Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

I whizzed through posts trying to get caught up. Sorry to those I forgot.

Kuan, I am so sorry about the fox attack. I am sure it will be back. Do you have a gun and are you in an area it is legal to shoot? If not perhaps you could look into setting up traps. The fox will continue to bring her kits to food or food to kits so she needs to be ousted.
Originally Posted by 22qZoo

Good morning everyone , Newbie here . Mind if I join? We actually got our chicks last year from Orschielns (sp?) everything has gone pretty well coop is done , run is functional, love the eggs and really enjoy spoiling the girls,Then last weekend we were at Orsh. again and picked up 4 more. (2 sil.laced Wy. and 2Americanas) I'm sure there are a zillion posts on BYC that could answer any questions I have but thought how nice it would be to ask some folks who are actually in a similar environment( weather,soil,predators,ect..) So my first ?. How would any off you add these new four to the rest of the flock? right now they are in the garage in a big stock tank with a heat lamp and everything else. I know it will be a while yet ,and I don't want them to get picked on 3 months, 5 months? There are some picks on my profile page I'll have to wait till tech suport gets home from school to show me how to post here I have ADD brain when it comes to this kind of stuff. CIAO.

My favorite way of integrating new birds is to put them in a pen within the pen. So they get used to being around each other. Then after a couple weeks, just open the door and let them venture out. They do very well and never get picked on.

An update on my two embden geese. I am pretty sure now that they are both geese

rather than one gander and one goose. I didn't get any eggs yesterday, not because they didn't lay but because I couldn't find WHERE they'd laid. I knew I was gonna get one egg when the geese disappeared, but I honestly had no idea where they'd gone... Today, I found two eggs in the dog cage inside the duck run (put the cage there initially when I added these two to the flock and never moved it - they like to lay in the straw in there). Then, they were spending lots of time by the tree line today, so I followed them over there and found two more eggs. That's six eggs in 3 days. I don't see how that's possible unless both birds are females. When I found the two eggs in the dog cage today, one of the geese was sitting on them. When I found two more in the tree line, there was a girl sitting on them (can't tell them apart) and the other bird was sitting on an empty nest. My DH says that I'm not allowed to have any more birds, so I can't afford to let the geese raise young'uns. Any tips on keeping my geese from going broody???

Congrats Lizzy!

Sad to hear about your Gold laced rooster. I have one and two middle to elderly hens, not sure how old they are. We could be able to help each other. If you would lend me your hens I would breed them to my rooster and return them after I get enough chicks started. Of course, you could have your choice of some of the chicks. What do you think? I live in Derby and would be willing to meet you halfway. I spoil all my ducks and chickens. You would not have to worry about predators as my dogs let my chickens walk right between their legs. My dogs keep all the predators away and my pens are enclosed including the top.

I'll send you a PM.

I'm sorry for your losses, I hope the fox moves on & doesn't come back but if it has young it may see your chickens as easy food. I'm sorry to be a downer like that. I hope the rest of your little chicks are doing OK.
I'm so sorry for your news, that has to be hard trying to stay positive for the kids.

It's raining here today, it's actually rained quite a bit already because I had to empty the tarp on the top of my main coop run since it was full. I got rained on again when I went out to let my chickens & the little goats out. I'm glad for the moisture on one hand, but hate the mud & mess on the other. I'm just glad it's rain & not snow though, that's an improvement.

It rained here last night and again this morning. The fencing guys were here by AM. The water district finally made it here yesterday to mark the water line. Well the very first drill they hit the water line. I live very close to the tower so the entire area has no water including me. It was pouring out of the ground by gallons and gallons. I can't even add water to the incubators or water the birds. Ugh!
My fencing costs went up by over a thousand dollars than what I expected and I still have to buy wire and pay another $900 when they are done. Holy crap! I'm thinking the total bill will be around $4000. Sure glad I didn't fence the rest of the land!!!
I also got some news last night which upset me. There is 10 acres behind my property the guy that bought the remainder of the farm owns. The guy that farms my land owns the other part of the section directly south of that. He normally rents that acreage for his horses to foal on. This year he isn't using it so the land owner is going to rent it out and put cattle on it. I have got to find out who this guy is that is bringing in the cattle. I don't want some crazy person shooting at my dogs again. We need to have a talk before he brings them in.
Also the entry gate to that property that is normally used is on my property. And about a half acre of my land that isn't fenced separately is on that land. Now I'm going to have to get fence put up and get my electric fence installed to keep cattle in. I had planned to just run a couple wires for the dogs. So there is even more expense. I'm going to be a jerk about it though and not let them bring the cattle in through my gate. I plan to plant watermelon and pumpkins for the birds out in that area and I don't need them driving through it.
Needless to say I'm not a happy camper today.
Yesterday was a wonderful day but catch up for today is ridiculous. I feel like I am spinning in circles just to get caught up on the little things.

