Consolidated Kansas

[JosieChick]

Josie my coop is 11x14. What type of fencing & how much. I'm thinking of adding just a few rir or australorp

Oh, you should have plenty of room with such a big coop. They have over double what they need per bird inside the coop and you figure they aren't all in the run or coop at the same time during the day. I love my australorps, they are sweethearts. Most of the fencing is 4 foot tall (I think) welded wire. I will post a pic on here of the pile of stuff I have gathered up. We dismantled several pens so the property looks tidier for when we list the house. I have a few more rolls to drag in and the lawn mower just ran out of gas and there isn't any more in the garage so I will have to make a trip to town. Sigh.

 

[checoukan]

Well, yesterday went by fast, and then right after school, had a poultry meeting which lasted until 6:20, so I didn't get any pictures taken, but Iwill tonight after I get off bus. My "C" farmall tractor won't start, so I cannot dump my manure spreader, so I cannot clean anymore of the barn until it gets dumped.

I have one pen that needs cleaned, so I can put my black ameraucana's in. They are not laying, and in a pen with a lavender cock, so If they did start, they would be splits, but I want more blacks. Im supposed to have some laveder eggs coming, but I hope they wait awhile.

danz, I hope you have not done something bad to that hand, I would have thought, it would be letting up some instead of getting worse, that does not sound good.
trish, hope you are able to get your pens together I am working on mine, just have to get some top material on so they birds don't fly out. I have some 2X4 welded wire I could use, but I can't keep that stuff tight, and I don't want to fight trying to keep it tight. And then it starts falling apart

Its going to be a little bit on the K-State pullets. They do this every year, but I think they change who is in charge, as soon as I hear something for sure, I will post it like I did last year.
My "hens" which I only ended up taking white, are laying the biggest eggs this year, and laying a egg almost everyday. I banded my, planning on keeping 2 years, and then move on. But, I'm also going to buy some every year so I keep nice young hens in the hen house.
Time to go outside and soak up some sun!

 

[michelleml]

Oh, you should have plenty of room with such a big coop. They have over double what they need per bird inside the coop and you figure they aren't all in the run or coop at the same time during the day. I love my australorps, they are sweethearts. Most of the fencing is 4 foot tall (I think) welded wire. I will post a pic on here of the pile of stuff I have gathered up. We dismantled several pens so the property looks tidier for when we list the house. I have a few more rolls to drag in and the lawn mower just ran out of gas and there isn't any more in the garage so I will have to make a trip to town. Sigh. 

Josie sent you a pm

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hi everyone!!!! I am so far behind! Had a fabulous whirlwind trip to Maine for the baby shower this weekend. SO nice to see family and close friends but I was exhausted after the party. It is a lot of work being pregnant and the guest of honor!! Apparently the baby sensed the excitement because she kicked and rolled practically non stop all weekend!
Glad your hand is feeling better, take it easy!!! Poor Fluff! Could you put the pups up for sale now and take deposits for when they are ready so people know they have a puppy coming and don't buy elsewhere?
I don't know a ton about this but I do know that a LOT of white orps carry the cuckoo gene. That is why I asked you if you had an extra white orp roo to let me know because I thought it would be fun to play around with lavender cuckoo which is really beautiful. You would have to look up on here how the breeding works but I do remember that a white orp roo (who is carrying the cuckoo gene) over lavender hens is the first generation. Then I think you take the hens from the first generation and breed back to the original white roo so some of those hens (you won't know which) carry the cuckoo gene and the roo carries it so it will express in the second generation in some chicks. Of course you could have a white roo who isn't carrying the gene and get no where!
Congrats on your eggs! Hope for a great hatch!

Hmm... I can't remember now what else was in your post-- oh wait!! Plucking! Yeah, I could go ahead and pluck this boy, I won't be showing him again this year as he is really more of a breeder quality bird and would only do well in competition against a very small show up of silkies! LOL He could get a first place if no one else came with a black boy....

