Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Finally getting to sit down after a full day. I sold the rest of the pups today! Woot! I just have the one little girl I am keeping until the end of the month to take care of. I might be able to let her out to play some when I am here.
I had to take a load of eggs to town and went to see my Dad. It is so weird trying to communicate writing on a white board instead of being able to talk. He is going to a specialist Friday so they can try to determine why his hearing disappeared.
I wish I had had time without so much to do today. The weather wasn't that bad early in the afternoon. I could have gotten some work done if I had had the time to stay here without having people here.
I think tomorrow is supposed to be a fairly reasonable day other than DH is hoping to get off work early and go to Emporia to get dog food and groceries. I really would rather stay home but since he did feed my birds Saturday I'll go with him if he wants.
Trish how are the goats doing. Do you feel like a mamma with a new born yet?

 

[Trish44]

Thanks Chickies. I actually don't know what to think. At 5:30 this morning they both seemed completely broody, allowing me to pick them up off their nests, when they wouldn't normally tolerate being handled at all. The "first" broody had feathers plucked to make a lovely cozy nest and was in every way acting totally broody. Yet when I went down to see them again just now, neither was on the nest nor acting broody at all. I'm actually quite happy for them not to be broody yet but its weird they were acting so much that way just a few hours ago.
I'm glad the hen is doing fine now and thanks for the tip on the crayon!

Trish, guess what? I got my first turkey egg today!!! Since Madge is from the same hatch as your hens, I'm guessing eggs won't be far away for you either. I decided to let the turkeys out of the hoop coop for awhile but after she was out, I found the egg at the back of the doghouse that is in there, so now I'm wondering if I made a mistake letting her out. Oh well - I can always put her back in.

Yay on the turkey egg! Yeah I noticed my Tom mating one of the girls today, so I may have to stop letting them out now too. They kind of ask to come out when I go by their pen now, they really like to run around the yard with the chickens, but I'm like you I'm afraid my hens will go somewhere where I can't find them & lay eggs, then they'll get killed & I will be very upset. I haven't made anything for them to nest in though, maybe I should get on that tomorrow.

Finally getting to sit down after a full day. I sold the rest of the pups today! Woot! I just have the one little girl I am keeping until the end of the month to take care of. I might be able to let her out to play some when I am here.
I had to take a load of eggs to town and went to see my Dad. It is so weird trying to communicate writing on a white board instead of being able to talk. He is going to a specialist Friday so they can try to determine why his hearing disappeared.
I wish I had had time without so much to do today. The weather wasn't that bad early in the afternoon. I could have gotten some work done if I had had the time to stay here without having people here.
I think tomorrow is supposed to be a fairly reasonable day other than DH is hoping to get off work early and go to Emporia to get dog food and groceries. I really would rather stay home but since he did feed my birds Saturday I'll go with him if he wants.
Trish how are the goats doing. Do you feel like a mamma with a new born yet?

I'm so glad you sold the rest of the pups, that's great! My DH's mother had that happen awhile back, all of the sudden she just couldn't hear. I think they gave her antibiotics & it cleared up, but they never were sure what it was. She can hear again now. I hope they figure out what is causing his problem & can treat it.

The goats are doing very well. I'm working with the older one on trying to get her used to me, she is very skittish, she has not been handled much at all. I got halters for them to try to teach them to lead, but they're still too small for them to fit, even the smallest size. I will have to get a smaller dog collar for her, the ones I have are even too big for her, but I did put it on just to get her used to something around her neck. I have one for the smaller baby & she leads on a leash fine, she is very tame though from being bottle fed. Well it's not really like feeding a human baby when the baby has hooves & she tries to jump in your lap, lol! She sucks down those bottles pretty fast these days too. I took her out in the field this afternoon on the leash & just let her browse a little & when we left the older one yelled her head off the whole time we were gone. I was surprised that she didn't like being left alone, I think she is becoming friends with the younger one now, that's what I was hoping would happen. That little one is just the sweetest thing, she follows me around like a dog.

Well I just thought I had dodged the bullet on the respiratory stuff. Now there are about two hens & a rooster that are sneezing & have runny eyes. I couldn't remember if it was the Denagard or the Tylan that were better for respiratory stuff. I put some Denagard in the water today. I have those two & I have Sulmet. Josie if you're on here & read this, which one is best for those symptoms?

My Salmon Faverolles are starting to lay again & I think the one that hadn't laid is starting to now, the eggs are really small. I wish the Swedish Flower Hens would get with it & the Cream Legbars. I had one CL that was laying & now hasn't again for a few days. My Speckled Sussex haven't laid since I moved them to the new coop. My lavender Ameraucanas haven't laid all winter, I would think they would be starting to lay again soon. They're looking really good now after a molt & all new feathers from the FF. The pretty little Wheaten & Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas are still laying so far. I will have another batch of eggs to go in Weds to the bator, but I want to wait till I get my Welsummer eggs & just put them in at the same time. I'm hatching some barnyard mix eggs for a friend that are due to hatch next Monday. I candled them today & they're looking good. The little Salmon Faverolle & Wheaten Ameraucana chicks I have had in the house sure are growing like weeds. I'm sure I have at least one Salmon Faverolle rooster in there, he is getting a lot of color already. I'm really surprised at how fast he is getting the color in his feathers & he is bigger too. I'm hoping to at least get one hen out of the three. I'll have to wait awhile on the Wheaten Ameraucanas to see what I have. Josie if I get a rooster I'd be glad to send him your way, I don't need another rooster. I was hoping to get another one or two hens though. Those eggs are just the prettiest robin's egg blue, I love that color!

