Consolidated Kansas

[pikeman94]

Hi everyone! Newbie over here from Topeka. I started out with six little chicks a few weeks ago, then went to Orschlen's to get some food for them yesterday and came home with two more Hoping to learn some chicken wisdom from you guys!

Welcome! You are in the correct place to get wisdom. I am only quasi-wise, but there are other here that I would dub "Chicken Whisperers".

 

[RoosterLew]

I only whisper to them when I don't want the GF to know what I'm telling them.
But I'm no expert!

Welcome! Great mix of chicks you have there!

 

[sharol]

Sounds like you are becoming a victim of "chicken math"

We would like to see pictures of your babies when you get a chance. Welcome to the Consolidated Kansas thread.

Are you a doula? (just looking at your name)

Our original six that will be 4 weeks old are three buff orpingtons, (Chickadee, Marilyn, & Eleanor,) and 3 black sex links, (Pepper, Sassafrass, & Maggie.) Then yesterday I picked up both a 4 day old silver laced wyandotte, (Sybil,) and a barred plymouth rock, (Edith.)
I've been taking far too many pictures of them already. I'll upload some tomorrow of them! They've been having a blast spending time outside everyday while I build their coop.

 

[cherwill]

Hi everyone! Newbie over here from Topeka. I started out with six little chicks a few weeks ago, then went to Orschlen's to get some food for them yesterday and came home with two more Hoping to learn some chicken wisdom from you guys!

Chicken math strikes again! Welcome.

Have you tried adding oyster shell to the feed or providing oyster shell in a separate feeder?

We do. We used to have it in a separate container but lately DH has just mixed it in with their food. It bothered him that as soon as we'd put it out, Ruby would go in and kick it all over the place.

Only one bird is laying eggs like this. The others are normal and have nice, thick shells. Either that one bird isn't eating the oyster shell or it's Old Sophia and her eggs have gotten quite a bit smaller. We decided a while back Old Sophia has some kind of problem, probably with her reproductive tract. She looks fat and she loses feathers around that area. She's laid odd looking eggs for a year or so now. They were large, elongated and with darker and lighter patches on the surface of the shell. I didn't see any eggs I thought were hers for a while, so maybe these are.

 

[chicken danz]

Welcome purposefuldoula. Congrats on your new chicks.
Maidenwolf. I had some broodies in with a bunch of other birds one time and marked their eggs on two sides with a big red x with a sharpie so I could pull out any new ones some other hen laid. Most of my broodies have chosen a private spot though and not let other chickens lay in with them after going fully broody. Especially the Pheonix. They would get pretty nasty about being disturbed. I still think you could also pull any remaining eggs and hatch them like I did. She will probably sit for a day or two after her first chicks hatch before taking them to find food and water. But then I don't know the conditions you have there so that could make a difference.
That is when you would need to grab the other eggs and candle them.
RoosterLew your a hoot!!!

I woke up at 4AM because the baby geese decided they couldn't make it one more minute without more food and water. If they would quit playing in it all the first moment they get it they would have plenty to last all night. I think half of it is they get lonely and they want someone to be around them. These two oldest ones I hatched are pretty imprinted on me and think they have to be right where I am. I am so ready for warmer weather so I can move them outdoors.
Then I couldn't get back to sleep. SO finally at 6:00 I got up and laid on the couch and fell asleep until 7:00 when DH got home from work and woke me up.
I should be a very pleasant person before the day is over.

 

[HEChicken]

I should be a very pleasant person before the day is over.

LOL

Oh, Maidenwolf, I forgot I did have a broody in Wichita and I did what Danz suggested - marked the eggs and every day I removed the ones that weren't marked. That was a little stressful for both of us because she didn't like being moved off the nest so I could find eggs to collect, so I prefer segregation, but that is an option if segregating isn't possible.

Well, my second poult just hatched. I had an issue yesterday where my broody hen decided it was time to get off the nest with her three chicks, but of the four turkey eggs, only 1 had pipped. I thought it was dead. Long story short, it wasn't and I was afraid I was going to lose it. I put all the eggs in an incubator and the one that was touch and go is looking much better this morning and I just watched a second zip and hatch. A third is pipped and I can see it breathing through its pip hole.

Yesterday I planted my seedlings and last night DH informed me they are calling for freezing rain and snow again on Monday. I cannot believe this spring!!! So now I have to worry my newly planted seedlings won't do well. I guess I will cover them up tonight and hope for the best. Grrr. After planting them, I went to get some hay to use as mulch. The previous owners left 2 round bales and several square bales out in our pasture that are no longer any good as feed but will be great for mulch. So I lifted some flakes of one of the square bales into my lawn cart, and then realized I'd hit the motherload. You know those white grubs that the moles go after to eat? Well, under where the bale had been, the ground was covered in them, and they were the biggest I've ever seen. I set to hastily to gather them up before they dug down out of the light, and my chickens had a feast. Now I know where to go looking for them. Every few days I can go down, move some more hay, and gather a bowlful of them.

 

[Polishpal]

Gardner

 

[Polishpal]

I'm a very upset chicken mama Xc one of my dear polish is very sick and I to the point I'm crying because this is a hen who I love very dearly

 

[chicken danz]

So sorry Polish pal. What is wrong with your hen. Maybe we can help.
Hechicken I was planting a rose yesterday and found a bunch of grubs. I was throwing them out of the flower bed and the chickens were going crazy.
I guess there is a reason why I am two months behind getting anything planted in my garden. I really wanted to get potatoes in earlier but never found any seed potatoes. It will probably be too late to plant any now. I still need to till the thing up, but can't take the tractor in there cause I have that silly broody hen sitting in the barrel of old shavings. I don't want to disturb her. She should be about ready to hatch. I think she has several duck eggs in with her I will have to try to rescue when the chicks hatch.
I thought it was supposed to be warm today but it sure doesn't seem like it is going to be. I need to get outside and do something. I've been trying to estimate materials and cost to put up electric wire around my acreage and the stupid calculator thing I was using isn't working right so I wasted a couple hours. Grrr!

 

[Polishpal]

I already asked for help and she is basically a lost cause. All my local vets and co-opps are closed and she is only getting worse