Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Danz, very cool about meeting up with the 4-H leader! I bet that was a lot of fun! What all did she buy? Did she really like your seramas? Either way, I would have had so much fun seeing all of her stuff and then having her come over. What a blast! This will help too, because she's going to tell all her kids at 4-H and their families about you! WooHOO!!!

Ivy- YAY for the personal best at work! I understand what it feels like to accomplish something and then not be able to tell anyone! LOL I worked the military side of Boeing for years- same deal. I hope you get your doors done. Yeah, I don't see how you could get them all pieced together on your own either. I guess you could, but it might not be as tight or look as good. Hopefully DH will step in and lend you a hand. I enjoy working with my DH- then we have a chance to talk and do something together.

SO... yes, my baby died last night. I figured she would since she couldn't walk anymore and was looking pretty terrible. I checked on her this morning and pulled her out. I think I will change their bedding today and clean up the little bin. Just trying to figure out where to put chicks while I clean it out. I have another box, I think I can stick them in there for a few minutes.

I did get more work done on the roof- but we didn't get started until late evening yesterday. Bummer. But I think I can finish the roof myself now, so I plan on that today. Putting down shingles really isn't so bad. My DH showed me that the first row had to be put in upside down (grooves up), and then another row put directly on top with the grooves facing down-- then just layer on top staggered. It takes some time to cut the shingles, but it really wasn't that hard. Turns out we are nailing it in by hand, because our nail gun doesnt take that kind of nail. But it's going quickly. One side is done and we're about half way done on the other side. Then I just have to shingle the little nest box and the utility roof. I hope I can put up siding this weekend.

ETA: Ivy, I meant to tell you I'm really sorry about your goat. That is really odd!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
I think the umbelical infection could be right- the little spot where her umbelical cord was still bloody when she came in the mail on Wed. It was very red and turned a dark purple color yesterday. She had something bad going on. Funny about your roof tops! I hope you'll post a picture of what you get done! I'd love to see your pens! I think that is really neat.

 

[chicken danz]

I don't know if I'd tackle shingling in this wind or not. That could be a major undertaking. Isn't it great though that we have nice weather this time of year. At least when it is this warm the shingles should seal.
I can't imagine hand nailing all of those nails. Ugh!
The 4 H lady took one silver duck winged Pheonix and she is going to take Seramas and bantam polish. She has to get some more pens built first to separate them so they don't get picked on. Most of her birds free range but she is afraid the bigger birds will pick on the bantams.
I've got to catch and pen up all cockerels today and my drake ducks so they can be picked up tomorrow. That is going to be such a job.
I have a blind duck hen I really should sell but it seems cruel to send her off to market just because she can't see. I have to keep her penned up or she gets lost and the drakes ride her non-stop. She isn't laying. I think being blind just stresses her too much. Someone tell me what to do!!
I also have to run to town and go to PT and that means I'll be gone a minimum of 3 hours. I hate it. It just ruins getting things done.
I really wanted to work on my duck pen again but I don't think I'll have time.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Danz, I really don't know what to say about your blind duck. Did she have an accident or is it genetic? I suppose that would make up my mind. If it was an accident, I'd probably keep her, but if it's genetic, I'd probably want to get rid of her so it won't be passed on.. I don't know! I bet those little seramas are going to be so fun for the kids! I would love to see one up close-- so far, I think all I've seen are the Old English-- I never saw a serama at the State Fair.

Well, you're going to think I'm CRAZY!! But I did finish the shingling the roof today! I worked all morning! And yes, laying down the felt was so awful, I nearly gave up. I used my feet, my hammer, etc to help keep it down. Even when I stapled it down-- it still wanted to come up. I just tried to roof fast and use my tools to hold the felt down until the shingles could be nailed down. But my "fast" speed, I'm sure is still slow as snails. And I didn't want to compromise the work, so I did end up having to sit there and really cut things right. I'm sooo glad it's done. But now I need to put on the ridge cap. I can't figure it out right now, so I called my DH and he was just shocked that I finished the roof and he didn't want me putting the ridge cap on until he got home and he could show me the "right way". ha! I could just go Google how to do it and have it done when he gets home, too. But honestly, I'm so wind blown, I'm ready for a break. I wanted to start roofing the nest box and I asked him how to put on the metal flashing that we used on the roof, but there again.. he wants to show me. Which is probably just as well since there might be an easier way to do it.

