Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

Sharol - how are your birds doing? Marlena still babying her babies? She is such a good mother. I did lose all 5 of my chicks that were born in the coop. Not sure what got them but one day, they just disappeared. My husband was just upset.

 

[chicken danz]

Danz... you are as busy as always.

The 2 peachicks I got from you are doing really well. I've kept them and 3 chicks inside the house in the brooder still...the rest of them have been moved out to the barn storage area joining my other chicks. They are pretty feisty and active so I'm very happy. The ducks are enjoying the kiddie pool but I think it is getting a bit too small for all those ducks! I love your guineas... the one with the little guinea babies... my DS wants to have a few of them but I can't get over how loud they will get. May be when the ticks get thick here I'll get a few of them to help thin them out.
You might want to be sure and worm those peachicks soon. I found worms in a baby that died. I wouldn't worry except I also read that they can be infected through the egg. I just want to make sure they stay well. I have only had a problem in the pen where the Mom and Dad are raising their chicks but I am worming everything to be sure. This is my first case of ever finding worms in a bird so I am kind of freaked out.

Cherwill... watermelon radishes? I've never heard of them but from the sound of your description, I think I'll like them for the simple fact that they are spicier than regular radish! I love spicy stuff... can't get enough of it.
I love spicy too. The hotter the better.
OkieQueenbee - DH's raw honey ran out over the weekend and was asking if I can get some from you. I told him I'm not driving 2 hours round trip just to get a jar of honey for him!

Ever since I told him you guys may be having a beginner's class in Spring, he has been getting impatient trying to see if anyone will sell him some honey bees with the boxes and what not. I told him this is not the right time and the weather is getting cold... He is just being his silly old self... He thinks the raw honey is helping his allergy though so that's good. His allergy has been bad in recent years and it just about kills him in the Spring when his work starts getting busy. He ended up getting a jar of raw honey from the farmer's market this weekend.
I would so love to learn how to keep bees. I just don't think I could afford all the equipment to get it ready for use. My sister was telling me yesterday that they had a swarm on a hummingbird feeder for several days. A bee keeper friend said that a hive was probably dividing. I found that interesting.
Here is some good news. One of the GPs came back. She now roams the property. She has not gone running off or anything at all after she came back and she is super friendly. She is such a big sweetheart now. I saw her trying to poke her nose through the fence getting into the chicken pen. I scolded her and she hasn't done it since. She now patiently waits outside the gate for me with her tail wagging. I'm sad that her sister hasn't come back but I'm just glad that she made it home and decided to stay here permanently.
I'm so glad she came back. Makes you wonder why one would and the other wouldn't.
A question for Danz and/or Trish44 - Skylar (the GP) will not go to the barn to take shelter when it is raining and I am unable to drag her to the barn or get her to understand that she needs to stay out of the rain. It is an open barn, not enclosed so she can come and go freely. I just want to know if she will get sick from the rain since it is cold out as well and the wind is blowing (strong at times). I hope she figures out where to go when it rains hard or snows bad outside. Another question is if GP tends to bark all night long. She loves to bark at night and sleeps during the day. I know her barking will (hopefully) scare the predators away but she barks A LOT during the night. She has gotten a tad bit better last night, only barked half the night but I'm wondering if that's what GPs do at night.
Sorry but I had to smile while reading this. Don't worry about the GPs in the weather. That is when they are happy. They actually shed off water a lot like a duck. They enjoy the cool. I have had my dogs with frozen coats and they run and play like it's just the best. They are built for cold weather and love it unless it gets really cold and windy. Yes she will bark at night all night. She is just doing her job. Right now is a high predator time. Spring and fall are usually the worst. If she is out there barking she is protecting the property. You will get used to it and not notice it after a while. I actually find myself waking up if I don't hear the dogs bark ever so often. My dogs sleep like logs most of the day but they always wake up if there is something around. Like someone pulling up to the gate or a day time predator. With winter coming on if you have an old quilt or comforter that you don't need, crumple that up in your barn where she would have the best shelter during a bad winter storm. She'll gravitate toward it when she wants to cozy in.
OK. I better get back to work. It is 10/15 tomorrow and I'll breath easier after tomorrow's deadline.

