Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

When I had my son back in 1980 it wasn't "fashionable" at the time to breast feed & my sister poo-pooed the idea & thought I was crazy. She bottle fed all of her 4 kids & thought I was weird for wanting to breast feed. I kept him in a bassinet right beside my bed so I could just reach over & get him in the night. I ended up not being able to breast feed him but 3 months due to my divorce & being forced to change him to a bottle for visitation. I hated that I was pressured into that because I felt he would have been better off if he had been able to nurse longer. He ended up with asthma & bronchitis at 5 months of age & was in the hospital. That may not have happened if he had been able to breast feed, but who knows. I have always had pets in my household, even when he was a baby. Those stories about cats are just old wives tales, nobody has ever proven that to have happened.

Josie, you have to do what you feel is right for you & your baby, don't let anyone try to tell you any different, you stick to your guns. I'm glad you're getting the nursery all ready, that has to be a big relief. Yeah, don't expect to sleep too much for awhile, but it won't matter, you will be enjoying your new little baby so much you won't care. You can always nap when they do when you only have one. They grow so darned fast that you have to enjoy every minute while they're little. Before you know it they're grown & on their own.

Danz, that is good news about the bacteria, at least it's something you can treat & get it gone. I had a feeling it was from the wild birds, I think that's where mine came from too since the ones that got sick at the time were the ones that free-range. None of the ones in the pens got it & like you say the antibiotic took care of it & they're over it now. The Tylan was what worked the best for me too.

Well we made some progress on the new hoop coop today. My DH came out & helped me get the supports put on before he left & then after he was gone I went out & hooked all the panels together with cable ties, put the frame up in the front for the door, & put a support across the bottom middle just for insurance. We're ready now to make a door & start putting on the wire over the panels. It sure was a lot easier with two of us working on it & it's gone a lot faster too. It will be nice to have another pen to use for whatever I decide to do with it later. I plan to build another smaller one for the Barnevelders to move into after they outgrow the small pen they're in. I wish I could just build hoop coops to replace all the pens I have, they're just so much more practical.

 

[HEChicken]

I agree Trish - love the hoop coops!

A few days ago my chocolate muscovy showed up missing at bedtime but was back by mid-morning. Same thing last night. It was affecting the flock dynamics as the drakes didn't want to go in the coop without her (and in all the time I've had them they've NEVER not gone in before). I had to herd them both of the past two nights. I've been quite obsessive the past two days trying to figure out her secret, and was determined tonight to follow her to find her hiding place. I figured she probably has a nest somewhere and is laying a clutch in preparation for brooding.

But I had to feed my family and by the time dinner was over and I went to check on them, she was missing again. This time there was enough daylight I started to search once again and finally found her. But oh boy, I am not keen on her choice of nesting place. The previous owners of the property had a couple of burn barrels way in back where they threw their trash and periodically fired it up. I've been wanting to get rid of the remnants but the barrels are rusted and burned through in places so moving them won't be easy. Also, there is a ton of broken glass in them. And broken glass makes the perfect nesting material, right? Well, apparently a chocolate muscovy hen thinks so. She was sitting on 4 poopy eggs in a nest of broken glass. Yikes. My muscovies are not handleable but I had her cornered so I pinned her, then picked her up and with her struggling under one arm, also gathered up the 4 icky eggs and moved them all to my hoop coop. I placed the eggs in the straw in a doghouse and put her in with them. She, of course, didn't like that idea one bit but there she will stay (as long as my resolve holds firm) until she realizes she has no other option. She will miss her freedom and her trips to the pond but I really think it has to be this way both for her safety and that of any future ducklings. Can you imagine hatching in a bed of broken glass???

 

[sharol]

Sounds like you are going to have to clean up the old barrels sooner rather than later huh? Not a fun way to spend part of a day. It's good you have somewhere to put her in the meantime.

I agree Trish - love the hoop coops!

