Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

We now have Hughesnet through Dish Network. We have a 10 gb cap (to use from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m.) from 2 to 8 there is supposedly another 10 gb cap, but we never get there. We decided against Verizon because (even though it was faster), the cap was much lower (either 2 gb or 5 gb depending on your plan) AND our Verizon signal isn't all that good where we live. Once you reach the cap, it slows you back to dial-up speed. This is to prevent file sharers from using all the band width. It is pretty common to satellite and cell providers. If you stream any video (tv shows and the like) it eats it up in a hurry.

So far it is working OK. The speed in the evenings isn't very good, but it is better than the wireless signal we used to have.

So essentially, Verizon is not giving you unlimited internet if they’re shutting you off because you’re using too much. I’m glad they answered your question too. We are still sitting with a bunch of out of contract phones with nowhere else to take our business though. Even though I’m not happy with them I’m not sure who would be better either.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

mammahen - you talking about getting chicks used to the bacteria gradually - I saw someone telling how they were doing just that somewhere. I will find it and post it.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

Danz - The brewers yeast you are using must be very different than the brewers yeast I know about. I assume the kind you got is what is put into the makings of a batch of whatever you are brewing. The brewers yeast I know about is what is leftover from the batch of whatever was brewed. It is high in niacin and protein and can be bought at some feed mills for under a dollar a pound and can be free from a brewery if you can manage to haul all of it off. Makes very good animal feed, but I have no idea if it still is active to use for fermenting feed. I would guess not, but it is interesting.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hey all! I know I haven't jumped on lately, but my health hasn't changed and I'm still back and forth between home and the hospital.

Sad day here in my coop. Goldie, the Golden Laced Orp was found dead this afternoon. I checked her out to see if I could figure out what happened to her (she was just laying in the middle of run) and there were thousands of mites covering her. They were red and clumped in bunches underneath the feathers. I caught all of the other birds and checked them, but I couldn't see any mites on them, although I know they are probably there if Goldie had them, then so do the other birds. Do you think they would have gathered on her more because she was dead, or could they have caused her death? I never noticed anything wrong with her before, she was just as chickeny as all the others are right now.

I guess this weekend I'm going to have to completely clean out the whole run and dust everything with sven. Cry... my first chicken loss.

I'm sorry about your health and Goldie. There was a conversation on my silkie not too long ago about how some birds are more susceptible to mites than others. Falls in line with how mosquitos like some people more than others. Anyway, the conversation was such that they were talking about how some birds would have massive amounts of mites and the others would not. Of course, you want to treat everyone equally regardless at that point. But it was interesting as to the cause of why that particular bird might be more desirable to the mites. They had some ideas as to why, but I don't even remember them now. Make sure when you are using the Sevin Dust that you ruffle the feathers up and get the powder down onto the skin. Dust under each wing and ruffle. Then pull the tail up and dust all around the rear and the vent and ruffle.

Oh,I am such a dumb bunny!!! Its not Vinita, but PRYOR, OK!!! i don't know why I said the other town. Like I said bantam only, and 500 birds excepted.

hawkeye, yes I went last year and did real well. I believe a bantam black cochin won the show thou, man, made me almost want to get back into cochins. NOT!!! I think Im going to do some rosie downsizing. Think Im going to sell the silver campine pair, 3 silver ameaucana hens, quad of FCBM's. 1 lavendar ameracana cock, 2 bantam partridge wyandotte cockerels, silver spangled hamberg cockerel, 5 or 6 silky cockerels, 3, or 4 silky pullets. That should open up some pens, and make moving easier. They have not worked on the barn for a day and a half. I was getting unhappy, and they showed up this after noon. I hope they get busy, I would like to start putting things together.

Okay-- I had read about the Pryor show!! That is in my Poultry Press.... isn't it in March???? Seems like that should be a ways off but realize that is coming up much faster than I think. I better check the closing date and see if we can make it to that one. That one was already on my radar of shows "to go to" because it was going to be fairly close. I think it was a 2 Day show, right? Double show??? Guess I better just pull the newspaper out and LOOK at it.

