Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Just popping in to post a snow pic. Have never really noticed how "red" my coop was until all this snow.


Hope everyone has a good day. Another work snow day for me (2 in a row WTH).
New batch of chicks set to arrive in just under 2 weeks. Hoping that the weather is good when they get here. Have read that a number of people that had hatchery orders arrive this week had a LOT of loss upon arrival. Just way too cold I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that things warm up a bit in the next 10 days.

Just gorgeous!! I love that coop! Excited for your new arrivals!!

Wow this snow is terrible. I need to shove my path to the chickens again and get their roof cleared. I sure hope this is the end of all this. My birds wont go out in the deep snow. So they are bored and picking on each other in the coop. Time to add some things for them to play with. Everyone stay warm and safe today.

It is hard to walk thru the snow, but there's no way I'm shoveling a path out to them. But I did clear an area in their run and threw down seed. Right now, my DH has the front plow on our tractor and is trying to plow a path out of our drive!

Well I see you all are buried in snow. I know we needed the moisture badly, but not all at once! We didn't get as much as some of you north of here, but enough that we can only get our 4 wheel drive old truck out. My DH has made it to work driving it, but I'm stuck in here. I just have him bring whatever I need from the store when he comes back. We had some yummy potato soup last night, I haven't made that in a long time, but it really sounded good.

So far my chickens & other birds seem to be making it OK, but I can tell they're getting really bored staying in the coop & run. I open the door to the run & the come & look out & go no way.

All of the eggs that were going to hatch for this batch have hatched but one & it's still in the process. I'll get pics after while. I'm going to have to wade out to the garage to get a crate to put them in for now because I still have the two bigger chicks in the water trough in the house. I have about 6 more eggs still in the incubator that are due in the next few days. Actually one of them needs to go into lockdown today, but I want to get those messy chicks out of the hatcher & clean it out before I put any more eggs in there, they have made a big mess. Karen, I don't have as many yet as you were wanting, 4 of them stopped developing & one just didn't make it to hatch. We'll see what the rest of the ones in the incubator still do, hopefully I'll be able to come up with the number you're wanting. The hen has stopped laying again for now I think due to the weather, in fact none of my breeder hens are laying now, only my laying flock is.

Well I hope you all can stay warm today, it is actually way colder today than it was here yesterday. It's supposed to be back in the 40s for the weekend, not what I had hoped but I'll take it over the 16 degrees it is right now.

Well thanks to this post, I just had to whip up potato soup tonight! Eating it now! Sooooo good. I love potato soup and I try to keep all the ingredients on hand. I'm not getting eggs either.

Well all is well in my neck of the woods. We did not get the snow most of you got, we got sleet, bout 3 inches of it. The TV reported that the amount of sleet we recieved would be the same as most of you with the snow. Same amount of moisture in 3 inches of sleet as a foot of snow. I know the wateris everywhere out side. Course we did get some freezing rain.
Heard a baby goat cry, went out the the north goat barn, and behold not one baby but 3! Twins to one momma, a a single to anouther. All are doing well. I did not take them to the barn, they were up and nursing, took pictures on my phone, have to transfer to computer, I will post them later.

The heater guy is supposed to be here this after noon, we are about 60 in the house, my DH thinks he is freezing. Its a little cool, but up doing house work, I am staying about right.

I hope the guys show up to work on the barn, but I bet they don't, so it will be monday before work resumes out there. Course, we still have to run the electric, which I suppose we could start doing.

Dr. Garten with the USDA will be here Thursday to test my flock again. He is really super nice. The lady that helps him comes all the way from Topeka, and the Dr. Garten is somewhere north of Parsons. I will be glad to get that out of the way.

Well after the show at Pryor, I am going to go in to cull mode.

Its so hard to pull something out of the pen you have watched grow thru incubations, chick stage thru adult hood, and then, "Boom" they are gone. Some of them may not be that bad, and would be good 4H projects for a year, but then they want to breed, and trouble starts, and I just cannot let that happen. So......

Hope everyone takes it easy in the snow, and all birds are doing ok. Warmer days are ahead.

Hope your heater is running and warming the house before night fall! Good luck! Very cool that you have someone scheduled to test your flock! He and his helper sure are traveling a long way to get to you! I hate to cull, it's so darn hard. I really need to ship!! Good luck with your culling!

So, yesterday, DH was buzzing around here with the snow blower, just having a blast. A neighbor took his tractor and blade to the roads which was totally awesome of him. We're in great shape, except... DH was sick all night with the stomach bug. WTH? I, in my ear plugs and face mask, slept through all the action and he didn't bother to wake me since I already have this congestion in my chest. Bummer, for sure. DD had a tiny little tummy bug a couple days ago -- this is what happens to old parents with lots of kids. Poor hubs.

