Consolidated Kansas

[22qZoo]

Ugh , the forecast looks grim. The birds seem so much more uncomfortable when it's hot versus when it's really cold. Did I say I love fall? Now the layers will have another excuse as to why they aren't laying.

 

[HEChicken]

Lizzy, sorry to hear about your neighbor's donkey. I'm really surprised to hear your vet has never suggested you have rabies shots before - the horses at our barn all get it routinely. I believe it is an every other year shot but don't quote me on that - I just let the vet tell me what my horses need every year. Do you really have to take them in? I think it probably is one of those shots that does have to be administered by a veterinarian, but its so quick and giving shots to horses is so fast, it seems a pity to have to haul in to the office....I guess that is the advantage of being at a barn with 10 horses. We have the vet come out to do annual shots and split the farm call between all the horses so it isn't that bad.

The next week looks dry and I never thought I'd say it, but I'm glad. It is nice to finally have some August weather

. I got my mowing done the last two nights and even though its only a week and a half since I last did it, it was slow going in places because it had grown so long and lush. It really is nice to see it looking so healthy and green at a time of year when normally it is dry and brown.

 

[ashncarson]

The next week looks dry and I never thought I'd say it, but I'm glad. It is nice to finally have some August weather

. I got my mowing done the last two nights and even though its only a week and a half since I last did it, it was slow going in places because it had grown so long and lush. It really is nice to see it looking so healthy and green at a time of year when normally it is dry and brown.

Would you happen to know anyone in the Hutchinson/Wichita area who might have chicks for sale about 5-6 weeks old? pullets? We are wanting to add to ours now before they get much older and before we have to phase out some boys!

Have a great day!

 

[maidenwolfx80]

wow I need to catch up on posts more often. This is a busy thread. Thanks everyone for the guinea pig posts. I did find her 2. The man said they were both males but I don't think it is correct. It is hard to tell the sex. You have to listen to them talk and you can sometimes tell by language. They are 4 months old and have only ever lived in a plastic tub. When I put them in their cage and they started getting used to it and started vocalizing and jumping around it was cute and my daughter was tickled and crying tears of joy.
to people that have raised Cornish cross, this is my first time with the cross and was wondering if it is normal for their abdomens to be so large it looks as though they are egg bound. Goodness these guys are big and smelly and I am ready for them to move out of my house.

 

[mamau]

I have a question that might sound silly. Are most chicken owners have someone who stays home all day?

Most people that I know in my town that keeps chickens are stay at home wives and there is always someone at home. I work 7:30-3 during the week. I work close by and usually come home for a break but its still early and my husband works nights and sleeps until noon.

I worry about what would happen if a chicken was injured and got chased and pecked and I was not home to intervene. Am I just being a silly first time chicken owner? 

Thanks for all your advice the past few weeks! 

 

[mamau]

Really shouldn't be a problem! I may be home but I don't check them much until 12 & then the kids do it after school.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Lizzy, sorry to hear about your neighbor's donkey. I'm really surprised to hear your vet has never suggested you have rabies shots before - the horses at our barn all get it routinely. I believe it is an every other year shot but don't quote me on that - I just let the vet tell me what my horses need every year. Do you really have to take them in? I think it probably is one of those shots that does have to be administered by a veterinarian, but its so quick and giving shots to horses is so fast, it seems a pity to have to haul in to the office....I guess that is the advantage of being at a barn with 10 horses. We have the vet come out to do annual shots and split the farm call between all the horses so it isn't that bad

My family has never really gotten the rabies vaccines for horses. Hearing of the neighbor's loss changed my mind on that pretty quickly. The vet charges $2/mile to come out. I could make SEVERAL trips to town with the truck and trailer for that price. The biggest difficulty is that one of my horses doesn't trailer well. She loads better now that we have a larger trailer, but she still doesn't handle it very well. I usually make sure to have one person other than myself around to help with opening/closing gates etc. I also am not real thrilled about driving the truck and trailer. They just seem so HUGE compared to my car, and I always get kinda nervous knowing that my horses are in the back. I just keep telling myself that the truck we have now (3/4 ton 4x4) is a lot better suited to pulling heavy trailers than the other trucks we've used to pull the trailer. I'd really prefer that my hubby drive, but he has to work on Monday, and the earliest we could get the horses in if I worked around his work schedule would be Friday. I really don't like the idea of waiting that long, so I guess I'll do what I gotta do...

Good news about your duck, but not about the rabies. Unfortunately there is no cure for rabies. I know if a human is bit by something with rabies, there's a series of shots that can be given to try to prevent the rabies. I've never heard of anything like that for animals, but I guess I haven't had a reason to hear it. Maybe it doesn't come up because most people don't know about the rabies until it's too late?

The vet tech told me that there is no cure for rabies except for euthanization. I have spent a LOT of time/energy on my horses recently (training and caring for them) and would be devastated if I lost one/both of them. Rabies is a scary thing!!!