I just don't know what I have to show right now since I'm wanting to set up breeder pens. BUT... I could go ahead and AI everyone for the time being so no one gets messed up.

Thanks Cheoukan! I didn't know that about the red mites only coming out at night. Might explain why I didn't see them on any of the other birds.

They are trying to do something. I have a test on Monday to see if a pain pump would work. This would be planted under my skin to deliver pain medication right to my stomach and spinal column 24/7. I am truly hoping this will work because it's the stomach pain that's keeping me from working the most.

Oh wow, that pain pump sounds like serious business. Is there a reason for the pain-- they can't fix the cause of it? They just are going to cut out the pain/symptom? I don't remember what you had now, just know that you've had the botox injections and lots of appts to check it out. I sure hope something works for you! This can't be any fun at all.

Hawkeye, I’m not going to do anything hastily with how I’m feeding my chicks. I just know that the feed is coming right threw them like it’s all trash anyway so I was looking for something that was better absorbed. I’ll definitely wait to hear Josie’s input too. There is almost no chance of the brooders being contaminated with adult poo though. Yeah, that would be my luck the one time I bought something expensive would be the time it would hit. I know that I compare everything to people but that’s the only thing that I have to compare to. I think about my little one getting sick just recently and it was really his first time getting sick while on his own, he hadn’t been sick like that since he quit nursing. I wasn’t counting the thing with the galvanized metal. So this time it was his immune system all by itself, no help from my immunities and no medicine and his immune system hadn’t been altered by vaccines either. I kept telling myself that he was ready for this and that his body knew what to do and he would get through it and he did. I think I was more worried than usual because he was my nicu baby and he just had a really rough start. So then I compare it to the chickens. If they were gradually exposed to small amount of bacteria where they bodies had time to learn how to respond then they would build a stronger natural immunity. If you complemented this with the best nutrition you could and their body had all it needed to build the antibodies and defenses, well why couldn’t they learn to deal with normal amounts of bacteria in their environment. We all come across bad germs at times, and sometimes we get sick and sometimes we don’t and there are reasons, it’s not always just by chance--There are a lot of reasons for this, as in the germ may be too old or weak to multiply faster than the white blood cells can kill, and other times, the virus or germ could be strong enough to overpower. A lot also depends on the strain and how you came in contact with it as airborne or touching something--some are more aggressive in certain forms; it may have nothing to do with how healthy YOU are.. but how healthy the germ/virus is and what stage it's in. There are germs everywhere, and they don’t always bring us down. It makes sense to me to reserve the medicine for the extreme cases and try to build the immune system first. Josie, I’d really like to hear your input. Who decided that all chicks need medicated feed? What was the reason and were their conditions the same as ours?

Very interesting point you bring up about the gradual immunity. However, in birds, they don't often have a chance to work up gradually as sometimes very little exposure will just kill them outright and you have no "working up to it". Now-- here's something really gross. There was some crazy person on our silkie group that had decided she was against the medicated feed. So HER idea was to feed adult POOP to her older babies and mix it in the feed. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well. And then she ended up having to buy medication to fix her mistake. Same thinking with the vaccines for poultry-- once you get a disease in your flock, some of them can wipe out every single bird in a day or two. There is no way to back pedal from that-- no way to build up immunity to that quick enough. Mareks is a bad one. There are others that are just as scary. Now-- the reason why they are wiped out so quickly is because the disease was brought in suddenly on the property by shoes, unclean hands, clothing (dander or otherwise sticking to the clothing), Wild Birds-- flying over head, the list goes on and on how quickly you can get it. If your ground is clean and has never had birds before you, it's likely you've got no worries at the moment. But you bring in something like that, and you'll always have to worry about it. So we vaccinate the birds to prevent an entire loss of the flock. There have been a lot of discussions about NOT vaccinating and letting the fit survive. The problem with that is that you then have a carrier bird that can infect everyone else new brought in. There is a vet -- Dr. Brown I believe is his name, and he's a well known avian vet and the poultry people rave over him. He has concluded that vaccinating the birds is not going to make them weaker in the long run, but introduce the right things needed to make them stronger, live longer and produce well.