Stay dry and warm. I love Fall weather.

Danz, I had a great time visiting with you last night - I'm just sorry to cut into your chore time so much. Its a pity I didn't get to see your guinea parents with keets!

I was gone all weekend and the visit to Danz was at the end of the trip and from there I left and drove home. I was a tired puppy by the time I arrived home, well after dark last night. I really enjoyed the weekend and the visit with Danz at the end was such a great bonus. The chicks all made it home just fine. Four of them served their intended purpose immediately on arrival, and the others are cheeping away beside me as I type. They were relieved to know there was food available to them this morning (it was so dark last night I gave them water but no food). Their little temporary home should serve them well for the next week or so.
Loved the visit. Please come visit again.
DH did a great job taking care of the birds and livestock for me while I was gone, and even made some improvements in my coop. I've had an issue with the Exchequer Leghorns wanting to roost on the back of my nest boxes and I've tried a couple of things to stop them that didn't work. DH came up with a much simpler idea that actually worked - when we went to check on them late last night, everyone was roosting on the roosts!

Today is feeling like Fall going into winter instead of summer fading to a lovely fall. I know we can use the rain but I don't like the dreary, cloudy day and cool weather. My brooder chicks were outside during the day last week but I told DH not to worry about them while I was gone so on the relatively nice days this weekend they were inside and today is too cold to put them out so they're still inside.

When I got home, DH followed me downstairs to visit my snakes and said he had bad news. One of my brooder chicks was missing. We figured it had to be in the house and since the cat isn't, I wasn't immediately worried. But as we turned the place upside down looking for it and it didn't show up, I started to get worried. Finally I had to give up looking and went to get a "pet towel" for the new chicks and as I came out of my office/brooder room, almost tripped over the missing chick. I had not looked downstairs figuring it wouldn't have navigated the stairs, but it not only went down the stairs, it sat down in the middle of the brooder room, figuring that was a good place to spend the night. It didn't seem the least distressed to be on its own in unfamiliar territory, but didn't complain when I picked it up and had a long drink of water when I placed it back in the brooder.

I had to feed and water in the rain this morning, and it was feeling pretty darned cold out there. The temp dropped 4 degrees just while I was outside. I still have some more watering to do but I decide it was pretty ridiculous to be standing out there pulling a hose around in the rain.
I've got to find some more brooder space in the brooder house too. I discovered I have a whole tray full of chicks hatching today. I had them marked for tomorrow but I guess they had other ideas. So that means more migrate out to the big house. I had to shut the windows down in the brooder house a little too. That wind was pretty cold. I was such a bad bird mom yesterday and didn't manage to get all the birds fed. So today I made sure everyone had a nice bunch of fresh food. At least they cleaned up some of their mess they had left behind from previous feedings.
I haven't figured out where the guineas and keets are holed out yet. I figured I'd see them when I was feeding but it was raining and cold so they must have been tucked in. Even the peafowl are all tucked in tight with each other trying to keep warm.

 

[ashncarson]

So I posted pictures of the 3 remaining chicks that I have and that I hope are girls! 4 different people say all pullets, so I guess its time to start building a nest box! I think I can deal with just 3 chickens!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/830958/pullets-or-roosters-13-weeks#post_12149190

The weather sure is starting to turn! Getting chilly out, I guess I better get used to going out in the cold to see the chickens!

 

[KsKingBee]

OkieQueenbee - DH's raw honey ran out over the weekend and was asking if I can get some from you. I told him I'm not driving 2 hours round trip just to get a jar of honey for him!

Ever since I told him you guys may be having a beginner's class in Spring, he has been getting impatient trying to see if anyone will sell him some honey bees with the boxes and what not. I told him this is not the right time and the weather is getting cold... He is just being his silly old self... He thinks the raw honey is helping his allergy though so that's good. His allergy has been bad in recent years and it just about kills him in the Spring when his work starts getting busy. He ended up getting a jar of raw honey from the farmer's market this weekend.