Oh no! Your poor DH! That is miserable. I always wake up my DH when I'm sick like that. I just hate being miserable alone. ha! I just want him to eyeball me and ask if I want a cool wash cloth and I'm good to go.

Yup, lots of food on hand. Will work on getting out today, they finally plowed the road so that is good news. I wish we had a tractor to move the snow bank from the plow. Will have to work on it a bit at a time...I got my car stuck last night too!!! I was trying to get some tracks going in the snow so I was rocking it back and forth and got a little carried away because it was going so well and got stuck. Ooops.
Very cute! I think the weather is going to be warmer by the time your chicks come, hope they all arrive in fine shape!
Awesome! I will send you a PM.

I definitely feel buried. It is frustrating because I am from Maine and this kind of snow is nothing where I lived most of my life but here it is just ridiculous. I feel like I am going to be stuck for days getting dug out.

Did you get any wheaten ameraucana eggs to hatch?
Awwww to baby goats! Doens't it always seem like animals decide to give birth in the worst weather? I remember when we worked at a broodmare barn when I was a kid in 4-H the mares always foaled on the most terrible nights for weather. I wonder if there is some protective mechanism there, like less predators out hunting due to bad weather....
Oh bummer. Poor DH. Maybe I need ear plugs and a face mask for snoring....
Well our road is plowed. Now I need to start slowly removing the snow bank so I can get out at some point. Sigh. Guess I will get a lot of painting done being trapped here. I had a rooster that wasn't feeling well yesterday so I brought him in the house in a crate and he must be better this morning because I got a wake up call at 6 AM! Ugh. Silly boy.

Hope everyone has a good day and gets out of their driveways! Be careful!

Be careful with whatever you do. You could pull a stomach muscle and that would be painful! That is interesting about the mares brooding in bad weather. That always happened to us too. We would have our mare stalled though when it was down to a few days at night. (not during the day) Glad your roo is feeling better. Hope he's okay today.

Well we'll see what happens if you want to wait until all the eggs have hatched that are incubating or at least the next 4. There are 7 so far, I'm pretty sure that's what I counted & then there is one egg due Sunday & one Monday & one Weds. & one Thurs. Then the last two aren't due until the 4th of March, those were several days behind the others. I was going to go take pics, but they're all chilling right now under the Ecoglow. I should have taken a pic before I moved them, but I had to hurry & get them all moved after I got their crate set up because they were picking on the newest little Salmon Faverolle & I wanted to get the ornery little buggers out of there so it can rest & dry out. I'll try to move the Ecoglow later on & take some pics of them all. There just isn't anything cuter than a fluffy little chick!

On a brighter note, my little goat Penny is doing very well, I will post a pic of her so you can see her, she is eating like a little pig & growing. I can't wait to get a pen & shelter built for her & bring her home. Then I have to find her a friend because I don't want her to be lonely.

Agreed, fluffy little chicks are sooo sweet and adorable! That goat is adorable! I'm guessing the little boy didn't make it?? That is sooo sad!

We got about 9-10 in snow. My birds are not happy plus I seem to have caught something stomach pain and my bones hurt so bad. Thank God my hubby is trying to keep things going. I hope everyone is warm and safe. If anyone has a remedy for ache bones please let me know

oh no! I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. I like to drink tea when I'm sick. I am an asprin user, just because of my condition-- less ways to stroke or have a heart attack if you're taking it. I don't know what cures achy bones, I had that when I have Flu over christmas. So if you are starting in with flu, there's no way around it. I just took asprin for it. Again, so sorry you are feeling crummy.

 

[Frizzled Pink]

Hi everyone.

Looks like there have been a lot of special arrivals or soon to be arrivals happening. How exciting!

Trish that little goat is a super cute lil girl!

Josie sorry about the phooey "not buyers", they don't know what great birds they just missed out on

Maidenwolf -what are you giving the chickens to play with?

So sorry for all that are not feeling well, I don't have any remedy for aches other than to hope Spring along faster for you

Hawkeye looks like you had a fun snowball fight

For you experienced folks, is there any truth to girl chicks feather out faster than boys? Of my 5 (cochin) chicks 4 really have a lot of feather and 1 doesn't. My assumption is that its going to be the other way around because my luck would always give me 4 roosters to 1 hen, or 5 roosters and 0 hens

.

 

[blueeyeskms]

Thanks chicken danz for your reply. I'll PM you again soon. Things got kinda busy with this weather!

