Consolidated Kansas

[checoukan]

Ok, you guys, I hope everyone gets their things done that need to be, I am heading out to get my stuff done. I am using the left over sky light stuff that was cut off to block some of the snow that manages to blow in the barn. I don't like that, and I WILL stop the snow.
I don't think we are going to get as much snow as west and north, but as wet as we are now, it will be a total mess!
Oh, Hawkeye, Brownie kidded, and she had 3 doelings. I black, one grulla, and one cream red. Man they are big babies. She is such a funny goat. When she is out running around you can't catch her for nothing, but when she comes in the barn she is just the friendly-est goat there is you can hand milk her, machine milk, or nurse a ton of babies on her, and she just takes it in stride.
Looks like it is going to rain, and I don't really want to get wet~~

 

[Trish44]

Ok, you guys, I hope everyone gets their things done that need to be, I am heading out to get my stuff done. I am using the left over sky light stuff that was cut off to block some of the snow that manages to blow in the barn. I don't like that, and I WILL stop the snow.
I don't think we are going to get as much snow as west and north, but as wet as we are now, it will be a total mess!
Oh, Hawkeye, Brownie kidded, and she had 3 doelings. I black, one grulla, and one cream red. Man they are big babies. She is such a funny goat. When she is out running around you can't catch her for nothing, but when she comes in the barn she is just the friendly-est goat there is you can hand milk her, machine milk, or nurse a ton of babies on her, and she just takes it in stride.
Looks like it is going to rain, and I don't really want to get wet~~

What kind of goats do you have checoukan? I have one boer baby doeling that is about 3 weeks old now & is bottle feeding, she is really growing. I'm looking for a friend for her so she won't be lonely. I saw on Craigslist there are some Nubian/Boer cross babies for sale & I'm thinking about looking at them when I get a chance.

Well everybody stay warm & safe!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Ok, you guys, I hope everyone gets their things done that need to be, I am heading out to get my stuff done. I am using the left over sky light stuff that was cut off to block some of the snow that manages to blow in the barn. I don't like that, and I WILL stop the snow.
I don't think we are going to get as much snow as west and north, but as wet as we are now, it will be a total mess!
Oh, Hawkeye, Brownie kidded, and she had 3 doelings. I black, one grulla, and one cream red. Man they are big babies. She is such a funny goat. When she is out running around you can't catch her for nothing, but when she comes in the barn she is just the friendly-est goat there is you can hand milk her, machine milk, or nurse a ton of babies on her, and she just takes it in stride.
Looks like it is going to rain, and I don't really want to get wet~~

Yay! I'm so glad that Brownie is okay and it sounds like she did great! Wow... 3 babies! That is crazy! She sounds like a really great mama! Hey, I sent you a PM!

 

[Trish44]

Well I was going to try to make a run to Orschelyn's but went outside & just as I got almost to the garage it started sleeting, it's coming down pretty good now, so I just fixed the tarp that had come loose in the wind & came back in. It's not worth it to me to get out on slick streets & it would take me an hour to go down & back, so I wouldn't make it before it started getting slick. I'll just see if I can talk my DH into making a run for me after work tomorrow if he can. I was just needing some chick starter & pine shavings, so he can surely manage that if the roads aren't too bad. I don't think we're going to get the amount of snow first predicted, it's enough, but still much less than they thought, which is good. We can sure use the moisture true, but we don't need to get snowed in for weeks.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Ok, you guys, I hope everyone gets their things done that need to be, I am heading out to get my stuff done. I am using the left over sky light stuff that was cut off to block some of the snow that manages to blow in the barn. I don't like that, and I WILL stop the snow.
I don't think we are going to get as much snow as west and north, but as wet as we are now, it will be a total mess!
Oh, Hawkeye, Brownie kidded, and she had 3 doelings. I black, one grulla, and one cream red. Man they are big babies. She is such a funny goat. When she is out running around you can't catch her for nothing, but when she comes in the barn she is just the friendly-est goat there is you can hand milk her, machine milk, or nurse a ton of babies on her, and she just takes it in stride.
Looks like it is going to rain, and I don't really want to get wet~~