The crazy thing is he is lacking in some of the cushion, so you'd think he'd be okay. But you know how you mentioned a hen running off a rooster???! And I told you a week back or so that Josie (your silkie) has been doing a fantastic job of keeping him 'put in his place'??? Weeeeeelll, maybe he and my other miss Blackie need to go to a separate pen where Miss Josie can't boss him around. She keeps everyone in line-- not mean, just makes sure they know SHE is boss. She started out that way! I had an alpha hen and Josie knocked her down a peg or two. I love her though, because she doesn't take any crap. But that also means, I'm probaby going to have to AI her with my beautiful blue rooster from B. Porto because he may not get a chance to cover her! Sigh.

Wow, I guess we all had busy weekend.
Danz, take care of that hand and wrist, I know that had to hurt a bunch.
Josie, glad you had a good time and welcome home,
trish, you made some progess, and that is what counts.
I know others posted, but don't want to go back and re-read everything.

Well, Ivy brought me down the rest of her birds, and I took them over to the turkey creek swap and sold them for her.

Congrats on the sale!! That was a LOT of birds you got rid of!!! WOW!!! We need a decent swap like that here! I have some pet boys to get rid of. Can't wait to see pics of your new barn coming along! I hear you on getting out in the sun-- I need to go clean out and wash down a dog kennel, I'm giving a poultry work shop and going to bring along a silkie or two to demonstrate Showmanship with and have the kids practice with my birds.

Well I went & got most all of the stuff I needed for my pens today & got back just right before my DH got home from work. He came home first before going to the gym because I had asked him to put up my solar security light on the new coop for me. I guess it's a good thing I had him do it today because he's going back on 10 hour days tomorrow again. At least I got him to help me with the things I needed help with the most yesterday & today & then tomorrow I can work on getting those PVC conduit panels put together & I can put those up. I started on them this afternoon & got some of it cut & glued, but had to quit to go feed all the birds & animals. I think we're supposed to have some really nice days this week though, so hopefully I'll get a lot done. I got 1x4 treated lumber for the gates & I have scrap fencing I'm going to use to hook onto them, it's that 2x4 inch type of fence. I got just some pieces of it when I got some livestock panels & chain link fence from a gal on the local swap site for practically nothing. I also got cinder blocks & bricks from her because they were supposed to be cleaning their place up. I got a really good deal on all of it.

I can't wait to candle these eggs I have in the incubator, this will be the first time hatching for these birds, so I hope they're fertile. Josie, these are from the Wheatens I got from you, the eggs are such beautiful blue, much prettier blue than the other Ameraucanas I have. I hope they all develop, that would be great! I also have just a few Salmon Faverolle eggs in there & 3 eggs that are Sunflowerparrot's.

Picutres! So glad yours is coming along too!! Sounds like you'll have your pens set up in no time! Much sooner than me, for darned sure! I need to sweet talk my man. Of course-- I think he is really waiting to see if we will be living in this house before he goes building more stuff for me! ha!

Well, yesterday went by fast, and then right after school, had a poultry meeting which lasted until 6:20, so I didn't get any pictures taken, but Iwill tonight after I get off bus. My "C" farmall tractor won't start, so I cannot dump my manure spreader, so I cannot clean anymore of the barn until it gets dumped.

I have one pen that needs cleaned, so I can put my black ameraucana's in. They are not laying, and in a pen with a lavender cock, so If they did start, they would be splits, but I want more blacks. Im supposed to have some laveder eggs coming, but I hope they wait awhile.

danz, I hope you have not done something bad to that hand, I would have thought, it would be letting up some instead of getting worse, that does not sound good.
trish, hope you are able to get your pens together I am working on mine, just have to get some top material on so they birds don't fly out. I have some 2X4 welded wire I could use, but I can't keep that stuff tight, and I don't want to fight trying to keep it tight. And then it starts falling apart

Its going to be a little bit on the K-State pullets. They do this every year, but I think they change who is in charge, as soon as I hear something for sure, I will post it like I did last year.
My "hens" which I only ended up taking white, are laying the biggest eggs this year, and laying a egg almost everyday. I banded my, planning on keeping 2 years, and then move on. But, I'm also going to buy some every year so I keep nice young hens in the hen house.
Time to go outside and soak up some sun!

Your poultry meeting sounds fun! The emails have been flying back and forth here! We had some guy contact the office wanting to get rid of "red stars" for the 4-H'ers to show at the fair. Sigh. The agent had to explain to him that we typically want our kids to show only recognized breeds. Then he said he had Rhode Island Reds.... suuuuure, he does. But you could use the red stars for a trio of meat birds or even a trio of layers, right???? I mean, if some poor kid were taken in, it might not be a complete loss. I hope I get my coops for the barn!!! The fair board has not told me if they approved all the coops I picked out and said we needed.

