Consolidated Kansas

[22qZoo]

DANZ- "here kitty kitty "sounds kind of tempting .

 

[22qZoo]

Oops , pressed reply too soon, that was meant for the post about the baby bird, didn't realize how many more post there were.

 

[22qZoo]

That was in reference to the original post when you said DH didn't want you to just put it back outside, sorry it's hard to type with my foot in my mouth.

Oops , pressed reply too soon, that was meant for the post about the baby bird, didn't realize how many more post there were.

 

[ashncarson]

Do any of you have Silver Laced Wyandotte's? They are beautiful, I would love to own one!

 

[22qZoo]

We have two SLW pullets, they are very pretty. We had a GLW that was really pretty too but, she had crop issues all the time. She was always wandering farther out than she should have to get the tastiest bugs and stuff , coyote got her this spring.
Which brings me to my next question, in your opinion do any of you think there are some things that affect certain breeds more than another ?Either positive or negatively, for example I have 3 BRs and they all get poopy butt feathers (yuck!) and the only ones that have gotten bad feather damage from the Roo are BOs. Maybe that's not a very PC question to ask but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[HEChicken]

Danz, I would give out my cell ph number vs. my landline if I were you. Aside from the convenience of not being indoors tied to the phone, a landline phone can be easily traced and then they have your address, whereas a cell phone is not as easily traceable.

A friend of mine lost a BBB turkey yesterday that was about 3 months old but was already bigger than an adult heritage turkey. His birds live inside a fenced off orchard that is patrolled by three dogs, night and day. He found a small pile of feathers and beside them a clear pawprint impression in the muddy ground. I have to say, I agree with him that it looks like a bobcat print. That is so scary to me. Whatever it was, it got past 3 dogs, grabbed a turkey that probably weighs in the neighborhood of 20-25lb, and cleared a 4' fence carrying the turkey, to get out again, apparently without the dogs being able to stop it. And, now it knows where food is, it will be back. This happened between the hours of 7-3, more than likely. And he can't just not go to work to stay home and wait for it, so I know he has to be worrying about what he finds missing everyday when he gets home from work now.

I haven't had to deal with something like that - yet - and hope I never do, but I really feel for him.

 

[chicken danz]

22qzoo, I haven't noticed any particular breeds having one thing over another other than the import birds just aren't as resistant to our local diseases. But then I haven't spent a ton of time paying that much attention.
Ash, I had both silver and gold laced Wyandottes. To be honest they were one of the first breeds I got out of. They just seemed less hardy to heat and cold both, got sick easily, and ilost several of them at a younger age than you'd expect a chicken to die. I thought they were gorgeous but other than that I just didn't think they were worth the expense to keep them. I am sure other people have had wonderful experience with them but that is strictly my opinion. I have brahmas with the same coloring and am much happier with them, however they are more expensive because this is a fairly recent color development.
The baby bird is doing quite well. He has taught himself to fly and is eating pretty good. He just seems pretty darned lonely. I figure in a couple days he will be let loose to fend for himself. I can't turn him out to be eaten purposely but as soon as I feel he is capable out he goes. I'll try to put him out where the cat won't bother him.
Trish I have thought of getting barn cats but how do you keep them from eating chicks? We have an old Tom that moved into the South barn who is spooky. I am sure he lives on rats and mice but he never comes up to the house or near the buildings that are closer. We don't feed or water him and couldn't catch him if we had to. I worry about the broodies that have babies when it comes to undomesticated cats. I sure don't need any more animals to feed. How do you manage those cats. Do you provide food and water? I also wonder about less than tame cats having disease that would infect my domestic cats. I've always spayed and neutered my cats so I can't imagine how costly that could get.
I wonder when the stores are going to have fall chicks. Anyone have any ideas? I want to plan fall hatches for the peak season. But I don't want to be stuck with a bunch of excess birds I can't sell either.
I had to go get shavings and chick starter again last night. I sure go through a lot and haven't found a suitable replacement for it.
I have been checking into pellet presses. I think maybe I could save enough in feed by making pellets it might be a worthwhile investment. I need to get more information. They aren't cheap but they do have some that run between one and two grand. The problem of course is I really need a mill and grinder as well. I love the fermented feed but if I am ever going to rig up an auto feeding system it won't work. It has really saved me a lot of food because the smaller particles are being used. I keep dreaming like I have money to spend.

