Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

We got more snow than we were predicted to get, probably about the same as HEChicken said. We were only supposed to get 2 inches. It sure is a mess though to get around to the pens & such. I had to go down & carry the little goat up & into the house to feed her bottle to her this morning. Then I had gotten a dog coat on clearance last night & put it on her to help keep her warm, she is still small & gets cold. The coat is quilted & just has straps with velcro around the neck & stomach, so it worked great for her. She didn't seem to mind it at all. The other one is older & bigger, so she doesn't seem to be as subject to the cold as this one & has been outside too. Then after getting her fed I went out & tried to knock some of the snow off the top of the pens at the new coop & got it all over my head & down my neck, brrrrr. I opened the pop doors, but not all of the chickens liked what they saw out there so some came out & some didn't. In the wind with the snow last night my big tarp blew mostly off the run outside my main coop so it's full of snow now & the pen where my 3 little chicks are also got snowed in. I went out this morning & put it back over, but now it's just a mess in there. I'll have to deal with it when this stuff melts off. My chickens are still sneezing in the main coop too, so I left them in today again. I don't think they would like going out in the snow anyway. I'm wondering if I should change antibiotics or stick with the Tylan. I know Josie said we shouldn't switch around, but if one isn't getting rid of something shouldn't we try another one to see if it works better?

Well my grand daughter just got here for the afternoon & she sounds wound up down there so I need to go down & see what's going on. Her mom told me that the Cardiologist wants her to stay active & do all the things & more that she usually does, I guess to see how her heart is going to react & they can get a better picture of what is going on. I know all of this is scary for an 8 year old girl to deal with, she has been kind of upset about it all & her mother talks about it right in front of her, which doesn't help either. Well everyone try to stay warm & dry today.

 

[sarajoy]

Quote: I do feel thankful that Little Roo is still with us. This morning he is crowing - and the swelling on his eyes is down enough to see that one of his eyes is pretty well gone, the lid is looking hollowed. I think maybe the raccoon came after his butt first, got the mouthful of feathers, which gave Little Roo a chance to set up a stink and draw the dogs who got there before the coon could do his worst. I guess I will never know exactly what happened. Thanks for the suggestion on the CS - yes, I was/am concerned about what bad stuff the coon could have been carrying, and have been continuing to first rinse the eyes with CS, then spray the wound care stuff, and have been giving him CS to drink. He wasn't sure he liked the taste at first, but once he got started he turned into a guzzler of the stuff. In a day or two I think I'm going to put his partner - same age light brahma hen in with him in the small coop, and see how they do. If there is no pecking I may try reintroducing him/them to the flock in a day or two. But I'm hesitant about letting him out to freerange with only the one eye. Any thoughts on that? Any of you have one-eyed chickens that do okay freeranging? He WANTS to be out and about. I just don't want to set him up for more problems.

I do have to go find a pattern for the chicken coats and see what I can come up with - I've kept the run closed for the mature birds today, and I can see Mr. Roo being way too busy out there with those girls. So time to find a pattern and get to work!

I also wondered, when you suggested barn paint that is a mix of paint and sealer - is there a particular brand you have used? We've been discussing paint on the new coop, and while the outside probably isn't much of a problem, they'll have more time enclosed in the coop, and if we paint the interior I want to make sure it is non-toxic. thanks, Sara

 

[RoosterLew]

Hey aren't they sposed to wait til there older to multiply?

Friday - 2 chickys
Saturday - 3 chickys
Sunday - 4 chickys

She is a " pan fry special" , or as I call it the Lottery Bin

 

[michelleml]

I hope everyone is staying warm. Not sure how much snow we got sense its blowing like crazy but we do have drifts at least 3-4 feet tall. Went out to check on my crew and everyone is doing good.

I noticed my black star pullet who is a new layer was making I'm guessing her nest. She would take bedding and place around her then tuck her one egg in the center. Is this what they always do or is she starting to get broody?

When can you tell what sex the chicks will be? mine are almost 3 wks and i think i may have 3 cockerel and 2 pullets.

Stay warm everyone
Michelle

 

[Hawkeye95]

Someone on another thread (or maybe this one) referred to that as a "pocket omelet." (that spelling looks wrong, but Word thinks it is right)

That is funny! Never heard of that! But have done it many times.

