Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

Danz, if you have multiple email addresses, you could for sure sign up with multiple stores to get their flyer. I'm not sure it would work with only one. Thanks for the detailed info on the turkey processing. I had originally thought I was going to get MW's but couldn't find any birds locally and didn't want to take the risk on shipped eggs, so I ended up with the RP's. I'm really happy with them but wonder if the process and plucking will be as smooth with a different breed/larger bird. I guess I will find out later this year.

Yesterday I got all the welded wire on the front and back walls of the hoop coop. The only things left to do are to to the chicken wire reinforcement all around, and build the gate. This morning I went out to do the first check on the flock and half the flock was IN the hoop coop. I guess they're glad I FINALLY built them a cage

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

Danz ~ On those goose eggs, if they were mine and I wanted goslings, they would go right into the incubator with no hesitation. The geese lay so few eggs in a season anyway and with my geese it seemed the earlier eggs were fertile and the later in the season ones were not. And, worse case, if they do not develop, you can feed them to the dogs. Goose eggs are super easy to candle, so between 5 and 10 days it should be very clear which ones are developing.

 

[chicken danz]

I had good luck hatching the sebbie eggs last year so I'm not afraid of incubating. I just hope these boys are smart enough to get the job done. If I had the room I would separate each of the boys with a couple girls and hope for the best but I just don't have a place to do that. I keep getting different information from different people and it's people whom I respect so it puts me in a terrible state of what to do.
I am just so stinking excited about having eggs!!!
I need to get on the wagon and hatch some duck eggs soon. They are starting to lay fairy well when I can figure out where they are laying. That means cranking up more incubators though. I'm just not sure I'm ready for the extra work. I've enjoyed the break from that for a while.
I wish it weren't so bitter cold. I would be working on that hoop coop and planning another. Hechicken I need to take some more pictures of my framing. I did mine differently to support he OSB I am putting on the back for the actual house part. My placement was not only for strength but to support the plywood and have a surface to attach to.
I am just so done with winter. I need to get all my projects done and get busy with breeding. I just can't stand working outside in this weather.
Speaking of which, Josie I don't think I will attempt to come down Saturday. My offer still stands though if I know when you are moving birds I can load up cages and haul them down in the pickup for you...as many as I can fit. Just need to have an idea of when a few days ahead. If the weather isn't perfect I can get DH to leave the old truck with the camper topper on it as well. I am going to be tied up a couple days in the next 3 weeks but other than that am pretty open.
Hechicken I just signed up for the emails. It had a place I could check which stores and it let me select two different ones so that is wonderful. That will be so much help.I need the same kind of thing from the DIY store too. It is in Ottawa and run by Sutherlands but they don't have a website yet.
We do get a flyer now and then but not many.

 

[JosieChick]

Yikes! Ok, I will see what we can get done. Should have gotten it done this weekend, I thought we had Friday to set the posts but DH has to work which I didn't know about.

We have the wire ties for the fencing and the t posts. We don't have the gates yet but the openings I believe are set at 12 feet so plenty of space to drive a truck or tractor through without taking out a post. That explains the ladders I see around here over fencing!!! I always wondered why people did that!

Get those corner posts set. You can't run fencing until they've had a chance to set over night (or for a couple of days-- even better). We set ours in cement, so that will need a couple of days. You have all the wire ties that tie onto the T posts, right? Those go REALLY fast. You string your fencing from one wood post to another (across the pasture) and then you hammer in your T posts and then you go back and tie them on. With several people it can go pretty fast. I would get your gate or even try to set it if you can. If not, it's not that big of a deal. But be sure you have your posts set for your gate. You want that gate big enough to put a truck or tractor through. An idea I got from my dad-- because he grew up on a beef farm-- they were always having to get into the pastures (just walking) and so they would set two wood posts close to each other-- close enough to turn and walk sideways thru, but too close that a horse or cow could get through. Then you don't have to open gates. I had a pony a while back and he would put his shoulders through it-- he was so small, but his belly was too fat and he never did get through ours. Just an idea. I love it because I only have to open gates when I'm actually driving the truck or tractor through, otherwise, I can squeeze right through the opening to the side of the gate. Another cool thing that my dad's farm had-- they had a stretch of wire that went a loooong way and they had built a stair case (looked like a ladder V shape) over the fence. But it didn't go over the top wire-- it went under the top wire. So I remember as a kid walking over that "ladder" to get out into the back 80 to go play down in the pond. But if we used the gates, the cows would all come running. If we walked over the steps or used the openings, the cows would ignore us and leave us alone. Nothing you have to do-- but some great ideas on getting in and out fast with out opening gates.