 

[chicken danz]

Hechicken they already have my address and all my other pertinent information. This is an insurance company. I am really tired of waiting on them.
I had a exhibition buff orpington I sold to a friend's son for the fair. He was taking him to state next month. Yesterday afternoon she called me very upset. She had just let him out of the pen to free range for a little bit and gone back in. When she came back out she saw a coyote dragging him off. That was a great loss. I paid $25 for that roo and let him go for like $10 because I wanted the boy to have something outstanding for the fair. She wants to get a replacement. I do have one spare but I am suggesting she completes her fencing before I sell her one. It was very upsetting because he was a very nice calm rooster and just gorgeous. She also raises rabbits and has been letting them out in a little make do pen in the yard. She'll be loosing bunnies too if she isn't careful.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I think the guineas would do fine unless it is raining. I have some in the garage that are about the same age and they haven't had heat. I thought about just turning them out but then I could use the money from selling them as well.
I'd move them to some kind of shelter and let them learn that is home then in a couple weeks you could probably let them out to eat bugs.
I hope you have a wonderful hatch!
How many cornish are you getting? Are you planning to butcher them?

I'm a little disappointed at the money it seems I will get out of the metal. I hope the aluminum and copper make up for the lack of money from the other stuff. I just have to remember that this is getting some of the mess cleaned up. What is sad is that DH and I could have done it all ourselves and gotten 3 times as much but I can't ever get the cooperation I need. Whine whine whine!
I've been stuck inside waiting for a phone call and I am tired of waiting. I should have given these people my cell so I could get my work done but I don't want to offer any more information about myself than necessary.
I had to laugh because a huge black snake came out of the pile of metal and this guy yelled like it was a monster from the deep. He said the snake came after him. We left him with the rifle in case he ran into it again. I had flip flops on again so I wasn't going to venture into the metal pile to retrieve the snake for him. My DH saw this same snake last night and said it was the biggest one he had ever seen.

Ok great I can get them set up. Hopefully the younger lavenders are on their way too. I got 15 Cornish and they all came today I think the free rare chick is a cuckoo marans. The only other chick that matched it was a Dominique only the chick doesn't have a rose comb it has a single but no feathered legs, I guess that is hatchery quality. So far the chicks in the incubator are hatching. Yay I have one of each hatched out so far.

While I know we needed all the rain, I sure am ready to start working on our coop/run again! Its like the sun is scared to come back out, gloomy here as well but a clear radar!

I think almost everytime I decide to work on my coop it begins to rain lol

Danz, I would give out my cell ph number vs. my landline if I were you. Aside from the convenience of not being indoors tied to the phone, a landline phone can be easily traced and then they have your address, whereas a cell phone is not as easily traceable.

A friend of mine lost a BBB turkey yesterday that was about 3 months old but was already bigger than an adult heritage turkey. His birds live inside a fenced off orchard that is patrolled by three dogs, night and day. He found a small pile of feathers and beside them a clear pawprint impression in the muddy ground. I have to say, I agree with him that it looks like a bobcat print. That is so scary to me. Whatever it was, it got past 3 dogs, grabbed a turkey that probably weighs in the neighborhood of 20-25lb, and cleared a 4' fence carrying the turkey, to get out again, apparently without the dogs being able to stop it. And, now it knows where food is, it will be back. This happened between the hours of 7-3, more than likely. And he can't just not go to work to stay home and wait for it, so I know he has to be worrying about what he finds missing everyday when he gets home from work now.

I haven't had to deal with something like that - yet - and hope I never do, but I really feel for him.

Sad about the turkey. That is pretty scary, I hope they catch whatever it was.

 

[chicken danz]

Good luck with your hatch, Maidenwolf. Your chick could be a barred rock but I wouldn't consider that rare.