You can get our honey at Bullseye Shooting Range 1455 N. Terrace. That's just right down Oliver to 14th street and two blocks west. They are open seven days a week and keep a good supply on hand.

 

[Regor]

Hello -- anyone know where in kansas I can get my chickens tested for diseases I live close to Topeka,ks my chickens came from a reparable feed store but. They are 6 months old and would like to sell eggs and go to swap meets.Thanks Regor

 

[cherwill]

Today is feeling like Fall going into winter instead of summer fading to a lovely fall. I know we can use the rain but I don't like the dreary, cloudy day and cool weather.

I love Fall, but not when it's dreary. I like it sunny and chilly.

When I got home, DH followed me downstairs to visit my snakes and said he had bad news. One of my brooder chicks was missing. We figured it had to be in the house and since the cat isn't, I wasn't immediately worried. But as we turned the place upside down looking for it and it didn't show up, I started to get worried. Finally I had to give up looking and went to get a "pet towel" for the new chicks and as I came out of my office/brooder room, almost tripped over the missing chick. I had not looked downstairs figuring it wouldn't have navigated the stairs, but it not only went down the stairs, it sat down in the middle of the brooder room, figuring that was a good place to spend the night. It didn't seem the least distressed to be on its own in unfamiliar territory, but didn't complain when I picked it up and had a long drink of water when I placed it back in the brooder.

Funny chick!

I saw that Cherwill lost some birds? So sorry to hear that. I hate losing birds especially after they have been raised a while and I always feel attached to them.

Thanks. I thought since that bird didn't die when her two siblings did, she didn't have the problem. I guess it just took her longer.

Cherwill... watermelon radishes? I've never heard of them but from the sound of your description, I think I'll like them for the simple fact that they are spicier than regular radish! I love spicy stuff... can't get enough of it.

It's funny, because I love hot stuff. Chiles, horseradish, wasabi, hot mustard -- it's all good. I just don't like my radishes fiery hot. They're really pretty, though.

OkieQueenbee - DH's raw honey ran out over the weekend and was asking if I can get some from you. I told him I'm not driving 2 hours round trip just to get a jar of honey for him!

Ever since I told him you guys may be having a beginner's class in Spring, he has been getting impatient trying to see if anyone will sell him some honey bees with the boxes and what not. I told him this is not the right time and the weather is getting cold... He is just being his silly old self... He thinks the raw honey is helping his allergy though so that's good. His allergy has been bad in recent years and it just about kills him in the Spring when his work starts getting busy. He ended up getting a jar of raw honey from the farmer's market this weekend.

We looked at beekeeping a year or so ago, but it's expensive to get into. We just didn't feel like we could spend the money that way, and we also thought (despite what the beekeeper told us), since we live in town, many of our neighbors wouldn't appreciate it.

Here is some good news. One of the GPs came back. She now roams the property. She has not gone running off or anything at all after she came back and she is super friendly. She is such a big sweetheart now. I saw her trying to poke her nose through the fence getting into the chicken pen. I scolded her and she hasn't done it since. She now patiently waits outside the gate for me with her tail wagging. I'm sad that her sister hasn't come back but I'm just glad that she made it home and decided to stay here permanently.

Bittersweet, to have only one come back. But at least you have that one. I'm glad to hear she's back and seems to appreciate being back.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

OMG I just did an necrospy on a dead peachick cause the one that wasn't feeling good yesterday was dead this morning. I found some worms in it's gut. That is the first time I have found any worms in any of my birds. I treated all the peafowl and the turkeys because they are in the same set of pens, with Ivermectin in their water. I am nearly out of it. I almost bought some last week but the price kept me from doing it. Now I feel like an idiot cause had I checked the first peachick I lost I would have saved more by having two more to sell.  Now I am afraid I need to treat all the birds again. I was just reading that the worms could be egg transmitted in chickens so I am guessing the same could be true in peafowl. However the only peachicks I have lost are the ones the mother peahen is raising.
So I ordered a bottle and I'll have to wait a few days to get it.  I just hope I have enough to get these guys cleared out enough. Makes me feel like a bad bird mom.