Now with PEOPLE.. I used the delayed vaccine time line for my own kids. None of my kids got vaccinated before 3 years old (except for my oldest and I'm not even going to start that story). There are still some vaccines I won't give my kids. So I understand your point of view. But when we are introduced to a foreign body, our white blood cells run around and start fighting and gives us time. It may be a miss or a hit. Birds don't usually give you time to think about it like that. At least, not always, sometimes you do. At this point, I think it comes down to what I have invested in my flock. I'm going to be extremely proactive with my silkies... but with my layers, eh, probably not so much. They were super cheap and easy to replace.
Anyway-- when it comes down to it, you don't NEED to feed the medicated chick feed and no one decided that they all needed it. This is more of an industry standard for larger hatches and them deciding to "take out an insurance policy". If you have dry ground, clean, and no build up of poop, you're likely fine! You get problems when it's wet, and build up or confined areas. I read somewhere that most backyard flock owners that live in town will never have a problem with cocci. Why??? Because they aren't hatching, they are keeping the same flock for years and they aren't trading, and dragging in and out a bunch of birds. They are pretty safe. I would still love to know what Josie's take on it is! Anyway, just do what you think is best for you.

 

[checoukan]

The bread starter that I have, starts out with I cup of starter, and then you add 1 cup flour, 1cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Its a 10 day ferment. We really like it, as you can change the bread by adding raisins, nuts, or what ever else you would like. Ive made the bread topped with cinammon sugar, just plain, so many different ways always keeps it new so we don't get tired of it. When I add my final milk, sugar and flour, I have 3 extra cups, I will keep one, and then I will send one to mommahen10, and to danz. You two need to send my your mailing address so I can get them in the mail with intructions today.
Builders are here today, should get the rest of the nailers on, and then they will start framing the windows and doors. The neat thing is from the eave of the barn down 4 foot is going to be like sky lights, only I'm going to call them side lights. This will help warm the barn in winter, and let lots of natural light in. He would not give on putting sky lights in the roof, said to much chance for the hail to bust them out so he gave me the chance for the side lights

and I took it. He thinks the lights out in the other barn are using too much electric. Shezzzh, our electric was only 98 $ last month, and that was running 3 water heaters in the three goat waterers, two heat lamps for my paint silky chick, and 3 legbars, and a totally electric house.

We get our internet thru our phone company, and also the cable tv. We have never had any prolems with using too much internet, in fact I have NEVER heard of a company doing something like that. If you have unlimited, we do, that means all you want to use. I know Ivy has verison phone service, and it is not worth a **** either!! Our cell phone service here is US Cellular. I can make a call from her house, but she can't even get enough signal to make a phone call. She can text, but terrible service. Makes me glad I don't have to put up with something like that. I will try to get some pictures today of the barn, so everyone can keep up.

 

[checoukan]

Hawkeye, the show is one day. As far as I know, Larry Denny is the only judge so, it should only be one show. I have a copy of the entry form, and entries close Feb. 9 Show is Mar 2. I can fax .
you one if you would like,

 

[Trish44]

Tweety, I'd definitely get every bird and corner treated for mites. I am sorry for your loss. I'm also sorry you still aren't doing well. I do check on you on facebook now and then. Love the pictures with your granddaughter. Such a cutie.
Rosie I'd love to have some of your starter but have no idea how I'd get it. so Mammahen, maybe if that doesn't work I could get some of yours. Beg beg plead.
I still have my old recipe but it takes so long to get going. I'd rather take the easy way!
Chickies duckies is going to give me the info to buy some raw milk. It isn't really close but I'd love to get some maybe combining trips elsewhere.
I've concluded it's time to find bigger containers for my FF. I have three different ones going now and two of them aren't making enough for one day. I need to clean out the shop and get a big barrel of it started out there. These birds are starting to get picky who get it and act like vultures when I put it out. They let their normal feed just sit if I don't give them the fermented stuff. I really am glad cause in the long run I am sure it will be much better for them and I do hope it saves me on feed costs eventually.