Anyone else have any of the below breeds by chance that they could spare some chicks in a few weeks. Really wanting chicks week of March 19.

I am sooo super frustrated at the moment! I ordered 40+ hatching eggs for my incubator. They were scheduled to arrive yesterday morning (yes, I know, of all days!). They show departing the Kansas City terminal in the early morning yesterday - probably about the time the blizzard of oz was starting. Well, you guessed it - they are still not here!!! And no, heat packs were not used. Didn't think I would need them for a two day priority trip. Bought from a reputable person on many sites and all I keep getting is disclaimer (not my responsibility) replies when I let said person know that the eggs are still not here. I fully realize it is not said person's responsibility!!! Grrr....

Thanks for letting me vent!

Quote:

I'm new on here and I need some help please. I'm trying to locate breeders for the following breeds: Welsummer, Wheaten Ameracauna, Lavender, Lemon Cuckoo & Splash Orp, Light & Bruff Brahma, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Auracona, Silver Pencil Plymouth, Black Copper Maran. Please lead me in the right direction or let me know if you have something to offer!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Frizzled Pink, LOL! Sounds like you and I have the same kind of luck.

Hawkeye, I know what you're saying. I want a little sympathy when I'm sick. I would wake him up in a heartbeat and he knows it. I think he's too kind.

Come on Spring!!! We are all tired of being sick and cold.

Danz, you need a building. I have an army of kids to handle things here and we want our birds in that unfinished part of the shop, pronto! We're lucky we didn't have to deal with this multiple times over the winter. I wasn't happy about the lack of moisture but wow! is this a lot of work with all this snow!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Trish, I can come pick up most of the chicks on Monday and then when the others are ready, meet you when you come to Derby? If you would prefer I just make one trip, I'll wait till they are all ready. Really, I'm open to whatever you prefer. I'm looking forward to having them keep me company in the craft room. What fun!

blueeyeskms, so sorry you're eggs got caught in the blizzard of oz, but the blizzard of oz is too funny. I would be a basket case also, if they were my eggs.

 

[chicken danz]

Thanks chicken danz for your reply. I'll PM you again soon. Things got kinda busy with this weather!

Anyone else have any of the below breeds by chance that they could spare some chicks in a few weeks. Really wanting chicks week of March 19.

I am sooo super frustrated at the moment! I ordered 40+ hatching eggs for my incubator. They were scheduled to arrive yesterday morning (yes, I know, of all days!). They show departing the Kansas City terminal in the early morning yesterday - probably about the time the blizzard of oz was starting. Well, you guessed it - they are still not here!!! And no, heat packs were not used. Didn't think I would need them for a two day priority trip. Bought from a reputable person on many sites and all I keep getting is disclaimer (not my responsibility) replies when I let said person know that the eggs are still not here. I fully realize it is not said person's responsibility!!! Grrr....

Thanks for letting me vent!

Quote:

Blueeyes I didn't get mail until 6:00 pm yesterday. And none the day before. One thing I always request is that they write DO NOT FREEZE on the box and NEVER let them put anything about live embryos or eggs on the box. Your eggs will be destroyed at KC sorting facility if they do, 9 out of 10 times. My carrier just knows if it says DNF it's probably going to be eggs and carries them to the house or puts them in a vehicle if we aren't home so they stay warm. I've had stuff sit at the sorting facility 2 days before. When they closed Topeka, they ruined our mail service.
I've complained about the sorting facility but with now response.
Most buyers won't guarantee their eggs against that sort of thing but I have had a couple rare ones send more eggs for postage. But those are very rare. Shipping eggs is a risky business for sure. If they get thrown around too much ...their fried...or might as well be. And I've bought eggs from some of the top breeders in the nation that don't know how to pack them properly. So you never know.
I wish I had a few mini coops I could separate the breeds you want for the kinds you want. Even many of the plans I had are on hold thanks to this stinking weather.

I looked at those little coops on sale and they were cute but total trash. They would have been destroyed in one season if something didn't get into them. I just wanted to use one as a model to build others but it wasn't worth the price of the coop to ever do that. So I guess when I can get back out there I need to refocus on the chicken palace trailer. Not that I have a place ready to put it. I am so over having to drag hoses and feed and water 30 some different places in bad weather.
Josie I keep asking but you still haven't posted pictures of your new chicken building yet. I want to see what you are doing. I really want to make some back up plans for the chickens just in case.

