Consolidated Kansas

[cleansquared]

Just wanted to say hi I am still alive just havent been on much!

 

[zigzag45]

Hi All,
I spent Saturday building a second coop. So excited to get it into use. Still needs exterior trim and some inside work. I've struggled with where to put babies and finally will have a nice home for them. The biggest challenge of the whole process, I think, are the doors. It's amazing how much time everything takes.... hinges, latches, hangers for things inside, roosts, then a gang-way. I still need to find some vinyl to cover the floor with.

I have some chicks that I think are struggling with cocci. Corid isn't getting it fully taken care of so I think the next thing I'm going to try is Di-Methox. Is that a TSC or Orschelins buy? I hate driving around between farm stores looking for something. I spent 15 minutes looking for Corid at TSC before asking for help, and the gal walked straight to it - plain as day.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Prairie Fleur & sharol, I'm sorry about your sweet hen and your cat going missing and leaving the babies without a mama. Glad things are going to work out for the kittens -- has to be a huge relief.

Anderson Lowe, I guess it's a really good thing it was too wet to plant my tomatoes this morning, eh? I saw how warm the temps are supposed to be until the 15th (last day of frost) and got excited to put some things in the ground. Now the question is, even if I manage to plant something is it going to survive the pummeling? With the wind blowing the way it is today, I may actually have some soil that's dry enough a little later, but the question is: To plant or not to plant!

Danz, I remember you talking about that kitty. I had a cat like that and I think it's a semi-rare thing. I got another that looked like him but guess what -- she couldn't care less about me. I love her anyway in spite of that glaring fault! She's very sweet when she wants me to open the door to the room that holds her favorite bed and also when someone has shut the door to her litter box or when the fatty thinks she didn't get enough supper. She won't sit with me or even let me pick her up without complaining. So now that she has her ground rules established we get along pretty well.

Trish44, I am sure I never knew about the brightly colored chicks because I was a screamer and I'm sure I would have screamed until someone bought one for me. My mom was a farm girl, though, so one year we all got to choose an animal to raise, I chose rabbits and my brothers chose chickens and ducks. We learned all about taking care of them and I actually took good care of mine and the babies she had. It was a special time for us.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Prairie Fleur & sharol, I'm sorry about your sweet hen and your cat going missing and leaving the babies without a mama. Glad things are going to work out for the kittens -- has to be a huge relief.

Anderson Lowe, I guess it's a really good thing it was too wet to plant my tomatoes this morning, eh? I saw how warm the temps are supposed to be until the 15th (last day of frost) and got excited to put some things in the ground. Now the question is, even if I manage to plant something is it going to survive the pummeling? With the wind blowing the way it is today, I may actually have some soil that's dry enough a little later, but the question is: To plant or not to plant!

Danz, I remember you talking about that kitty. I had a cat like that and I think it's a semi-rare thing. I got another that looked like him but guess what -- she couldn't care less about me. I love her anyway in spite of that glaring fault! She's very sweet when she wants me to open the door to the room that holds her favorite bed and also when someone has shut the door to her litter box or when the fatty thinks she didn't get enough supper. She won't sit with me or even let me pick her up without complaining. So now that she has her ground rules established we get along pretty well.

Trish44, I am sure I never knew about the brightly colored chicks because I was a screamer and I'm sure I would have screamed until someone bought one for me. My mom was a farm girl, though, so one year we all got to choose an animal to raise, I chose rabbits and my brothers chose chickens and ducks. We learned all about taking care of them and I actually took good care of mine and the babies she had. It was a special time for us. 

Thanks! I really miss Spicy. She'd been around quite a while for a farm cat and she was the matriarch of my bunch. She was the boss and everyone knew it.
A complete sweetie too. She loved to curl up on my lap on a cool day. RIP sweet girl! I wish you'd have stayed where the dogs could have protected you.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

We ended up ordering a second bator just like my first! Lol I hadn't expected my shipped in eggs to decelope and now since they are I'm going to need more room! I have some pure Welsummer eggs coming and some BCM eggs that come from hens that lay 7-9 on the BCM egg color chart. I'm Very excited!! I got a couple red golden pheasant eggs from Danz and DH is Super enthused about starting those!!

Here's a couple pics of my bottle babies, Sparkle and Honey. Sparkle is the mini Nubian and Honey is a mini lamancha. They're Such sweeties!!! I LOVE both of their ears!!!! Sparkle is 5.5 weeks, Honey is 2.5 weeks and Mischief, the Nigerian pictured with them is 4 weeks. Th size difference is amazing!