 

[tweetybaby2005]

I typed up all the replies and then poof... it went to the black hole. Argh.....

I have a question that might sound silly. Are most chicken owners have someone who stays home all day?

Most people that I know in my town that keeps chickens are stay at home wives and there is always someone at home. I work 7:30-3 during the week. I work close by and usually come home for a break but its still early and my husband works nights and sleeps until noon.

I worry about what would happen if a chicken was injured and got chased and pecked and I was not home to intervene. Am I just being a silly first time chicken owner?

Thanks for all your advice the past few weeks!

I work full time and then some (long hours).

No one is home with the chickens during the day. They get fed in the morning and evening. Forage during the day and have access to the coop all day long. They have plenty of water too. Like Danz said, even if you are home, you can't watch the birds 24/7. I was home when my SS rooster went missing. No situation is ideal but we all make it work.

My little rooster (Apple Jack) got injured today. They where outside in their temporary cage, and we had to leave the house for less than 30 minutes. When we returned I heard them being quite loud out back and after awhile I went and checked. One other chick (I believe he is also a rooster) was chasing around Apple Jack and pecking his comb.

I seperated him and he is alone now. I am not sure what all to do for him now. I do have some Triple Antibiotic Ointment cream made with Bacitracin. Is this something that is ok to use on him?

I am attaching photos. I did not edit them any so you can see the true color. The injury does not appear to be to bad, but then again this is my first time with chickens.How will they do when I add him back in?



His eye also appears to be red around the edges.....

His comb should heal without problem. I don't see any issue with his eye though. You can get blue kote or pine tar at Tractor Supply or Atwoods. If his eye starts swelling, you can put Veterycin eye gel on it. I got that from Atwoods. Make sure you wear clothes you don't care to get stains on. Sometimes the bird will shake their head after you apply the blue kote! You can get the spray kind or the kind with a cotton ball on the end of the dip stick (I dont' know how to describe it, sorry). Oh, wear gloves when you do that. The stain won't come off your hands and fingers for days.

Some disturbing news from my little corner of paradise. I talked to the neighbor a couple of days ago, and they said that they lost their donkey to rabies. It sounded like a terrible way to die, and a very difficult thing to watch a pet go through. I am now terrified for my horses and my other animals. My birds are relatively safe, as they are locked up at night. The dogs have had their shots, but I had never gotten a rabies vaccine for my horses before. I have an appointment to go in (by myself - no hubby to help) with the horses to get their shots on Monday morning. I made the mistake of asking what happens if a horse gets rabies. I didn't like the vet's answer - they have to be put down. Now, I get to think about the what-ifs all weekend long.


An update on my duck... Her foot looked better this morning after I picked the scab off yesterday. The new scab is much smaller and looks much better than the old one. I was halfway tempted to try to pick it again, just to try to squeeze any yuck out of what is left of the bump. I didn't though. It is still smaller than it was, but it isn't shrinking as fast with this set of Baytril as it did with the first set. I am not sure why. Hopefully, this round will clear the infection up enough that the spot on her foot will heal the rest of the way by itself. Tomorrow is the last day of the second 3-day series of shots. I guess I'll know more the morning after tomorrow.

Ooi Lizzy, that's just scary and gut wrenching to have to see the donkey suffer. My dogs are all up to date with their rabbies shot. The senior dog get the yearly one and I think the younger one gets the once every 3 year kind. I'm not sure. They are due to get their annual check up so I'll ask the vet for sure. OTOH, I'm happy to hear that your duck is on the mend. Yay!

Ugh , the forecast looks grim. The birds seem so much more uncomfortable when it's hot versus when it's really cold. Did I say I love fall? Now the layers will have another excuse as to why they aren't laying.

22qZoo, I agree with you on the heat. It is down right horrible! I just wish the humidity will go down more to a tolerable level. I like Fall and Spring but I love Winter! Go figure...

****************************************************************************************************
One of my hens laid a rubber egg. I feel so bad for her because rubber egg is a lot hard to lay. I hope she doesn't have egg bounding issue later on down the road.

Here is a pic. You can see I'm pinching it.



My 2 broody hens are no good. They break eggs left and right. I found yucky mess in their nest boxes! Don't know if the rest of the eggs are contaminated or not. If it is not because the storage room is hot, I would have moved them to it. They take up 2 of my nest boxes!! I will let them sit for now unless the eggs start smelling. In that case, I'll just toss them. If not, they can sit on them for another week and some days. If they don't hatch, I'll toss them then.

Stay cool everyone. Can't wait for Fall to be here!

 

[chicken danz]

Thank you! Does places like Tractor Supply sale the Blue Kote?

Yes as you've read they do. It helps if you put some lotion or vaseline on your fingers before you spray it if you don't have gloves.

