Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

The problem is our local Sutherlands advertises in the shopper. There is a shopper for the Ottawa area and one for the Emporia area. Our zip code is the only one excluded from it. I have neighbors a half mile south that get them but I don't because they have a different zip code. So I never know what is going on with them. HeChicken If you here of another sale let me know. I might be more prepared to take advantage of it and have DH convince it is the right thing to do. He just doesn't get spending all the money on the birds...even if it isn't his to spend. Some day!!!

If you go to the Sutherland's website, you can sign up to get it delivered to your email. That is the only way I get notified of Sutherland's sales and how I heard about this one. Then when you wanted more info, I just pulled up the email again to get it. Easy peasy.

Is it the midget whites you are butchering? Let us know how that goes please. So far all I've butchered is chickens and I have the turkeys for this year's Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners but am nervous about when the time comes.

Hechicken and I are employing different methods of building,and different still than Trish so that gives you more options when you build your hoop house. I need to take pictures of my back wall frame but thought I would get the front done and take them all at once.But... as you see it's been a few days since I've got to work on it again. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Especially when the whether is bouncing all over the place and I have to get in early and have dinner ready when DH gets home so he can get to bed early.

I agree - study a few different plans and come up with what works for you. Some of the differences in building have to do with the size, some your orientation (i.e. is it in a direction where it will get full wind or just a cross wind) and some is personal preference. I studied the photos of when Trish built hers (and a few others), and then showed them to DH as well. He is an engineer so he looks at things differently than I do. He was the one who suggested the A-Frame framing for my back wall saying that of all the ideas I had shown him, that would be the strongest in terms of stability.

I've made some progress on mine today despite the wind which is just crazy today. I got the whole back wall wired in, and then I decided to change my door frame. I moved the verticals out 3 1/2" each, making the door 7" wider than it was before. The reason? I realized that the welded wire was going to be a pain to fit across the front wall as I would have to piece it together to fit the gap, whereas by making the door wider, I won't have to sew together any welded wire to fit. So it was a win-win - the fencing will be easier and now I have a wider door too. So this is definitely a flexible plan where you can make changes along the way.

Something that works well for a nest for the muscovies, but might work for the turkeys also, is to cut a barrel into fourths. Once crosswise and once lengthwise. You end up with 4 half rounds with a back wall. A board fastened across the front to keep the sides in place and that is it. If placed over dirt, they can dig down which is what the scovies like to do and or fill it with bedding. Size of your barrel will determine the size of the nest.

If you have a picture of this, I would love to see it!

If YOU eat eggs, muscovy eggs are some of the best going. And big. Shame to waste them on the dogs. he he

Ditto. I've only had 5 eggs so far but we already ate the first two and they were delicious. They are huge too - the first "pullet" egg was as big as a jumbo sized chicken egg.

CHICK DAYS ~ Saturday the 23rd at Emporia and Topeka. Information in a Topeka Craigslist ad.

Quiet you. I really do NOT need to know that.

I guess I need to get in and stock up on feed before chick days starts - if I have no excuse to go in there, I can't come home with any new birds either, right?

 

[checoukan]

Well, we had a hard rain shower come thru. I need to go back outside, but the wind is wearing me out! Guess I can go do something in the garage.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

You list Missouri as your location. I have silkies but I am in Southeast corner of Kansas.

I am in Drexel its about 15 mins south of louisburg if you know where it is.How much are you asking. I dont want show quality birds I just want some young ones for my daughter

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

HEChicken~ muscovy nest box. Not my site, a lady that raises lots of muscovies, and where I got the idea for the nests. Better pictures and info also.


http://www.muscovyduckcentral.com/nestboxes.html

 

[Hawkeye95]

One of the hens is laying in a corner in a pile of straw. The two broken eggs have been out in the pen. I really need to get some nest boxes of some kind built for them but not sure what to do. Guess I need to do some more reading in my spare time.
Hechicken and I are employing different methods of building,and different still than Trish so that gives you more options when you build your hoop house. I need to take pictures of my back wall frame but thought I would get the front done and take them all at once.But... as you see it's been a few days since I've got to work on it again. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Especially when the whether is bouncing all over the place and I have to get in early and have dinner ready when DH gets home so he can get to bed early.
Well I've got to get out there and get organized.