Danz, isn't a barrel going to be awfully hard to keep stirred up, especially when you add new feed? That's why I gave up on the bucket system because I couldn't get it stirred up down to the bottom besides running out of room, but it was just impossible to deal with. The plastic container I got is working out much better & I just keep enough in there for two days, that way there is something to keep the culture going for the next day. So far it seems to be going well, yesterday morning I went in there & it was bubbling which I read is a good sign that the thing is healthy. My birds attack this stuff like they haven't eaten in a year, I wonder if the feed consumption will decrease because they just act like they're starved. I've been playing with amounts for my main laying flock & keep increasing it. They jump into my feeder so bad I can't hardly get the food inbetween them at feeding time, they're just crazy. I'm feeding all my birds the same thing, I started adding some game bird feed to the mix a couple of days ago. The guineas & turkeys are attacking their feed now just as crazy as the chickens, I have never seen them all act so nuts over anything in my life.

The bread starter that I have, starts out with I cup of starter, and then you add 1 cup flour, 1cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Its a 10 day ferment. We really like it, as you can change the bread by adding raisins, nuts, or what ever else you would like. Ive made the bread topped with cinammon sugar, just plain, so many different ways always keeps it new so we don't get tired of it. When I add my final milk, sugar and flour, I have 3 extra cups, I will keep one, and then I will send one to mommahen10, and to danz. You two need to send my your mailing address so I can get them in the mail with intructions today.
Builders are here today, should get the rest of the nailers on, and then they will start framing the windows and doors. The neat thing is from the eave of the barn down 4 foot is going to be like sky lights, only I'm going to call them side lights. This will help warm the barn in winter, and let lots of natural light in. He would not give on putting sky lights in the roof, said to much chance for the hail to bust them out so he gave me the chance for the side lights

and I took it. He thinks the lights out in the other barn are using too much electric. Shezzzh, our electric was only 98 $ last month, and that was running 3 water heaters in the three goat waterers, two heat lamps for my paint silky chick, and 3 legbars, and a totally electric house.

We get our internet thru our phone company, and also the cable tv. We have never had any prolems with using too much internet, in fact I have NEVER heard of a company doing something like that. If you have unlimited, we do, that means all you want to use. I know Ivy has verison phone service, and it is not worth a **** either!! Our cell phone service here is US Cellular. I can make a call from her house, but she can't even get enough signal to make a phone call. She can text, but terrible service. Makes me glad I don't have to put up with something like that. I will try to get some pictures today of the barn, so everyone can keep up.

checoukan, your bread sounds good, I got some sourdough starter from Sunflowerparrot & have been trying some bread in my breadmaker. I think I need to get a new one because the recipes now call for settings I don't have. I'm glad the builders came back, yes we want to see pics as they progress, that's so exciting! We do have skylights in our garage, it's like a pole barn structure & it's been here since the late 80s & they're so far OK. I put some in my new coop in the middle too for more light since I don't have electricity out there.

When we had Hughesnet we had a problem with their download limits, when we went over we were reduced to dial up speed for 24 hours as a punishment. We got so sick of that because all of your email counted into that download limit, which I didn't think was fair. We never downloaded music or anything like that, yet we went over at intervals. We couldn't wait to get off that service, we just hated it. We now have wireless internet from Sumner Communications & it doesn't have a download limit, however they won't let us stream movies. The guy down at the corner from us is some relation to an employee, so he got them to put a tower on his barn, good for him & for those of us needing internet. My neighbor next door has it too. So far it's done pretty well for us, it's faster than we had & unless they have technical difficulties has been pretty reliable. They've been pretty good if we call to check out the problem & get it fixed. It's just the pits to be right outside of town & not be able to get what everybody else has, I don't think we're hardly a mile outside town, but that's too far to get cable. Some guy from some study for Kansas came through here at one point studying what it would take to get everyone equal internet & even he couldn't find another solution for us. Now they know what we've been telling them.

