Consolidated Kansas

[lizzyGSR]

There have been several people posting about the weather... It drizzled all day yesterday, making it miserable outside while not really giving us much in the way of precip. Then, yesterday evening the drizzle turned to snow, and it really started coming down. By 1 o'clock this morning, we had 5-6" of snow on the ground, and that's not counting what melted initially. The temperatures also dropped yesterday evening and into the night. I was so worried about my horses, who had already lost their winter coat. I went out yesterday to put blankets on them and then again a little while later to take wet blankets off. Then, I got up at 1 o'clock this morning to check on them and put the dried blankets back on them (I only have one blanket that works for each horse so I had to bring them in and toss them in the dryer). This morning, I got up early to go out and check on the horses again and give them grain and hay. I am excited to get some work done on our barn so that the snow can't get in quite so easily so the horses will be warm/dry in there. Right now, they just stand behind the tree line - out of the wind but still in the snow. Then, when the snow melts on them, they get wet and then cold. GRRR! I am thankful that the cold weather has kept the rattlesnakes in hibernation, but this weather is awfully hard on my horses now that they've lost their winter coats. I am so thankful that my birds (ducks and geese) don't mind the wet weather. I don't think I could handle having to worry about any more animals.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

I have raised Peafowl for over 15 years and I agree with what Danz wrote. The main requirement is to have NO NEIGHBORS. I have 10 pair and they do make a racket. Anything out of the ordinary can set them off and make them squawk.

 

[RoosterLew]

Hey Rooster - if its working for you, don't change a thing! I swear that riding my horse has medical benefits enough that I should be able to claim him as a tax deduction. I used to be at the chiropractor a couple of times a month before I got him, but in the last 3 years, I've only been once or twice.

About 10 years ago my back was giving me lots of problems, I was training a colt and got thrown, landed flat in the sand on my back...stood up and was straighter than I had been in months!

 

[RoosterLew]

Don't know why, but that struck me as awfully funny! And then envisioned you as Pooh Bear!

..........On a more serious note, I'm glad it's working for you!

Would that make me "Rooster Pooh" ???

lol

 

[HEChicken]

I have raised Peafowl for over 15 years and I agree with what Danz wrote. The main requirement is to have NO NEIGHBORS. I have 10 pair and they do make a racket. Anything out of the ordinary can set them off and make them squawk.

Ain't that the truth? I didn't know peacocks honk until one of our barn ladies brought her dog, who chased the peacock. He flew up in the tree and honked in indignation!

About 10 years ago my back was giving me lots of problems, I was training a colt and got thrown, landed flat in the sand on my back...stood up and was straighter than I had been in months!

See? Horses should be a tax deduction - look at all the money you saved in medical expenses! When I was a young teen I had a fall from a horse that broke my cocyx (tail bone). I had a lot of pain, and couldn't sit for long at a time for a decade after that. Then in my early 20's I broke the cocyx again, and had even more pain while it healed. It wasn't until 6 months to a year later that I realized I no longer have pain when I sit for extended periods like I did before that second break. My theory is after the second break it reset to its correct position, after being out of alignment for all those years.

My theory on the horse-riding now is that it strengthens the core muscles, providing support to my back so that it doesn't get out of whack as often. Of course, with the weather we've been having, I haven't been able to ride as much as usual lately....

 

[purposefuldoula]

I don't know much about honey and allergies but I know a little about goats milk and hay fever. I had a man in my crew where I worked that had suffered every year. He had heard that dairy goats ranging on weeds had qualities that helped. I told him that goats milk had a strong taste if eating rag weed. He said he didn't care if it helped. To make a long story short, I provided him with goats milk and his problem went away. And when our job ended he bought a goat.

Interesting!!! We do local honey, have been for almost years and it help. Also, cutting out other suspicious allergens, (like dairy, wheat, peanut butter...) is helping my seasonal allergies a ton this year. As close to home as you can get the honey, the better. My dad keeps bees in IL. I'm a bit jealous of him

 

[purposefuldoula]

With this nasty weather, I decided to bring the big(ger) girls in last night. They are all warm but are squaking it up. I think they need more space than they have right now, but I'd rather have angry chickens than frozen chickens. Thank you to everyone that weighed in on my newbie question!!
So, chicken math struck again, as DD1 got a pair of bantams for her birthday. We couldn't resist and ended up with a welsummer and an easter egger, also. We are up to 12! No more!! DH is threatening no more trips to the feed store

I hope everyone is staying warm today! It's pretty nasty over here in Topeka. So far, there's a layer of ice over everything and it's been snowing for a few hours. DH had to drive to Manhattan for school today, so I'm hoping the roads aren't terrible.