I'll have to PM you-- I'm not certain we're going to the Pryor, OK show.

We had some things fall through. Sigh. Do the KSU hens lay white or brown eggs???? I'm debating on picking up a couple more barred rock chicks out of the hatchery bin at Atwoods since I could use another couple more layers and I really want brown eggs.


Okay--- better run and go clean out that cage!

 

[JosieChick]

Bummer, hope the tractor gets going for you.

Well, yesterday went by fast, and then right after school, had a poultry meeting which lasted until 6:20, so I didn't get any pictures taken, but Iwill tonight after I get off bus. My "C" farmall tractor won't start, so I cannot dump my manure spreader, so I cannot clean anymore of the barn until it gets dumped.

I have one pen that needs cleaned, so I can put my black ameraucana's in. They are not laying, and in a pen with a lavender cock, so If they did start, they would be splits, but I want more blacks. Im supposed to have some laveder eggs coming, but I hope they wait awhile.

danz, I hope you have not done something bad to that hand, I would have thought, it would be letting up some instead of getting worse, that does not sound good.
trish, hope you are able to get your pens together I am working on mine, just have to get some top material on so they birds don't fly out. I have some 2X4 welded wire I could use, but I can't keep that stuff tight, and I don't want to fight trying to keep it tight. And then it starts falling apart

Its going to be a little bit on the K-State pullets. They do this every year, but I think they change who is in charge, as soon as I hear something for sure, I will post it like I did last year.
My "hens" which I only ended up taking white, are laying the biggest eggs this year, and laying a egg almost everyday. I banded my, planning on keeping 2 years, and then move on. But, I'm also going to buy some every year so I keep nice young hens in the hen house.
Time to go outside and soak up some sun!

Hahahaha! Poor fella probably just needs a chance. It is funny because she was the low bird on the totem pole here! She must have learned from the best because she was in with a black silkie hen who was a rotten little bossy stinker! If your Porto roo has some gall he should be able to breed her fine, I had her in with a cochin roo here and she didn't give him any trouble! I was thinking too that I remember reading on Three Cedars Silkies website that she had to trim her blue roos crest so he could "see" then his fertility shot up so maybe the poor guy can't see which ends up?

Hmm... I can't remember now what else was in your post-- oh wait!! Plucking! Yeah, I could go ahead and pluck this boy, I won't be showing him again this year as he is really more of a breeder quality bird and would only do well in competition against a very small show up of silkies! LOL He could get a first place if no one else came with a black boy....

The crazy thing is he is lacking in some of the cushion, so you'd think he'd be okay. But you know how you mentioned a hen running off a rooster???! And I told you a week back or so that Josie (your silkie) has been doing a fantastic job of keeping him 'put in his place'??? Weeeeeelll, maybe he and my other miss Blackie need to go to a separate pen where Miss Josie can't boss him around. She keeps everyone in line-- not mean, just makes sure they know SHE is boss. She started out that way! I had an alpha hen and Josie knocked her down a peg or two. I love her though, because she doesn't take any crap. But that also means, I'm probaby going to have to AI her with my beautiful blue rooster from B. Porto because he may not get a chance to cover her! Sigh.


Your poultry meeting sounds fun! The emails have been flying back and forth here! We had some guy contact the office wanting to get rid of "red stars" for the 4-H'ers to show at the fair. Sigh. The agent had to explain to him that we typically want our kids to show only recognized breeds. Then he said he had Rhode Island Reds.... suuuuure, he does. Hahahaha! Sneaky sneaky. But you could use the red stars for a trio of meat birds or even a trio of layers, right???? I mean, if some poor kid were taken in, it might not be a complete loss. I hope I get my coops for the barn!!! The fair board has not told me if they approved all the coops I picked out and said we needed.

I'll have to PM you-- I'm not certain we're going to the Pryor, OK show.

We had some things fall through. Sigh. Do the KSU hens lay white or brown eggs???? I'm debating on picking up a couple more barred rock chicks out of the hatchery bin at Atwoods since I could use another couple more layers and I really want brown eggs.

