 

[HEChicken]

To add insult to injury today I was carrying an old printer that doesn't work any more from upstairs down & didn't realize it was leaking ink as I walked down the stairs with it, so it dripped all the way down my stairs on the carpet & then got on the tile downstairs too. I was able to wipe up the tile fast & get it mostly off there, but I don't know yet if I'm going to be able to get it out of my carpet. I have to go work on it some more after while I sprayed some stuff on there & left it & worked on it some, but need to do some more on it. I just had to get outside & put up that chicken wire & do chores this afternoon.

Ack - I hope you are able to get the stains out.

Wanted to let everyone know that I'm definitely getting back into chickens. Getting ready to place an order with Meyer Hatchery for my spring flock. When I got their catalog in the mail a couple weeks ago I started getting the same feelings I had a year ago when I first got into this. Just too excited to say no. I found a few other families who are wanting to get into backyard chicken raising as well. We're pooling our order to meet minimums & to save on shipping costs. As of tonight, including myself, I'm ordering birds for 3 other families & still waiting to hear from a 4th before submitting the group's order. I sent them all a link to this forum so hopefully we'll have some additional newbies on the list in the future.

Nice to hear from you and so glad to hear you are going to start over. What breeds are you looking at ordering?

I will happily give you chicks - where are you located? I am putting in a variety of eggs (22 of them) in the incubator this weekend and they should hatch in 21 days. I live in Winfield, KS - I will give you all that hatch - no charge at all... please let me know if you'd like them. That would give you about 3-4 weeks to prepare for chicks.

That is a really sweet offer!

I am really stiff and sore today. I went out to ride my horse yesterday - haven't come off in more than three years. I was cantering large circles and my horse stumbled. He tried to recover from the stumble but couldn't and suddenly there was a realization he was going down. I threw myself clear at the last minute so he didn't fall ON me, and because he was halfway down, I didn't have to fall that far myself. Nevertheless, the ground is HARD after all this time with no rain, so it still didn't feel exactly good. I got up and checked him all over and he seemed to be fine, so I got back on and we worked a little more, but I knew it would kick in later and sure enough, I can feel it today. Aaargghhh. I pulled shoes a couple of weeks ago and I think the ground is so hard its actually a little slick and with no shoes he just couldn't get a good purchase on the ground. Hopefully it won't happen again.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I offered chicks as well and of course she just needs to regroup and rebuild. Makes sense, it is kind of soon. She does have one to nurse back. I think it would be great if when she is ready and if she wants chicks that we all can supply then to be able to help out. This particular community is wonderful , we watch out for one another and even when we dont have much to give we give anyway. It is really hard to find people who care for one another and treat the next person like family. To all of you, thank you for being here for me and raising me up in my time of need and the prayers and wishes are more than I can ask for. You all are an extended family and I know I have said it before but I am serious about putting together a lunch and have anyone who can come. Maybe that would be best done in summer?! I know my house is a disaster and many of us who work all day with our birds have a more,,,,, lived in feel to our homes. No really when the weather is nice I think a potluck lunch somewhere at an equal distance for all to come would be wonderful.
Mommahen came by and took home some hatching eggs from my girls, I am so excited to see how well they hatch. Almost all the eggs that I have cracked to eat have been fertile. I will have bantams in there and not sure if the incubation is the same as for any other chicken??? Also she took my rowdy boy Anubis and 2 chicks. I am getting some of the chicks that hatch from those eggs so it is time to make alittle room,,,
I collected an egg today from my buff rock, it has an area of stained blood and it is smeared up the side of the egg, like there was a cut on the vent and it smeared up the egg.

I cant immediately find any wounds on her, perhaps it was from my buff brahma?? In any case has this happened to anyone?

 

[lizzyGSR]

I could use some advice on a possibly hurt duck. I went out to let my birds out of the run this morning and noticed that one of my ducks seemed to be limping a bit. I caught her (not an easy feat even with a gimp) and checked her over. I didn't see any sign of trauma and no sign of any injury, except that her left leg was a bit warmer than her right. That could have been because she was standing on one leg with the other up for warmth though (I don't know that she was or wasn't but it is a possibility). The one that is possibly injured is one of my khaki campbells, and I can't tell them apart. I did notice that yesterday, one of the khakis stayed sitting underneath the tree they typically hide under when the others came out for a treat. I'm planning on just waiting and watching. Is there anything else I could/should be doing?