 

[Ivywoods]

'Morning, everyone. Well, at least it's morning for me. After my little "high" last night I slept like a log! I awoke to what sounded like a horse running across our deck. (impossible because our deck is about 12 feet in the air.) Turns out the wind had blown one of my wrought iron patio chairs over and then off the deck!

Hawkeye, you be careful working up there on that roof in this wind.

Sorry about the chick, Hawkeye. You know, baby goats will get a weird infection in their umbilical cord that will kill them. To prevent it, we just dip their cords in iodine. I wonder if it would work for chicks. If you get one that is slow to absorb the egg or still open a bit there if you dipped their little bottoms in iodine, maybe it would prevent that scenario. I don't know. It's just a thought. I assume you would have to do it right after they hatch before any bacteria gets a chance to make its way in.

Danz-be sure to save some of those seramas for me! The date for my trip is getting closer, and I am getting excited. I'm ready for a little vacation.

Those seramas will be some of the first residents in my new stacking cages. I'll also have a place where I can let them range at times, too.

I was asleep when my DH got home. He was sleeping when I got up. When I came out to the dining room there were two containers sitting on the table with sweet rolls in them. Yum, yum! We are both off work tonight, so wind or not we are going to get out and go for a little ride in the gator.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Ivy, that was really sweet of your DH to leave you a surprise like that. I hope you have a great time on your Gator tonight.

Oh, and I think the iodine is a really neat idea, but wouldn't have helped since I didn't hatch them. Good for future reference, though.

 

[chicken danz]

Adorable picture Hawkeye!!!

 

[chicken danz]

About the blind duck. She got an infection in her eyes this summer due to heat and water algae. I read it isn't uncommon. I had naother duck with it as well. I treated them both but the other duck recovered. This one is well but it left scar tissue on her eyes so she is blind. She is a beautiful Ancona and it is such a shame. I can't let her run with the other ducks because she would die trying to keep up, or the drakes would hammer her to death. She really needs a quiet back yard with another female duck or two but I certainly don't have a quiet yard. I just don't know what to do with her. I know she is miserable now cause she wants to be with the other ducks. But then it seems so unfair to send her off to some grocery shelf just because she became blind.
Sure wish someone would tell me what to do with her. DH won't give me an answer either.

Hawkeye I'm amazed your could tackle that roofing in this wind. You must have the muscles of a work horse. I could tell you how to do the ridge cap. I think it is the easiest part. Just lots and lots of cutting. Hope DH gets it finished for you this evening.
I'm exhausted. I still have a few chickens to catch and a whole slew of ducks. The ducks won't be easy.
BTW if any one needs a young light Brahma rooster I am holding back several. Also have some various LF Cochin cockerels. I'd be glad to sell them cheap to any of you that need them for breeding. I am not selling them for eating birds because they are too nice.

 

[chicken danz]

Quote:
Ivy. I'm not selling any of the whites. I am sure there will be tons of birds left.

 

[JulieNKC]

Quote:
Ivy. I'm not selling any of the whites. I am sure there will be tons of birds left.

Wish I would have known a week ago. I had 2 anconas, and a khaki girl. They snuck out and missed lockdown one night a few weeks ago, and a coon got one of my ancona girls. I just got a drake to replace her though, and although he seems to be a fairly well behaved duck (7 months old and hasn't even tried anything with my girls so far) I wouldn't want to take a chance with him bullying her. Good luck figuring something out.