Quote:

Trish, I can come pick up most of the chicks on Monday and then when the others are ready, meet you when you come to Derby? If you would prefer I just make one trip, I'll wait till they are all ready. Really, I'm open to whatever you prefer. I'm looking forward to having them keep me company in the craft room. What fun!
Hey! Don't forget you have an appointment Monday!!

blueeyeskms, so sorry you're eggs got caught in the blizzard of oz, but the blizzard of oz is too funny. I would be a basket case also, if they were my eggs.

Trish all the talk about the baby goats makes me miss mine. I won't get another one no matter how cute they are. I would be living alone if I did. DH hated my goats.
So my car shopping is going downhill. My tastes are higher than my budget obviously. I am so spoiled to my creature comforts. I qualify for a great or 0 interest rate but I just can't see making those payments. I don't want to spend money on a worn out piece of crap.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hi all. It's been 23 crazy days since I've been on here. I hope that everyone is well. Our Internet has been miserably slow and discourages me from checking in.

A few weeks ago my 11yo dd asked her dad to build her some dog kennels because she wants to raise and breed dogs. Of course, he had to tell her no but we told her that she could practice on chickens any breed she would like. Her 9yo sister wanted in on that one too. So my 11yo wants silkies and my 9yo would like Cochins.

The morning after this deal, my 11yo searched online and found both types nearby and we went right over and purchased chicks. It turned out that these chicks were very sick and its been a long rough ride to get them well and I still worry about relapses and if they could still pass it on to the other ones. These chicks have been well for a week now and are still isolated from others, we've had them for 3 weeks. About the same time, we got a call from a nearby lady who needed help with her dog kennel. She has over 100 breeders and is unable to leave for anything because she has no one to take care of things. We all know how that goes. So, for 4 weeks now the kids and I have been working there every morning. This will give my daughter the experience she is wanting without us having to take responsibility for it all. I'm using this as a school project in several subjects but boy are we all worn out. Wednesday we had our first trial run to manage the kennel on our own with her there if needed.today she was going to really be gone to deliver a dog to the airport. Well, she left but will be cutting her trip short.

I got a call from my oldest dd this morning and her water broke and its 3 weeks early. Roads are snow packed according to kdot going west so we booked a flight out of Tulsa. I'm so anxious and excited but also panicked about leaving my own kids. I have fancy eggs due to hatch this weekend and I hope everyone handles it well. I will head back home in 7-10 days I think, maybe, I guess we will have to see how it goes.

Considering how sick the chicks we just purchased we're, I would like to not breed them later. Does anyone have information about that? Should I be concerned about passing it down? I will be looking for a few silkies(chicks, chickens, or eggs) in splash or to make splash I have no idea what I'm doing. We will need Cochins too, preferably not black. Please pm me.

We have our brooder room pretty maxed out right now. Somehow we have crossed a line in this chicken thing. We have over 100 bigger ones and over 75 in the brooder. I have 32 in one pen that are white rock and new hamp red, mostly pullets. Another has 12 buff orp and 12 new hamp pullets. I have 5 fancy orps out there and another 12 from my hatch last time. How many is that? I lost count. I have 25 more black sex link and red sex link I already paid for but didn't pick up still. Plus the incubator.

My plan was to breed for sex links but now I'm rethinking because I'm not sure that I care what sex they are at hatch and I'm getting better at telling anyway. I'm just really loving the orpingtons and rocks and the reds just aren't as appealing to me for whatever reason.

Another thing I've been meaning to mention on here, I have a 15 passenger van that I really don't NEED anymore but I love it and would like to find a way to make it useful to keep it. If anyone would like to set up something so we could all go to a chicken event together I think that could be great fun. Well, I'm sure it won't fit all of us but you know what I mean. I also have a trailer of medium size we could use if we don't have enough room for transporting everything we need inside the van. Something just to keep in mind I guess.

Does anyone have any input about the illness that we experienced? They had runny noses and it stunk so badly and very swollen eyes, they weren't eating or drinking well. The kennel owner gave me some gentamycin, she called her vet to ask. We put 1 ml in 3ml of saline and used in the nebulizer which blew into a tiny shoe box sized tub. I did that for several days and then feared it wasn't working and dug through my people medicine cabinet and gave doxycycline in their water for a week, they were 100 mg capsules and I put about 1/3 into a pint of water and changed it 2x per day. That was enough for 6 chicks. The morning after starting doxycline they were improving, so I don't feel sure what made them get better. When the medicine ran out I started adding electrolytes and probiotics to replace their flora after the meds. Also, the lady I got them from checked on them every day, she offered to take them back too. She would either come by or call me. Two weeks ago, she called because she found mites on hers, this was my first experience with mites or illness in my chickens. I checked mine and they had them too. It was interesting though. At the time I had the 1 silkie in the house because her fuzzy head would get stuck to her beak and hinder her breathing more. She was by far the sickest. I had just bathed her to get rid of the stink and get her beak and face cleaned well. She had only a few mites. The others I hadn't bathed clearly had more. So I bathed them all, the next day at recheck all were mite free except for 1 that was very infested. I bathed them all again. As of 2 weeks later, mine did not get a recurrence of mites but I will have to have the kids keep checking for me now. Also, I applied olive oil under their wings where I found the most. I'm not sure what worked, but it does seem like a reasonable solution for not so many chicks. I did buy some duramycin in the powder from Orscheln's just in case it came back but so far so good. That about sums up all of the excitement around here. I think I will have more time to catch up on the last 23 days of posts that I haven't got to read yet.