 

[pikeman94]

This evening provided some excitement. We were leaving to take DS in for a haircut when I heard an odd sqwak from one of the girls outside. It was the same sqwak I would hear if the girls were getting testy with one and other. I normally wouldn't go out, but something in the back of my head said I probably should. I open the back door to find feathers SSX feathers EVERYWHERE! I am in socks and the first thought I had was OWL! GRrrrrrr.... So, I scan the yard and nothing. I am looking all over because I know something is up. I check behind the coop and find a Coopers hawk with Ginger (RI) on her back with Ginger gasping for air! I start yelling at it -- nothing. So I grab the dogs pooper scooper that happened to be nearby and smack it with the scooper. I busted the end of the scooper off and the hawk still wouldn't let go. So I smacked it about 4 more times and he finally back up, but not before charging me. He got another smack for that. Then he flies up on the coop and won't leave! I swing at the hawk and he flies into the pasture next to my house. I run inside get my shoes on and tell the clan we have a hawk attack in progress and I need help getting the girls in the coop. DS and DD to the rescue! I get the wounded bird - Ginger back in the coop - she had blood coming out of her mouth - eek! DS runs to the other side of the yard to scoop up a hen and DD and I are shooing the others that don't like to be picked up back to the coop. The **** hawk was back hiding under a wheel barrow!!!!! It flew between DD and myself to start attacking another hen! DD is now in a panic because the hawk won't let go of the new hen. So I smack the hawk again and it flies back over the fence to the pasture. DD and DS stand on some pallets and keep an eye on the attacker. In the meantime DW has grabbed her .22 and is about to go all mamma bear on the attacker! WE managed to chase the hawk off and thought it was gone. So we are scooping up more hens and taking them back to the coop when DS says, "Daddy there is a dead chicken!!!!" I run up and the **** hawk is back trying to kill another of my birds! The hawk managed to wedged this hen between the coop and ground so that the hen was stuck, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying to take her. DW aka Mamma Bear shows up and tells the kids to get back. Needless to say the score is now Mamma Bear 1 - Hawk 0. I think the lesson here is, don't mess with Mamma Bear especially a Mamma Bear that is the daughter of a police officer.

So far, the SSX (Saffron) appears to be completely fine, she got away, but not before shedding a ton of feathers. The RI (Ginger) is being watched as I am really worried about her. The Wyandott (Salt) is being watched too as she was the one that was getting pulled by her head from under the coop. I will check on them again in the am to see how they are doing.

DW and I have never seen a hawk that ****** determined to go after a hen. Most hawks I chase off and they don't come back. This hawk wasn't going to leave until it had a hen or two!

DS said he and DD were heroes for saving the chickens. I chuckled and said that they both were.

Ok, now time for a stiff drink to calm my **** nerves.

Oh, DD got his haricut. He wanted a mohawk after all the action and DW was more than happy to oblige.

 

[HEChicken]

Wow Pikeman, that really sounds like a rogue hawk - I've never heard of one behaving like that either. I'm glad you were able to save all the hens that were attacked and hope those that are injured recover.

Danz, I must have missed something about your dad but I gather he is having difficulty with his hearing? This happened to my mom just a few weeks ago - all of a sudden she just couldn't hear. It turned out to be as simple as ear wax. She went in to have her ears flushed and had a ton of impacted wax. Once it was removed, her hearing went back to normal. Have they checked your dad's ears for wax already?

 

[Frizzled Pink]

This evening provided some excitement. We were leaving to take DS in for a haircut when I heard an odd sqwak from one of the girls outside. It was the same sqwak I would hear if the girls were getting testy with one and other. I normally wouldn't go out, but something in the back of my head said I probably should. I open the back door to find feathers SSX feathers EVERYWHERE! I am in socks and the first thought I had was OWL! GRrrrrrr.... So, I scan the yard and nothing. I am looking all over because I know something is up. I check behind the coop and find a Coopers hawk with Ginger (RI) on her back with Ginger gasping for air! I start yelling at it -- nothing. So I grab the dogs pooper scooper that happened to be nearby and smack it with the scooper. I busted the end of the scooper off and the hawk still wouldn't let go. So I smacked it about 4 more times and he finally back up, but not before charging me. He got another smack for that. Then he flies up on the coop and won't leave! I swing at the hawk and he flies into the pasture next to my house. I run inside get my shoes on and tell the clan we have a hawk attack in progress and I need help getting the girls in the coop. DS and DD to the rescue! I get the wounded bird - Ginger back in the coop - she had blood coming out of her mouth - eek! DS runs to the other side of the yard to scoop up a hen and DD and I are shooing the others that don't like to be picked up back to the coop. The **** hawk was back hiding under a wheel barrow!!!!! It flew between DD and myself to start attacking another hen! DD is now in a panic because the hawk won't let go of the new hen. So I smack the hawk again and it flies back over the fence to the pasture. DD and DS stand on some pallets and keep an eye on the attacker. In the meantime DW has grabbed her .22 and is about to go all mamma bear on the attacker! WE managed to chase the hawk off and thought it was gone. So we are scooping up more hens and taking them back to the coop when DS says, "Daddy there is a dead chicken!!!!" I run up and the **** hawk is back trying to kill another of my birds! The hawk managed to wedged this hen between the coop and ground so that the hen was stuck, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying to take her. DW aka Mamma Bear shows up and tells the kids to get back. Needless to say the score is now Mamma Bear 1 - Hawk 0. I think the lesson here is, don't mess with Mamma Bear especially a Mamma Bear that is the daughter of a police officer.