Yeah, sounds like a nest box will fix it. I bet that barrel idea would be great. I'm glad to have everyone else put these things together, I can read about it and then decide how I want to do one! This weather is nuts. Today, I just can't stand it. I HATE this wind! We ended up running errands all day and just got home. I was blown all over the road.

Hi every one!! Had a nice day yesterday, got to go to Ft. Scott and visit with my daughters Aunt and Uncle from Butler, Mo. While DH, and DS went and picked up the tractor and hauled it home, we went to the flea markets downtown and spent some time.

The builders are out side trying to work, but the wind is insane out there, and they are going to try to work on the inside out of the wind.

When Ivy came down this weekend, they brought down some bird netting like they use on pheasant runs. It has some damage to it, and I am zip tying it all back together, guess it happened in shipping and the guy that had it, said he could not use it, so he gave it to them. So I am going to finish zipping the holes, and then put it up over the large fowl runs today, so they can go outside. They are talking ICE wednesday and thursday,

So I am going to go dig thru my DH's scrape pvc pipe junk pile. I know he has some expired pipe in the junk. I am going to put the pipe thru the panel holes at the top of the runs, so the netting will have something under it to support it. That way if we do get ice, when the net sags from the weight of the ice, it will not tear the net down and ruin it. It may still sag between the pipes, but will not sag all the way down to the ground.
Danz, glad u liked the geese. They were grand champion waterfowl at the fair last summer. I think I am going to get some young from Chance this summer and have them out at he pond. I will have to get rid of my ruens or the chocolate muscovies. Hmmm That is going to be a tough one, but may have to be the muscovies. They fly, when they do take off its like having B=52 bombers flying around the farmstead. ~~~~~~ LOOK OUT BELOW~~~~!!!

I have no idea how they got any siding done in this wind-- it's NUTS! Sounds like a good plan to hold up the netting. I still don't think I've ever seen that netting in person. Atwoods sells and fruit tree netting-- but I bet it's not the same thing.

Hey just had a thought. If I cut a plastic barrel in half, and then just cut enough of a hole for the hens (muscovies) to go in, they should be able to get back far enough that the dogs could not reach back and get the eggs. Have to go do some looking for barrels.

Oh, that's actually smart... but how would YOU reach in and get the eggs? You'd have to cut a "door" on the side and hinge it, I guess so you could reach in.

I am having the hardest time finding some silkie pullets. I would take a roo too but want at least 2 pullets. They can be pet quality and any color. Can anyone help me???

I don't want you thinking I'm ignoring you, since all I raise are silkies. I've seen you post you want silkies several times. I don't really have anything at the moment. And the ones I'll be getting rid of this summer/Fall will probably be going for around $50 a bird. Best bet would be if I had some chicks that had major faults in my hatching this Spring. I know right away usually when I'm going to get rid of a bird. The toes are wrong, or the coloring, etc.. But most times, I don't know until I grow them out, what quality they are. I do have two pet quality boys that are up for grabs. If someone came and got them, I'd give them away free. They are out of show lines-- but like with all breeding-- just because they come out of show lines, does not mean they are show birds! These guys have a bit of wry back. Doesn't effect them in any way, just would never breed them. It is genetic and will pass on. I also have a couple of pet-quality pullets right now, but for the moment I don't think I'll get rid of them. I might, if someone could promise me that they'd be in an enclosed pen (no free-ranging!) and would not become victims of hawks, dogs, etc... their crests are so large, they can not see, and so they can't move fast and would never look up for a hawk. So for now, I know my pens are super secure, and covered, so they're staying... LOL!!

Danz-- if you ever come down this way I need to become NPIP. I'm going to start shipping birds so I can get what they're worth out of them. I need to call that vet near me and see if he's now licensed... and I hope he is so he could just come out. But if not, I need to look into getting myself licensed. How quickly could I make that happen, what are the fees to do that? Any advice or tips on that?

If you go to the Sutherland's website, you can sign up to get it delivered to your email. That is the only way I get notified of Sutherland's sales and how I heard about this one. Then when you wanted more info, I just pulled up the email again to get it. Easy peasy.