Many congratulations to your daughter on her baby! Very exciting times! Do you live in the Wichita area? I don't remember where you are. I would guess the antibiotics fixed your birds up, it sounds like they had a very nasty infection. That smell you talked about reminds me about a disease I read about not too long ago--- I'm going to try to remember what it was.. Okay, I think I found it here: http://www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/15/ "Infectious Coryza". Pretty serious, can not be over come without antibiotics. Fetid smell is associated with it. This is pretty serious. I'm guessing they caught this from the breeder?? Anyone else have ideas on where they caught that? I've never dealt with it. You were lucky they responded to the treatment you gave them. I would have thought their only chance of survival would have been an OxyTet or tetracycline, Denagard, etc... something fairly strong and Duramycin isn't really that strong, but better than nothing. Duramycin is more of a broad spectrum, though. This might even have called for Baytril! I had to do that once! I injected Baytril in some sick birds and it finally kicked it. They had a sneeze, runny nose and lethargy. Baytril crosses the membrane of the brain, so if it's a serious infection, it can be the only thing to work.

So sorry for all that are not feeling well, I don't have any remedy for aches other than to hope Spring along faster for you

Hawkeye looks like you had a fun snowball fight

For you experienced folks, is there any truth to girl chicks feather out faster than boys? Of my 5 (cochin) chicks 4 really have a lot of feather and 1 doesn't. My assumption is that its going to be the other way around because my luck would always give me 4 roosters to 1 hen, or 5 roosters and 0 hens

.

No idea on boys vs girls. I doubt it is with all breeds. The kids have had a lot of fun in the snow. But it's created a lot of laundry as they come in with wet clothing and change.

Anyone else have any of the below breeds by chance that they could spare some chicks in a few weeks. Really wanting chicks week of March 19.

I am sooo super frustrated at the moment! I ordered 40+ hatching eggs for my incubator. They were scheduled to arrive yesterday morning (yes, I know, of all days!). They show departing the Kansas City terminal in the early morning yesterday - probably about the time the blizzard of oz was starting. Well, you guessed it - they are still not here!!! And no, heat packs were not used. Didn't think I would need them for a two day priority trip. Bought from a reputable person on many sites and all I keep getting is disclaimer (not my responsibility) replies when I let said person know that the eggs are still not here. I fully realize it is not said person's responsibility!!! Grrr....

Thanks for letting me vent!

Quote:

I have none of those breeds. I'm really sorry about your eggs. I hate to see anyone totally out of their money, but that is definitely how it goes. Having eggs shipped right now is so risky! I have contacted a well known breeder for some eggs too, but only to get on her list for warmer weather! ha! The thing is, that if I shipped and then had them freeze, it would take me forever to get back on her list-- she has so many people wanting eggs. They would be next in line. I'm thinking April or May-- it's later than I want them, but at the prices she is charging, I can NOT risk them freezing.

Frizzled Pink, LOL! Sounds like you and I have the same kind of luck.

Hawkeye, I know what you're saying. I want a little sympathy when I'm sick. I would wake him up in a heartbeat and he knows it. I think he's too kind.

Come on Spring!!! We are all tired of being sick and cold.

Danz, you need a building. I have an army of kids to handle things here and we want our birds in that unfinished part of the shop, pronto! We're lucky we didn't have to deal with this multiple times over the winter. I wasn't happy about the lack of moisture but wow! is this a lot of work with all this snow!

Exactly! Just want him to KNOW I'm sick. hahaha! Danz does need a barn-- she needs a big 'ole barn raising.


I have Mr Meat in the barn and yesterday was the first day his water froze. I knew it was only time. The barn is so well insulated for some reason, his water has not frozen before then! Even thru the snow storm, etc!! SO I was getting out stuff to make another cookie tin heater for him and I thought i had everything and realized that I have no more ceramic light sockets. BUmmer! I need to run to Lowes here in a bit and go get one (or two... just to be prepared to making another one). I had everything else. I thought i'd have it made and put out there by now. Sigh. Anyway, I better get on that soon, I guess. Is it true we're getting more snow on Monday?!?! Yikes!!

