Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Trish, I've seen that river out of it's banks at the fairgrounds a number of times. It's quite impressive. My brother's place backs to the Arkansas but I haven't heard anything from them in the way of trouble. It's come out of its banks before and gotten really close to their house. I am very thankful for your hill right now. I can't imagine dealing with water in the basement, like Danz. That has to be a nightmare to clean up.
Well, the sun is peeking out and the wind is blowing like crazy! Maybe it will dry things up a bit before the next onslaught of rain. I haven't even stirred from the couch today other than to go take a nap. Not my ideal world going on but what can you do. I've got bronchitis now but it's a mild case and I hope this is as bad as it gets. I sure hope DD starts to feel better soon. I know it's a 2 week process but it's really hard to not be able to do much for her.

Well this is the master plan: I don't plan to clean it up. The basement has become a chick dusty storage area that I never get to any more. I'm not wasting time down there as long as there is still rain in the forecast. I never get the living area clean let alone those extra areas. My days aren't long enough to deal with every thing. I maybe make an effort down there once a year. It's not time yet!!!

Posted by rvroman

I really appreciate everyone's insight, experience, and input about showing chickens. I am a willing learner, and although I do not always have to respond to all of the wonderful things I learn from you seasoned chicken keepers on this thread, I want you to know I read through and take mental notes! It is very encouraging and helpful to know y'all are here.

I need to help my kids choose which of our birds they are going to enter in the fair by the end of the week. Should I just let them enter whichever bird they want this first year, putting it in the "other" category if it doesn't meet competitive standards? Also, we only have pullets. Our oldest are layers and 7 months old. We have 8 of those. Our next oldest are about 8 weeks old, and our littlest are 5 weeks. I have never seen little pullets shown in fairs before, but I've never really paid attention to the chicken showing too much, except to browse through looking at the 4-H and open class chickens at county and state fairs. My 4-H experience was involved, but did not include animals (except my dog), since we lived in town.
I'd let the kids chose. Most judges seem to prefer a mature but young bird from what I've seen If the kids chose they are working with the bird they really want to.

Greetings everyone from SE Kansas! I have been on here before under the name of silkiemama but I lost the email address and password the account was attached to and I haven't had much to do with my chickens since I have been in school for the last five years. I have a question for anyone who raises silkies....

...I just bought a nice, nice little roo with a walnut comb...however...he has the reddest comb ever... The female has black face and lobes but this roo has a red comb and it is a walnut shaped one, just red.... so what should I do with him...Do not say kill as that is not an option...I saw the bird online, the guy sent me a picture and I told him I wanted them. He brought them and my heart sunk...Any suggestions? How likely will it be thrown in his chicks?

Oh I would have wanted to cry. I don't think I'd want to breed him. I understand that breeds into them fairly easily. I did have some silkies at one time and one of the girls just had a touch of strawberry. Her chicks were born with some as well. I can't say anything about a rooster's influence but I would assume it would be the same. If Hawkeye were on here she would know.
I just got in after working. I got the wiring job done until I get the box over there and get it hooked up. Sure feels good to have one obligation pretty much completed. There' severe storms northwest of us. I sure hope they stay up north. I haven't looked at radar yet. The weather radar went off while I was doing the wiring.
The poor birds are standing in even more water today and it's not draining. I see I am down one more duckling that the mama duck hatched. I didn't find it though. Iput on shorts today and my legs are covered in mud. It's an unbelievable mess out there. It also seems like it takes me so much longer cause it's so slick and hard to walk in.
The next couple of days are going to be super busy. Like I need some additional activity to add to my normal.
I honestly need a vacation!!!!