Some disturbing news from my little corner of paradise. I talked to the neighbor a couple of days ago, and they said that they lost their donkey to rabies. It sounded like a terrible way to die, and a very difficult thing to watch a pet go through. I am now terrified for my horses and my other animals. My birds are relatively safe, as they are locked up at night. The dogs have had their shots, but I had never gotten a rabies vaccine for my horses before. I have an appointment to go in (by myself - no hubby to help) with the horses to get their shots on Monday morning. I made the mistake of asking what happens if a horse gets rabies. I didn't like the vet's answer - they have to be put down. Now, I get to think about the what-ifs all weekend long.


An update on my duck... Her foot looked better this morning after I picked the scab off yesterday. The new scab is much smaller and looks much better than the old one. I was halfway tempted to try to pick it again, just to try to squeeze any yuck out of what is left of the bump. I didn't though. It is still smaller than it was, but it isn't shrinking as fast with this set of Baytril as it did with the first set. I am not sure why. Hopefully, this round will clear the infection up enough that the spot on her foot will heal the rest of the way by itself. Tomorrow is the last day of the second 3-day series of shots. I guess I'll know more the morning after tomorrow.

I noticed when my goose was on baytril that it took a while but it must have some residual effects because he continued to improve in the next week or so. If picking off that scab helps I'd do it again.
Please be careful attempting to load those horses alone. We don't want anything to happen to your little passenger!!

The next week looks dry and I never thought I'd say it, but I'm glad. It is nice to finally have some August weather

. I got my mowing done the last two nights and even though its only a week and a half since I last did it, it was slow going in places because it had grown so long and lush. It really is nice to see it looking so healthy and green at a time of year when normally it is dry and brown.

HEChicken you must have gotten tons more rain than we did. We are back in really dry conditions again. We didn't get any rain when the last round of storms came through. We could really use some again.
Quote:

Would you happen to know anyone in the Hutchinson/Wichita area who might have chicks for sale about 5-6 weeks old? pullets? We are wanting to add to ours now before they get much older and before we have to phase out some boys!

Have a great day!

I probably have a few but I'm a ways from you. If you don't get any before hand when I get down around Wichita hopefully next month I could probably bring a couple. If you aren't picky I have some broody hen mixed chicks that I am sure contain some girls I would just give you. Or I have a few I could sell of other breeds.

wow I need to catch up on posts more often. This is a busy thread. Thanks everyone for the guinea pig posts. I did find her 2. The man said they were both males but I don't think it is correct. It is hard to tell the sex. You have to listen to them talk and you can sometimes tell by language. They are 4 months old and have only ever lived in a plastic tub. When I put them in their cage and they started getting used to it and started vocalizing and jumping around it was cute and my daughter was tickled and crying tears of joy.
to people that have raised Cornish cross, this is my first time with the cross and was wondering if it is normal for their abdomens to be so large it looks as though they are egg bound. Goodness these guys are big and smelly and I am ready for them to move out of my house.

I'm so happy you found the guinea pigs for your daughter. She is such a sweet little girl. Cornish do stink and they do have big fleshy abdomens. They just grow a lot faster and they also tend to get ascites as well which makes them big in the abdomen.
Originally Posted by tweetybaby2005
The bird that laid the soft egg is probably getting ready to molt for fall. My exhibition orps break all their eggs too. I am about ready to just give one stubborn girl a couple chicks. She has been broody all summer.
I've got to get out in this heat and do some more pen building and work. Ivywood's husband is bringing Britt today.(one of the previous Great Pyr pups my dogs had.) She is Cloud's sister. I sure don't need another dog but am glad I will have a way to carry on their blood lines. I have to find a male in the next year or so to breed her to since I had Fluff neutered when Cloud got killed.
It's miserable out there already. I can't imagine how bad it will be by mid afternoon.

 

[cherwill]

Now the layers will have another excuse as to why they aren't laying.

I hadn't thought about that. I was just happy it might dry out a little so we can get into that extra garden plot we were given by someone who couldn't take care of it this year. I'm hoping to get a few wax beans, carrots, beets, and radishes planted for a fall harvest.

I typed up all the replies and then poof... it went to the black hole. Argh.....

I've had that happen before. I usually give up in despair and come back later.


Here is a pic. You can see I'm pinching it.



Freaky. I've never had a rubber egg that wasn't already squashed by the time I got out to the nesting boxes. I think I've only had a couple of them.

I have a question that might sound silly. Are most chicken owners have someone who stays home all day?

Most people that I know in my town that keeps chickens are stay at home wives and there is always someone at home. I work 7:30-3 during the week. I work close by and usually come home for a break but its still early and my husband works nights and sleeps until noon.

I worry about what would happen if a chicken was injured and got chased and pecked and I was not home to intervene. Am I just being a silly first time chicken owner?

Thanks for all your advice the past few weeks!

They're actually pretty self-sufficient. I am home most of the time, but I don't worry much when I'm not. Being in town, I don't even worry much about predators, though my niece had a duck taken by a fox earlier this year. They can also take quite a bit of picking on, so the chicken would probably be alive even if you were gone for the day. You're not being silly, but there are sometimes losses we can't prevent and you shouldn't beat yourself up over that if it happens.