This crud I have is just the pits, just when you think you're going to feel better you feel worse again. I have laid around in bed for two days & am getting tired of being in there, but when I get up for too long & do too much I just end up back in there anyway. I have had to drag myself out & take care of my birds by myself. My DH is on days right now for training & now he told me last night they want him to work 10 hours the rest of the week, so much for getting any help from him. I don't know if I'm going to be up to going to see his family this weekend or not, I told him I'm not going if i feel like I do now. He made himself get up & go to work on Monday & he's still not well yet himself, he's still coughing & it doesn't sound that great. I hope he doesn't end up having a relapse like some of you have & end up back in bed too. Won't we be a pair if that happens. He was such a grouch when he was sick in bed I couldn't hardly stand him. Yesterday I barked at him & told him he had his 3 days in bed now I get mine. When I get sick I'm just expected to get up & cook & whatever for him, but this time I'm not. I did manage to get a roast in the slow cooker that we ate the last two nights, but I told him tonight he was probably going to have to bring home supper. It takes all the energy I have to go out in the evening & get all of my birds & animals fed & watered. That's all I'm going to do right now.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye I totally agree with the vaccination concept. This was proven in my own kids quite by error. All of my kids were vaccinated. However my oldest son was born with severe asthma and ran a low grade fever for the first several years of his life. So the doctors wouldn't vaccinate him because of the fever. When it came time to go to school we had to get him vaccinated or they wouldn't let him attend.
With the asthma we are talking a compromised child in the first place. However he never missed a single day of school to being sick while all of the other kids got the flu and other child hood diseases along with everyone else. He is almost 33 years old and I think he got the flu for the first time ever in his life last winter. All the other kids have been sick off and on like a normal person. So I am thinking although he did eventually get immunized the wait was worth it.
Vaccines of course cause a person to form antibodies to fight that particular disease. They are nothing at all like introducing antibiotics.
As far as chickens go I've been pretty much a stickler about not bringing in anything but chicks here. I had one rooster and a couple hens brought in over the years and made sure they were treated and quarantined before letting them near any others. One thing I have to say is a total win win is keeping your chickens as healthy as possible. It makes them resistant to getting things like Cocci.
I believe in feeding medicated feed. I guess I formed my opinion by watching my daughter's chickens. She has a small flock that changes a lot but usually around 20 birds, not counting the babies. She never feeds medicated feed. She has had several outbreaks of cocci. She had chicks that got it that she treated with corid and saved. The next batch of chicks she got went into the same pen where the original chicks have been. Within 24 hours they were sick and dying. The cocci was in the ground obviously. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to infect your chicks and your houses or ground. Amprolium is a drug that works almost exclusively against coccidiosis. The low dose in chick starter isn't enough to suppress their immune systems but helps prevent the infection taking hold. The other option is to vaccinate against it but I've read that isn't always effective either. I definitely am one who is against using antibiotics if they aren't necessary but in this case I think it is pretty vital.
If you don't feed medicated feed and a chick gets cocci and survives with treatment, my feelings are that the sickness weakens the chicken and possibly shortens their life or vitality in the whole grand scheme of things. Strictly my opinion.
Unbelievable as it is the little chick that eviscerated itself is still alive. The bleeding stopped. When I last checked on it last night her eyes were closed and it was acting listless. This morning it is healthy acting and running around. I haven't put it with the other chicks cause I am sure they would pick at it. I am trying not to get my hopes up because I know that it will probably get an internal infection and die. I am just amazed that it is still alive today. If it makes it a while longer I'll try the paper tape on it like I did with the unabsorbed yolk a while back. Wouldn't that be awesome if it lived?
Mammahen, using my old sourdough starter you had to add like 1 tsp sugar each time you fed your starter. I'll bet the potato flakes would be good. I love potato bread. It must be similar to that?? You are so sweet. I sure wish I could find a dairy closer. I'd certainly be glad to buy any milk you want to bring me.
I don't drink milk, I am allergic to it but I get along with it in small doses like in butter and cheese. I just can't breath very well if I get too much of it. I love ice cream but it really plugs me up bad. Some times I just make it a point to go outside what my body prefers!!! And of course I cook with milk. It seems like it doesn't bother me much if it is cooked. DH will drink it though. I just want it for all the wonderful things I can do with whole milk.
I took a picture of this little blue laced gold brahma cockerel but for some reason my computer won't read my SD card now. I have no idea why. Dang it! Dan Powell sent my email address to the person who he sold his brahmas too but they never contacted me as he requested. Out of respect for their privacy he wouldn't give me their information directly. I know of one guy who had some of his offspring but his eggs were crap. He had no idea how to feed for egg quality and his shells were porous and therefore not worth hatching. He has since quit raising chickens at all. He won't give me information who he sold them to because he got offended when I tried to explain to him what was wrong with his eggs. Just because someone can afford to buy great chickens doesn't mean they have a clue about caring for them.