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Lizzy I am sorry I dont have an answer for you and I hope someone does soon.

I have to share, (Lizzy, plug your duckies ears) I roasted 2 ducks I got from Josie and oh goodness were they delicious and juicy and just perfect. I do not wish to raise ducks but if anyone sells them for butcher or already processed, please let me know for my family is begging for more.

 

[chicken danz]

I offered chicks as well and of course she just needs to regroup and rebuild. Makes sense, it is kind of soon. She does have one to nurse back. I think it would be great if when she is ready and if she wants chicks that we all can supply then to be able to help out. This particular community is wonderful , we watch out for one another and even when we dont have much to give we give anyway. It is really hard to find people who care for one another and treat the next person like family. To all of you, thank you for being here for me and raising me up in my time of need and the prayers and wishes are more than I can ask for. You all are an extended family and I know I have said it before but I am serious about putting together a lunch and have anyone who can come. Maybe that would be best done in summer?! I know my house is a disaster and many of us who work all day with our birds have a more,,,,, lived in feel to our homes. No really when the weather is nice I think a potluck lunch somewhere at an equal distance for all to come would be wonderful.
Mommahen came by and took home some hatching eggs from my girls, I am so excited to see how well they hatch. Almost all the eggs that I have cracked to eat have been fertile. I will have bantams in there and not sure if the incubation is the same as for any other chicken??? Also she took my rowdy boy Anubis and 2 chicks. I am getting some of the chicks that hatch from those eggs so it is time to make alittle room,,,
I collected an egg today from my buff rock, it has an area of stained blood and it is smeared up the side of the egg, like there was a cut on the vent and it smeared up the egg.

I cant immediately find any wounds on her, perhaps it was from my buff brahma?? In any case has this happened to anyone?

Maidenwolf this is a great group and we are glad you are a part of it. I think you are an awesome young lady who works very hard to provide for her family. I'm hoping we can get together again after Christmas. Things are jsut crazy around here right now. So you saw Mammahen??? Is she okay? She hasn't posted in days and I do worry.
The blood on the egg happens now and then especially when a hen is young. It is never an injury. It just happens now and then. She'll be fine. Do you have a camera? Can you post some pictures of your dog treats on here. I think there might be some people here that could be interested. Juts an idea I got.
Originally Posted by lizzyGSR

Lizzy I am sorry I dont have an answer for you and I hope someone does soon.

I have to share, (Lizzy, plug your duckies ears) I roasted 2 ducks I got from Josie and oh goodness were they delicious and juicy and just perfect. I do not wish to raise ducks but if anyone sells them for butcher or already processed, please let me know for my family is begging for more.

I have wanted to try one of my ducks myself but have never had the nerve to butcher one. Most of the ones I hatch do end up in someones dinner. One of these days I'm just going to keep a couple of them around and try them.
I met Josie this morning and picked up Flo who is a midget white hen. She is looking so cute with her tiny little baby tummy! I got tickled at my blue slate Tom because as soon as he saw me walking by with Flo, he was all puffed up and dancing and calling for her. I took her to the Midget pen and of course all the boys had to come visit and start strutting. But one of the girls was all puffed up and had her wings down following her around the pen. Jealous women out there in the turkey pen! I was going to leave her in the cage for awhile but let her out. I think other then the one jealous hen there are no problems at all.
I got my cat to the vet and got her shot. The vet says she is in amazing shape for a 15 year old and her eyes are really clear. I know that is true cause my 16 year old cat has really cloudy eyes and I really don't know how he sees at all.
I need to get out and get busy. I think I worked too hard yesterday and have no strength left for today.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, I hadn't even thought of an underground spring & we do have them all over the place in this area. There is one that runs down the hill on our road, so it makes sense I could have one under there. I just don't see any other explanation for it getting so wet in there all the time. Thanks for the suggestion of the gravel, I will have to do that next time I clean out the pen. I just cleaned it out today & put a bunch of fresh cattails in there. I had to clean out the back of the truck so I can go get another load Friday before the weather turns. My DH also said he wanted it cleaned out so he can go get the other tires put on the truck, the ones on there are getting really bald. It took me about 3 hours to clean out pens & put new bedding in & put some in the new turkey pen & what was left in the main coop. I also used some of the finer stuff in my chicken nest boxes this time. I usually use pine shavings, but I have the cattails so I might as well put them to use. I know Sunflowerparrot uses them in her nest boxes.