I loved my goats we had growing up and sure do miss having them. I am going to build a shelter and start some goats soon my kids would love them. I had a billy named Danny and he was huge and just so friendly, the rest were some kind of mini or dwarf, I forget all the goat terminology lol, but they were not fainting goats, when they would kid more than one it was amazing to see because they come out of no were its like a clown car in there lol. Congrats and I hope they stay warm

 

[chicken danz]

Got all my feed and got it all shoveled into barrels. I came in to warm up and rest and got sidetracked looking at a greenhouse catalog. I'd so love to get my greenhouse up and operating like a real greenhouse again some day.
It's now snowing, sleeting and raining all at once here. I need to get back out and get everything and every one taken care of. I hate working hard first thing in the day because now I am ready to crash. While I was shoveling feed the wind got a lot stronger and it got a lot colder. I am really glad I called the coop early. It was actually about 15 minutes before they opened but I got my order for 9:00. The first one of the day. Now I can relax a little knowing my birds will be fed.
I'm in a real dilemma. I could buy my Dad's car which is very low miles and nice but it's a car and doesn't have space to haul much like cages or bags of feed. And it isn't All wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. But I am also looking at a used crossover that is very nice has a lot more miles and has room. DH says it is too nice to haul chickens in, but so was the outback at one time. It's advantage is the space and the all wheel drive. There's a difference in cost. I would have to take some savings money I had budgeted for work on my house to make up the difference in the amount. I could buy my Dad's car without dipping into those savings. I think I've decided I just don't want a monthly payment if I an get by without it. I thought instead I might buy something I could use and try to set back the amount of the monthly payment each month to see if I could jiggle finances. Then maybe I could buy something new later if I feel I can handle it, and use the money I saved as a down payment. But I just don't know what to do for sure. So if it were any of you...would you sacrifice what you want for what is more easily affordable?

 

[Hawkeye95]

Got all my feed and got it all shoveled into barrels. I came in to warm up and rest and got sidetracked looking at a greenhouse catalog. I'd so love to get my greenhouse up and operating like a real greenhouse again some day.
It's now snowing, sleeting and raining all at once here. I need to get back out and get everything and every one taken care of. I hate working hard first thing in the day because now I am ready to crash. While I was shoveling feed the wind got a lot stronger and it got a lot colder. I am really glad I called the coop early. It was actually about 15 minutes before they opened but I got my order for 9:00. The first one of the day. Now I can relax a little knowing my birds will be fed.
I'm in a real dilemma. I could buy my Dad's car which is very low miles and nice but it's a car and doesn't have space to haul much like cages or bags of feed. And it isn't All wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. But I am also looking at a used crossover that is very nice has a lot more miles and has room. DH says it is too nice to haul chickens in, but so was the outback at one time. It's advantage is the space and the all wheel drive. There's a difference in cost. I would have to take some savings money I had budgeted for work on my house to make up the difference in the amount. I could buy my Dad's car without dipping into those savings. I think I've decided I just don't want a monthly payment if I an get by without it. I thought instead I might buy something I could use and try to set back the amount of the monthly payment each month to see if I could jiggle finances. Then maybe I could buy something new later if I feel I can handle it, and use the money I saved as a down payment. But I just don't know what to do for sure. So if it were any of you...would you sacrifice what you want for what is more easily affordable?

That is a tough one. But if you're worried about finances, I say go with what is cheaper and more manageable. You could buy a cover for the back seat to protect it. I bought a rubber trunk saver for my minivan. I don't even put a lot of stuff in there, but if anything were wet or to spill, or whatever, it saves a lot of cleanup. I bought that rubber mat at Walmart. It's really long and you can cut it down to fit your trunk.


So, I had to go out in the snow of course. I was putting if off as long as possible because I was not looking forward to wet soggy socks and frozen toes. I came up with a brilliant idea-- I put my feet in Walmart plastic sacks and then stuffed them into my boots! LOL Okay, so that's about as redneck as I get. I can't wait for my new Wellies to come in! But at this rate, I have no idea when UPS will be able to get down our roads! Sigh. On the down side, one of my Walmart sacks ripped (I didn't know it) and I still ended up with one foot getting soaked and frozen out there. UGH. I may double-bag next time! hahahaha