 

[Hawkeye95]

The bread starter that I have, starts out with I cup of starter, and then you add 1 cup flour, 1cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Its a 10 day ferment. We really like it, as you can change the bread by adding raisins, nuts, or what ever else you would like. Ive made the bread topped with cinammon sugar, just plain, so many different ways always keeps it new so we don't get tired of it. When I add my final milk, sugar and flour, I have 3 extra cups, I will keep one, and then I will send one to mommahen10, and to danz. You two need to send my your mailing address so I can get them in the mail with intructions today.
Builders are here today, should get the rest of the nailers on, and then they will start framing the windows and doors. The neat thing is from the eave of the barn down 4 foot is going to be like sky lights, only I'm going to call them side lights. This will help warm the barn in winter, and let lots of natural light in. He would not give on putting sky lights in the roof, said to much chance for the hail to bust them out so he gave me the chance for the side lights

and I took it. He thinks the lights out in the other barn are using too much electric. Shezzzh, our electric was only 98 $ last month, and that was running 3 water heaters in the three goat waterers, two heat lamps for my paint silky chick, and 3 legbars, and a totally electric house.

We get our internet thru our phone company, and also the cable tv. We have never had any prolems with using too much internet, in fact I have NEVER heard of a company doing something like that. If you have unlimited, we do, that means all you want to use. I know Ivy has verison phone service, and it is not worth a **** either!! Our cell phone service here is US Cellular. I can make a call from her house, but she can't even get enough signal to make a phone call. She can text, but terrible service. Makes me glad I don't have to put up with something like that. I will try to get some pictures today of the barn, so everyone can keep up.

I'm glad you will have some natural light in there with the clear panels. We have the skylight panels in our horse barn and I love them. We have them on both sides, and on either end. We've had a lot of hail and big storms come through and never had any trouble with the panels. Okay-- so a one day show, that will be much cheaper (motel). I still haven't gotten out my Poultry Press to read the details. I got up and cleaned up the kitchen and need to start laundry. I'll have to talk to my DH. He finally got his 60 day Lay Off notice the other day and he's wanting us to "lay low" until he has another job lined up. So he's been talking about some of the expenditures we're going to cut back on temporarily. Sigh. Late March is when his date is. I'm still hoping to swing it, though. I'll see how he's feeling tonight....

When we had Hughesnet we had a problem with their download limits, when we went over we were reduced to dial up speed for 24 hours as a punishment. We got so sick of that because all of your email counted into that download limit, which I didn't think was fair. We never downloaded music or anything like that, yet we went over at intervals. We couldn't wait to get off that service, we just hated it. We now have wireless internet from Sumner Communications & it doesn't have a download limit, however they won't let us stream movies. The guy down at the corner from us is some relation to an employee, so he got them to put a tower on his barn, good for him & for those of us needing internet. My neighbor next door has it too. So far it's done pretty well for us, it's faster than we had & unless they have technical difficulties has been pretty reliable. They've been pretty good if we call to check out the problem & get it fixed. It's just the pits to be right outside of town & not be able to get what everybody else has, I don't think we're hardly a mile outside town, but that's too far to get cable. Some guy from some study for Kansas came through here at one point studying what it would take to get everyone equal internet & even he couldn't find another solution for us. Now they know what we've been telling them.

