Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

What a morning. I needed something that was supposed to be in the "junk drawer" in the kitchen. In frustration, I just dumped it out on the table. Once I had it out in a pile, I decided to sort the mess. That was 2 hours ago. The drawer (which already had separators and organizers) is again neat and tidy, I have a bag of trash, three groups of stuff put away elsewhere, and I've tested nearly 30 batteries that were thrown in there. Oh, and I never did find those scissors.

On to the next project, or maybe I'll just go watch the baby chicks for a while.

 

[chicken danz]

We finally got some measurable precip last night 1.75" or so. Of course they got 4" in town, but who's complaining? Not me.

Thanks again, Danz, for the lessons. I feel like I learned a real skill. May be needing it. I got a good look at the 2 week olds today, and 2 of them have 3 bump combs (daddy is an ee). Dang. 2 out of 3 again???

You're welcome. Hope you have lots of chicks from those eggs as well. Mostly girls of course.
I try not to hatch much in summer because I have learned in hot weather the percentage of cockerels to pullets is extremely high.
But I guess as long as there are boys that means more eating for me or my customers. I just prefer to raise fewer chicks though.

We finally got some rain here today too! I was in town mowing the church's yard when it hit. Just as I was finishing, one drop fell and then the sky burst open. I got thoroughly soaked as I raced to put the mower back into the trailer. Of course, in my haste, I bumped the one ramp wrong, and it fell, leaving the front end of the mower in the trailer and the back end on the ground. Someone living close by had seen me struggling to get the mower OUT of the trailer, so he offered help and pointed his house out to me so I could ask for more if I needed it. I was SO THANKFUL for a kind stranger! I had literally seconds from the time I finished the mowing to the time the rain started falling. And the kind stranger showed up right when I needed him!
That's great he helped you out!!
Good to see you post again. Been missing your updates! And glad you got some rain although it sure seems when it rains it's always poor timing.

I was wondering about different breeds of ducks and if there were any that were fairly showy that didn't have to be penned and could free range at least during the day? I'm not very familiar with duck breeds I guess.

Prairie Fleur for real pretty ducks the cayugas are about the prettiest of non-flying ducks. They are kind of an irridescent black. I also love Anconas which are rare. They are white with different color markings on them but they are very easy to manage. I have cayuga, ancona, and pekin ducks that free range year round. They are all good eating too if you can stomach the butchering.
Originally Posted by cherwill
I have to get feed today which means more work. It looks kind of gloomy out there but I'm afraid it is just going to make it hotter and more humid. I am hoping to get a few birds moved to breeding pens today if the current residents accept the newcomers. I also hope to get some turkeys sold.
I spent a fortune last night on 14 bags of chick starter. I bought all the store had. This store sent me a personalized coupon by invitation only because they started carrying purina feed. I had a coupon for $2 off a bag so I bought all they had. Yesterday was my birthday as well so I DH took me to dinner too. I wish DH had also gotten a coupon but most of the major purchases made there for farm related items I had paid for. I imagine they only sent it out to the customers that bought larger amounts of those kind of products.
If I fed bagged food to the other birds I could have really saved some money. They had a limit of 50 bags and it was a one time use coupon. I was hoping they had some calf manna or equivalent too but they didn't. I use calf manna as a supplement to my feed. It adds more protein, fat and a some extra vitamins and minerals.

 

[sharol]

You're welcome. Hope you have lots of chicks from those eggs as well. Mostly girls of course.
I try not to hatch much in summer because I have learned in hot weather the percentage of cockerels to pullets is extremely high.
But I guess as long as there are boys that means more eating for me or my customers. I just prefer to raise fewer chicks though.

 

[chicken danz]

What a morning. I needed something that was supposed to be in the "junk drawer" in the kitchen. In frustration, I just dumped it out on the table. Once I had it out in a pile, I decided to sort the mess. That was 2 hours ago. The drawer (which already had separators and organizers) is again neat and tidy, I have a bag of trash, three groups of stuff put away elsewhere, and I've tested nearly 30 batteries that were thrown in there. Oh, and I never did find those scissors.

On to the next project, or maybe I'll just go watch the baby chicks for a while.

LOL Sharol. I've been doing that a lot lately. I still have tons more to go. Mine has been mice infestation problems so I dump everything out and clean it. It takes forever. But then nothing ever goes back in neatly. I have a multitude of junk drawers I guess. At least I have a good idea what kind of junk the drawers each have. I can't wait to get birds relocated and hopefully get all traces of mice far away from the house.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Ahhhh, the much needed rain, finally!!!! I think we had about 1" on Wednesday night then just enough to wet the pavement last night. I am counting my blessings.

Lost a hen. Not sure what got to it and was wondering why my 2 GPs didn't do their job??? Anyway, the hen was in obvious misery by the time I found her so I went ahead and ended it for her so she didn't continue to suffer. Since I was already at it, I processed the roosters as well. Now the freezers is full.

Didn't get the trampoline project done. Instead, I had to work on getting a new pump for the pool because the originally pump just died. It wasn't working good enough to start with so we got a sand filter to replace it. Of course the hoses won't just fit right into the existing hardware (my luck!) so had to run to the hardware store 3 times to try and get something to fit. Finally just used the drumel and grinder down the plastic just enough to push the hoses in. No leak! Hallelujah!! Now I'm waiting for the pool to fill back up and turn the filter on. All this work took me 3 days. Good grief.... my plumbing skills just suck!

