Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

It's tough being a chicken. I thought the same thing this morning.

I'm sorry Sharol. I lost one of my special chickens to egg problems just a few weeks ago. It is really sad when you can't help them. Too bad you can't give her drugs to help her along!!!

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

My Blue Ameraucana, Bubblegum, died from being egg bound

 

[Polishpal]

I just learner I have 3 polish roo's! I though he was a she until I picked him up to check for mites, I do that alot, and I noticed he is growing large wattles and a very handsome V comb......he then so lovingly kicked me in the nose B/

 

[Deerfield Acres]

exop, I hope something works out for you -- they are amazing birds.

 

[cherwill]

My sheltie was not himself this morning. He pee'd in the bathroom. Not sure why. I let him out last night before bed and he usually can hold it pretty good till morning around 6:30am. Will need to keep an eye on him.

I hope he's doing better. He might have a bladder infection. Whenever my Vizsla gets a bladder infection, the first sign is that she starts peeing in the house.

Cute chicks. Do I see puffy cheeks?

Yeah, Kansas spring this year has not been so good. These were tomato and pepper seedlings, and in the past I've found that tomatoes are VERY susceptible to freezing temps. They're okay down to 33-34, but let it dip down to 32 and they're gone. I had used a bunch of old hay as mulch when I planted them (only last Saturday) and because it was so windy, I built the hay up right around them to their tops, to prevent the wind from breaking their tender little stems. So last night I took sheets and put them over all of that and I think they might have been okay had it not snowed. The sheets should have kept the thermal mass above freezing - or at least prevented any frost from landing on the leaves. But the snow landed all over the sheets, weighting them down and freezing the sheet itself. So where the sheet came in contact with the tomatoes, they are toast. The peppers *may* be okay - I'll have to wait and see. I had one pepper seedling that was a lot more mature than the rest and at least twice as tall. So I cut the bottom out of a soda pop bottle and inverted it over the seedling before putting the sheet on. I think it might have saved that one. Unfortunately we just don't drink enough soda pop around here so that was the only bottle I could find.

We spread straw over our stuff yet again. The peas look great still, the radishes are looking ragged, and the beets and rutabagas look very iffy. The carrots had just started sprouting and they're so delicate, I don't have high hopes for their survival. DH says it must be true -- that it's really the frost that does most of the damage, not the actual temperature. However, all my stuff so far is cool weather, early spring stuff. The peppers might lose those bad leaves and recover, as well as the one tomato. Have you ever seen those green or red tent-like things where you put it over the plant and fill the sides with water? The top is open, but the thing acts like a single-plant greenhouse. We got some last year and they were incredible for getting the tomatoes and tomatilloes started. I know it's too late for this batch. They're kind of expensive, but we found a bunch of them at place where construction and household stuff is recycled, so we got 6 of them for 50 cents.

All this straw spreading and raking up, and we only got a dusting of snow anyway.

I'm afraid I'm losing one of my prettiest chickens. Hermoine appears to be eggbound. She is swollen and walks funny. When she poops, it comes out in dribs and drabs. Her belly just below her vent feels really squishy.

I soaked her in warm water and lubed her vent with mineral oil, but I'm pretty sure she won't be able to pass the egg. I can feel it on one side with the squishy stuff all around it.

She is drying off in the dog kennel in the garage (heated) right now, and then I'll let her go back to the others. This has been going on for a week or so, so it is just a matter of time. Last night she slept in a nest box (lower, easier to get to.)





I'm sorry to hear she's not doing well. She's so pretty -- she looks at lot like my EE, Rose.

......he then so lovingly kicked me in the nose B/

I'm sorry, but that made me laugh. My chickens AND my dogs have gotten me pretty good on occasion just when I think we're being all lovey.

 

[chicken danz]

It was one very busy and tiring day. I got the rocks pulled out and then dug and transplanted iris here and there. I also tried to get rid of some of the weeds around them before I planted them. I swear since it was so dry last summer I didn't have to pull weeds and they have come back in full force where they aren't supposed to. So that took me a few hours. I hauled my aching body out back and fed and watered the birds. I did a good job today cause yesterday I was just trying to do the minimum to keep from freezing.
My fencing guy called back and he plans to be here Friday to set the posts. So I guess since I spent the afternoon working and left the big rocks in the driveway I am going to have to find a way to get them loaded on the tractor bucket and move them somewhere until the fencing is done. The price went up substantially for the job because of how I wanted the driveway done. I have to buy a gate or maybe two gates to go in our main drive. Then we have to make some kind of gate to go in the other drive that the farm equipment goes through. I plan to buy an electric gate opener so we can go in and out without getting out of the car. Another expense but it really is needed.
I've got to go buy wire and fence posts this weekend probably.
I feel like I've been run over by a truck.
My one very sad realization of the day is that King, my favorite chicken of all has disappeared. He and my Brahma rooster got in a terrible battle and both were very bloodied up. They had never fought before but I think since I sold so many hens it created some new competition. Anyway he is always in the driveway and always comes for special treats when I feed. I looked every where for him and couldn't find him. He never goes beyond a small area and he just isn't there and didn't come to the coop at bedtime. It breaks my heart. I sold all of my cochins but he and his two gold laced ladies and my black cochins. He was the most excellent rooster and so sweet and calm. It breaks my heart. Here is a picture I took of him probably last summer. It just breaks my heart.

 

[cherwill]

How sad. He's beautiful, Danz.

 

[sharol]

That makes me sad, too. I've gotten really attached to my roo. He has so much personality and he is SUCH a good boy. I hope he turns up.

Sharol

My one very sad realization of the day is that King, my favorite chicken of all has disappeared. He and my Brahma rooster got in a terrible battle and both were very bloodied up. They had never fought before but I think since I sold so many hens it created some new competition. Anyway he is always in the driveway and always comes for special treats when I feed. I looked every where for him and couldn't find him. He never goes beyond a small area and he just isn't there and didn't come to the coop at bedtime. It breaks my heart. I sold all of my cochins but he and his two gold laced ladies and my black cochins. He was the most excellent rooster and so sweet and calm. It breaks my heart. Here is a picture I took of him probably last summer. It just breaks my heart.

 

[Polishpal]

Cherwill sometimes chickens can be real Butts

 

[Polishpal]

Im so sorry chicken danz I know its hard to loose a favorite bird the last day of school last year I lost all of my egg flock except 1 surviving Rhodes island who I dearly cherish and I also lost my favorite roo sparticus, a barred rock....but I'm very sorry for your loss hopefully he will show up