 

[bbsnooks]

Oh.. that's great sunflower.. how fun to have the hive.. / honey..

We are planning on putting a few colonized bee hives out at our place in the next few months! I have a friend in Wichita who has about 8 hives and he is moving and wanting to sell his colonized hives - I couldn't pass up the great deal he offered We had discussed this awhile ago and I bought my BF the suit and a book for Christmas. Can't wait to harvest the delicious honey! There are also a few farmer friends who are interested in renting some of the hives - they pay for themselves in no time.

Trish.. I loved the post of some one who recieved a Barnevelder rooster from McMurray's.. it almose made me want to get some..
they sure look pretty..

Well I scored another dog igloo a few minutes ago for a good price, so I have another one for my barnevelder pen when I get it built.

hello all .. and new members.. I can relate to some one who.. is trying to get the photo.. posting ect.. figured out.. (I wish there were a youtube of the basics.. grin)


I have a couple of ?? for your in put.... 1) about my chicks.. 2) hoop coop attachment.

1) I have some BLRWyandott's. 3 wk. - that sound like "Flipper" the dolphin.. when they're pooping.. It was an interesting sound.. and it took me a while.. to figure it out.. but .. after watching.. I think they may be a bit constipated.. ( none of the rest do this). They ( or is it just one?) seem to take a while.. to get the job done.. and they make that Flipper .. sound. it may take a minute or more.. to get the poop out.
? should i be concerned.. ? ( this is going on 5 day's or so. that i have noticed this.)

2) I want to ask.. to the hoop coop builders.. here.. about which side of the frame.. to attach the cattle panels.
I've seen it done on both .. on inside and out side. My thoughts were to put on the inside of the frame work.. but .. wanted to know your thoughts.

Danz I liked .. your addition of wooden floor at one. for ? feed and supply ? storage at the end.
. I may try some thing like that.. I've got some scrap.. wood to use up.

I have a Tarp to cover.. any suggestions for longevity.. I have bungie cords.. but do I need to "snug" it on with twine or rope.. to keep from flapping?
I have ply board to cover the (east) one end.. and will try to put a recycle window.. for light and ventilation on E side..
I wonder ?? how much.. space for ventilation should I allow for.. If.. the West will be Open air.. ?
I will place coop W to E with human door on West end.. between a Shed and Cedar row.. for wind break
and .. getting the ador1 automatic door.. for when i go out of town.. ( make it easier.. for care takers.. and chickens. )

If .. I've forgotten some thing. your reminder is welcome.. thanks..
-- Im going to try and catch up on some post's.. with this cold again weather.. melting snow here in wKansas this am..

 

[chicken danz]

I've done nothing but nap so far today. Totally out of character for me. I've got to get myself out to care for the birds regardless of how I feel.
BBSnooks, I put the wood floor inside and have a two walled coop within the hoop itself so I can use it regardless of weather. I prefer the chickens aren't on the ground itself. It keeps eggs cleaner and keeps them drier. I made a small vent on the south side and then there is the door on the north side. It is not facing the direction I wanted it but it is way too heavy to move. I also have the tarp offset so there is about 1 foot along the bottom of the coop part on the east side to let air through. The reason I have the opening on the east is to block off afternoon sun and cold winter winds from the west. Then allow air flow to go through the coop. Once I buy a nice permanent tarp I would like to make that side so I could fold it up or down depending on the weather conditions. My hoop coop isn't as open as most. It's moe like a building with a tarp for a roof.
The next one I build will be similar but it will be two building sections in the middle of the total length. It will be running east and west instead of north and south like the first one.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Oh my, what a return to winter. I spent yesterday afternoon preparing for the storm and that is the only way I was able to go back to sleep last night when I woke up and heard the rain battering against the windows. I moved my brooder chicks back to the brooder, which left my new pen from Deerfield able to accommodate my Aloha hen with her chicks and poults. She wasn't happy with me for catching them all to move them - she actually attacked me when I grabbed one of her chicks, I guess thinking I meant to do it harm. She was mollified when I put them all in the new pen though, and when I checked this morning, she was sitting on them keeping them warm. I'm so glad she knows they'll need more of that today than they have the past few days.