Is it the midget whites you are butchering? Let us know how that goes please. So far all I've butchered is chickens and I have the turkeys for this year's Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners but am nervous about when the time comes.

I agree - study a few different plans and come up with what works for you. Some of the differences in building have to do with the size, some your orientation (i.e. is it in a direction where it will get full wind or just a cross wind) and some is personal preference. I studied the photos of when Trish built hers (and a few others), and then showed them to DH as well. He is an engineer so he looks at things differently than I do. He was the one who suggested the A-Frame framing for my back wall saying that of all the ideas I had shown him, that would be the strongest in terms of stability.

I've made some progress on mine today despite the wind which is just crazy today. I got the whole back wall wired in, and then I decided to change my door frame. I moved the verticals out 3 1/2" each, making the door 7" wider than it was before. The reason? I realized that the welded wire was going to be a pain to fit across the front wall as I would have to piece it together to fit the gap, whereas by making the door wider, I won't have to sew together any welded wire to fit. So it was a win-win - the fencing will be easier and now I have a wider door too. So this is definitely a flexible plan where you can make changes along the way.

If you have a picture of this, I would love to see it!

Ditto. I've only had 5 eggs so far but we already ate the first two and they were delicious. They are huge too - the first "pullet" egg was as big as a jumbo sized chicken egg.

Quiet you. I really do NOT need to know that.

I guess I need to get in and stock up on feed before chick days starts - if I have no excuse to go in there, I can't come home with any new birds either, right?

Good idea about signing up on the Sutherland's website! I think I'll do that too! I'm going to have to see the door now. I don't think I understand why you made it wider-- did you already have a cut piece of wire that was that wide? I can't even believe that you are working in this wind. It is INSANE out there!!! Seriously, I hate it when it's that windy. I was just at Atwoods in Derby and they already have their chick bins set up! No chicks, yet. But they have all the stock tanks with the chips in them and the heat lamps hooked up. I think they must be expecting chicks any day now. I am wanting two more barred rocks.... BUT I was hoping to have them when I was already hatching myself so I could brood them together with the silkies. My silkies aren't even laying yet! UGH! So, I'm not sure I'll be buying a couple of BR chicks right now.


BTW--- The Silver Laced Wyandottes are laying! I have two of them if anyone wants a couple of hens!

 

[JosieChick]

Howdy everyone! I am so far behind on posts so I figured I would jump back in.

Danz-Hope your geese get settled down. I really would crack your first egg or two and check for fertility and if your white boys aren't getting the job done pull them and let the grey gander have a chance at the ladies. Sorry your pups aren't selling. You might try listing them down near Wichita, I would drive a couple hours to get a pure pyr puppy versus a lot of the mixes that are advertised down there.

Hawkeye- Glad Mr Meat is doing well! That is a great name!

Trudi-Good to see you on here! I sent you a PM.

Trish- Sorry for the delay, I am sure you must have figured your gates out by now...

Karen-Glad Jorgie is doing well, poor thing!

Ummmm.....I can't remember anymore off the top of my head right now....

SO we got a ton done this weekend, Sunday was gorgeous!!! SO warm, I work much better when I am not freezing my tail off. I got to play with the Kubota and bring loads of screenings over for the goose pens. DH started hanging the gates for the goose pens. We had a small snafu because he constructed the gates without looking at his plans and then his parents put the rest together for us. Unfortunately he measured the wrong opening for the gate and it was the side that the fencing was supposed to be mounted on so the gates were too big to sit inside the frames. I tried to encourage him to resize the gates but he thought he could "fix" it other ways so of course now it has been one pickle after another where things aren't fitting like they are supposed to and he has to re do things a different way so it took a lot longer than planned.....so I just smile and say ok dear, whatever you think!

Hoping to finish pens next Sunday, DH's dad came up and we loaded the one coop we are taking from here to haul down because it will get fenced into one of the pens for the seramas. Very excited to get the birds moved soon. Hoping to get horse fencing started and going this weekend too. SO much to do and now I am back up here and have to get painting again. I hate switching back and forth from here to there and changing gears on projects.