 

[Trish44]

Trish, I can come pick up most of the chicks on Monday and then when the others are ready, meet you when you come to Derby? If you would prefer I just make one trip, I'll wait till they are all ready. Really, I'm open to whatever you prefer. I'm looking forward to having them keep me company in the craft room. What fun!

blueeyeskms, so sorry you're eggs got caught in the blizzard of oz, but the blizzard of oz is too funny. I would be a basket case also, if they were my eggs.

Karen, I sent you a PM.

Well darn I'm hearing we're supposed to be getting more snow Sunday & Monday. Geez this stuff is awful, it's hard to walk in it & my pens are hard to get into, I'm sure the same as the rest of you. I'm so tired of this junk already I could scream & now more is coming & no warmer weather either. I'm afraid we're all going to have to hunker down the best we can & try to get through this, I just hate it. My DH took the old truck to work again today so when he gets back this evening I'm going to have him take me to the store to get groceries. We still can't get our cars out here, they haven't moved since it snowed. Ugh, I thought we were supposed to have an early spring!

blueyeskms, I'm sorry about your eggs, this is an awful time to try to get eggs or chicks, there have been quite a few losses lately I've been hearing about.

Well I think I'm going to have to bundle myself up & go out & put up some plastic on the one side of the new coop I have the pen done for. Yesterday I went out to try to get the pen door open where my Salmon Faverolles are currently camped & thought I would never get the door open. I can't have them stuck in there with no way to get food or water to them, so I think I'm going to have to take what pine shavings I have & put some on their floor in the coop & I will have to put their food & water inside the coop because the snow is too deep in the pen to put it out there. What a mess! I guess I had better get moving to get some things done here. You all stay warm & dry if you can today!

 

[chicken danz]

Many congratulations to your daughter on her baby! Very exciting times! Do you live in the Wichita area? I don't remember where you are. I would guess the antibiotics fixed your birds up, it sounds like they had a very nasty infection. That smell you talked about reminds me about a disease I read about not too long ago--- I'm going to try to remember what it was.. Okay, I think I found it here: http://www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/15/ "Infectious Coryza". Pretty serious, can not be over come without antibiotics. Fetid smell is associated with it. This is pretty serious. I'm guessing they caught this from the breeder?? Anyone else have ideas on where they caught that? I've never dealt with it. You were lucky they responded to the treatment you gave them. I would have thought their only chance of survival would have been an OxyTet or tetracycline, Denagard, etc... something fairly strong and Duramycin isn't really that strong, but better than nothing. Duramycin is more of a broad spectrum, though. This might even have called for Baytril! I had to do that once! I injected Baytril in some sick birds and it finally kicked it. They had a sneeze, runny nose and lethargy. Baytril crosses the membrane of the brain, so if it's a serious infection, it can be the only thing to work.
Infectious Coryza is one of those diseases you might as well just cull your flock and burn the barn as they say. Luckily it is more of a tropical disease. Our climate thank heavens is too cold for it to survive here. But I thought the symptoms sounded about right. I guess this lady could have had infected birds shipped in.
Mammahen lives down by Humbolt by the way. She is in Colorado with her daughter. She just sent me a picture!! Awwww! I'll let her fill in the details when she can.

No idea on boys vs girls. I doubt it is with all breeds. The kids have had a lot of fun in the snow. But it's created a lot of laundry as they come in with wet clothing and change.
Girls will usually grow a tail faster than boys in most breeds but that isn't 100%.
I have none of those breeds. I'm really sorry about your eggs. I hate to see anyone totally out of their money, but that is definitely how it goes. Having eggs shipped right now is so risky! I have contacted a well known breeder for some eggs too, but only to get on her list for warmer weather! ha! The thing is, that if I shipped and then had them freeze, it would take me forever to get back on her list-- she has so many people wanting eggs. They would be next in line. I'm thinking April or May-- it's later than I want them, but at the prices she is charging, I can NOT risk them freezing.