I am wiped and I need to get stuff packed up and go catch some roosters in the dark too. I need to re wrap one of my hens feet too. She was limping and had a bad cut on her foot and what looked like bumble foot on the other! I also need to run to town to get gas to get the mower back in the garage tonight. I got half the kitchen cabinet doors painted today. We have sooo much painting to get done before we list this house for sale. Ugh. I should have just picked out stinkin cabinets that were finished but no, I had to have cottage white colored cabinets which I never got around to painting and now I have to paint them.

 

[HEChicken]

Josie, isn't that the pits? It seems such a shame to have to do so much work for someone else to enjoy, instead of getting to enjoy it ourselves.

My neighbor came over today to say her DH brought the "big" rototiller home from work and is there anything I need rototilled? Do I ever! So about 20 minutes later, I had a huge garden bed tilled and ready to go. I can't wait to get out there, rake out the grass clumps and start mixing in compost ready to plant this spring. It feels like spring really is getting close now....

 

[CrazyChickens09]

Hi Kansas folks.. I am in need of 1-2 chicks but the feed stores won't have any for weeks and I have a lonely single chick.. I am located about 15 minutes SE of Wichita.. any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[chicken danz]

Crazychickens09. Welcome to our humble group. I'll bet SunflowerParrot has some chicks. She's been hatching a lot and she is fairly close. Might be some others down that way.
I read last night trying to get caught up but I'm too lazy to go back and read again this morning. I've been up at least an hour and a half hoping the phone will ring and say my birds are at the post office. I could use another day to get ready but I don't want them floating around in the mail system another day for their sake. I'm pretty excited and worried!
Checoukan they did exrays on my hand of course that was just to make sure I hadn't broken any bones. Tendons are pretty tender things to deal with. My original injury tore all the tendons across my wrist leaving me unable to use my fingers at all. They had to cut them off and pull them up and reattach them to my knuckles. My thumb was then pinned into my wrist and another pin was placed to hold the left side of my wrist secure. But then years of redamaging it and arthritis it finally became necessary to put the plates and screws in and fuse the rest of the wrist. Here is a picture of a scan of an exray done on my hand and wrist. Click to enlarge


Anyway, stretching a tendon causes a lot of pain and it takes a long time to heal. It's kind of like stretching a rubber bunge cord beyond it's limits. They don't give easy and it's harder to get them to go back to their original shape. I just have to live with the pain I guess. It does bother me it is getting worse but it's probably my own stupidity for refusing the splint.
I had quite the day yesterday. I decided to try to clean the brooder house and disinfect it thoroughly. And also to clean the chicken tractor and disinfect it to hold the Brahmas until I could get them some nice facilities done.
I had to remove everything in the brooder which is a load of stuff. Shovel out all the shavings. Spray it down and vacuum it all out, then I used nearly 2 gallons of activated oxine and let it soak for maybe 30 minutes. Then I sprayed it down again and vacuumed it all out to dry. It still smells like mouse pee. The stupid things have been crawling around behind the insulation in the walls and there is no way to fix that other than tear it all out and start over. Not on my list of things to do right now!!!
Then I was going to move the chicken tractor so I could clean, disinfect, and relocate it. I couldn't lift it so I got a bright idea to try to use the bucket on the tractor. I didn't have it centered and broke on of the supports at the end and tore the chicken wire. Just what I needed!
So... I spent a few hours trying to repair my damage. I couldn't use the battery drill so I got an electric drill thinking it would be easier to operate. Because my injury is affecting my thumb and index finger I couldn't control the speed with the trigger. So I ended up stripping out screws and some didn't go all the way in. I guess it will just have to look like crap. I cut and screwed a piece of OSB on the end to attach the broken support to. Then I took a piece of hardware cloth and stapled it onto one side over the chicken wire to fix the hole I put in the chicken wire. It should make it a little stronger any way than just chicken wire. If I'd had the time and another piece of hardware cloth the right length I would have put one on the other side as well, just because I like the idea of it being more predator proof. I had to use a putty knife inside the house part to get the floor clean. More washing down and more oxine and fresh shavings. It should be ready to go. I really need to move it again but for now it is going to have to stay where it is.
I still need to clean out a brooder bin in the house for the chicks and move some chicks inside to the brooder. I want to keep a close watch on these shipped Breda fowl chicks for a week or longer to make sure they don't get ill from the trip.
Hechicken when it comes to having to do that kind of work for a house to sell it makes you wonder why you didn't just do it for yourself, doesn't it? I keep thinking if I were going to sell this place I'd finally get all the junk out, get it clean and finish my million unfinished projects. I'd like to any way. Finding the time isn't easy when I'm working outside all the time.
Your mention of rototilling reminded me I need to take a section of fence down and get the garden all tilled soon as well. Of course just getting DH to put the tiller on the tractor will be a major factor in getting that done. The rest I can handle. I'd really like to put in some onions and potatoes at the right time of year for a change.
Speaking of outside have you seen the extended forecast? The weather is going downhill. They are talking colder on Sunday , snow on Monday and lows down in the lower teens and highs below freezing in the first part of the week. Is the stupid winter going to give up or not?
Well the phone hasn't rung. I may have to call the post office cause the suspense is killing me.

