Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

OMG. Galesburg? I grew up there in the 50's. My dad worked for the Shaw Manufacturing plant ("the world's largest manufacturer of garden tractors") and was involved in setting up the city water plant in the early 50's. That's the first time I've seen the place in print in years.

I get my feed at Coover Feed, a small town elevator in Galesburg. Kansas, in southern Neosho County. They will also prepare feed to your specifications with advance notice. I started getting feed there when I had Emus, as they were the only place that prepared Emu feed.

 

[OkieQueenBee]

lizzyGSR, back when I had ducks and geese, I would provide mine with a little house but they preferred to be outside. They would spend the cold, snowy nights in the middle of the pond until the pond would eventually freeze over. Their area was in with the sows, (my boys show pigs that we had decided to keep) and we never had any trouble. In fact the goose would lay her eggs in the sow house, which by that time of the year the pigs weren't using because it was too hot and they preferred the pond.
We plan to let our chickens free range but they will have a covered yard. When we built our pond I had them make an island in the middle, the idea was that the ducks and geese would hang out there. This is the first time the pond has been full but these fowl weren't raised with water so they are afraid of it.
We candled the guinea and BCM eggs last night (day 4) most appeared to be developing, but had some that were completely dark. Not sure exactly what I'm looking for yet. Found some very good threads on candeling (must have more time to read).
I hope to figure out how to post pictures soon. Would love some help in identifying my geese.

 

[lizzyGSR]

lizzyGSR, back when I had ducks and geese, I would provide mine with a little house but they preferred to be outside. They would spend the cold, snowy nights in the middle of the pond until the pond would eventually freeze over. Their area was in with the sows, (my boys show pigs that we had decided to keep) and we never had any trouble. In fact the goose would lay her eggs in the sow house, which by that time of the year the pigs weren't using because it was too hot and they preferred the pond.

Mine go in their house at night, mainly because they don't have a choice. However, I was more specifically asking about going in during storms. Do other birds stand out in the inclement weather or do they go inside?

 

[Trish44]

I heard a story on the radio a year or so ago... The story unfolded that there was a lady (an adult) who thought chicken was just a pre-packaged item you bought at the store. I don't remember exactly how it went, but the lady ended up visiting a petting zoo or something where they had live chickens. Apparently, the lady was flabbergasted to find out that the package of meat she'd been buying in the store actually came from a live animal. How do you get to adulthood and not know that??? How do you get to adulthood and not realize that there's an animal called a "chicken"???

My granddaughter who is 8 was shocked to find out the hamburger she eats comes from cows. These kids just don't associate food with anything other than it comes in a package from the store or in her case they eat a lot of fast food so a burger from the hamburger place.

I worked for about 3 hours out there on my hoop coop this evening putting the hardware cloth on & got the two sides & back done. It was like a sauna out there it was so humid. I was just soaked when I came in after working on that & then going right into feeding my birds & animals. Now I need to get my door made for the front & put the hardware cloth on the front of the coop & I'm done. I had some trouble with the hardware cloth this time, it seemed like this stuff was a lot stiffer than the roll I got last time. I got this one from Atwood's & last time I bought it from Orschelyn's. I will get the tarp for it Friday probably & put that on & then start moving birds this weekend. I can't wait to get the turkeys moved in there, they will have so much more room in there than the pen they're been in. Speaking of turkeys, my naughty hen is mia again. I wish she wouldn't do that, it really bothers me when she doesn't come back at night.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

OMG. Galesburg? I grew up there in the 50's. My dad worked for the Shaw Manufacturing plant ("the world's largest manufacturer of garden tractors") and was involved in setting up the city water plant in the early 50's. That's the first time I've seen the place in print in years.

There's not much there now, no manufacturing but there is a large building to put one in. I remember the Shaw Garden Tractor ads in Popular Mechanics and other magazines in the 1940's and 1950's. I know they made the ones sold by Montgomery Ward.