So far, the SSX (Saffron) appears to be completely fine, she got away, but not before shedding a ton of feathers. The RI (Ginger) is being watched as I am really worried about her. The Wyandott (Salt) is being watched too as she was the one that was getting pulled by her head from under the coop. I will check on them again in the am to see how they are doing.

DW and I have never seen a hawk that ****** determined to go after a hen. Most hawks I chase off and they don't come back. This hawk wasn't going to leave until it had a hen or two!

DS said he and DD were heroes for saving the chickens. I chuckled and said that they both were.

Ok, now time for a stiff drink to calm my **** nerves.

Oh, DD got his haricut. He wanted a mohawk after all the action and DW was more than happy to oblige.

GO MAMA BEAR!!!!!

 

[milomac]

go Pikeman. I really think due to the drought there are fewer small animals available. We don't see as many rabbits or as much roadkill. I too have had trouble with persistent hawks and feel that they have a reduced food supply which makes chickens more attractive especially when we turn those loose who have been in brooder

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Here are my new toys from the Auction
They are Cackler geese. These are male female year old birds . My domestic ducks are bigger then they are.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

go Pikeman.  I really think due to the drought there are fewer small animals available.  We don't see as many rabbits or as much roadkill.  I too have had trouble with persistent hawks and feel that they have a reduced food supply which makes chickens more attractive especially when we turn those loose who have been in brooder

I shot 17 fox and 9 raccoons last year not to mention countless feral cats. All costing me money from eating my birds. Anyhow I noticed the other night coming home from the auction in my yard was about fifteen rabbits. Now I have lived here for almost five years and never seen one rabbit. I have done a great job taking out any predator by land or air! Now I have a GP and she does a great job of saying "hey dad there's a evil out here bring your rifle!" And I do and I rid the problem. Right now I have one smart dam raccoon, but he shouldnt last much longer ;-)

Daren

 

[chicken danz]

Wow Pikeman! I've never even considered a hawk being that crazy. That is unreal. You should buy your wife a nice dinner out on the town for her efforts. I hope your hen survives. Most hawks at least fly away and watch from a distance. I wonder if it was really that starved?
Well the thing with my Dad is about two weeks ago, he woke up and couldn't hear and it has gotten worse. He has been to the doctor and his ears are clean and his blood count is normal. No sickness or infection. They even tried antibiotics but it continued to get worse. He is now deaf as a post. It took a while to get into a specialist. That is where they are taking him Friday.
I fear he has had another stroke. He lost his hearing in one ear years ago due to a stroke and it never returned. Now this is the other ear. I keep thinking they could have done some scans or something to determine that, but I guess the doctor decided to send him to the auditory specialist doctor... whatever they are called. At first he could hear some sound but had trouble understanding it. Now there is nothing.
I was born with a hearing loss in my right ear. I can't hear out of it if someone is on that side unless I read lips. It actually makes me feel angry when I can't hear. I noticed over the years I talk very loud now and don't mean to. It just happens I guess to make up for the lack of hearing. I can't imagine how frustrating it can be not to be able to hear at all....especially if you have been able to hear your whole life.
Trish if that one goat follows you the other one will come along with it. They are just that way. I had one that was a big baby and the others although wild and crazy would just come along. I could tie up the one and the others would hang around it. You can still get the older goat tamed but expect some resistance. They will tangle themselves in a rope or leash until they can't walk but will eventually get the hang of it.
Speaking of goats where has Checoukan been lately?
I had the weirdest thing happen. I had a baby hatched a couple days ago. I noticed it was starting to fail. It was eating and drinking but not doing well. Well I checked it out. It's vent is closed except for like a pinhole size. It can't poop. Even pressing on it like you would to extract poop you can only get a tiny pinsize drop of liquid out. There just isn't a place for it to go. I don't think I have ever heard of that happening before. I am sure it will pass fairly soon. There is just nothing I can do for it. I can't help but wonder what on earth caused that problem. Other chicks from that group are doing great. I am sure it will die from it's own toxins. Poor thing!

 

[tazcat70]

You should be very careful. All hawks and owls are federally protected with stiff penalties if you are caught.

http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/HawksOwls.asp