Consolidated Kansas

[zigzag45]

ChickieWickie: I'm pretty new to all this, and I'd read that purchased juvenile pullets are more skittish, but these girls are pieces of work. I've not been out with them much due to the heat, but it's a good bit of work to catch them. I need to to check one of their feed - had some rock hard poo buried into it and I hurt the skin abit when taking it off. My, raised from chicks, brahmas, are a bit of a challenge but not bad at all. They are very happy to let me girls haul them around.

Since I'm new - what are people using for waters. I am so tired of doing the little flip over bottle thing. I have some PVC and the poultry cups, but I'm not sure how easy that setup is to keep filled and change the water when it's super hot. What's easiest? Is there something that is easy and the kids can do it?

 

[HEChicken]

... I'd read that purchased juvenile pullets are more skittish ...

It isn't really to do with whether or not they are purchased but how much they were handled as chicks. Brooder raised chicks tend to be far easier to handle than those raised by broody hens. But even in a brooder, you can end up with skittish chicks if you just replace feed and water once a day but don't otherwise attempt to handle them.

Breed also has a lot to do with how skittish they are. Leghorns are almost always going to be skittish even when handled frequently as chicks, whereas silkies are likely to be docile even if they weren't.

 

[ashncarson]

I was just in the garden digging up potatoes! I would of been pretty thankful for some chickens right now helping me keep all the bugs away!
I have seen the portable "tractor" type runs and was thinking it would nice to have a small simple one, like a PVC one so when I am working in the garden I can bring it near me and put them in it (which would involve carrying them over, I am not sure how that works)

I saw Wichita got more rain again today, and its raining in Hutch right now!

 

[cherwill]

In that area there a lot of new trees that pop up around the root line of the large tree that died....will that be a problem to them in the run? I know if they did come up they could eat them.

That shouldn't be any kind of problem for them.

We got goats! Trish44 came with me this morning to pick them up from the same lady she got hers from. It was fun to visit with her while we drove and interesting to see the place where they were bred. They were a gift for my DH (he didn't know where I was going this morning) and after dropping Trish off, I drove home thinking about what to do with them. Originally I had thought they would be with the sheep but I didn't expect them to be so small still. So I thought perhaps we should start them in the lagoon like we did with the lambs. So that is where we put them initially. Gave them a pail of water and they started grazing and were happy. I was starving so we came in and I made lunch and then I looked out to check on them after lunch and they were in with the sheep. I guess the lagoon gate couldn't hold them like it did the lambs. Sigh. So I thought as long as they're in the pasture they're fine but I had concerns they could walk through our gate. The bars are spaced close enough together the sheep can't get through but I was afraid the goats could. So I got my phone and sat out with them reading the forum while keeping an eye on them. Sure enough, after only a few minutes they were trotting towards me. Luckily I was able to grab a hind leg of each quite easily. But I couldn't let go of one to pick the other up without the one getting away. So I yelled for DH and luckily he heard me. He came out laughing because there I am holding a hind leg of each goat and they could apparently care less and are both grazing at the grass in front of them! So we made them their own little run for now. It is only about 12x12 and doesn't have much greenery in it but has lots of shade, a pail of water and I gave them a tub of minerals and a tub with a little grain in it (didn't want to overdo it) and now they are securely contained. I think it is best to keep them there for a few days until they are more acclimated to us and then we can give them more space. I have wire left over from the fencing and we can affix it across the gate so they won't be able to walk out of it again after we let them loose again.


The one with the darker colored head is a doe named Gem and the caramel colored head is a billy named Smokey. The breeder offered to wether him but I decided to leave him intact and perhaps have kid or kids next spring.

Goats! How fun. DH will be jealous when I tell him. He loved having goats when he was growing up.

Well, we had a little surprise this today, my daughter just called to tell me that my two broody bantam cochins just hatched a baby chick this morning. I did not think these eggs were fertile.

What a nice surprise!

 

[22qZoo]

HECHICKEN, those goats are cute . Are they meat goats ? I noticed they had names, surely there's no such thing as goat math...
Here are some more pics. They aren't the best , the new pen is sitting in between a nice shade tree and the barn so the shadows make it wired to photograph. We used U bolts to attach the 2x4s to the swing set . The door was made from a mattress spring-frame from an old crib. The roofing panels my sis found at the end of someone's driveway on trash day. We used an old set of saloon doors for the coop doors one on each end . We covered the whole thing in hardware cloth and put insulation panels with the foil out under the green roof. It stays pretty cool in there now, when it gets colder we will close it up with some ply wood that we can remove when the seasons change. We left the swing hooks in on the top bar , my next project is to make hanging waterers . Like I said there are a few more things to do, furring strips over the hardware cloth,covering the roof peak (if we ever get any rain) and putting on wheels .
Anybody else have some homemade up-cycled projects they're proud of ?