 

[chicken danz]

Lizzy my ducks and geese always love being out in the rain. It's like the very best play day for them. I don't shut them up at night either. They lay under the yard light and eat bugs for a few hours then go lay down in their pen later.I figure they are getting good nutrition and keeping the bug population down as well.
I finally got my DNA test kits yesterday. Now I need to find some time to get the specimens collected. I need to get it done in the next day or two cause DH goes back to work.
Looks like I have at least most of my chicks spoken for now. I may have just a few left. I just hope people show up for them as scheduled. I have a batch of guineas I will have to start selling soon as well.
I didn't seem to accomplish a thing yesterday. I worked too hard the day before and my hands and my back just wouldn't let me get anything done. I have to do some baking today and get some stuff ready to go to town for a garage sell at my parent's old house. I had planned to have lots ready but haven't found the time. So I am just taking in some furniture cause that is all I have time for. It would be nice to get some of it sold though.
I just don't want to have to bring it back home.
I have a family get together tomorrow and then another one here next Saturday. And it looks like my brother will be here next weekend as well so that means more time to spend elsewhere. We've been waiting for months for him to come. I have to find time to meet with the family because we are going to be deciding what to do with my Mom and Dad's things. I don't like the idea of going through them with Dad still alive but we are trying to sell the house so it has to be done.

 

[HEChicken]

Lizzy, my ducks love to be out in the rain. I do shut all my birds up in the coop at night and most nights the ducks go in by themselves and all I have to do is close the coop door, but if it is raining - or if they know it is going to storm - they tend to need a little more persuasion to go in.

Speaking of ducks....who knew they were also mousers? I caught a mouse in a trap that was in the garage yesterday, and took the trap down to release it for the birds. They all crowded around me as I opened it, and the mouse jumped out and started running, with birds in hot pursuit and to my surprise it was a duck who emerged from the crowd with the mouse in his bill. He waddled all over the place, shaking it, and trying to find a private place to examine it more closely. Of course what he REALLY wanted to do was be left alone so he could go and dunk it - all prizes must take the water test - but it took awhile before he was able to extricate himself from his followers to get a chance to do that. By that time of course, it was thoroughly dead, and he had a blast seeing what water does to a dead mouse. Eventually he tired of it and set it down in the grass and wandered away - it never got eaten. But at least it won't be in my garage chewing holes in my bags of feed any more.

 

[zigzag45]

Keeping up with this thread is a bit of work. I appreciate the continued opportunity to learn from everyone.

I bought five brahmas from Cackle. I'm concerned one is looking more like a rooster than a hen. My city ordinance says that roosters are not allowed (due to noise) inside the city limits so I'm wanting to figure out if "Drama" is male or female before crowing begins - at that point I'd be rushed to find a new home. The last thing I want to do is part with a bird that's a female. This is the biggest, prettiest bird I have, does great with the kids. They can cart Drama around the yard all day.

The features are looking male. Then again, I'm so new at this that maybe that's how much variation there can be in hens.

So, can you tell by looking with enough assurance at this point? You're looking for the bird with the dark red comb and waddle, at least I think that's what they're called. BTW-All brahmas in the pics are the same age.

Here are the pics from this morning.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

Keeping up with this thread is a bit of work. I appreciate the continued opportunity to learn from everyone.

I bought five brahmas from Cackle. I'm concerned one is looking more like a rooster than a hen. My city ordinance says that roosters are not allowed (due to noise) inside the city limits so I'm wanting to figure out if "Drama" is male or female before crowing begins - at that point I'd be rushed to find a new home. The last thing I want to do is part with a bird that's a female. This is the biggest, prettiest bird I have, does great with the kids. They can cart Drama around the yard all day.

The features are looking male. Then again, I'm so new at this that maybe that's how much variation there can be in hens.

So, can you tell by looking with enough assurance at this point? You're looking for the bird with the dark red comb and waddle, at least I think that's what they're called. BTW-All brahmas in the pics are the same age.

Here are the pics from this morning.

Should be crowing soon. Just my opinion thou.

 

[chicken danz]

zig zag yep that certainly looks like a roo. I think I can see saddle feathers forming on him. Brahmas are awesome birds. I would think someone who isn't restricted would love to have him. I got my original brahmas from cackle as well and they are awesome quality for hatchery birds.