A few days ago my chocolate muscovy showed up missing at bedtime but was back by mid-morning. Same thing last night. It was affecting the flock dynamics as the drakes didn't want to go in the coop without her (and in all the time I've had them they've NEVER not gone in before). I had to herd them both of the past two nights. I've been quite obsessive the past two days trying to figure out her secret, and was determined tonight to follow her to find her hiding place. I figured she probably has a nest somewhere and is laying a clutch in preparation for brooding.

But I had to feed my family and by the time dinner was over and I went to check on them, she was missing again. This time there was enough daylight I started to search once again and finally found her. But oh boy, I am not keen on her choice of nesting place. The previous owners of the property had a couple of burn barrels way in back where they threw their trash and periodically fired it up. I've been wanting to get rid of the remnants but the barrels are rusted and burned through in places so moving them won't be easy. Also, there is a ton of broken glass in them. And broken glass makes the perfect nesting material, right? Well, apparently a chocolate muscovy hen thinks so. She was sitting on 4 poopy eggs in a nest of broken glass. Yikes. My muscovies are not handleable but I had her cornered so I pinned her, then picked her up and with her struggling under one arm, also gathered up the 4 icky eggs and moved them all to my hoop coop. I placed the eggs in the straw in a doghouse and put her in with them. She, of course, didn't like that idea one bit but there she will stay (as long as my resolve holds firm) until she realizes she has no other option. She will miss her freedom and her trips to the pond but I really think it has to be this way both for her safety and that of any future ducklings. Can you imagine hatching in a bed of broken glass???

 

[bbsnooks]

Oh.. my goodness.. <plz forgive.. i but just had to post before reading thru.. will try N catchup tonigt"
News at 6...

"white crested black polish..vs..black jersey giant"
Get some meal worms for your chicks...
I dont have time.. to fill you all in on the new chicks I got in monday.<photo's tomorrow?>.
However,.Chic TV has taken over my life, If you have little chicks.., and are not strapped for cash.. find some meal worms. (some here @byc)

I just saw the best tug o war.. with a meal worm.. (it was a med to big). so it took a loong time to settle who won.. was it the little
white crested black polish..vs..black jersey giant
I'm putting these girls in training.. to do the out door work.. when they get bigger. so the worms.. are training.. and entertainment.
so get your self some meal worms.. and dont forget the movie camera.
-- new chick mom.. it must be love .. even their little back up and poop is cute!
ps.. the dog.. passed the new chick test with flying colors..
he lay's down my me and we "watchum" click treat.. and i was all worried about that.
----Debra

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Another dreary day, of course.

Work has some what slowed down so now I'm posting in the morning again. I will have to go back and read the 10+ pages of posts to catch up but I think I saw a few new people joining the group so that's awesome! Welcome to all the newbies.

I found a nest of eggs in the new coop-to-be yesterday. My Hamburg chickens have laid about 15 eggs in that nest! It was so funny to see the little nest with all the white eggs in it. These chicken seldom lay eggs in the nest boxes. They love to lay in the corner or on the dirt floor with some make shift nest. We will be eating those eggs for a while. I've sold 3 2-1/2 dozen brown eggs this week so all my brown eggs are now gone. Not sure why but most people prefer brown over white eggs. They taste the same to me. Wait till they see the blue eggs... I'm getting a few Wheaten Americauna chicks from Trish this weekend so hopefully 6 months down the road, we will have some blue eggs.