 

[Trish44]

We got goats! Trish44 came with me this morning to pick them up from the same lady she got hers from. It was fun to visit with her while we drove and interesting to see the place where they were bred. They were a gift for my DH (he didn't know where I was going this morning) and after dropping Trish off, I drove home thinking about what to do with them. Originally I had thought they would be with the sheep but I didn't expect them to be so small still. So I thought perhaps we should start them in the lagoon like we did with the lambs. So that is where we put them initially. Gave them a pail of water and they started grazing and were happy. I was starving so we came in and I made lunch and then I looked out to check on them after lunch and they were in with the sheep. I guess the lagoon gate couldn't hold them like it did the lambs. Sigh. So I thought as long as they're in the pasture they're fine but I had concerns they could walk through our gate. The bars are spaced close enough together the sheep can't get through but I was afraid the goats could. So I got my phone and sat out with them reading the forum while keeping an eye on them. Sure enough, after only a few minutes they were trotting towards me. Luckily I was able to grab a hind leg of each quite easily. But I couldn't let go of one to pick the other up without the one getting away. So I yelled for DH and luckily he heard me. He came out laughing because there I am holding a hind leg of each goat and they could apparently care less and are both grazing at the grass in front of them! So we made them their own little run for now. It is only about 12x12 and doesn't have much greenery in it but has lots of shade, a pail of water and I gave them a tub of minerals and a tub with a little grain in it (didn't want to overdo it) and now they are securely contained. I think it is best to keep them there for a few days until they are more acclimated to us and then we can give them more space. I have wire left over from the fencing and we can affix it across the gate so they won't be able to walk out of it again after we let them loose again.


The one with the darker colored head is a doe named Gem and the caramel colored head is a billy named Smokey. The breeder offered to wether him but I decided to leave him intact and perhaps have kid or kids next spring.

They're so darned cute! The doe looks a lot like my two, but I really like Smokey's coloring, he's a cutie. He sure has a loud voice though, he was yelling in my ear coming back from picking them up. The doe was really good, she laid down right away in the car, but Smokey was walking back & forth & would come right up behind where I was sitting & bleat in my ear. HEChicken I can just picture you holding a leg on each goat, what a picture, too bad your DH didn't have the camera!

 

[22qZoo]

Okay.... Now I can't get my pics to upload . Urgh !!!

 

[cleansquared]

Well this is the coop my bf and i made out of scrap wood that was in the garage we made it to fit what wood we coild find its 2x6 and 2x4 with a and panneling and plywood with chicken wire we still are going to add a nest box to the end right now there is a shelf there.. I bought the chicken wire i had some old door hinges and we used thoes to make the giant door on one side for acess i still need to put a long 2x12 over the roofbeve vent to rain doesnt come in but i will have to buy that so right now the entire contraption takes up most of my back porch.. To add to the irony and hard work we put into building it it now sits empty the chickens now all live together in the garage... If i had known it would be that easy to make tjem happy in there i wouldnt have biilt a coop in the first place....Go figure

 

[22qZoo]

HECHICKEN, those goats are cute . Are they meat goats ? I noticed they had names, surely there's no such thing as goat math...
Here are some more pics. They aren't the best , the new pen is sitting in between a nice shade tree and the barn so the shadows make it wired to photograph. We used U bolts to attach the 2x4s to the swing set . The door was made from a mattress spring-frame from an old crib. The roofing panels my sis found at the end of someone's driveway on trash day. We used an old set of saloon doors for the coop doors one on each end . We covered the whole thing in hardware cloth and put insulation panels with the foil out under the green roof. It stays pretty cool in there now, when it gets colder we will close it up with some ply wood that we can remove when the seasons change. We left the swing hooks in on the top bar , my next project is to make hanging waterers . Like I said there are a few more things to do, furring strips over the hardware cloth,covering the roof peak (if we ever get any rain) and putting on wheels .
Anybody else have some homemade up-cycled projects they're proud of ?

Oops , sorry folks. Sometimes my fat-fingers mess things up and it takes me a while to figure it out. Try again.

 

[chicken danz]

We got goats! Trish44 came with me this morning to pick them up from the same lady she got hers from. It was fun to visit with her while we drove and interesting to see the place where they were bred. They were a gift for my DH (he didn't know where I was going this morning) and after dropping Trish off, I drove home thinking about what to do with them. Originally I had thought they would be with the sheep but I didn't expect them to be so small still. So I thought perhaps we should start them in the lagoon like we did with the lambs. So that is where we put them initially. Gave them a pail of water and they started grazing and were happy. I was starving so we came in and I made lunch and then I looked out to check on them after lunch and they were in with the sheep. I guess the lagoon gate couldn't hold them like it did the lambs. Sigh. So I thought as long as they're in the pasture they're fine but I had concerns they could walk through our gate. The bars are spaced close enough together the sheep can't get through but I was afraid the goats could. So I got my phone and sat out with them reading the forum while keeping an eye on them. Sure enough, after only a few minutes they were trotting towards me. Luckily I was able to grab a hind leg of each quite easily. But I couldn't let go of one to pick the other up without the one getting away. So I yelled for DH and luckily he heard me. He came out laughing because there I am holding a hind leg of each goat and they could apparently care less and are both grazing at the grass in front of them! So we made them their own little run for now. It is only about 12x12 and doesn't have much greenery in it but has lots of shade, a pail of water and I gave them a tub of minerals and a tub with a little grain in it (didn't want to overdo it) and now they are securely contained. I think it is best to keep them there for a few days until they are more acclimated to us and then we can give them more space. I have wire left over from the fencing and we can affix it across the gate so they won't be able to walk out of it again after we let them loose again.