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

I'm in a real dilemma. I could buy my Dad's car which is very low miles and nice but it's a car and doesn't have space to haul much like cages or bags of feed. And it isn't All wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. But I am also looking at a used crossover that is very nice has a lot more miles and has room. DH says it is too nice to haul chickens in, but so was the outback at one time. It's advantage is the space and the all wheel drive. There's a difference in cost. I would have to take some savings money I had budgeted for work on my house to make up the difference in the amount. I could buy my Dad's car without dipping into those savings. I think I've decided I just don't want a monthly payment if I an get by without it. I thought instead I might buy something I could use and try to set back the amount of the monthly payment each month to see if I could jiggle finances. Then maybe I could buy something new later if I feel I can handle it, and use the money I saved as a down payment. But I just don't know what to do for sure. So if it were any of you...would you sacrifice what you want for what is more easily affordable?

Sounds like it is time for the old "pros and cons" list.

Can the negatives of the car be overcome within reason? How often would the extras of the other vehicle be used - how much will they cost against the times they will actually be used? Possible alternatives for not having the pluses of the other vehicle - use a pickup or even rent a vehicle if necessary. Some features can be costly and might not be used much.

And taxes and maintance on the vehicles.

Cars CAN be used for a lot of things. I now haul feed and birds in mine. True, it is old and I am not picky about it, but it works and is easier to drive than the big van is. I am taking the van off the road to park for storage. I don't use it for the hauling space enough to pay for keeping it on the road. It runs, etc, but not worth the cost.

Anyone want a BIG open back van?

 

[JosieChick]

Hello!

I would say at five years old you were lucky that hen was still laying at all! I have a few 3 year old hens and they haven't laid an egg for a long time now. I assume they are burnt out.

Have you tried a poop board? I will see if I can find a pic of mine in my old coop. I used to cover it with DE or stall dry and then just scoop off the chicken poop. Most of the poo occurs at night so it is a nice place to collect it and means less cleaning of the whole coop.

Hi everyone!

No I have not fallen off the face of the planet....At least not yet. I have been very busy with the day-to-day grind.

I hope everyone else is getting along with the weather. Just remember we so need this moisture so no complaints here. I know this will do loads for my hop garden.

A general question for everyone. I have been playing around with different bedding types lately. I started with pine shavings and those are a pain in the butt to "sift" to de-poop for composting. So I moved onto the wood pelts for horse bedding. So far those seem to be working, but seem to break down quick. I have yet to figure out a way to sift out the poop. I am very keen on keeping the poop as the high nitrogen is the best for the hop garden. You would not believe how much nitrogen hops suck up until they bear cones! Anyways, any thoughts and/or opinions are appreciated.

Another question is that my Amerucana, I picked up last year hasn't laid an egg in weeks. I know she is my oldest hen at almost 5 years. I am guessing this is normal for her age or she is just just ****** at all of the wild weather we have had the last several weeks. Thoughts here?

Stay warm everyone and get ready for Snow-pocalypse or Snow-mageddon, which every phrase works for you.

I used sand for a while but never bought more after I had to strip the coop out. It is nice for scooping although kind of cold in winter.

I like Snow-mageddon! Good to hear from you!

So, I like sand. I'm not currently using it because I have such a large number of birds. But you don't have ridiculous numbers and it may be just the ticket for you. Get some play sand in there and then all you have to do is get a scoop, like for a kitty box. You would want some wood ash, DE or Sevin mixed in to keep the lice/mites at bay. Scoop the poop and there you have it! Anyway, that's what I would do with fewer birds. Just make sure the sand is completely dry -- damp sand is not good.

Good luck with Snow-mageddon!

SO glad you got feed. I would have been so stressed over not having enough feed or just barely enough. I am OCD and like to have lots of extra especially when the weather is crappy.

