Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

I don't believe it, I don't believe it

A duckling hatched!!!

Okay, so the condensed version of this is that I had a duck go broody and start sitting 5 weeks ago last weekend. Muscovies take 5 weeks so I had it marked on my calendar when they were due. Unfortunately I only gave her 4 eggs and one of those disappeared about 2 weeks in. The third was a stink bomb after 3 weeks and I had to throw it away. The 4th was also a stinker and I threw it away last Sunday. I candled the last egg and figured it to be a quitter since the embryo didn't look big enough to be full-term. But since it didn't smell, I left it under her. Also under her are some turkey eggs that I asked her to incubate for me because my incubator was full.

So when the weekend passed with no sign of a duckling, I let her continue sitting on the turkey eggs and yesterday contacted someone who keeps both species to see what she thought about letting the duck actually hatch and raise the turkeys. She has never done this but couldn't see a reason not to, so we determined that I would watch closely to make sure things were going okay and be ready to pull them if needed.

Tonight I went down to collect eggs and as I was moving around her, spied a little yellow and black fuzz ball under the duck!!! It was so not on my radar that that last egg might still hatch since, let's face it, it is almost a week late. Actually, I'd kind of forgotten the duck egg was still under her, and was planning ahead for the turkeys.

Now I need to revamp my whole turkey plan and get those turkey eggs back out from under her, and into the incubator. I'm guessing she'll sit tight tonight, but by tomorrow she might start thinking about getting her duckling out of the nest and showing him around, so I need to be prepared to move fast. Hmmmm....maybe after dark while she's sleeping I'll grab the turkey eggs and that way I don't have to stress about her abandoning them before I get there in the morning.

 

[chicken danz]

Have you heard of the Saskatoon blueberry? They aren't truly a blueberry but are actually a native bush that produces fruit that is incredibly similar to a blueberry in size, color, and taste. The plants themselves aren't nearly as picky as real blueberries are and are pretty hardy. Here in NW KS, our soil is way too alkaline for blueberries. However, the extension agent thought that the Saskatoons would work for us. The information about them says that they are susceptible to cedar apple rust (cedar-saskatoon rust, I guess it's called), but the extension agent said that he's seen them growing on the K-State campus near cedar trees with no problem. My DH and I decided to try them and bought a pair from Gurneys. We just planted them a week or two ago and they are starting to bud out. I am excited to see how they do. If you're interested in researching them yourself, their scientific name is "Amelanchier alnifolia".

I looked those up. Thanks for the suggestion but it says they won't tolerate clay or poor draining soil. That is all we have. I've added all kinds of amendments and it still is like glue when it gets wet.


Hawkeye95

I don't believe it, I don't believe it

A duckling hatched!!!

Okay, so the condensed version of this is that I had a duck go broody and start sitting 5 weeks ago last weekend. Muscovies take 5 weeks so I had it marked on my calendar when they were due. Unfortunately I only gave her 4 eggs and one of those disappeared about 2 weeks in. The third was a stink bomb after 3 weeks and I had to throw it away. The 4th was also a stinker and I threw it away last Sunday. I candled the last egg and figured it to be a quitter since the embryo didn't look big enough to be full-term. But since it didn't smell, I left it under her. Also under her are some turkey eggs that I asked her to incubate for me because my incubator was full.

So when the weekend passed with no sign of a duckling, I let her continue sitting on the turkey eggs and yesterday contacted someone who keeps both species to see what she thought about letting the duck actually hatch and raise the turkeys. She has never done this but couldn't see a reason not to, so we determined that I would watch closely to make sure things were going okay and be ready to pull them if needed.

Tonight I went down to collect eggs and as I was moving around her, spied a little yellow and black fuzz ball under the duck!!! It was so not on my radar that that last egg might still hatch since, let's face it, it is almost a week late. Actually, I'd kind of forgotten the duck egg was still under her, and was planning ahead for the turkeys.

Now I need to revamp my whole turkey plan and get those turkey eggs back out from under her, and into the incubator. I'm guessing she'll sit tight tonight, but by tomorrow she might start thinking about getting her duckling out of the nest and showing him around, so I need to be prepared to move fast. Hmmmm....maybe after dark while she's sleeping I'll grab the turkey eggs and that way I don't have to stress about her abandoning them before I get there in the morning.