Exactly! Just want him to KNOW I'm sick. hahaha! Danz does need a barn-- she needs a big 'ole barn raising.
I could afford to buy a barn kit but I can't afford to pay the builders. Everyone around here is working at the nuke plant for the outage so finding any one to work on anything around here is impossible right now. It's a long outage too. I'd buy the materials but don't have a good place to store them out of the weather until I can get some one to help. I guess I'd better just keep with the current plan for now. Dang it! Days like yesterday made me really want to get done with downsizing.
I have Mr Meat in the barn and yesterday was the first day his water froze. I knew it was only time. The barn is so well insulated for some reason, his water has not frozen before then! Even thru the snow storm, etc!! SO I was getting out stuff to make another cookie tin heater for him and I thought i had everything and realized that I have no more ceramic light sockets. BUmmer! I need to run to Lowes here in a bit and go get one (or two... just to be prepared to making another one). I had everything else. I thought i'd have it made and put out there by now. Sigh. Anyway, I better get on that soon, I guess. Is it true we're getting more snow on Monday?!?! Yikes!!
I have three cookie tin heaters ready to wire up. I just haven't done so. I was actually thinking of putting some under food pans for the FF as well. There is just enough alcohol in it it takes a little longer to freeze solid but will eventually. It got down to 2 degrees here last night. Now they are predicting another 6 inches of snow Monday!!

Trish I am so with you on this stinking weather. We could have gotten it a little at a time. It's going to be muddy but it won't be all that great because the ground is frozen so it will run off more than soak in.
I'm afraid any eggs any one laid are toast. I doubt I'll get my egg orders filled this week. Last week I actually had some extra. No one is sitting on eggs right now so I am sure anything in the coops froze.

 

[JosieChick]

Oh hope you feel better soon! Warm bath and some tylenol for the aches?

We got about 9-10 in snow. My birds are not happy plus I seem to have caught something stomach pain and my bones hurt so bad. Thank God my hubby is trying to keep things going. I hope everyone is warm and safe. If anyone has a remedy for ache bones please let me know

I bet the pups are loving this weather! Does your mail man pick up eggs from your house?

The puppies are out running around in it having a ball. They are loving their freedom. It is so cute to watch them stop dead in their tracks and listen when the adults bark at something. Some of them even started barking along with them. I love this awesome breed.
My mail man hasn't made it yet today. I had eggs going out but looks like they may have to be brought back in. I waited until time for him to come before I took them out.
I am still dealing with these car dealerships. What part of I don't want to come take a test drive in the snow do they not understand. Now I'm wondering if I want to buy a new car or keep hoarding my money to buy a building. I need transportation. If I didn't have to have all wheel drive it would be easy and I could get by cheap.

Oh, so sorry about your sick chicks. That sounds terrible. Congrats on your grandbaby though!!! SO exciting!

Hi all. It's been 23 crazy days since I've been on here. I hope that everyone is well. Our Internet has been miserably slow and discourages me from checking in.

A few weeks ago my 11yo dd asked her dad to build her some dog kennels because she wants to raise and breed dogs. Of course, he had to tell her no but we told her that she could practice on chickens any breed she would like. Her 9yo sister wanted in on that one too. So my 11yo wants silkies and my 9yo would like Cochins.

The morning after this deal, my 11yo searched online and found both types nearby and we went right over and purchased chicks. It turned out that these chicks were very sick and its been a long rough ride to get them well and I still worry about relapses and if they could still pass it on to the other ones. These chicks have been well for a week now and are still isolated from others, we've had them for 3 weeks. About the same time, we got a call from a nearby lady who needed help with her dog kennel. She has over 100 breeders and is unable to leave for anything because she has no one to take care of things. We all know how that goes. So, for 4 weeks now the kids and I have been working there every morning. This will give my daughter the experience she is wanting without us having to take responsibility for it all. I'm using this as a school project in several subjects but boy are we all worn out. Wednesday we had our first trial run to manage the kennel on our own with her there if needed.today she was going to really be gone to deliver a dog to the airport. Well, she left but will be cutting her trip short.

I got a call from my oldest dd this morning and her water broke and its 3 weeks early. Roads are snow packed according to kdot going west so we booked a flight out of Tulsa. I'm so anxious and excited but also panicked about leaving my own kids. I have fancy eggs due to hatch this weekend and I hope everyone handles it well. I will head back home in 7-10 days I think, maybe, I guess we will have to see how it goes.

Oh I am. I have been doing a little at a time and actually I have something that is twinging in my wrist but my back and belly are feeling fine! The roo is fine, he needs to go back out. I think he had so much ice on his behind he didn't want to walk! Big fluffy cochin booty!
Be careful with whatever you do. You could pull a stomach muscle and that would be painful! That is interesting about the mares brooding in bad weather. That always happened to us too. We would have our mare stalled though when it was down to a few days at night. (not during the day) Glad your roo is feeling better. Hope he's okay today.