I have a rare moment my internet is up so I figured I'd better post quickly while I had an opportunity. I sure hope getting a replacement for this device helps things.
We got a temporary reprieve and didn't get ice during the night. Thank you Lord!!!
So I got up early and called the co-op while ago. I've got to run out here in a minute and dig my tires out of the snow I use to weigh the tarp down on the snow. Maybe I'll be granted the grace to get there, get the grain, get it shoveled off and be ready for the storm. The truck DHleft me is not good on slick roads or snowy roads. I just pray the snow holds off until I get back home. Most of it is supposed to come in tonight now.
They changed the forecast for our area and now we are supposed to get 12" to 18" inches. The most I ever remember it snowing was 17 3/4 inches one night many years ago when I was working night shift. The snow off the roofs drifted over the doors so we couldn't get out of the building. They had to have the outside crew called in to dig out the doors so we could leave. Then as I left the parking lot my car cut a grove through the snow. Luckily I had a high setting vehicle then.
I hope the birds do okay through this mess. I noticed the houses were a little damp and ammonia smelling with them all staying inside. Luckily a few of them got out yesterday and got some fresh air.
Rob I have a couple open air houses that have no bedding. They just kick bedding out. But the result is that the poo dries up and becomes powder and composts itself. But these have vents on the back and big open door as well as air flow along the roof line. I think that is the key to no bedding. It stays amazingly dry. I have a Chinese man who likes using the poo from this house the best. Not sure how open your house is but it is worth a try.
It would be nice if I can get my feed and get it shoveled off and still have time to get those shade cloths down before the snow.
Well I'd better get moving. I have to be there in an hour or so and I have a lot to do before I leave

You will love your boots from Beans! Everyone in Maine has them and they are really nice! My mom had a pair and she wore them for 15 years before they started to fall apart.

Okay, those don't look like they are too expensive! I added them to my "favorites" so I could find them again. I really, really need rain boots (aka snow boots) for all this mucky wet weather. My cowboy boots are becoming soaked and won't dry out. I've been stuffing my feet into soaking wet boots for days now. I HATE it. I tried to buy cheap rainboots last year because of wet weather and they leaked the instant I set foot outside. They were those really cute ones from Walmart. So I decided no more cheap boots and I just ordered a pair of Wellies from LL Bean last night. Not cheap, but they had really great reviews and I just didn't read one bad review! I spent a few days searching reviews on rainboots that were under $100. ANyway, I'll now need to hold off on buying the gloves until next month. Sigh.
I really wanted to buy a snow sled but nobody had them.
VERY smart about the "sled". I need to do that. I bought a bunch of horse feed and had no way to get it to the barn, so it's still in my vehicle for now. I need a tarp or something to drag it out on. I just can't wade thru all the snow carrying 50 lb sacks, I'd probably fall over. No idea on the snow plowing...??? Doesn't make much sense to me either.

Oh, Hawkeye, Brownie kidded, and she had 3 doelings. I black, one grulla, and one cream red. Man they are big babies. She is such a funny goat. When she is out running around you can't catch her for nothing, but when she comes in the barn she is just the friendly-est goat there is you can hand milk her, machine milk, or nurse a ton of babies on her, and she just takes it in stride.
Looks like it is going to rain, and I don't really want to get wet~~

I would love to have a greenhouse someday. I love the smell of warm potting soil, mmmm, wish it was spring.
I am so glad I have a cross over. I use and abuse it to death. I can fold the back seat down and put just about anything I need in it and the last few days I have been quite appreciate of AWD!!! I would be wary of anything with really high mileage though. I bought a chevy blazer years ago and all that thing did was break down. The engine finally blew one day on the highway and the garage that looked at it said they had never seen a small engine die the way it had. They said it broke like a dump truck would have and thought it was probably used to haul something far too heavy for it routinely. SO I won't ever do that again. I would say buy the car and save your pennies for when you can get something that won't leave you stranded or with ridiculous bills every time you go in for service.

Got all my feed and got it all shoveled into barrels. I came in to warm up and rest and got sidetracked looking at a greenhouse catalog. I'd so love to get my greenhouse up and operating like a real greenhouse again some day.
It's now snowing, sleeting and raining all at once here. I need to get back out and get everything and every one taken care of. I hate working hard first thing in the day because now I am ready to crash. While I was shoveling feed the wind got a lot stronger and it got a lot colder. I am really glad I called the coop early. It was actually about 15 minutes before they opened but I got my order for 9:00. The first one of the day. Now I can relax a little knowing my birds will be fed.
I'm in a real dilemma. I could buy my Dad's car which is very low miles and nice but it's a car and doesn't have space to haul much like cages or bags of feed. And it isn't All wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. But I am also looking at a used crossover that is very nice has a lot more miles and has room. DH says it is too nice to haul chickens in, but so was the outback at one time. It's advantage is the space and the all wheel drive. There's a difference in cost. I would have to take some savings money I had budgeted for work on my house to make up the difference in the amount. I could buy my Dad's car without dipping into those savings. I think I've decided I just don't want a monthly payment if I an get by without it. I thought instead I might buy something I could use and try to set back the amount of the monthly payment each month to see if I could jiggle finances. Then maybe I could buy something new later if I feel I can handle it, and use the money I saved as a down payment. But I just don't know what to do for sure. So if it were any of you...would you sacrifice what you want for what is more easily affordable?

