Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Yes that is a good thing to have the brooder all set up before hand. When I got my second and third batch I was prepared and had the brooder ready. Part of the problem with the first one was they didn't like the heat any hotter than 85. But I have learned a lot from the first batch of chicks and have since applied it to the others. One of my favorite sounds is waking up in the morning to the sound of all the chicks chirping... It will be quiet in a few weeks.... Pray I don't get empty nest syndrome and buy more! I don't think my coop can hold many more.

The key to the right temperature is to have the heat source in an area where the chicks can easily access the hotest spots or move out to maintain their own temperature. I always aim for 90-95 in the warmest area. A mother hen's temp is around 101 or there abouts so you can kind of figure from that how much heat she would be putting off. But the chicks move in and out from under her to regulate their heat. I do love the sweeter heaters because I can raise and lower them if I need to adjust the heat. Probably not an economical investment for someone who wants 6 backyard hens though.
I tend to change things if I see the chicks acting uncomfortable, grouping or fanning out too far.
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The monthly poultry swap at Turkey Creek Feeds East of Joplin, Mo. was well attended today. It is the first Saturday of every month, but it has been too cold for this old man to attend until today. There were a good variety of poultry and small animals. I was surprised to see so many venders with the large swap at Jacob's Cave being this weekend also. I think I will just be attending this swap meet and the one in Afton, Ok this year. It is a hassle for me to get everything loaded and get there by daylight. That is when the buying is the most competitive..

I really wanted to go to Jacobs Cave this time. A breeder who was going had several things I was interested in but it's almost a 4 hour drive for me. Plus I had no idea what his prices would be. And really, do I need more birds right now?

Well, the county 4H Spring Poultry Show went well. I helped with the Quiz Bowl again this year, and learned something new. That is my goal: to learn at least one new thing each time. The Silver Laced Wyandottes roo I gave my like-a-son only got a white ribbon. The judge did not have much to say about him at all, positive or negative, other than something about the points on his comb. They are pea combed, so I have no idea how to count points on those combs, nor can I find anything that says they need a certain number of comb points on a SLW. :S

That is strange. Perhaps the judge was confused. I have seen some of these so called 4H judges that have no idea what they are doing and have never picked up a SOP. Like every breed out there is supposed to have 5 points on their comb in example. On the flip side some have very qualified judges so you never know. Can you look up the SOP on a silver laced Wyandotte and see if you can figure out what is wrong?
I don't show so I am clueless other than what I manage to look up and research.
I filled the waterer for a bin of chicks this AM and within 10 minutes every one of them was soaked and screaming. Why is it they have to play follow the leader when one gets wet? So I have a portable heater in their bin trying to warm them up. Geez! I have a dozen of those sold that are supposed to be picked up tomorrow as well so I sure hope I don't loose any. It's a never ending maze of things that happen when you have 100s of chicks at a time.

 

[chicken danz]

Anyone have any nice quality bantams for sale? I know a little girl who is looking for a couple for 4H. Of course they prefer something a little older than chicks. Send me a PM.

 

[CHIKENROOKIE]

You want pics?

Here are my new additions.

1 gold laced wyan
2 amauracanas.

Just delivered by my co-workers daughter who was my babysitter for them while we were on spring break. I missed the fuzzy time period tho.

 

[ashncarson]

Tonight we lost a chicken..she was a younger pullet who recenlty started to lay. We got home from small group and when I went in to check on the chickens, she was laying in the coop, on the floor with her head down. I knew something was wrong. I picked her up and she looked at me...I went inside, told my husband something was wrong, put on my boots and by the time I went back out she was gone...she was dripping something from her beak but I don't think any are sick, I have heard nothing unusal.

I did take a photo of her. she was eating just this afternoon. any ideas?

I also have one sitting on eggs...and 3 other broodys :/ I need to build a broody box.

 

[chicken danz]

ashncarson she could have broken her neck or something. Or maybe she had a blocked crop or esophagus. Do they have access to plenty of grit? It could be any number of things and it's not unusual for fluid to come from their mouths when they die.
I butchered one cockerel today. I really hate doing that. This one had been congested for months but obviously not something that he spread because no other birds in his pen where ever sick. I was busy moving and prepping pen areas and decided it was the right time to do it. He was a small bird but inspite of months of being congested he had a good deal of fat on him. At least he made some very nice broth and meat to give the dogs.
They've been working so hard with all the predators this time of year they need some extra protein and nutrients.
I didn't get quite as much done as I hoped to day but I did get the new pen finished and netted. I got the birds moved to the pen and sprayed down their old house and pen. A little cleaning and maybe if it isn't too rainy tomorrow I'll get some young English moved.
I sold a dozen brahmas today so it was a decent pay day.

 

[Trish44]

We spent the afternoon yesterday in OKC with my DS & little grandson. He is so stinking cute, he's just starting laughing & giggling & it's so much fun to watch. He kept laughing at my DH every time he looked at him, I thought it was hilarious. He really is a pretty happy baby, he's already started watching cartoons at 2 months old. We were discussing about what babies are thinking, it really makes you wonder sometimes watching them. I also got to see Hawkeye's new place while we were down there this time, wow it's really nice & the barns they have just built are to die for. I'm so envious of having one place like that to care for birds in out of the weather.

My hatch from yesterday is still ongoing. I had 4 little chicks in the hatcher when I came back last night & there were two more before I went to bed. I have 3 more in there starting to zip this morning. There are 4 eggs in there that haven't pipped yet, I'm hoping they do hatch.

 

[Iwantchickens6]

hey all you Kansas folk I'm a newbie, would like to find some araucanas older chicks coop will be done tomorrow. had a terrible cold or something.

 

[Iwantchickens6]

you have birds to sell? What kind and age? I'm in Wichita where's Larry?

 

[Iwantchickens6]

I know I messed up again guys I'm gonna learn how to use this website someday!

 

[sharol]

you have birds to sell? What kind and age I'm in Wichita where's Larry?

Lawrence (Larry)
Welcome to the thread.