Bantam cochin pullets will feather out faster than cockerels. The pullets get their wings and most of their body feathers in and the boys will get just their primaries and a strip along their back and the rest is ugly fuzz for a bit. They get bigger but feather slower and really are pretty unattractive for a bit! You should search through the cochin thread because I know there are some pics on there showing how to feather sex very young chicks. It is fairly accurate.
For you experienced folks, is there any truth to girl chicks feather out faster than boys? Of my 5 (cochin) chicks 4 really have a lot of feather and 1 doesn't. My assumption is that its going to be the other way around because my luck would always give me 4 roosters to 1 hen, or 5 roosters and 0 hens

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I gave up having eggs shipped here. I used to down in Wichita and had pretty good hatches. Up here if the box is marked fragile or in any way indicates there are eggs in it they beat the box to pieces. Jerks.

I promise I will get pics next time I am down there. I keep forgetting my camera up here. And I am stuck here for the weekend anyway and the pens are buried under a foot of snow. We don't have the coops built yet but we are doing all open air coops and making the pens really secure so the birds never have to be shut in making it easier to go on vacation. Someone will just have to feed and water but not necessarily be here to let them out and lock them all up. Plus after all the trouble I have had with sick birds in box coops and the birds in the open run in doing really well I think the open ventilation is the way to go.

Blueeyes I didn't get mail until 6:00 pm yesterday. And none the day before. One thing I always request is that they write DO NOT FREEZE on the box and NEVER let them put anything about live embryos or eggs on the box. Your eggs will be destroyed at KC sorting facility if they do, 9 out of 10 times. My carrier just knows if it says DNF it's probably going to be eggs and carries them to the house or puts them in a vehicle if we aren't home so they stay warm. I've had stuff sit at the sorting facility 2 days before. When they closed Topeka, they ruined our mail service.
I've complained about the sorting facility but with now response.
Most buyers won't guarantee their eggs against that sort of thing but I have had a couple rare ones send more eggs for postage. But those are very rare. Shipping eggs is a risky business for sure. If they get thrown around too much ...their fried...or might as well be. And I've bought eggs from some of the top breeders in the nation that don't know how to pack them properly. So you never know.
I wish I had a few mini coops I could separate the breeds you want for the kinds you want. Even many of the plans I had are on hold thanks to this stinking weather.

I looked at those little coops on sale and they were cute but total trash. They would have been destroyed in one season if something didn't get into them. I just wanted to use one as a model to build others but it wasn't worth the price of the coop to ever do that. So I guess when I can get back out there I need to refocus on the chicken palace trailer. Not that I have a place ready to put it. I am so over having to drag hoses and feed and water 30 some different places in bad weather.
Josie I keep asking but you still haven't posted pictures of your new chicken building yet. I want to see what you are doing. I really want to make some back up plans for the chickens just in case.

Quote:
Trish all the talk about the baby goats makes me miss mine. I won't get another one no matter how cute they are. I would be living alone if I did. DH hated my goats.
So my car shopping is going downhill. My tastes are higher than my budget obviously. I am so spoiled to my creature comforts. I qualify for a great or 0 interest rate but I just can't see making those payments. I don't want to spend money on a worn out piece of crap.

Yeah, I agree. I don't even mess with live birds or eggs during winter and early spring. It is too risky with the erratic weather.

I have none of those breeds. I'm really sorry about your eggs. I hate to see anyone totally out of their money, but that is definitely how it goes. Having eggs shipped right now is so risky! I have contacted a well known breeder for some eggs too, but only to get on her list for warmer weather! ha! The thing is, that if I shipped and then had them freeze, it would take me forever to get back on her list-- she has so many people wanting eggs. They would be next in line. I'm thinking April or May-- it's later than I want them, but at the prices she is charging, I can NOT risk them freezing.

I have Mr Meat in the barn and yesterday was the first day his water froze. I knew it was only time. The barn is so well insulated for some reason, his water has not frozen before then! Even thru the snow storm, etc!! SO I was getting out stuff to make another cookie tin heater for him and I thought i had everything and realized that I have no more ceramic light sockets. BUmmer! I need to run to Lowes here in a bit and go get one (or two... just to be prepared to making another one). I had everything else. I thought i'd have it made and put out there by now. Sigh. Anyway, I better get on that soon, I guess. Is it true we're getting more snow on Monday?!?! Yikes!!

Oh I thought Monday was going to be just a dusting of snow. Now I am totally bummed out. I am sick of this, I want it to melt!

I need to get out and take care of everyone. Nobody is leaving the coops still. Giant wimps, I may need to just boot their butts outside. Its just some snow and I even shoveled for them! The call ducks are out and wandering around on top of the snow banks which is kind of humorous. They were even sleeping in the snow yesterday. Brrrrr.