Hahahaha! You are too funny, double bag them!

So, I had to go out in the snow of course. I was putting if off as long as possible because I was not looking forward to wet soggy socks and frozen toes. I came up with a brilliant idea-- I put my feet in Walmart plastic sacks and then stuffed them into my boots! LOL Okay, so that's about as redneck as I get. I can't wait for my new Wellies to come in! But at this rate, I have no idea when UPS will be able to get down our roads! Sigh. On the down side, one of my Walmart sacks ripped (I didn't know it) and I still ended up with one foot getting soaked and frozen out there. UGH. I may double-bag next time! hahahaha

So the snow has arrived. I need to go lock up the geese. They are having a grand time out in this but I don't want them running loose when its storming.

The baby must be running out of room in there because she has been doing lots of rolling around! Very bizarre feeling to have a tiny body rolling and pitching inside your abdomen! She keeps me up at night until I find a position she is happy with and settles down! Guess we know who is running this show.

 

[chicken danz]

Josie I'll bet she continues to run the show for another 21 years or so too!!!

Well I went back out to work and experienced every kind of weather there is I think other than warm, sunny, and dry. We've had sleet, snow, wet /dry mix. Sleet hitting so hard it felt like hail, blinding snow you name it. But the temperature sat at 33 degrees ever since about 10AM this morning so rather than accumulate it has melted and actually reduced some of the snow that was already here. Here lies the rub..It is snowing again, the wind is blowing hard, and the temp is dropping and is below freezing now. All of that moisture earlier will definitely be ice soon. The snow is whipping around in circles.
I don't know how much longer I can do this with the snow and stuff on the ground. I hurt from end to end. I am really worried about loosing power with the wind blowing like it is and the moisture accumulated. I already had one tripped breaker today. I worry about my birds in the brooder the most. They aren't all real young but they are still small and need some heat above cold temps.
I just keep learning more. I had some chick starter in a rubbermaid bin with the lid closed on it. I thought it was dry enough it would be fine. Well I brought in a bunch of it yesterday to mix in my FF feed I have for the chicks in the house. Later I found some clumps in the feed in the bin that had some mold growth. I being a real dumba.. thought maybe the ACV in the FF would kill any mold spores. Well I managed to loose 5 chicks in 24 hours.

Luckily they were chicks I hatched that weren't super expensive. Maybe worth $3 -$5 each. So I tossed my entire bucket of FF for the chicks and started over. I put it out where I used to feed wild birds. It became a very popular place today. I'd say most of it would be just fine but little chicks just don't tolerate mold at all.
At least the wild birds are getting some food today.
I'm still in the air about the cars. I was going to call one of the dealers and talk to them about how low I could get the price but one of them I was looking at sold today. Dang it. It was my favorite.
I don't go a lot of places but when I do 9 out of 10 times I will be hauling a bird or some feed. Driving the pickup just isn't practical when you consider gas prices. And only one of the pickups is 4-wheel drive. It is a huge truck that gets like 10 mpg and I can't hardly even crawl into it. If I lived in town I wouldn't worry about the AWD but I am out here where the roads get drifted shut and the old clay gets slick like ice when it rains on the road. With an AWD car at least I could go pick up DH a couple times when he got stuck in a snow drift on his way home.
My dad's car is a taurus and it's a nice one with lots of bells and whistles and I think it is a 2008. And it is very low mileage. My dad was a mechanic for years so he's a stickler for maintenance. It has one dent that didn't get fixed. I think he hit the garage or something. It was actually my Mom's car but my dad sold his truck and kept her car after she passed. He's now decided he doesn't feel very safe driving.
I guess I am stuck between practical and not. How on earth would I ever know how much I am going to need the extra room and the 4WD.