 

[JosieChick]

One of the 4 remaining original hens (from 2010) died overnight. Angel was a hatchery Deleware who laid practically an egg a day the first year after she started laying. It has been at least a year since she laid an egg, though. She has been moving pretty slow for the better part of a couple of months, and yesterday I carried her back to the run. When I checked in with them about 8:30, she was sleeping in a nest box, so I figured the end was near. At 5 years old, she was just old, I guess. No illness, no symptoms except the slow moving.

I'll miss her, she was the friendliest of the original birds and still would hop up on my lap for a scratch when I sat down in the run.

 

[MsDebD]

Getting the chicken condo finished up to be ready when we get our chickens Saturday. The house was given to us and I've been intending to ask about the little extra room. What is it? Hopefully picture will attach. I'm assuming it's for a hen that's setting and to keep the chicks separated from the other chickens??? There is a little passageway built in at the bottom that looks big enough for chicks to go through but not hens.
I'm mostly just wondering what to do with it. Do I leave it open? Do I add a nest box (or bucket) in case any of them want to nest in there?

Also, the guys just built an exterior nesting box with three compartments. Is that enough for what has now become 7 hens or should I go ahead and put in a couple of buckets (which will mean I'd still be going in to gather eggs. Which brings me back to my first question of should I put a box/bucket be in the extra room?

I didn't feel this clueless preparing for and bringing home my first child!

 

[chicken danz]

Just wanted to say hi I am still alive just havent been on much!

Good to hear from you again. How is your house coming along. We haven't seen much from you since you bought it.

Hi All,
I spent Saturday building a second coop. So excited to get it into use. Still needs exterior trim and some inside work. I've struggled with where to put babies and finally will have a nice home for them. The biggest challenge of the whole process, I think, are the doors. It's amazing how much time everything takes.... hinges, latches, hangers for things inside, roosts, then a gang-way. I still need to find some vinyl to cover the floor with.

I have some chicks that I think are struggling with cocci. Corid isn't getting it fully taken care of so I think the next thing I'm going to try is Di-Methox. Is that a TSC or Orschelins buy? I hate driving around between farm stores looking for something. I spent 15 minutes looking for Corid at TSC before asking for help, and the gal walked straight to it - plain as day.

Nice little coop Zigzag. Yes I don't think those that don't build realize how much extra work things like doors and windows take.
I did a quick search at TWX and here is what I found. Since it's not obvious this is what you would look for. I haven't checked Orchlen's yet. http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/dmso-16-oz

Prairie Fleur & sharol, I'm sorry about your sweet hen and your cat going missing and leaving the babies without a mama. Glad things are going to work out for the kittens -- has to be a huge relief.

Anderson Lowe, I guess it's a really good thing it was too wet to plant my tomatoes this morning, eh? I saw how warm the temps are supposed to be until the 15th (last day of frost) and got excited to put some things in the ground. Now the question is, even if I manage to plant something is it going to survive the pummeling? With the wind blowing the way it is today, I may actually have some soil that's dry enough a little later, but the question is: To plant or not to plant!

Danz, I remember you talking about that kitty. I had a cat like that and I think it's a semi-rare thing. I got another that looked like him but guess what -- she couldn't care less about me. I love her anyway in spite of that glaring fault! She's very sweet when she wants me to open the door to the room that holds her favorite bed and also when someone has shut the door to her litter box or when the fatty thinks she didn't get enough supper. She won't sit with me or even let me pick her up without complaining. So now that she has her ground rules established we get along pretty well.

Trish44, I am sure I never knew about the brightly colored chicks because I was a screamer and I'm sure I would have screamed until someone bought one for me. My mom was a farm girl, though, so one year we all got to choose an animal to raise, I chose rabbits and my brothers chose chickens and ducks. We learned all about taking care of them and I actually took good care of mine and the babies she had. It was a special time for us.

Yep I still miss my Tyggy. I lost Biggy who was 17 about 9 months later, and we had Milk who was over 18 put to sleep just a couple months ago. I felt so guilty about Milk but her cancer had gone to her head and her brain was gone so it was the right thing to do.

Howdy all! SO far behind but just popped on to say hello to everyone. Sounds like you guys have had some warm and then not so nice stormy weather. We are in the high 30s this week and cloudy. Warmer but really hoping for some spring like weather here soon!

Danz-I read something about your youngest dog eating goose eggs? Dandy will not stop eating eggs, I am ready to kill him. Any suggestions? I have read to put hot sauce in them but do you empty the whole egg and refill it? I feel like he might like it! Dumb dog.

Sharol- So sorry for your loss. My very first hatchery hens are about 5 this year and I still have 3 of them, they are the sweetest old things and still lay a few times a week! I remember that old girl was your avatar for a long time!