No worries. It should be around 44 degrees out so not super warm but not awful. We will plan on setting up the dining table in the front room of the house so the kids have a place to hang out and play.

I'm not sure if we all our coming down. The weather is going to be cold and I'm not sure how to keep kids busy while we work. Trying to keep 2 & 4 year old out of trouble is not easy when your trying to get things done

Oh wow!!! What an offer! I am happy to make lunch too for you guys. I was planning on putting a chicken in the crockpot and doing bbq chicken sandwiches and side stuff. I can also get cold cuts or something else if your kiddos have stuff they like too. Do let me know!

Here's a thought about helping with the kids. How about I bring some of my kids to help watch the younger kids? We will pack our own lunch, Josie, no need for you to try to feed all of us. Everyone that has kids can come, just bring whatever you want for them to have snack-wise and a couple toys. My kids are all very good with younger ones and are still young enough themselves to enjoy them. Oldest DD is turning 15 next month and my youngest is 8, though she looks 5. I will probably bring 5 of mine, so there will be plenty of supervision. DH will be working on my pens, so he won't be able to come.

Danz, are you sure you want to come down and NPIP my flock? You are so busy and then with the car situation, I'm just afraid it's just too much. I don't want you to try to make it and then break down on the way. That would be a nightmare. Please don't hesitate to say, if this is just a bad time. I'll save the roos for you, so no need to worry about that. I'm sure I can find someone down here to do the testing.

Awesome!!!!

Josie, Oops -- I forgot to say we have to leave no later than 2:30 to run to El Dorado to see oldest daughter's art work at the museum. So we'll be available to help with kids and whatever until then.

Also being an over mothering person again. The weather is supposed to be be pretty trecherous this week.Further north there is lots of snow predicted but we are down in the freezing rain and snow mix area. The roads are going to be a mess. They are also fearing many broken power lines etc in this area. I hope you decide to stay home mid week or make plans to stay in Andover. I don't want you or my
psuedo granddaughter getting injured.
You are too funny! I am going down tonight and coming back up early in the morning so I will be home during the storm. Don't want to leave my charges here unattended with bad weather.

I don't know where the part about your goose egg went but congrats! I am envious!!! I need to move some of these boys out of here and get the girls set up in their new breeding quarters! You might find that your very early eggs are super dense shells and often don't hatch well. I have read that about sebbies and the first eggs I set last year didn't hatch even though they developed. Very sad.

Wow! I am so excited to have everyone out to help this weekend! We should get a TON done. I may even be able to ship DH back to working on chicken pens with his parents if we are making good progress. That would be awesome because I am not much help to him because I can't lift or carry much these days so I just dawdle around and micro manage the project which I am sure drives him nuts!

If there is anything I can get for kids to do please let me know too! Coloring or other stuff? Any food preferences or dislikes (or allergies!!!)

Thanks so much guys, you are the the BEST!!!

 

[JosieChick]

I am no expert on geese as I have only had them for a year but I have talked to a lot of very reputable breeders that have been working with these geese for a long time and when I first got started they all told me to start with a mature gander that knew how to breed. Younger geese are fine but yearling ganders don't always get the job done well and the first season you may have very low fertility. Ideally it is best to have one gander to one or two geese because they will focus their efforts on breeding and protecting those geese. If you have a bunch of geese and one really dominant gander he may protect all of them but not get them all mated as often as they need to be so your fertility may be spotty at best. It doesn't mean you won't get fertile eggs, you might be lucky and have a boy that figures it out. Or you may have periods of fertility followed by a dry spell.