 

[Polishpal]

HEchicken we keep getting rid of the bumble but it still comes back but it never gets worse so i have learned to deal with it and its nott bothering me that much so i just treat it for however long and then i see what happens

 

[HEChicken]

I also got some news last night which upset me. There is 10 acres behind my property the guy that bought the remainder of the farm owns. The guy that farms my land owns the other part of the section directly south of that. He normally rents that acreage for his horses to foal on. This year he isn't using it so the land owner is going to rent it out and put cattle on it. I have got to find out who this guy is that is bringing in the cattle. I don't want some crazy person shooting at my dogs again. We need to have a talk before he brings them in.
Also the entry gate to that property that is normally used is on my property. And about a half acre of my land that isn't fenced separately is on that land. Now I'm going to have to get fence put up and get my electric fence installed to keep cattle in. I had planned to just run a couple wires for the dogs. So there is even more expense. I'm going to be a jerk about it though and not let them bring the cattle in through my gate. I plan to plant watermelon and pumpkins for the birds out in that area and I don't need them driving through it.
Needless to say I'm not a happy camper today.

Danz, it seems to me that if the fence is to keep his cattle in, then it is his responsibility to put it up. I'm sorry the cost to fence the front went so high but I know you will be happy with the peace of mind that comes from having it there. I hope they get the water turned on soon.

When I ordered my last incubator, the confirmation email came with a warning to only use distilled water in it. I can see why they would suggest that, to avoid mineral deposits if you have hard water (though the Rcom is super easy to clean so I'm not worried about that), but it got me to wondering if other people are using distilled water? I've only ever used tap water - now I'm wondering if I should switch.

My heart is heavy today. My Aloha hen has been doing great caring for her chicks and poults. The past two days were so nice she was in the grow out pen, with a dog kennel for cover. Mostly she just sits down somewhere and the little ones all get under her but at night she was careful to go in the dog kennel and bed them down for the night. I would then go in and latch the door of the dog kennel to keep them safe. There is no tarp over the top of the grow out pen right now - the last one got ripped to shreds, so this morning since it was raining, I didn't want to put her out there. Instead I put the dog kennel in the hoop coop, opened the door and placed a chick feeder and waterer nearby. Well, I went down to check 2 hours later and as soon as I opened the back door of my house, I heard loud peeping. I ran down there and found that the wind had blown the door of the dog kennel shut, trapping 2 chicks and 2 poults in it, while the hen, 2 poults and a chick were loose in the hoop coop. The chicks were fine (though they were the ones peeping so loudly) but the poults were laid out flat, cold and half frozen. I grabbed Mama Hen and put her in the kennel. One of the poults opened its eyes so I put it under her to warm up, and made sure all the others were under her, then shut her into the kennel so she couldn't get off them until they were all warmed up (next time I went down to visit, I couldn't tell which poult that had been). The 4th poult though, was already gone. I am so sad. This was the same one that I brought back from freezing on Monday, and it had been doing so well, eating, keeping up with the others etc. If it hadn't got locked in the kennel, it would still be alive now. I feel like its my fault because I didn't prop the door open. The past two days I didn't prop the door open and it stayed open all day (less wind, I guess) so it didn't even occur to me today.

Also in the hoop coop right now is a broody duck, sitting on 23 eggs, in a dog house. The interesting thing is that the Aloha hen still seems partially broody. When she was in there on Sunday, at one point she stole a duck egg and was sitting on the egg, 3 chicks and 4 poults. I retrieved the egg and gave it back to the duck. But because of that, I moved her to the growout pen, so she would focus on raising her brood. I figured by now she would have forgotten about that, but when she found herself shut out of the dog kennel, she went into the dog house with the duck and stole about HALF of those eggs. When I went down there, I found she had made a nice nest and was sitting on all of those eggs, with the 3 little ones under her as well (while the other four froze in the kennel next door). I'm really surprised she still wants to sit on eggs when she has the little ones to care for, and also surprised that the duck apparently didn't put up a fight at having her eggs taken from her. When I physically removed the hen and put her back in the kennel, the duck tucked all of those eggs back under her. I need better weather so the hen can go back to the growout pen. I'm seriously going nuts right now trying to keep everyone safe and warm.

 

[HEChicken]

HEchicken we keep getting rid of the bumble but it still comes back but it never gets worse so i have learned to deal with it and its nott bothering me that much so i just treat it for however long and then i see what happens

Bumble is a really horrible affliction in my opinion. I've had several hens that I've treated and Hawkeye on here helped me treat one. With the ones I did alone, I never felt I got the whole bumble out, and the hen continued limping. About a month ago, Hawkeye did surgery on one of my hens who had a horribly swollen foot. We feel confident she got all of the bumble out on that one, but the foot is still swollen (not as bad as before but still very noticeable) and she still limps (not as much as before but still....) She is laying and seems very happy, first in to get treats and all that, so I'm not worrying too much about her and hoping time will continue to improve it.

My guess would be that some of the bumble is left in each time and continues to regrow. At some point I wonder if it is worth it to treat? I have several hens that if I look at their feet they have a small bumble in the bottom but its not swollen, not painful, and they are running, jumping, eating and laying as if its not there. So I don't plan to treat those unless it does start to grow, swell and become painful.