I am feeling lousy. DD shared her cold with me, so I am tucked in feeling as lousy as the outdoor weather. I can't rest up all day though, as I have turkey eggs that need to be prepared for hatch, and that means setting up my home-built as a hatcher today to put them in it. They are due to hatch on Cinco de Mayo.

Sounds like you have the perfect set up with Deer's pens! I LOVE her pens!!! I'm so sorry you are sick! No fun to be sick right now (or at any time). We really need to see the sun and have warmer temps. The sun helps bleach and naturally kill a lot of germs and stuff outside. I hope your Cinco de Mayo hatch goes really well! You are quickly in the final count down!! (Cue Europe's The Final CountDown) I always hear that music when ever I say 'count down'... I can't help it.

deb516, I am east of Hays in Wichita.

Ahh, another Wichita person!! There are LOTS of us in the Wichita area! A lot of us in the suburbs! I'm just south, and so are many of us on here! Very cool! Where the heck is Hays?!?!? LOL I do all of my shopping in Wichita or Derby, I don't really know where all the other small towns are!

I got up early this morning because my fencing guy was going to be here about 7:30 to collect the rest of his money. He hasn't shown. I am assuming due to the weather.
I am really sick. I have a terrible sinus infection and am running a fever. I just want to go back to bed.
My DH gave me some medicine for night time congestion last night but I still had to prop the pillows up in order to breath.
We have lots of wind and rain but no snow yet. I sure hope it doesn't snow. They were predicting we'd get over 2 inches of the white stuff. I've already been out once this morning cause the ducks found the open driveway! I've got to get that gate purchased and put in place.

That figures that the ducks/geese figured out the drive way is open! ha! Could do you a temp roll of chicken wire across it?

There have been several people posting about the weather... It drizzled all day yesterday, making it miserable outside while not really giving us much in the way of precip. Then, yesterday evening the drizzle turned to snow, and it really started coming down. By 1 o'clock this morning, we had 5-6" of snow on the ground, and that's not counting what melted initially. The temperatures also dropped yesterday evening and into the night. I was so worried about my horses, who had already lost their winter coat. I went out yesterday to put blankets on them and then again a little while later to take wet blankets off. Then, I got up at 1 o'clock this morning to check on them and put the dried blankets back on them (I only have one blanket that works for each horse so I had to bring them in and toss them in the dryer). This morning, I got up early to go out and check on the horses again and give them grain and hay. I am excited to get some work done on our barn so that the snow can't get in quite so easily so the horses will be warm/dry in there. Right now, they just stand behind the tree line - out of the wind but still in the snow. Then, when the snow melts on them, they get wet and then cold. GRRR! I am thankful that the cold weather has kept the rattlesnakes in hibernation, but this weather is awfully hard on my horses now that they've lost their winter coats. I am so thankful that my birds (ducks and geese) don't mind the wet weather. I don't think I could handle having to worry about any more animals.

The weather SUCKS. I'm sorry you have so much trouble with your horses staying warm! Booo-hiss!! Once they lose their winter coat, they are really at the mercy of the weather.

About 10 years ago my back was giving me lots of problems, I was training a colt and got thrown, landed flat in the sand on my back...stood up and was straighter than I had been in months!

Seriously... again, I laughed out loud that you stood up and were straighter than you had been! I'm a really visual person, so I can sjust see this happening! You have a way with words, because you crack me up! I have had my share of horse incidents.. but never thought I had an adjustment for the better after one of them! LOL If anything, I'm walking crooked or limping.

Ain't that the truth? I didn't know peacocks honk until one of our barn ladies brought her dog, who chased the peacock. He flew up in the tree and honked in indignation!

See? Horses should be a tax deduction - look at all the money you saved in medical expenses! When I was a young teen I had a fall from a horse that broke my cocyx (tail bone). I had a lot of pain, and couldn't sit for long at a time for a decade after that. Then in my early 20's I broke the cocyx again, and had even more pain while it healed. It wasn't until 6 months to a year later that I realized I no longer have pain when I sit for extended periods like I did before that second break. My theory is after the second break it reset to its correct position, after being out of alignment for all those years.

My theory on the horse-riding now is that it strengthens the core muscles, providing support to my back so that it doesn't get out of whack as often. Of course, with the weather we've been having, I haven't been able to ride as much as usual lately....

I TOTALLY agree that riding builds those core muscles!!! That alone keeps your back in line. Weak core muscles means a weak back. You could also do a tons of sit-ups and push-ups.... or go horse back riding! I prefer the horse method!