Good to see you drop in. How's my little cherub doing? Looking forward to seeing some easter pictures. I have no idea what to do about this dog. I haven't caught him eating the goose eggs yet but I see him looking for eggs all the time. If I ever catch him in where the geese laying I'll probably go balistic. The eggs keep disappearing and I know they were there. I also found a couple of empty shells in the yard which pretty well sums it up. He is still afraid of the geese somewhat so I think he sees them when they get up to go eat or drink. The geese nip a dog in the rear every now and then trying to steal dog food. The other two dogs just ignore them but I think Winston hasn't figured out their bluff yet. If one of these girls got real serious about being broody and he tried getting an egg with her nearby I think that would end it. I don't know which of them is the bigger scaredy cats.
Originally Posted by MsDebD
I'm having trouble trying to visualize this set up. I am assuming there is more to the building besides what you are showing in the pictures. It looks to me like possibly a brooding area although without something on the chicken nettting I wonder that it would be warm enough. You'd have to have lights or something to warm it and probably plastic over the netting to hold the heat in. My concern looking at this is the metal on what I assume is the floor. Immediately that sends up red flags. That is asking for leg injuries if their feet slip. I'd paint that with a rubberized paint that has texture in it or something so it would be safe. They make a rubberized paint Iike that for step treads and stuff.
I got eggs ready and went to the post office with them. Then went to a friends house. They put in a metal building they intend to make into an apartment at some point. Their son is getting married and they plan to have the reception in the building. I offered to wire the building and install a few lights just for the purpose of being able to have the reception there. I have to keep it in mind for the way they plan to set up the apartment so it took a little while to plan it out. So now I am hours behind getting other things done. I think I may just buy the stuff for the wiring as my wedding gift. My friend wasn't sure if they'd appreciate it or not. Money is tight though and that seems like the only way to make it happen. What do you think? If you were a young 20 something couple would you feel having materials purchased and wiring done would be a good gift? Or would you think they'd appreciate a gift for the wedding more and have to come up with money to buy materials themselves before hand? Wire is not cheap.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

Good to hear from you again. How is your house coming along. We haven't seen much from you since you bought it.
Nice little coop Zigzag. Yes I don't think those that don't build realize how much extra work things like doors and windows take.
I did a quick search at TWX and here is what I found. Since it's not obvious this is what you would look for. I haven't checked Orchlen's yet. http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/dmso-16-oz
Yep I still miss my Tyggy. I lost Biggy who was 17 about 9 months later, and we had Milk who was over 18 put to sleep just a couple months ago. I felt so guilty about Milk but her cancer had gone to her head and her brain was gone so it was the right thing to do.

Good to see you drop in. How's my little cherub doing? Looking forward to seeing some easter pictures. I have no idea what to do about this dog. I haven't caught him eating the goose eggs yet but I see him looking for eggs all the time. If I ever catch him in where the geese laying I'll probably go balistic. The eggs keep disappearing and I know they were there. I also found a couple of empty shells in the yard which pretty well sums it up. He is still afraid of the geese somewhat so I think he sees them when they get up to go eat or drink. The geese nip a dog in the rear every now and then trying to steal dog food. The other two dogs just ignore them but I think Winston hasn't figured out their bluff yet. If one of these girls got real serious about being broody and he tried getting an egg with her nearby I think that would end it. I don't know which of them is the bigger scaredy cats.
Originally Posted by MsDebD
I'm having trouble trying to visualize this set up. I am assuming there is more to the building besides what you are showing in the pictures. It looks to me like possibly a brooding area although without something on the chicken nettting I wonder that it would be warm enough. You'd have to have lights or something to warm it and probably plastic over the netting to hold the heat in. My concern looking at this is the metal on what I assume is the floor. Immediately that sends up red flags. That is asking for leg injuries if their feet slip. I'd paint that with a rubberized paint that has texture in it or something so it would be safe. They make a rubberized paint Iike that for step treads and stuff.
I got eggs ready and went to the post office with them. Then went to a friends house. They put in a metal building they intend to make into an apartment at some point. Their son is getting married and they plan to have the reception in the building. I offered to wire the building and install a few lights just for the purpose of being able to have the reception there. I have to keep it in mind for the way they plan to set up the apartment so it took a little while to plan it out. So now I am hours behind getting other things done. I think I may just buy the stuff for the wiring as my wedding gift. My friend wasn't sure if they'd appreciate it or not. Money is tight though and that seems like the only way to make it happen. What do you think? If you were a young 20 something couple would you feel having materials purchased and wiring done would be a good gift? Or would you think they'd appreciate a gift for the wedding more and have to come up with money to buy materials themselves before hand? Wire is not cheap.

Danz, I'm old school. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth".

 

[chicken danz]

I agree Ralph, but these are young kids who haven't shown a lot of financial responsibility just yet. The apartment is supposed to be their future home if it ever gets done. Just my time and labor should be a gift but I know that would never be appreciated. I love their parents or I wouldn't offer. I have an overloaded schedule as it is.