This crud I have is just the pits, just when you think you're going to feel better you feel worse again. I have laid around in bed for two days & am getting tired of being in there, but when I get up for too long & do too much I just end up back in there anyway. I have had to drag myself out & take care of my birds by myself. My DH is on days right now for training & now he told me last night they want him to work 10 hours the rest of the week, so much for getting any help from him. I don't know if I'm going to be up to going to see his family this weekend or not, I told him I'm not going if i feel like I do now. He made himself get up & go to work on Monday & he's still not well yet himself, he's still coughing & it doesn't sound that great. I hope he doesn't end up having a relapse like some of you have & end up back in bed too. Won't we be a pair if that happens. He was such a grouch when he was sick in bed I couldn't hardly stand him. Yesterday I barked at him & told him he had his 3 days in bed now I get mine. When I get sick I'm just expected to get up & cook & whatever for him, but this time I'm not. I did manage to get a roast in the slow cooker that we ate the last two nights, but I told him tonight he was probably going to have to bring home supper. It takes all the energy I have to go out in the evening & get all of my birds & animals fed & watered. That's all I'm going to do right now.

We used to have Sumner Communications here too. But the limits on the movie and video streaming really killed us. We kept checking back with Pixus (we were too far out a few years back) but they have put in new towers and now they could take us! Now our internet is rarely down, and we can do whatever we want. I'm much happier. When we first moved into this house, we had Sprint Broadband and actually liked it better than anything else we've had since. Sprint terminated that entire project and I think 4 years into living here, they took it away and that is when we had to use Sumner and now finally to Pixus (we've only been with them about a year).

Darned right you are sick and entitled to lay around! You aren't going to get any healthier trying to push thru it. I've been so sick, it's been hit or miss on if I can do dinner or not. Well-- the last few days, I've been fine. But my DH had to bring home dinner many nights. I don't understand why he can't COOK! I mean, it's not that hard! I'm going to train my boys to cook and do housework. My oldest can already turn on the stove, and get everything ready and make eggs all by himself. He's 8 years old. I make the kids clean toilets so they know to do better in there. I still go back in and "finish up" when they're done, but I wait until they are at school. For the most part, if I see something, I will make them get it. But I go back and check under the bowl, etc. Anyway, while I was sick, I had the kids eating a lot of cereal and lunch meat sandwiches for lunch and dinner. You do what you have to do.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish I just have too many birds to feed for a small batches,even using the bins isn't enough feed. DH said I should try using a hoe to mix the feed. I'm using between 75 to 100 pounds of dry feed a day so that is a lot to keep fermented. I also want to maintain 3 different batches. One with chick starter, one with regular feed and one with the brewers yeast for the game fowl. It would be easier if I could keep it all the same.
My birds act the same as yours. They literally jump on my hands and arms trying to get to the feed bowl. I even got bitten by one chick in the brooder yesterday. I guess she was over anxious. I have even put extra in there so there was a little left and they still act like they are starved. I think they just really love the stuff.
Today I am going to try some on the geese. My bubbly mix should be ready for them. I sure hope they like it cause it should be awesome healthy for them. I already know the peafowl will eat it. The turkeys seem to take a while to get used to eating something different so it may take them a few days.
I guess I am going to have to get some more plastic feed pans. I have a couple of galvanized feeders I will have to replace if I feed every bird FF. The one thing I did notice is the extreme growth rate the birds made after even a couple weeks being fed the FF. It is amazing. They went from little chicks to good sized birds very quickly. Sharol and Trish I had satellite internet before I had this stuff. I hated it. If there were sun spots we had no internet. If there was rain we had no internet. If there was snow we had no internet, etc etc. It honestly stunk. I didn't understand it cause the receiver is sitting right next to my dish receiver and the weather has to be pretty bad to knock it out. I gave it about 2 and half years and couldn't wait to replace it. My sister and some other friends had it as well and felt the same. I won't be doing that again.
I have high hopes this new device does the trick.