Danz, I only have a bottle of Safeguard goat wormer at hand right now. That's what I used to worm my adult birds. Will it work for the peachicks? If not, I'll have to get the Ivermectin from Atwoods or TSC.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

You can get our honey at Bullseye Shooting Range 1455 N. Terrace.  That's just right down Oliver to 14th street and two blocks west.  They are open seven days a week and keep a good supply on hand.

Awesome!! That's practically just down the street from my daughter's speech therapist! We take her there twice a week. I'm sure my DH has no problem getting his honey there.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Well, winter is definitely on its way... and much more quickly than I would prefer. I have really been enjoying having the highs in the 60's. We're supposed to get our first hard freeze tonight, though. The forecast says lows should be in the upper 20's, and we live in a deep valley and usually get cooler than the rest of the area.

The good news is that my birds haven't seemed to mind the cooler temperatures. We've also gotten a bit of rain recently (almost 3/4" in the last week!!!) and they have thoroughly enjoyed playing in any little puddle they find, which usually ends up being the downspouts around the house. They've made one into a pretty big puddle. Silly birds!

 

[chicken danz]

So I posted pictures of the 3 remaining chicks that I have and that I hope are girls! 4 different people say all pullets, so I guess its time to start building a nest box! I think I can deal with just 3 chickens!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/830958/pullets-or-roosters-13-weeks#post_12149190

The weather sure is starting to turn! Getting chilly out, I guess I better get used to going out in the cold to see the chickens!

I'm afraid I'd have to disagree based on these pictures alone. I believe chick number 2 is a rooster. Can't really tell on chick # 3 but I would venture it is probably a pullet. Sorry. I may be wrong. It's much easier to tell in person.

Hello -- anyone know where in kansas I can get my chickens tested for diseases I live close to Topeka,ks my chickens came from a reparable feed store but. They are 6 months old and would like to sell eggs and go to swap meets.Thanks Regor

It depends on what you want them tested for. If you mean NPIP tests I am certified but live a distance from you. You can contact the Kansas Dept of Agriculture and get a list of who is certified to do NPIP tests in your county. If you are talking about other tests the only way to get them done that I know of is to contact K-State lab and they could tell you how to have tests done. That would be very expensive and probably result in killing a bird. The state can do AI testing but that would be a flock test and you could be waiting for months to get an appointment.
You need NPIP tests to legally sell at swap meets although many don't do it. It's just a matter of time before this becomes enforced I'm afraid especially with the outbreak of salmonella from a couple hatcheries. You can sell eggs to friends and family but need to follow guidelines to sell them to the public. Here is a link: http://www.ksda.gov/includes/docume...d_Safety/egg_factsheet_farmersmarkets2006.pdf
Originally Posted by tweetybaby2005
You can use safeguard 3cc per gallon of water for a wormer. I'm not saying the peachicks would have worms but I would want to be sure just in case. I worm my birds regularly so I was shocked to see any at all.

Our power went out last night for quite a while. I think there was a ground that had broken or something down the road. I was worried about chicks getting chilled and incubators getting cold. DH had purchased a generator and hooked it up to the house. I need to learn to do that. We kept the lights and heater off but ran the essential things like the incubators, freezers and the sump pump if needed. The worst part about loosing power is we have a booster so we can get cell phone reception. But it runs on electricity so when we loose power we pretty much loose everything. We had to go out in the rain to get a signal to call the power company.

My dad has taken a turn for the worse. We are now going to have to stay with him at night or he will be removed from his assisted living home. He gets the best care there ...much better than the rest home gives but they are stretching their license to even allow him to stay. I believe if he goes to the rest home he will die immediately. It just won't work. The nurse at the assisted living home believes he is in his last days anyway. I just don't want to believe that. I had sort of accepted that a couple months ago and he rallied a little so I now I just can't let myself believe it.
It sure has added to my stress level.