Consolidated Kansas

[Dani4Hedgies]

Danz,
Not sure the mean rooster is big enough to butcher yet (he isn't mean to me just little girls) and yep I was thinking about Nov too for the Toms as well as the couple Roosters that I have

 

[chicken danz]

Okie dokie. I'm always glad to get out of butchering for a while.

 

[chicklover56]

Hello everybody!

I've been super busy with school and just caught up with some posts. I have been having a bit of a hawk problem, but it hasn't showed for at least a week. I set up a scarecrow, but not sure how long it will last. Any suggestions to keep it away?

Also, my class wants me to get hatching eggs, and I want a rooster to protect my flock. The only rooster is my Aracauna I am still growing out, my other one got taken by the hawk. If anyone near Topeka has a good tempered rooster (doesn't really matter the breed) for sale, please send a PM!

 

[HEChicken]

Chicklover, keep in mind a rooster doesn't have a lot of defenses at his disposal, to really "protect" a flock. A good rooster is always on the lookout and will issue warnings to the hens to take cover but the rooster himself is just as vulnerable to predation as the hens. If you have a lot of predator issues, a dog will be a far better protector than a rooster possibly can be.

 

[chicklover56]

@HEChicken yes, I am aware and have been trying to get one specifically for the chickens. I have a mixed breed dog at the moment but she is not always home. I would get a dog if I could but I am not allowed to.

 

[chicken danz]

Hello everybody!

I've been super busy with school and just caught up with some posts. I have been having a bit of a hawk problem, but it hasn't showed for at least a week. I set up a scarecrow, but not sure how long it will last. Any suggestions to keep it away?

Also, my class wants me to get hatching eggs, and I want a rooster to protect my flock. The only rooster is my Aracauna I am still growing out, my other one got taken by the hawk. If anyone near Topeka has a good tempered rooster (doesn't really matter the breed) for sale, please send a PM!

I haven't heard from you since you took your trip. I have another adorable Araucana cockerel I was breeding with until he developed a tail you can have. I just sold the only female I had. I also have two Araucana chicks I just hatched I'd Iet you have. They both have little tail stubs. One is double tufted and the other is not. They are onl 4 days old now. If you want a bigger rooster I've got tons to choose from. I won't be in Topeka until late October so maybe we could talk your Dad into driving you down. Let me know in a PM what time you are available and not in school and send me you phone number again and if I happen to go up there I can let you know. I need to get some more shavings from Menards soon.
Are your pens covered with netting or do the birds free range in the yard? Hawks will often sit and watch for a good time to come down. Hawks are migrating right now though, so the one that was there may have flown further south. If you see one sitting and have access to a BB gun that won't draw the neighbors attention, I'd shoot at him for sure.
I was out with customers and my stupid pig pushed his gate open and is out roaming the yard. He just checks everybody out and seems content to just look at them. With me he seems to think he has to rub his nose or sides on my legs.
It's sure hot and steamy today. I'm waiting for this fall like weather we are supposed to have.

 

[chicklover56]

I haven't heard from you since you took your trip. I have another adorable Araucana cockerel I was breeding with until he developed a tail you can have. I just sold the only female I had. I also have two Araucana chicks I just hatched I'd Iet you have. They both have little tail stubs. One is double tufted and the other is not. They are onl 4 days old now. If you want a bigger rooster I've got tons to choose from. I won't be in Topeka until late October so maybe we could talk your Dad into driving you down. Let me know in a PM what time you are available and not in school and send me you phone number again and if I happen to go up there I can let you know. I need to get some more shavings from Menards soon.
Are your pens covered with netting or do the birds free range in the yard? Hawks will often sit and watch for a good time to come down. Hawks are migrating right now though, so the one that was there may have flown further south. If you see one sitting and have access to a BB gun that won't draw the neighbors attention, I'd shoot at him for sure.
I was out with customers and my stupid pig pushed his gate open and is out roaming the yard. He just checks everybody out and seems content to just look at them. With me he seems to think he has to rub his nose or sides on my legs.
It's sure hot and steamy today. I'm waiting for this fall like weather we are supposed to have.

OK I'll send a PM. The chickens free range in our yard, and their coop has a run which is fenced in. We have seen the hawk only once when it was swooping down but kicked it away. Other times we haven't been home. I sure hope it's leaving!

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Danz,
Thank you so much for the wonderful birds and your time today. Heather, Jane and I plus the girls had a great time and the girls already are asking when they can come back. We decide to make a Detour on the way back and drop off my new chickens. My wonderful neibor is going to watch aka spoil rotten the little chicks and stick them under Sapphire tonight after dark and we will see how she does am really hoping she takes them if then I will set up the brooder and we will go that route. Was so wonderful seeing you again and can't wait for a longer visit in Nov as I learn the next step to being a chicken farmer.

 

[lizzyGSR]

My toms aren't ready to butcher yet. I probably should have taken them from the first batch of turkeys instead of waiting a while. I'm hoping by November some time mine will be ready to go. Bring your mean rooster with you this weekend and we'll get him butchered. Just bring like a 2 gallon ziplock bag and some kind of cooler to put him in. One rooster won't take long. I can just put some hot water on the stove instead of firing up my big propane pot for just one.

Gosh, I wish I were close enough to meet up with some of ya'll on the forum. I hope you guys have a good visit!

Hot and steamy weather??? It always amazes me how different the weather can be between here and there. We only got into the 70's today. It was a lovely day here with sunshine and beautiful temperatures. They're saying we could get our first frost of the season tomorrow night. I guess I'll have to go get some blankets to cover my tomatoes and peppers with... and maybe try to convince DH to dig up a pepper and bring it inside.

 

[chicken danz]

@lizzyGSR , I wish you were too. I just realized that I won't get any more chances to meet you when you come this way for work functions. We'll just have to arrange some kind of get together elsewhere some how.
I saw where they were getting some snow in the mountains above Denver. I wondered if my daughter was getting snow (haven't checked her facebook) , and if your temps were cooler. I guess they are. We had torrential rains all night. I mean heavy heavy rain and it's still lightly raining this morning. I have no idea how much water we got but it looks very very wet out there. The geese were all taking a bath in the driveway while ago. I fell asleep watching the weather last night. I wish they'd give the forecast before they talk about the weather that occurred that day. I already know what it was like. Seems like clockwork.... I phase off and wake up when the weather is over none the wiser. It must be an old folks syndrome.
Anyway I looked it up and it's supposed to be 72 today with a low about 49 tonight. Burrr! Then upper 70's all week except Tuesday it's supposed to be 80. These are beautiful day time temperatures for sure.
I really dread going out to check on the chickens and other birds. I so worry after these rains that one of these young birds get stuck in the mud and drown. It's happened too many times around here. This darn clay just rolls up like dough when it gets wet and keeps packing on . I have trouble getting my feet out of it so I know it's really hard on those little bird feet.
At least the ones that got new homes yesterday are probably okay.
I got to meet @ChickenPeep and her family yesterday. They took home a nice selection of different pullets.
And of course Dani came with her friend Heather, who has been here a few times, and Heather's mother. It's always so good to see you @Dani4Hedgies . Dani accidentally came up with a new way to introduce new chicks to a broody mama hen. Pretty funny story you should post here.