It is cold out today, everyone stay warm!

 

[Hawkeye95]

I am in Drexel its about 15 mins south of louisburg if you know where it is.How much are you asking. I dont want show quality birds I just want some young ones for my daughter

BTW-- chick days are upon us! If you just wait a week or two-- you will save yourself a lot of time and money buy just buying some hatchery silkies at your local farm store! If you have a TSC, Atwoods, etc... they will be getting in their chicks in about a week! Mostly, they are white. But pay attention-- here's how you know it's a silkie-- should have BLACK legs. Should have 5 toes on each foot-- but sometimes hatchery birds don't so, if they are missing a toe or two, or the extra toes are fused, no biggie since you don't want to show them. Also, they look a bit more fluffier and rounder than the other chicks. The other chicks will look more sleek. I bought a couple of hatchery chicks a while back and I'll see if I can dig up a photo of them so you can go see if you can find some locally!

OKay-- did find them. Here are the hatchery silkies (from Ideal)... They should have black beaks, black skin, black legs... you can barely see the toes on them.. but I hope this helps!

this pic you can see the black toes really well.



Now... these are what mine look like-- notice the fuller cheeks and better crests:

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Hawkeye, OMGosh, I'm chanting "I do not need more birds, I do not need more birds, I do not need more birds." They're adorable even when they're little!

The wind is horrific here today. I was going to make a run downtown but then thought I'd better get my boards painted so DH will have them ready tonight. So, errands tomorrow and I got all my boards painted for the next breeder pen, inside the shop. It's just too breezy to suit me today. I went out for a visit with the chickens and the wind is just blowing them about when they venture outside. Poor things.

Thanks, Josie. I sure hope this is his last surgery, but Jorgie continues to improve. I had him wearing an old T-shirt over the butt end instead of over the head. of our son's because he kept trying to pull his stitches out. The T-shirt worked and I guess the stitches don't itch as much anymore because he's leaving them alone now. I hated to have to put "the cone of shame" on him!

I would have, if necessary, but so far, so good.

 

[JosieChick]

Hawkeye- I want to create a website for our farm. If you are around can you remind me of the one that you liked that was free? I am also going to make a facebook page for posting birds for sale etc. Thanks!

 

[HEChicken]

HEChicken~ muscovy nest box. Not my site, a lady that raises lots of muscovies, and where I got the idea for the nests. Better pictures and info also.


http://www.muscovyduckcentral.com/nestboxes.html

Thank you - a picture is worth a thousand words in this case because I was having trouble visulising it. This helps a ton to know what to set up for them. So far, my one duck that is laying carves herself out a nest in a corner of the coop. I have straw in the coop and she makes a very deep nest in the straw and lays there. But I figured when it was time to go broody she would not consider an exposed corner to be a great place to sit. I think I even know where I can get one of these barrels so I will soon be all set. It may not be landscape timber but I assume any other similar board would work just as well.

Good idea about signing up on the Sutherland's website! I think I'll do that too! I'm going to have to see the door now. I don't think I understand why you made it wider-- did you already have a cut piece of wire that was that wide? I can't even believe that you are working in this wind. It is INSANE out there!!! Seriously, I hate it when it's that windy. I was just at Atwoods in Derby and they already have their chick bins set up! No chicks, yet. But they have all the stock tanks with the chips in them and the heat lamps hooked up. I think they must be expecting chicks any day now. I am wanting two more barred rocks.... BUT I was hoping to have them when I was already hatching myself so I could brood them together with the silkies. My silkies aren't even laying yet! UGH! So, I'm not sure I'll be buying a couple of BR chicks right now.

I'll take more pics here in a bit, but I'll try to describe as well. I bought 3' high welded wire so on the back side, I did two layers of wire, stitching them together to cover the entire back. On the front, I realized that if I orient the wire so that it is 4x2 instead of 2x4, I can run it from the top to the bottom without cutting it, one piece on each side of the door IF I widened the door. With the door at its original size, there were several inches gap on each side, and I would have had to fill those gaps somehow. So by widening the door, there is now 3' on either side of the door, so one strip of welded wire will do the entire front side. I will also be using it on the door itself, of course, but that will be inside the door frame.