Congrats on the duck! I've had a busy make up day today. I got some birds moved out to the brooder house. I cleaned and disinfected all of the chick bins. I got the duck tubs cleaned out just in time for some new ducks to hatch. I hatched 19 poults so far today and still have a couple more pipped. Sure hope I can keep them alive. I now have a turkey bin. I hope they can figure out how to eat and drink. I've also hatched some chicken chicks and some ducks today. I have another major hatch day in two days so I hope these finish up quickly so I can start over with a disinfected hatcher again. I really need to make room in the incubators. I have eggs waiting.
It was good to see my chickens today. I really missed them yesterday. They can be so sweet and entertaining.

 

[Trish44]

HEChicken, congrats on the little duckling! I hope you can get your turkey eggs back into the incubator with no trouble. I'm putting 3 more into my hatcher tonight, wish me luck.

Danz, it sounds like you had a busy, busy day.

I spent my afternoon cleaning brooders & moving chicks around. It got really chilly outside again this afternoon after being warmer earlier today. I had to cover up rabbit cages again for the ones that don't have attached boxes on them. I had another rabbit have her babies yesterday on the worst cold day ever to have them, she had 5. I checked on them this afternoon & they were all snuggled up in her nice hair nest she made. I had almost given up on her having them & then she had them in the darned cold. I have another little doe due this weekend too. I sure hope it warms up!

 

[chicken danz]

I need to get the hatcher cleared out again. There's a bunch more chicks in there. I don't think my ducks are going to hatch in that low humidity. Figures. I just need a different hatcher for ducks I guess.
I am still pretty sick with this sinus infection. Yesterday was somewhat better but I think I paid for the activity I did. I may have to break down and go to the doctor next week. My normal routines just aren't getting rid of it. I think it's about the worst one I have ever had.
It would be tempting to give myself a shot of some of these chicken meds if I wasn't afraid of dying!!!

A friend of mine gets all his drugs from his vet. Works for him. I don't suppose it is a lot different than getting meds from another country. And I do know that some vets prescribe human drugs because they can be cheaper than pet medications.
It doesn't look like the weekend is going to be decent for much of anything. But even though rain is forecast it is supposed to be warmer next week. I certainly hope so. I don't think I'll ever get my garden tilled so I can plant anything.

 

[sharol]

I need some help with a minor injury.

Butch (my EE roo) somehow injured his comb to the point that it was bleeding. Then the two Delaware girls decided to peck at it. This was 2 days ago.

I put blu-kote on it (sprayed on a paper towel and applied from there since it is so close to his eyes). The next morning they were at it again, so I brought him in and blu koted it again and kept him in a large dog carrier until it dried over. I put him back out several hours later, and everyone left him alone.

This morning when they left the coop, it looked fine, but now it is bleeding again, and the Del girls are at it again. he is back in the dog carrier. This time I used triple antibiotic ointment on it, and I'll blu-kote it again before I let him back out. He is EXTREMELY DISPLEASED.

Fortunately he is a very gentle boy, and is permitting all these indignities with grace.

is there anything else I could be using to dry up the injury so they would leave it alone? I don't have any pinless peeper, or I would use those on the 2 perps.

Sharol

 

[Ralph Moyer]

I need some help with a minor injury.

Butch (my EE roo) somehow injured his comb to the point that it was bleeding. Then the two Delaware girls decided to peck at it. This was 2 days ago.

I put blu-kote on it (sprayed on a paper towel and applied from there since it is so close to his eyes). The next morning they were at it again, so I brought him in and blu koted it again and kept him in a large dog carrier until it dried over. I put him back out several hours later, and everyone left him alone.

This morning when they left the coop, it looked fine, but now it is bleeding again, and the Del girls are at it again. he is back in the dog carrier. This time I used triple antibiotic ointment on it, and I'll blu-kote it again before I let him back out. He is EXTREMELY DISPLEASED.

Fortunately he is a very gentle boy, and is permitting all these indignities with grace.

is there anything else I could be using to dry up the injury so they would leave it alone? I don't have any pinless peeper, or I would use those on the 2 perps.

Sharol

I use a blood stopper when I dehorn large goats. It is called Hemostatic Powder. There is "Stipix sticks"used to stop bleeding from shaving.