With this January weather, trying to get anything done outside is just painful. I like winter but c'mon, it is mid April!!! I have not planted 1 thing outside. Just got a flyer from a little mom and pop nursery (I think it is called Litter River nursery or something on 53rd and just West of Broadway) saying that they are having their flat sale starting the 18th! It is so cold outside that I don't even know if I want to get a few flats and let them sit in the garage or wait till Tree Top or Johnsons Gdn Ctr do their flat sales. DH was saying that we can always get whatever flowers from John Deere (that wholesale place on Hillside, just North of K-96). I feel like I've lost all my plans due to the impending move. Still trying to finish up the inside of the house before moving but it is looking more and more impossible. We may just have to move in first then continue with the remodeling. Of course there is this Koi pond that I need so I can move my fish from the current pond, the fruit trees I want to plant because we won't be able to take the apple and pear trees with us from the old house. Just feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything right now. I'm sure things will work out eventually but right now, I'm just so super anxious about everything.

Here is a funny story for you guys. So we went to feed the chickens on the farm (this was Monday). Then we (DH was the driver) drove home. After turning into our street, there was a cop car behind us with the red and blue lights on. So DH stopped the car. Of course here I was, telling DH that he should never drive fast to begin with. So now he is going to get a ticket for it. The officer approached DH's side of the car and he told DH/us the reason why he stopped us. It wasn't because DH was speeding. It was because our car matched a home burglary suspect's car description! The thing is, we have a champagne colored Odyssey with a bra over the front portion of the hood. The officer told us the suspect has the same color, make and model and bra in front of the hood car!! Except DH doesn't fit the profile of the suspect himself. LOL

I had to apoligize to DH that I accused him of speeding.

DS was looing around yesterday while we were driving home last night thinking Daddy may be pulled over by a police officer again. Just too funny to see him looking all over trying to "spot" the cop car.

Anyway, gotta get back to work. Hope you guys enjoy the day regardless of how grey and dreary it is.

Kuan

 

[chicken danz]

Funny story Tweetybaby! I had one years ago that was pretty funny. I guess you have to have a warped mind like mine to appreciate it. We lived in Oklahoma City in the early 80's/ My husband and I were coming to Kansas to visit relatives. We were on the interstate. I had 2 tiny kids and of course was always worn out. This was back in the day when cars had bench seats in front. I fell asleep with my head on DH's lap. He was driving. He often got drowsy driving and I guess he was weaving around on the road some. A trooper stopped us and as he was walking up to the car I woke up and sat up. He gave us a long speech about there was a place and time for sexual activity and it wasn't while driving. I sat there horrified and my DH answered with "Okay sir. I understand." rather than explaining I had been napping!!
Well I must say since I finally used the sweeter heater I am really impressed. I didn't have a pen ready for the baby ducks yet so I hauled a stock tank into the basement. I hung the sweeter heater from the joists above it. I have some very comfortable baby ducks who act perfectly content in there. DH said I should order a couple more because they are awesome. It seems like a major expense but if it last a long time it would sure beat buying several dozen heat bulbs a year. I got a 30 inch long one which happens to be just the right size for that little stock tank. It's not a permanent fix but it will do until I can get the ducks set up in their own little pen. They are still hatching as well as more chicks. I also have some more goose eggs hatching today. I noticed my first peafowl egg has lots of minute cracks in it that you can't see without a light. I guess I'll have to increase her calcium or something. The second egg looks fine but it's too early to see if it is fertile or not.
It's so dark and dreary out. Looks like we will be getting some major rain. The forecast doesn't look promising at all for the next few days but it sounds like the weekend will be slightly better.
HeChicken I don't know what it is about barrels. I guess they can crawl back in them and feel like they are in a dark cave or something. Crazy birds! do your muscovies always hatch their own babies or do you incubate them?
Trish you made amazing fast work of that hoop coop. I need to get some more lumber so I can start on my new double one. Of course if the weather doesn't improve I won't be out there working at all except to just feed and water.

 

[pikeman94]

Danz - Bacteria from wild birds.....hmmmm....makes me wonder if what is affecting my two hens is related. I can't remember how far back you posted the symptoms, but what where they again?

 

[sharol]

I have 2 of the sweeter heaters over my roosts in the coop. It is so nice to be able to provide a slightly warmer spot for the girls and Butch during cold weather. They can move away from the heaters if they are too warm, too. The big thing is that they aren't a fire hazard. I recommend them, too.