Speaking of plumbing... the rental house's hot water heater started leaking. Needless to say we have to get it replaced pronto since we have tenants living in the house. $800+ later and 2 trips to the house, the city inspector finally gave us the green light that everything is A-OK.

I hope everyone get some rain. I think I will just take it easy today. Maybe a drink as well.. LOL

 

[Trish44]

It's raining here too! Maybe it'll wash some of the pollen out of the air. I've almost been sick after doing chores the last couple days and this evening DH kindly did them for me. Hopefully I'll be able to get some sleep tonight and not up battling allergies until 2 like last night!

I was wondering about different breeds of ducks and if there were any that were fairly showy that didn't have to be penned and could free range at least during the day? I'm not very familiar with duck breeds I guess.

I really like the Ancona ducks as well, they're really easy going ducks & free range during the day & go into their pen easily in the evening. I like having them because for one they're flightless & for the other they are endangered & I like the idea of keeping the breed going. They come in several colors as well so you can have a combination. I have some I got from Danz to start out that are lavender, blue, & tan, all are white with these colors. Then I got chocolates from eggs I purchased & added those this year. They're as big as the original ones now. I got lucky with the ones I kept & only have one drake in the chocolates & have one in the original group. I do pen them up at night because they are subject to the same predators as chickens.

Ahhhh, the much needed rain, finally!!!! I think we had about 1" on Wednesday night then just enough to wet the pavement last night. I am counting my blessings.

Lost a hen. Not sure what got to it and was wondering why my 2 GPs didn't do their job??? Anyway, the hen was in obvious misery by the time I found her so I went ahead and ended it for her so she didn't continue to suffer.

Since I was already at it, I processed the roosters as well. Now the freezers is full.

Didn't get the trampoline project done. Instead, I had to work on getting a new pump for the pool because the originally pump just died. It wasn't working good enough to start with so we got a sand filter to replace it. Of course the hoses won't just fit right into the existing hardware (my luck!) so had to run to the hardware store 3 times to try and get something to fit. Finally just used the drumel and grinder down the plastic just enough to push the hoses in. No leak! Hallelujah!! Now I'm waiting for the pool to fill back up and turn the filter on. All this work took me 3 days. Good grief.... my plumbing skills just suck!

Speaking of plumbing... the rental house's hot water heater started leaking. Needless to say we have to get it replaced pronto since we have tenants living in the house. $800+ later and 2 trips to the house, the city inspector finally gave us the green light that everything is A-OK.

I hope everyone get some rain. I think I will just take it easy today. Maybe a drink as well.. LOL

It sounds like you haven't been having fun at all with all of the plumbing, I hope you have it all fixed now. Well the GPs do a great job, but they just can't be everywhere at once. It's really bad if something sneaky comes up during the day because mine are usually resting, especially when it's so hot. I did lose one duck awhile back right in broad daylight, I'm not sure what got her. My GPs did bring me a possum a couple days ago & laid it where I could see what they did. Those are the nastiest creatures, yuck.

I sure am ready for just a bit cooler weather, I'm tired of this heat myself. I know I shouldn't complain because it's not been as hot as other years but I just don't take the heat that well any more. The humidity just makes it that much worse too. I'm just soaked through by the time I get in from doing my chores in the evening.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

...

[COLOR=0000FF]I really like the Ancona ducks as well, they're really easy going ducks & free range during the day & go into their pen easily in the evening. I like having them because for one they're flightless & for the other they are endangered & I like the idea of keeping the breed going. They come in several colors as well so you can have a combination. I have some I got from Danz to start out that are lavender, blue, & tan, all are white with these colors. Then I got chocolates from eggs I purchased & added those this year. They're as big as the original ones now. I got lucky with the ones I kept & only have one drake in the chocolates & have one in the original group. I do pen them up at night because they are subject to the same predators as chickens.[/COLOR]


Would you care to post pics of your Anconas? I'd love to see the different colors.
I love the colors, look and size of call ducks but I'm not sure DH would care for how noisy they are. I've also been looking at Silver Appleyards, full size and mini, Welsh Harlequins, and Australian Spotted. Someday I'm going to have Mandarins but we don't have the time or money to build a flight cage right now.

 

[chicken danz]

Here's a picture of some Anconas in the various colors. It's not mine but a good photo.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Here's a picture of some Anconas in the various colors. It's not mine but a good photo.

I like all the different colors! Are all the colors Trish mentioned in this photo? If so which is which? I'm completely baffled. One of my hens has a hidden nest or she's quit laying. And I just can't find that nest. Sigh. We really need the eggs and I've done a fair bit of looking to no avail.

 

[chicken danz]

Dark chocolate in the back, black in the front, blue in the middle, and the other two are gray. I also have a buff chocolate color which I believe Trish got one of those from me. Crossing the different colors just produces more diversity in color. I have had some that had both blue and black on them as well.
Chances are the hen has quit laying for a while because of the heat or if she is starting to molt. They do need a break every now and then. A molt can take a few weeks to up to three months depending on the bird and they won't lay during that time. It's important they get plenty of nutrition during a molt so they'll be in laying condition when they are done.
Tweety you are far ahead of me. My old pool was trashed so I bought a used and larger one. It's been three years now and I still don't have it up. I have a new liner for it but the other parts may need some replacing after all this time. I don't have room for it where I had the old pool because I keep putting in more chicken pens. Some day maybe I'll get in in and actually have some time to use it.