I have been told not to set the first several eggs because they are in theory very dense shelled. A goose won't set the first dozen eggs she lays either typically so maybe she knows something too. I set the first eggs I got last year and they all died in the shell shortly before hatch day. I don't know why it happened but it did so a lot of breeders don't set the first hand full of eggs. Doesn't mean yours won't hatch, just what breeders have told me.

I have chosen to pen my birds as pairs and trios because I don't want to hatch goslings and not know who the parents are. I plan on playing around with colors and type work so I need to know who throws what for colors/genetic characteristics. I have a sweet goose who has a very flat head so she is going in with a gander with a really nice head in hopes their offspring will show improvement. If not, she will be re paired with someone else next year to see if that makes a difference. I also have a lot of lurking color genetics. I don't know what is hiding beneath the visible color because their were mixed colors in pens my birds came from so I need to experiment to see what pops up for color.

I don't want you to think I am telling you there is one set in stone way to do things. I just respect the several breeders I have had the opportunity to chat with here in Kansas and out of state and have learned a lot from them. They have been at this for ten plus years and know a lot about geese so I follow their lead so I am happy with my breeding program. Its just my two cents but everyone has an opinion and you just have to do what works for you.

I had good luck hatching the sebbie eggs last year so I'm not afraid of incubating. I just hope these boys are smart enough to get the job done. If I had the room I would separate each of the boys with a couple girls and hope for the best but I just don't have a place to do that. I keep getting different information from different people and it's people whom I respect so it puts me in a terrible state of what to do.
I am just so stinking excited about having eggs!!!
I need to get on the wagon and hatch some duck eggs soon. They are starting to lay fairy well when I can figure out where they are laying. That means cranking up more incubators though. I'm just not sure I'm ready for the extra work. I've enjoyed the break from that for a while.
I wish it weren't so bitter cold. I would be working on that hoop coop and planning another. Hechicken I need to take some more pictures of my framing. I did mine differently to support he OSB I am putting on the back for the actual house part. My placement was not only for strength but to support the plywood and have a surface to attach to.
I am just so done with winter. I need to get all my projects done and get busy with breeding. I just can't stand working outside in this weather.
Speaking of which, Josie I don't think I will attempt to come down Saturday. My offer still stands though if I know when you are moving birds I can load up cages and haul them down in the pickup for you...as many as I can fit. Just need to have an idea of when a few days ahead. If the weather isn't perfect I can get DH to leave the old truck with the camper topper on it as well. I am going to be tied up a couple days in the next 3 weeks but other than that am pretty open.
No worries! We have friends that are going to haul a big horse stock trailer up and load all the birds into it and haul them down but I will let you know if we are in a pinch and need to move more that don't fit or something. I think we can get them all moved in one trip in the trailer. Geese in the front stock partition loose and then the rest of the birds in carriers. I need to move a few more birds here but have had a lot of people flake out on me. So aggravating. I may just get that auction info from you and pack up everyone to sell at once. Do you ever have birds that don't sell?
Hechicken I just signed up for the emails. It had a place I could check which stores and it let me select two different ones so that is wonderful. That will be so much help.I need the same kind of thing from the DIY store too. It is in Ottawa and run by Sutherlands but they don't have a website yet.
We do get a flyer now and then but not many.

Hawkeye- How many fence tie things (the tool) do we need to have? Should I pick up a few more?

HEchicken- I may take you up on the offer for the tool but if we do make sure you write your name on it or something so we get it back to you! I hate it when we accidentally steal people's tools and I know they aren't ours but don't know who they belong to so we can return them!