Hello all!

Newbie to BYC & "chickeneering", as I like to call it

My chicks (Buff Orpingtons & Dominiques) & keets (Pearl) arrive 3rd week in April. Busy getting the coop and brooder ready

The discussion on "pocket omelettes" cracked (no pun intended) me up because I'm such a likely candidate, ah!

Look forward to keeping up with you all!

Kendra

WELCOME to the Kansas thread! what part of KS are you in? Where did you get dominiques?? Curious if they are hatchery or breeder. They are really pretty.

Thank you!! However the seller said he was giving them some kind of med to deworm and get rid of other pests like ticks, mites, lice. Would they possibly still have mites? No big deal though...I have some Sevin in the garage I can just put on them anyway.
Oh ok...So it just blocks them from seeing the spot to peck on the other chicken? Can they still forage well?

Sevin dust knocks out mites FAST. Just don't get it near their eyes or nose. If you put it on their heads, sprinkle it into your palm and then use your fingers to rub it on their head. The pinless peepers don't stop them from eating or foraging. Just stops them from being able to kill/peck other birds. Although, they can still manage if they are really bent on it. But it slows them down a bit.

I just got back from buying groceries about an hour ago & it started sleeting/snowing as I was putting the car away, so I guess it's our turn. I would have been fine with just rain myself. That's mostly what we have had off & on today was just light rain. It had been above freezing too until I got back & now it's about 30. If we can just make it through these next two days I think we'll see some warmer days. Oh I can't wait!

I'm looking forward to nice warm days! We have some serious barn cleaning to do! Not to mention, I'm just sick of the cold. Enough already.

Wow, all we've been getting is some really cold drizzle, nothing to collapse anything! We've barely seen snow down here in the "south" this year.
Well the races finished up early today, so we decided to swing by work and get my weekend duties done and pick up the wooden box for the new brooder. So this is where we're out tonight.

48" long 30" wide and 20" deep!

All free wood!!

Looks great!! NIce that it is free!

Howdy all - been so so busy with organizing/packing plus digging/transplanting perennials and trees to the new place. In the meantime, I think I'm going to take an old pair of sweat pants and make them some kind of coat out of the legs.

Thanks for any input. Sara

What kinds of trees are you transplanting? I'm going to miss my fruit trees when we sell, but there is no way I'm digging them up! I'm probably kill them, they've been in the ground too long. I'm glad you got pointed to the Chicken Aprons. I have made a couple, and after that, just bought them here from a lady on BYC. She made them so fast and cheap and they are super cute. I figure my time is better spent doing other things! ha! I paid $3 a piece. Super cheap!

I decided to go ahead and brine my first midget white turkey so I am cooking it for dinner tonight. I may be glad I have it cause I know my roads are drifted shut. Not sure what all we have to eat with it but at least we'll have turkey!!! I was going to cook it last night but decided it would be even better if I brined it.

let us now how the brine went and how it cooked up. Did you just use a salt water soak??

We woke up to about 4" accumulation and drifts much worse than that. Ugh. So no excited about this much snow in late March. Let's hope this is the last winter blast and from here on out it will be Spring!!! I couldn't even get my coop door open this morning due to the snow drifts - fortunately I filled up the feeder yesterday so I know they have enough food to last through today. A third of the way down my chicken yard we have a dog igloo that the dogs sleep in at night, but a couple of the hens prefer it for laying in. One of those dedicated hens plowed her way through the snow this morning to get to it to lay her egg - I guess she really thinks its better than the nest boxes in the coop to go to all that effort. I watched her from my kitchen window and it was really slow going getting through all that snow.

I was shocked with the snow this morning! I didn't expect that at all! I even watched the news last night, but they never mentioned it?? Anyway, that was fun driving to church this morning. I would have LOVED to call it a day and not drive into town, but since I'm on the team, I really have to be up there. That is crazy that you have a hen that MUST lay out there! That was a long way to go and so cold! Sheesh!

it is awful out there.. i had to wade through drifts to get to the chicken house.. and here is a picture of my daughter-in-law and son who are stuck in a snow drift trying to get a bale of hay... spring COME BACK NOW!!!