 

[sharol]

Quote:
Originally Posted by chicken danz

Well this is the master plan: I don't plan to clean it up. The basement has become a chick dusty storage area that I never get to any more. I'm not wasting time down there as long as there is still rain in the forecast. I never get the living area clean let alone those extra areas. My days aren't long enough to deal with every thing. I maybe make an effort down there once a year. It's not time yet!!! p> Be sure you don't let it stay wet down there too long. If mold gets started, it is really expensive to get rid of. I'm so sorry you are having such weather problems. We are absolutedly soaked around here, but so far no serious off shoots. The chickens love the standing water in the grassy areas, and my two mama hens are co-parenting their babies on high ground. They were petitioning to get out of their confined run today, but it is still just too wet for the babies (IMHO). Maybe tomorrow. The little ones are so fragile looking that I can't imagine what they would do if they blundered into the water.

 

[ashncarson]

If I was to post chick photos tomorrow could you guys me decide which other hen to keep? We are keeping 3 out of 11 chicks.

I know which two I might want so far, but I like to have each chicken look different and am hoping for a good silver laced look to one!

 

[sharol]

Baby pictures.


This is the best picture. You can actually see all 9 of the little rascals. There appear to be (all orpington), 1 lavender, 2 chocolates, 1 white, (I know from the egg markings there are 3 jubilees and one BBS) That is 8. Number 9 is a mystery. I'm assuming the ones with the distinct dark stripes are the Jubilees (Danz?), the lightest one is the white, the lavender is obvious. There is the one closest to the camery with only faint stripings and one black one with white (the closest dark chick to the camera). The moms are co-parenting, but they separate at night. These were taken about 7:30 when they were tucking in for the night.


The little lavender and the light chick and the buff one in the middle without striping show up the best in this picture. The lavender is 8 days old and the others were hatched on Thursday mostly, so they are 4 days old.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

ashncarson, I've always got an opinion and it's worth every bit as much as I charge... nothing!

Seriously, I would happily give them the once over and tell you what I think but just know, whatever you decide is the best decision!

sharol, your babies are just so darn cute.... mine are in the gawky, fuzzy stage. Those are some substantial chicks you have there. It will be so much fun to see them feather up!

I've been to the ER this evening with DD. The left side of her throat started bleeding (tonsillectomy last Friday) and it was a really scary thing. She just kept spitting blood. This is our family's 4th tonsillectomy and none of the rest of us ever had a bleed. We're home now but I feel very uneasy about it. I just wanted to leave her in the hospital till the whole thing is healed. Of course, that's not done these days. She's had another bleed after coming home but they said until it spurts we're okay. AAAcccckkkk! I'm trying to be Mom here but all I feel is pure terror! Again, it stopped but I'm just so nervous.

 

[sharol]

sharol, your babies are just so darn cute.... mine are in the gawky, fuzzy stage. Those are some substantial chicks you have there. It will be so much fun to see them feather up!

I've been to the ER this evening with DD. The left side of her throat started bleeding (tonsillectomy last Friday) and it was a really scary thing. She just kept spitting blood. This is our family's 4th tonsillectomy and none of the rest of us ever had a bleed. We're home now but I feel very uneasy about it. I just wanted to leave her in the hospital till the whole thing is healed. Of course, that's not done these days. She's had another bleed after coming home but they said until it spurts we're okay. AAAcccckkkk! I'm trying to be Mom here but all I feel is pure terror! Again, it stopped but I'm just so nervous.

That is really scary. Being a mom is harder than it sounds sometimes. Just not freaking out and scaring her worse must be a real challenge. My thoughts are with you.

Those chicks came from Danz's eggs, so they will be quite substantial birds when they reach adulthood. Their parents are beautiful birds, so I have great hopes for them. My daughter loves the Orpingtons. She says they look like REAL chickens (with the fluffy butts). The next broody has Araucana and Breda Fowl eggs (again from Danz), so those will be fun, too. I get so stressed out when they are hatching that it is just silly. What will happen will happen, and I'm not going to be able to change it much.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Thanks sharol, screaming in terror is something you just can't do when you're afraid for your child. You plaster that "I got this, honey" face on and do what you have to do.


I thought those were Danz chicks. They are going to be gorgeous birds. I know what you mean about incubating. I absolutely obsess over them and even after they hatch, I worry myself silly over them.