The one with the darker colored head is a doe named Gem and the caramel colored head is a billy named Smokey. The breeder offered to wether him but I decided to leave him intact and perhaps have kid or kids next spring.

Hechicken you are so funny. You really should have been a writer. I don't know how many times your stories have cracked me up.
Now is the time to spoil those goats. You can treat them and get them used to you and then you can handle them when they get big. Did Trish tell you about goat cookies? They were my miracle goat tamer. With cookie in hand you can make a goat do about anything. It sure beats chasing down and trying to make them go somewhere they don't want to.
Every time I see something about someone getting goats it makes me want them again. I have to say NO NO NO to myself.
You may however regret not wethering the boy though. It might not be so bad if he stays out in that large pasture but the smell of a male goat will get in your nostrils and never leave.
I always said if I had goats again I would be sure I found a friend who owned a billy and just take the female to be serviced.

Quote:

ChickieWickie: I'm pretty new to all this, and I'd read that purchased juvenile pullets are more skittish, but these girls are pieces of work. I've not been out with them much due to the heat, but it's a good bit of work to catch them. I need to to check one of their feed - had some rock hard poo buried into it and I hurt the skin abit when taking it off. My, raised from chicks, brahmas, are a bit of a challenge but not bad at all. They are very happy to let me girls haul them around.

Since I'm new - what are people using for waters. I am so tired of doing the little flip over bottle thing. I have some PVC and the poultry cups, but I'm not sure how easy that setup is to keep filled and change the water when it's super hot. What's easiest? Is there something that is easy and the kids can do it?

How old are you chickens? After mine get a couple months old I just switch to water bowls. Especially in summer. They allow them to cool their feet if they get hot too. In winter I use heated dog water bowls. The drip waterers are good for warm weather but won't work after it freezes.

I was just in the garden digging up potatoes! I would of been pretty thankful for some chickens right now helping me keep all the bugs away!
I have seen the portable "tractor" type runs and was thinking it would nice to have a small simple one, like a PVC one so when I am working in the garden I can bring it near me and put them in it (which would involve carrying them over, I am not sure how that works)

I saw Wichita got more rain again today, and its raining in Hutch right now!

You don't need a portable tractor. Just put the chickens in with you. They will help you dig and they will have a blast. You people and your rain!! I am so jealous!!!
Quote:

Well this is the coop my bf and i made out of scrap wood that was in the garage we made it to fit what wood we coild find its 2x6 and 2x4 with a and panneling and plywood with chicken wire we still are going to add a nest box to the end right now there is a shelf there.. I bought the chicken wire i had some old door hinges and we used thoes to make the giant door on one side for acess i still need to put a long 2x12 over the roofbeve vent to rain doesnt come in but i will have to buy that so right now the entire contraption takes up most of my back porch.. To add to the irony and hard work we put into building it it now sits empty the chickens now all live together in the garage... If i had known it would be that easy to make tjem happy in there i wouldnt have biilt a coop in the first place....Go figure

Obviously BYC was having picture loading problems yesterday. No ones pictures showed up except Hechickens. Try again! I wanna see!!
I had a busy but laid back day yesterday. Didn't do as much as I planned.
But, last evening I had to go NPIP test birds for 4-H kids for the fair. I don't make any money doing this and only charge for the serum and needles. I only charge $.50 a bird. But I made an extra $20 in just tips from people who appreciated me taking the time. I have found that being broke makes me appreciate those things a lot more than I ever did before. I came home thrilled. I was gone a lot longer than I ever had planned. I love helping out the kids especially when I know people really appreciate my efforts.
One person had a rabbit with her entire gut ripped open. The owner had been treating her with veterycin and she seemed to be doing okay but there was no lining there to keep her insides from coming out. I took a syringe and veterycin and flushed her out really well, with much disagreement by the rabbit. She had some fingernail glue which is the same thing as super glue so I glued the openings shut and left a small hole for drainage in case she got an infection. It seemed to work. I am thinking I need to buy some fingernail glue instead of super glue cause that stuff really set up quick. Then we figured out how much antibiotic and probiotics to put her on for the next 5-7 days. I hope she does okay. I am not a rabbit person but this isn't the first one I have vetted. It seems like I do a good job on other people's animals but when it comes to my own I have to panic and get hold of JosieChick and ask for advice. Sometimes I think I worry about my animals like I used to obsess about my kids. (It drove my kids nuts, BTW!

I had my gander with the infected foot in a kennel for the past several days getting treated. I gave him his final shot and put him back out with his friends yesterday. He seems to be doing okay other than still limping a little. I guess I'll watch him for a few days and make sure the swelling doesn't come back.