That looks deep!! I'm just wondering how on earth they get a big round bale of hay onto the back of a truck with no tractor??! I wouldn't even attempt it! I have a hay pick on my tractor that I can just back up into my round bales, lift the bale up and then drive it where ever I need it. Are they actually trying to LIFT the bale themselves on the ground!??!?!?! And then to do it in the snow. Ugh. No fun!

I went out this morning & put it back over, but now it's just a mess in there. I'll have to deal with it when this stuff melts off. My chickens are still sneezing in the main coop too, so I left them in today again. I don't think they would like going out in the snow anyway. I'm wondering if I should change antibiotics or stick with the Tylan. I know Josie said we shouldn't switch around, but if one isn't getting rid of something shouldn't we try another one to see if it works better?

Well my grand daughter just got here for the afternoon & she sounds wound up down there so I need to go down & see what's going on. Her mom told me that the Cardiologist wants her to stay active & do all the things & more that she usually does, I guess to see how her heart is going to react & they can get a better picture of what is going on. I know all of this is scary for an 8 year old girl to deal with, she has been kind of upset about it all & her mother talks about it right in front of her, which doesn't help either. Well everyone try to stay warm & dry today.

My hen seems to be doing better today with the Denagard for the last week. This would be week 2 of it. Although, I didn't refill it last night. I'm going to put her back out in the barn with the rest of her silkie flock. I hope your birds start to feel better soon! I bet some warm weather and sun will do wonders. I hope today will be a nice break for your granddaughter. I'm not so sure 'mom' should be talking about it front of her unless she's already explained it already to her daughter and knows that it's not scaring her by doing more talking about it.

Hey aren't they sposed to wait til there older to multiply?

Friday - 2 chickys
Saturday - 3 chickys
Sunday - 4 chickys

She is a " pan fry special" , or as I call it the Lottery Bin

CUTE!! You are quickly becoming the victim of chicken math. You are well on your way to a flock of 50. hehehehe

 

[shell55]

Like the rest of you, I am so ready for Spring! My poor Cochins, their whole pen is a snow drift right now. I had some older chicks in a separate house/pen in the cochin pen and they had snow in their house this morning. i moved them over to another pen and they are dry and happy now. Even though they didn't really seem too upset about the snow in their house this morning.





I got some more chicks yesterday, some California Whites and a couple assorted bantams. I just finished my new brooder and thought I better try it out! Haha

And since i'm loading pictures, here are 3 of my Silkie Chicks (supposed to be Lavender...not sure though, 2 of them have a lot of gold). They are about 8 weeks old






I just went out to check on the chickens and the snow sure has melted a lot since this morning. Now it'll just be a muddy mess for a while I guess. Oh well, can't complain about the mositure just wish it was with some warmer temps.

 

[shell55]

Hawkeye I would really hate you to leave but after living in OKC for some time and having my sons there I still consider myself an Okie. People really are warm and friendly there. I had the greatest neighborhood of people that came from all over the U.S. We used to have great get togethers. When I moved back to Kansas I couldn't believe how distant people were. I lived in the same house in Council Grove for over 20 years and never went to a neighbor's house for coffee. But in OKC it was at least a weekly thing. We used to have cookouts and celebrate each others' birthdays etc etc. I am sure things are different now but I loved that city. There were areas near me within the city limits that were still farmed and even though we had the best convenience of every thing around it was like living in small town America the way it used to be. The only criticism I had for the area is the school systems lacked a lot. Anyone who could afford it had their kids in private schools. Maybe over time that has improved some.
I was going to buy a young turkey Tom but Frank sold me one that was about 18 months because he was an experienced breeder. He is a really pretty boy. He is out there showing his stuff right now. He must have not liked the camera!!! I should sneak out and catch him while he is courting.
Okay just did.