 

[chicken danz]

If I was to post chick photos tomorrow could you guys me decide which other hen to keep? We are keeping 3 out of 11 chicks.

I know which two I might want so far, but I like to have each chicken look different and am hoping for a good silver laced look to one!

I'd be glad to give my input. Like Deerfield said your opinion is what really matters. I think we can all give opinions as to what we would prefer. My layers are all a mix of colors and stuff that I really love. Nothing is more boring than a bunch of hens that all look the same.
Quote:

Baby pictures.


This is the best picture. You can actually see all 9 of the little rascals. There appear to be (all orpington), 1 lavender, 2 chocolates, 1 white, (I know from the egg markings there are 3 jubilees and one BBS) That is 8. Number 9 is a mystery. I'm assuming the ones with the distinct dark stripes are the Jubilees (Danz?), the lightest one is the white, the lavender is obvious. There is the one closest to the camery with only faint stripings and one black one with white (the closest dark chick to the camera). The moms are co-parenting, but they separate at night. These were taken about 7:30 when they were tucking in for the night.

The little lavender and the light chick and the buff one in the middle without striping show up the best in this picture. The lavender is 8 days old and the others were hatched on Thursday mostly, so they are 4 days old.

Sharol, You have 4 jubilees, one white, two chocolates, one lavender, and one BBS. The lighter striped one is also a jubilee. Sometimes they are born void of stripes.

sharol, your babies are just so darn cute.... mine are in the gawky, fuzzy stage. Those are some substantial chicks you have there. It will be so much fun to see them feather up!

I've been to the ER this evening with DD. The left side of her throat started bleeding (tonsillectomy last Friday) and it was a really scary thing. She just kept spitting blood. This is our family's 4th tonsillectomy and none of the rest of us ever had a bleed. We're home now but I feel very uneasy about it. I just wanted to leave her in the hospital till the whole thing is healed. Of course, that's not done these days. She's had another bleed after coming home but they said until it spurts we're okay. AAAcccckkkk! I'm trying to be Mom here but all I feel is pure terror! Again, it stopped but I'm just so nervous.

Deerfield I am so sorry your poor daughter is having this trouble. I hope in the next day or two she turns around and starts rapid healing.
Sharol, I love how worried you get about the chicks. The only person I know that is more so is Zig Zag. He is the worlds best chick daddy that I know.

 

[sharol]

Sharol, You have 4 jubilees, one white, two chocolates, one lavender, and one BBS. The lighter striped one is also a jubilee. Sometimes they are born void of stripes.

Sharol, I love how worried you get about the chicks. The only person I know that is more so is Zig Zag. He is the worlds best chick daddy that I know.

Cool. The dark one is a BBS, then? Keep you fingers crossed for pullets. Thank you so much. You are the expert.

Yeah, well they are living creatures. I revere all life, and this is life I purposely encouraged, so I feel responsible.

On to the next worry. I'm going to have more babies in another week and a half, way too soon for these guys to be in the big coop. I have ordered a puppy playpen, and I'm going to put it in the corner of the big coop with a free standing nest box in the corner of it. It has a removable bottom, so I'll put it flush on the floor of the coop and then put new shavings inside it to hold it down and stabilize it. I sure hope it works. I couldn't think of any other way to separate Sis from the rest of the flock.


I'm hoping that with a solid piece of plywood or something over the top (fastened to the roost and feeding table) she will feel safe and comfortable.

It has the additional benefit of giving me a containment system if I end up fostering puppies or kittens later on.

 

[chicken danz]

Cool idea. I'm battling for space to put birds right now. My biggest problems are access to water and electricity, protection from the rain and wind, and heat sources for all of them. I've been wanting to build a new garage but I'm afraid I would use it as another chick keeping area. I think I'd better get my breeder numbers reduced before I consider that. Right now I have peachicks, turkeys, guineas, ducklings, goslings, pheasant and I am sure something else I forgot in addition to chicks. I'm sure glad I quit loading the incubators with chicken eggs when I did or I would really be in big trouble. I still hatched a couple dozen chicks yesterday regardless.