 

[HEChicken]

Danz, you really need to stop using that hand for a few days to let it start to heal. Are you even using it to type? Sorry for all the frustrations yesterday - hope the PO calls soon and your birds traveled well. At least they had mild weather for their trip so that is one less thing to worry about.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Bummer, hope the tractor gets going for you.
Hahahaha! Poor fella probably just needs a chance. It is funny because she was the low bird on the totem pole here! She must have learned from the best because she was in with a black silkie hen who was a rotten little bossy stinker! If your Porto roo has some gall he should be able to breed her fine, I had her in with a cochin roo here and she didn't give him any trouble! I was thinking too that I remember reading on Three Cedars Silkies website that she had to trim her blue roos crest so he could "see" then his fertility shot up so maybe the poor guy can't see which ends up?

I am wiped and I need to get stuff packed up and go catch some roosters in the dark too. I need to re wrap one of my hens feet too. She was limping and had a bad cut on her foot and what looked like bumble foot on the other! I also need to run to town to get gas to get the mower back in the garage tonight. I got half the kitchen cabinet doors painted today. We have sooo much painting to get done before we list this house for sale. Ugh. I should have just picked out stinkin cabinets that were finished but no, I had to have cottage white colored cabinets which I never got around to painting and now I have to paint them.

With the last few days being so nice and some what warm, it really, really makes me want to hatch! If only I had EGGS! The girls are still not down with the laying idea yet. I get maybe 2 eggs a week from the silkie pen and my layers in the big coop have given up completely. I have a bumblefoot that needs attention on one of my Polish, but I've been letting it go for now, but it's getting to the point where it's looking bad. This is the same darned bird that gets it over and over and I don't think it ever goes away. I gave her two rounds of penicillin last year for it. It's going to the top of the foot. I was reading that someone said that once it goes to the top of the foot, it becomes much easier to get it out. I hope that is the case. I just hate to cut on her over and over again.
Good luck with the painting!! I wouldn't be a big fan of painting cabinets either. I have the golden oak cabinets and I'm ready to ditch them when we get the chance.... I'm hoping we get to stay here, and if so, the kitchen is coming down!

Josie, isn't that the pits? It seems such a shame to have to do so much work for someone else to enjoy, instead of getting to enjoy it ourselves.

My neighbor came over today to say her DH brought the "big" rototiller home from work and is there anything I need rototilled? Do I ever! So about 20 minutes later, I had a huge garden bed tilled and ready to go. I can't wait to get out there, rake out the grass clumps and start mixing in compost ready to plant this spring. It feels like spring really is getting close now....

that is totally awesome they let you borrow the tiller!!! NICE! Ooooh, I can't wait for Spring and planting!!! I'm going to put in another raised garden! I already told my Dh that is what I'm doing and he shakes his head and tells me I am over committed as it is. Maybe... but I LOVE yard work, so it's more play than work for me.


The poultry workshop for Sedgwick County is tomorrow. I am getting some hand-outs prepared and getting ready. I got the cage washed out yesterday and dried in the sun. I'll be transporting them in the little enclosed dog kennels up there, but going to fold down the big cage so I can take it to show them how to do Showmanship. The thing is...once I fold the cage down, I'll need to remember how to set it back up again... yikes! LOL