 

[JosieChick]

Danz- If it were my birds I would crack one egg to check fertility because if you set it you will have to wait another week to know if it is developing. I was just thinking that if you crack one egg you will know if they are fertile and if not you can move ganders out now and give the new gander time to start mating the geese. So you wouldn't "lose" a whole two weeks of eggs while the ganders who potentially aren't getting the girls mated are still in there and then the period of the new gander settling in with the girls. That was my thought process because they only lay about 40 eggs at best in a season so I personally would hate to "lose" eggs during a time when you could make a change today versus waiting a week to make that change. If that makes any sense....

 

[Trish44]

Well I'm having trouble with the multi quotes today, so I'll just wing it.

Karen, I'm glad Jorgie is doing well, it's so hard to see your pet suffering. Those little dogs are just part of the family, I know ours are. My DH spoils these two we have more than I could have ever imagined he would since he originally said he didn't like dogs. He sure does now though, they have him wrapped around their little paws! I put your eggs in the incubator today, so keep your fingers crossed. There may be one that didn't develop, but those blue eggs are just so hard to see in, so we'll see. I set 17 eggs in the Hovabator today, so I hope it goes well. I still have a few later ones in the big cabinet that will be a few days behind yet. I just kept collecting them & putting them in since I had to run it anyway. Then after a point the hen quit laying now, so these may be it for awhile. Some of the ones that had started to lay have now decided to quit, I don't know if it's the weather or what. We haven't had much sun lately & the ones in pens don't get that much light with all the tarps on. I will be glad to get some of them moved to their new digs soon, but the weather isn't being too cooperative this week either.

chickies-duckies, thanks for sharing that link for the duck nests, that's interesting. I don't have ducks, but I have other birds. I put an old tire in my peafowl/guinea pen. I still plan to build a box for my turkeys yet, but other things are priorities right now.

Josie, I sent you a PM about the gates, yes I did get them figured out, thanks for your input. I'll take pics when I get a chance, I've just been really busy taking advantage of the warmer days. Yesterday I didn't get too much done with both the wind & running around taking goats for a ride in the car. Some of you already know what I mean, but I took them back to the other friend's house yesterday & she is trying to save the little buck because he isn't doing well.

HEChicken, it sounds like you have the hoop house all figured out, that's good. With all the different ways everyone is doing things we all should compare notes & get it all documented. I still have one to build yet for my broilers coming in April.

Well better get moving here, I'm not getting anything done sitting here. I hope you all stay warm & watch out tomorrow, we all have some nasty weather coming our way. Those of us in the southern part of the state probably are getting ice, ugh I hate that worse than anything. I would rather have the snow any day. Everybody be careful & stay warm!

 

[chicken danz]

So I've managed to blow the whole morning this morning but I needed a day to recoop before getting out and working.
Josie your information does make sense. So maybe if I keep in mind it probably wouldn't hatch I can crack the first eggs without feeling like I killed a goosey! I do hope they are fertile just the same. I wish I had a way to divide all the boys. I can put them in a pen all together if I have to.
I wish I could get DH to come to Andover. Saturday is his day off and I know he won't consider it since he is working so many hours. I told you you could count on me, and I didn't even think about all that would be going on here. I so wish I was closer down there. I feel like I am really letting you down. But at the same time I feel guilty leaving him on his day off since he is gone so much. I am sure he never realizes the things I see as sacrifice I do to make him happy. Can you PM your address to me just in case?
He could use experience doing some fencing. And he would be just like Hawkeye's DH that everything had to be perfect. I sure wish he'd take an interest in things like that. I might jsut put the idea in his head and see how he reacts. Right now anything I've mentioned comes back in a form of complaining about all that isn't getting done.
Men!!

Trish, the hoop houses are so versatile you can do a lot of things to make them fit different circumstances. That is their beauty. I can't wait to get mine done. I think it would be awesome to have a whole row of them for different breeding pens. I just keep dreaming. I guess I should quit planning more than one project at a time.

 

[michelleml]

Josie & deerfield sounds great as long as weather is good you can count us is. The kids will love having someone to play with

 

[CanChaser]

Danz, I'm in Hiawatha.