****snip****
Well I must say since I finally used the sweeter heater I am really impressed. I didn't have a pen ready for the baby ducks yet so I hauled a stock tank into the basement. I hung the sweeter heater from the joists above it. I have some very comfortable baby ducks who act perfectly content in there. DH said I should order a couple more because they are awesome. It seems like a major expense but if it last a long time it would sure beat buying several dozen heat bulbs a year. I got a 30 inch long one which happens to be just the right size for that little stock tank. It's not a permanent fix but it will do until I can get the ducks set up in their own little pen. They are still hatching as well as more chicks. I also have some more goose eggs hatching today. I noticed my first peafowl egg has lots of minute cracks in it that you can't see without a light. I guess I'll have to increase her calcium or something. The second egg looks fine but it's too early to see if it is fertile or not.
It's so dark and dreary out. Looks like we will be getting some major rain. The forecast doesn't look promising at all for the next few days but it sounds like the weekend will be slightly better.
HeChicken I don't know what it is about barrels. I guess they can crawl back in them and feel like they are in a dark cave or something. Crazy birds! do your muscovies always hatch their own babies or do you incubate them?
Trish you made amazing fast work of that hoop coop. I need to get some more lumber so I can start on my new double one. Of course if the weather doesn't improve I won't be out there working at all except to just feed and water.

 

[HEChicken]

HeChicken I don't know what it is about barrels. I guess they can crawl back in them and feel like they are in a dark cave or something. Crazy birds! do your muscovies always hatch their own babies or do you incubate them?

These barrels are standing upright! The one she was in does have a piece of rusted metal partially across the top though so it must have seemed like a secure location to her. Funny that outside seemed more secure to her than inside the coop though

. I'll have to get a picture of where she was.

This morning she seems to be agreeing with me that the hoop coop is a better place to brood. Surely it couldn't have been that easy?

I am doing both types of incubation. What I had read about muscovies is that they are good broodies and mothers so I always intended to let them raise some of their own but I've been getting so many eggs that I also filled my incubator on Friday. They take 5 weeks, not 4 like other ducks, so my incubator will be tied up for awhile. I've heard that muscovy eggs are hard to hatch but I'm going to hope my Rcom can do a decent job of it. Some of the offspring will be sold and others I'll raise for meat, as they have one of the best feed:meat ratios around.

So, since my incubator is tied up....I ordered another one

I still can hardly believe I hit submit on that order, but I have turkey eggs under the first brody muscovy, that aren't due to hatch until a week after her ducklings so I'll need to pull them out from under her, and with the incubator full, didn't have anywhere to put them. I just like the Rcom so much better than my home builts because although they worked fine, they involved manual turning and the Rcom is so easy - just dial up the temp/humidity to whatever settings you want and it maintains them. No need to check gauges, and add water through flexible hoses during lockdown and all that. The company I ordered the first one from has a points system where you can use the points from one purchase for a discount on the next. So the points from the first one I bought got me $20 off this one. They already had the lowest price I could find, and offered free shipping so with the same deal plus $20 off.....well, y'all would have done the same thing, wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU???

 

[cubbysan]

Not sure why but most people prefer brown over white eggs. They taste the same to me. Wait till they see the blue eggs... I'm getting a few Wheaten Americauna chicks from Trish this weekend so hopefully 6 months down the road, we will have some blue eggs.

We are from the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area. In the stores out there most eggs you buy are brown. At Easter time, you need to go out of your way to buy white eggs for coloring. My mother always hated buying the white eggs, she always said they cracked more often than the brown eggs when boiling. I was amazed when I moved out here to find out so many people have never had brown eggs.

There is a song jingle that the Egg Council uses for their TV commercials in New England. It goes, "Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are FRESH!" So I guess most of the hens must be Rhode Island Reds.