 

[chicken danz]

I think half of my flock think they should be broody...except the ones I want to be. I have a duck in my hen house that has a huge pile of eggs and she keeps stealing chicken eggs to add to the pile. I'm short on incubating room so I'll just let her sit on them. They never hatch out many in a pile like that then the others go rotten. I'll just try to catch them pipping then take the rest of the nest.
It's been a really awful day so far. It has rained all day and if it isn't raining it is misting. I'm not accomplishing hardly anything I set out to do.
I'm trying to find out if my appointment later today has been cancelled but haven't gotten an answer yet.

 

[JosieChick]

I am 266 posts behind, long week! Miss Amelia surprised us by coming a bit early last weekend!!! She was born at 1:14 AM on Sunday, April 21 weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long. Forty eight hours of labor but she was well worth the wait!

 

[chicken danz]

How precious! I've really had to bite my tongue to keep from broadcasting the news to everyone! It has been really really hard. She looks absolutely gorgeous! Hope you are getting some rest. Has your Mom flown in yet?

 

[Trish44]

Danz, it seems to me that if the fence is to keep his cattle in, then it is his responsibility to put it up. I'm sorry the cost to fence the front went so high but I know you will be happy with the peace of mind that comes from having it there. I hope they get the water turned on soon.

When I ordered my last incubator, the confirmation email came with a warning to only use distilled water in it. I can see why they would suggest that, to avoid mineral deposits if you have hard water (though the Rcom is super easy to clean so I'm not worried about that), but it got me to wondering if other people are using distilled water? I've only ever used tap water - now I'm wondering if I should switch.

My heart is heavy today. My Aloha hen has been doing great caring for her chicks and poults. The past two days were so nice she was in the grow out pen, with a dog kennel for cover. Mostly she just sits down somewhere and the little ones all get under her but at night she was careful to go in the dog kennel and bed them down for the night. I would then go in and latch the door of the dog kennel to keep them safe. There is no tarp over the top of the grow out pen right now - the last one got ripped to shreds, so this morning since it was raining, I didn't want to put her out there. Instead I put the dog kennel in the hoop coop, opened the door and placed a chick feeder and waterer nearby. Well, I went down to check 2 hours later and as soon as I opened the back door of my house, I heard loud peeping. I ran down there and found that the wind had blown the door of the dog kennel shut, trapping 2 chicks and 2 poults in it, while the hen, 2 poults and a chick were loose in the hoop coop. The chicks were fine (though they were the ones peeping so loudly) but the poults were laid out flat, cold and half frozen. I grabbed Mama Hen and put her in the kennel. One of the poults opened its eyes so I put it under her to warm up, and made sure all the others were under her, then shut her into the kennel so she couldn't get off them until they were all warmed up (next time I went down to visit, I couldn't tell which poult that had been). The 4th poult though, was already gone. I am so sad. This was the same one that I brought back from freezing on Monday, and it had been doing so well, eating, keeping up with the others etc. If it hadn't got locked in the kennel, it would still be alive now. I feel like its my fault because I didn't prop the door open. The past two days I didn't prop the door open and it stayed open all day (less wind, I guess) so it didn't even occur to me today.

Also in the hoop coop right now is a broody duck, sitting on 23 eggs, in a dog house. The interesting thing is that the Aloha hen still seems partially broody. When she was in there on Sunday, at one point she stole a duck egg and was sitting on the egg, 3 chicks and 4 poults. I retrieved the egg and gave it back to the duck. But because of that, I moved her to the growout pen, so she would focus on raising her brood. I figured by now she would have forgotten about that, but when she found herself shut out of the dog kennel, she went into the dog house with the duck and stole about HALF of those eggs. When I went down there, I found she had made a nice nest and was sitting on all of those eggs, with the 3 little ones under her as well (while the other four froze in the kennel next door). I'm really surprised she still wants to sit on eggs when she has the little ones to care for, and also surprised that the duck apparently didn't put up a fight at having her eggs taken from her. When I physically removed the hen and put her back in the kennel, the duck tucked all of those eggs back under her. I need better weather so the hen can go back to the growout pen. I'm seriously going nuts right now trying to keep everyone safe and warm.

HEChicken, I'm so sorry about your little poult, I hope the others will be OK. I just hate this darned weather!

I am 266 posts behind, long week! Miss Amelia surprised us by coming a bit early last weekend!!! She was born at 1:14 AM on Sunday, April 21 weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long. Forty eight hours of labor but she was well worth the wait!

She is so adorable, I saw your post on FB too, congrats! I hope you're doing OK as well.

 

[HEChicken]

I am 266 posts behind, long week! Miss Amelia surprised us by coming a bit early last weekend!!! She was born at 1:14 AM on Sunday, April 21 weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long. Forty eight hours of labor but she was well worth the wait!

Awwww....I can't wait to meet Miss Amelia in person

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Miss Amelia is a beautiful baby! Congratulations!