 

[sharol]

Thanks for the suggestion. It is more of a seeping of blood than anything very dramatic.

It might be a good idea, even then. I'll try to find it in town.

Sharol

I use a blood stopper when I dehorn large goats. It is called Hemostatic Powder. There is "Stipix sticks"used to stop bleeding from shaving.

 

[lizzyGSR]

I use a blood stopper when I dehorn large goats. It is called Hemostatic Powder. There is "Stipix sticks"used to stop bleeding from shaving.

My mom has cockatiels and always said to use flour or corn starch on them when they're bleeding. The flour and corn starch act as a clotting agent. I've tried this with my ducks, and it seems to work, though you've got to get them to hold still long enough to put it on.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Thanks guys! Trish-- you're right, I sort of had an inkling that this guy was going to be an idiot before he got here. But I wanted to see what he had to say anyway since they are supposed to be experts at selling country homes. I'm thinking that was far, far in the past and if he is representing Jeff Lange, then I can't imagine anyone hiring them. Josie, very interesting about something very similar happening to you too. I bet he wasn't a total jerk like this guy, though! LOL HE and Danz-- well, *I* certainly don't want carpet in a home! The allergies they hold for one... but for the just keeping them clean is the biggest problem with carpet. And, no, we certainly don't have a country McMansion! (I forget who said that-- it was funny!) But I was very offended with his value of our "price point" when we have a newer built home with 4 beds, 3 baths and loads of ammenities. I sort of had an idea of where we should be from the first guy. I didn't expect them to come in exactly at the same price... but within a few thousand low or high seemed reasonable. Anyway, I think we'll be really happy with the guy we choose.

OMGosh-- I just did a MAJOR unload at the thrift shop this morning! Bags and bags! I had vintage glassware, dishes, decorations that I'm tired of off my walls, kids clothing... on and on! It would have made a great garage sale, if we only had the time. Ah well. I still have more closets to do! And I *thought* I had purged pretty good over the winter when I started in on this! I'm getting really cut-throat with what I'm keeping! I just don't want all this stuff anymore. I want a really cleared out house. We're actually going to get into a larger home down in OKC..BUT... we won't have a basment! They have no basements in Oklahoma-- those crazy people! Which means I have no place to store our extra stuff. I surprised my DH this morning when I was pulling things off the walls and out of closets and our dispay cases. It's starting to look barren here. We already have boxes packed and ready to go to the storage shed we're renting... excpet I started pulling stuff out of those to get rid of too. I pulled out a set of 40 glass vintage plates and when I got to the thrift shop, the ladies were squealing in delight at all the stuff I was bringing in. I had an americana theme with lots of cute metal stars, quilts, framed art work, knick knacks etc.. and they had fun digging through it. LOL

I need some help with a minor injury.

Butch (my EE roo) somehow injured his comb to the point that it was bleeding. Then the two Delaware girls decided to peck at it. This was 2 days ago.

I put blu-kote on it (sprayed on a paper towel and applied from there since it is so close to his eyes). The next morning they were at it again, so I brought him in and blu koted it again and kept him in a large dog carrier until it dried over. I put him back out several hours later, and everyone left him alone.

This morning when they left the coop, it looked fine, but now it is bleeding again, and the Del girls are at it again. he is back in the dog carrier. This time I used triple antibiotic ointment on it, and I'll blu-kote it again before I let him back out. He is EXTREMELY DISPLEASED.

Fortunately he is a very gentle boy, and is permitting all these indignities with grace.

is there anything else I could be using to dry up the injury so they would leave it alone? I don't have any pinless peeper, or I would use those on the 2 perps.

Sharol

The pinless peepers are liek $10 for a small box. I know you don't have them, but that is what I'd use. They WORK! They really do!! If you were closer, I'd give you a couple of mine. If I could find them.... LOL I think I packed them already!

 

[TheDownyChick]

Hi! I am a newbie and live between Emporia and Topeka. BYCers have been most helpful in my research. I just set my very first eggs in the incubator yesterday, and am building a hoop coop! I am very encouraged to kow there are Kansas folks who understand the bizarre weather we face! And Hawkeye, wood floors and country honest rock! A crappy house with lots of land is even attractive.