Trish I wish I could get a good deal like that on cattle panels. I still think it would be awesome to build a whole string of hoop coops tied together. I'm kind of planning that in my mind but don't know if it is executable or not.
I am pretty sad right now. I brought my feeding buddy in the house while ago. I am afraid he is on his last leg. He was still eating yesterday; but I mixed him up some feed, water, corn oil, and sugar to try to give him some energy and he won't eat at all. He is just sitting there. Makes me tear up. Poor guy. I gave him a shot of tylan cause I noticed yesterday he had some mucus when he was trying to eat. He isn't sneezing or anything but the mucus was present after he started eating. I'm afraid it is too late to help at all. I wish I knew what to do to save him. Why the heck do I do this to myself and get attached to these chickens?
At least he knows he is loved!
I need to go out and gather eggs. It is misting out there but sitting just above freezing right now.
I love the moisture Pikeman but would rather see it with some warmer temps. It's too late to be getting this kind of weather.

He is beautiful!

 

[shell55]

That is funny! Never heard of that! But have done it many times.


WELCOME to the Kansas thread! what part of KS are you in? Where did you get dominiques?? Curious if they are hatchery or breeder. They are really pretty.



Sevin dust knocks out mites FAST. Just don't get it near their eyes or nose. If you put it on their heads, sprinkle it into your palm and then use your fingers to rub it on their head. The pinless peepers don't stop them from eating or foraging. Just stops them from being able to kill/peck other birds. Although, they can still manage if they are really bent on it. But it slows them down a bit.


I'm looking forward to nice warm days! We have some serious barn cleaning to do! Not to mention, I'm just sick of the cold. Enough already.


Looks great!! NIce that it is free!


What kinds of trees are you transplanting? I'm going to miss my fruit trees when we sell, but there is no way I'm digging them up! I'm probably kill them, they've been in the ground too long. I'm glad you got pointed to the Chicken Aprons. I have made a couple, and after that, just bought them here from a lady on BYC. She made them so fast and cheap and they are super cute. I figure my time is better spent doing other things! ha! I paid $3 a piece. Super cheap!


let us now how the brine went and how it cooked up. Did you just use a salt water soak??


I was shocked with the snow this morning! I didn't expect that at all! I even watched the news last night, but they never mentioned it?? Anyway, that was fun driving to church this morning. I would have LOVED to call it a day and not drive into town, but since I'm on the team, I really have to be up there. That is crazy that you have a hen that MUST lay out there! That was a long way to go and so cold! Sheesh!


That looks deep!! I'm just wondering how on earth they get a big round bale of hay onto the back of a truck with no tractor??! I wouldn't even attempt it! I have a hay pick on my tractor that I can just back up into my round bales, lift the bale up and then drive it where ever I need it. Are they actually trying to LIFT the bale themselves on the ground!??!?!?! And then to do it in the snow. Ugh. No fun!
It was deep! No, we weren't trying to lift the bale ourselves. We have a bale spike on the back of the truck and when we lifted the bale with the spike it sunk into the mud axle deep. It took a little while to get it out!


My hen seems to be doing better today with the Denagard for the last week. This would be week 2 of it. Although, I didn't refill it last night. I'm going to put her back out in the barn with the rest of her silkie flock. I hope your birds start to feel better soon! I bet some warm weather and sun will do wonders. I hope today will be a nice break for your granddaughter. I'm not so sure 'mom' should be talking about it front of her unless she's already explained it already to her daughter and knows that it's not scaring her by doing more talking about it.


CUTE!! You are quickly becoming the victim of chicken math. You are well on your way to a flock of 50. hehehehe

 

[RoosterLew]

Gotta stop at 50, rules at 51! Lol
I actually do plan on more than that someday. Right now we are still in town and not allowed any at all. But we have just bought a place, 22 acres and I plan on 15 of that chicken pasture!! These are just our start off flock! Lol

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye, I use a brine recipe where you use kosher salt, sugar, ACV and some spices. I tried it at Thanksgiving and it turned out really good. I am afraid I over cooked my bird. I didn't get the temp turned down on the oven. My stupidity. It is digital and I forgot to hit the reset button so I baked it at 350 and I like baking turkey between 300 and 325 to keep it more moist. I'll find out in a little bit. I have been sick all day with this stupid sinus infection. I finally went out side to feed and water and had to knock down snow from the netting again. I've had that netting for 4 years and never had to do that before but have done it twice this year with the heavy wet snow. At least the temp got up to 34 so a lot of melt off occurred.
RoosterLew I can teach you how to danzsize your flock. How to make 25 birds turn into a few hundred!