Sharol, Yeah I looked up what to get ink out of carpet with & I tried, but it just didn't all come out. Honestly it just drove another point towards taking the carpet off the stairs & out of the hallway upstairs. I have been wanting to take it out & put wood down in those areas. The carpet is just too hard for me to maintain in that area with pets in here. I have to use the hand vac on the stairs & it hurts my back so bad & I have to beg to get my DH to help me with it. So today after seeing that the ink wasn't coming out he finally I think is convinced to take the carpet out, at least in those areas for now. We have a huge waterbed in our bedroom, so we won't be taking carpet out of that room any time soon. There isn't that much exposed in there though since the bed takes up most of the room. I just want so bad to get that nasty carpet off the stairs & out of the hallway. I have tried & tried to clean it & we have two little dogs who seem to think they like using those areas better than where they're supposed to go potty. You just can't get that out once it gets into the pad, you can clean until you can't do it any more & it still won't all come out. I could sweep off the stairs with a broom so much easier than vacuuming them. I had gotten rid of all of my carpet in my house in Derby & I loved it. I would much rather have wood or tile floors than carpet any day.

I'm pooped out again after unloading that whole load of cattails & all I did this morning. I still have to go out & water everyone after lunch & then it will be feeding time. I've just been exhausted the last few nights from working outside so much, but it will be worth it when the cold gets here.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Danz- After xmas would be super, we can talk chick too ,pm me about that. Yes I talk to mommahen everyday. She stopped by last night and is just fine, They have been out hunting and hunting trying to fill the freezer so I am sure that is keeping her away from here. All is fine though.
Thank you I was worried about her have a cut on her vent. I can take some pics and post. I gave some to mommahen and used the snowflake and xmas tree you sent, If I had more time I could have frosted them. I made chickenn noodle soup biscuits.
The duck was just wonderful, everyone talks about it being so dry or too greasy but I used a recipe my gma gave me that her gma gave her and so on, it was excellent. I am roasting a turkey today it smells so good. Yes Josies little baby tummy is cute.

 

[chicken danz]

Oh Maidenhen please send me your duck recipe. I have looked all kinds of recipes up on line and just ended up confused. I'm so glad to hear Mammahen is okay. Medawinks has been absent a couple weeks as well. I hope all is well there. I think Josie was meeting Hawkeye today also so they will both be out of pocket. I told Josie I wanted to see pictures of her new house. Was the duck skinned or plucked. I just can't imagine trying to pluck a duck.
Trish I've lived a couple places that had underground springs. Years ago there was an Artesian well on the next property that literally gushed 3 foot high out of the ground all year round. There is also a place called Big Springs out in the flint hills that has gobs of springs that come out of the ground. A girlfriend and I found another spring when we were teenagers that bubbled up all the time. The ones that were on my property have just been wet spots that stayed wet. I thought I had one here but it has been dry the past year. I think it must have just gotten too dry for it.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Danz- It is so simple, the ducks were plucked which is key in this recipe. It really isnt hard to pluck really. It is a low and slow recipe. Wash inside and out, pat dry inside and out. Score the skin in a diamond fashion all over not pirecing the meat. Salt inside and out, I use roasted garlic, thyme, basil, and paprika. Palce breast side down in a roasting pan cover bake on 300-325 basting every 30 mins. When you take it out to bast it repierce the skin in places first. Just a slanted insert of the knife will do in 20 - 30 spots. After 2 hours fllip the duck and continue basting and piercing after another 1 1/2 - 2 hours the skinshould start to look crisp and brown, turn the heat up to 350 pierce, bast and cook with out the lid for 25 - 30 mins longer.until skin is very brown and very crisp. Let it rest 5-10 mins and carve. I save back all the duck fat it is delicious. I served it with mashed poataoes and used thepan drippings as gravy, lightly because it is rich. I stored the leftovers with the pan drippings and warmed them up ontop of a bed of mashed potatoes for lunch the next day,, even better than the first time. You can also use the duck fat to cook potatoes ina skillet or add instead of butter. It is heavenly.