Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Well, I made the cookie tin heater. Uh yeah.. that only two 2 hours to make!! Geez. I couldn't get the hole big enough for that metal screw thing that the cord thread thru. Finally, I worked it out, but ended up having to use electrical tape on the inside to keep it from angling down. Sigh. But it works, and its out in the coop with the chicks now. No frozen water tonight or tomorrow.

Okay, I have a big problem. My two barred rocks are MEAN! I figured out it was them that is plucking and eating the feathers off all the other chicks! The only ones they don't mess with are the two little white silkies, because those silkies will kick barred rock bootie every time a BR gets close. But the silkies don't mess with anyone else. But I watched the BR's both go after my other chicks and pull out tail feathers and then EAT them!! This is bad, right? Does this mean I have to get rid of my BR's??? They aren't playing nice. Will they calm down, or are they always going to be mean to the others?

Checoukan, beautiful birdies! That is sooo exciting that you got some gorgeous little rosecombs! I LOVE their white ears! Wow! And they are so tiny and cute! How old are they? When do they start laying? My shipped silkies that I put out in the horse stall today don't know what to do with the space. They are all sticking together and grooming each other. I've been out to check on them several times and they are all playing very nice together.

 

[Trish44]

Hawkeye, the Barred Rocks I have are at the top of the pecking order here & all of the other chickens know it. This is the first time I've had this breed & they're more aggressive than the others I have. As long as they get first dibs on the treats & nobody gets in their way, they're fine, but they will peck & chase any of the others that try to get something they want. They are excellent layers though, you saw those huge eggs I've gotten from them, there have been 4 like that lately. I can count on them to lay most every day & they're nice big eggs, even when they're not double yolkers. Have you not had all of your chicks together before? They may just be trying to establish pecking order.

IVY, gosh those two Lakenvelder pullets I got from you sure are a pain sometimes, especially at roosting time. They're still very flighty & won't let me get near them. They're the last ones usually into the coop at night & now that it's getting so darned cold out there it's not fun getting them to get in there so I can shut the run door. Tonight I went out there & got them all some BOSS for their bedtime snack & most of the chickens will run to the coop when I call them & they know I have something. But not the Lakenvelders, they run the opposite direction & tonight one of them ran up the hill behind the coop & through the fence to our property. I was worried that something was going to get her because there are quite a few Eastern Red Cedars back there for cover for things to hide in. I kept doing my call for the chickens & I could hear her back there squawking every time, but she didn't come. I had on my garden shoes that aren't the best for climbing in & went around there looking, but she was over the fence & I couldn't see her. I about killed myself getting back down to the coop. I went about my chores & by the time I got back into the coop to see if all the rest were in there she had somehow gone around the other way & gone into the coop, darned chicken! I'm still not getting any eggs from any of the ones I got from you yet, maybe soon huh. I've got one or two starting to lay that I haven't figured out yet who it is.

I went out & cut out the openings to the nest boxes bigger this afternoon with the reciprocating saw so maybe the darned hens will use their nestboxes. They're made to be cut out if you have bigger hens & since I have the BC Marans I figure it will work better for them anyway when they start to lay. I'm still having to get up 6 1/2 ft in the air to collect most of my eggs. I guess I should be happy though that they're at least laying inside somewhere because I know some people have to go on an egg hunt to find theirs.

 

[ChooksChick]

Hawkeye, what are you feeding them? Changing feed brands may help, because feather eating is usually a sign of low protein and boredom. Put a pinecone in there filled with peanut butter, or a suet block.

When they're closer to full-grown, apples are a wonderful treat, whole. Just dig out a little bit and they'll get the idea.

Danz- I use an oil-filled radiator if I use anything at all. One of those in your brooder would use no more electricity because of the ballast created by the hot oil, and there isn't any risk of fire, even if the shavings got piled up around the thing.

Sorry about the little missing guy and the fire- we lost everything to a house fire 10 years ago- there's nothing like that trauma, and you never forget to be afraid of fire after that.

Stay warm, folks!

 

[ChooksChick]

Whoops! Forgot to mention I got 4 little button quail, Danz!!

They are the cutest little things I've ever seen, and you neglected to tell me the babies are really just fuzzy FROGS!!

They leap like tree frogs! It's crazy!

Sweet, amazing little things- thanks you soooooo much! I have no idea what we'll do with them, but I'm told they will be living in my girls' rooms and they are not mine in any way.

 

[chicken danz]

Renee, they remind me of spiders. They just totally creep me out for a couple days just because of that. I don't think I mentioned that I grind their food in a coffee grinder for a few days and either use a quail waterer or put those flat marbles in a plastic jar lid for water. They seem to love to commit suicide by water. With 4 you should be able to produce tons of them later. You know they lay at about 6 weeks old? It's crazy. You can get $4 or so a piece for off spring if you find buyers. I just live too far from civilization to have a good market. Most I have sold have been people who have come here to buy other birds.
Ivy I sure hope you don't move. I feel like we've got one really happy family here and it would break my heart to have some of you move away. NE Kansas where you are is the pits. It always snows there and you seem to get all the bad weather, but I hope your DH was just having a bad day with the cold and it will pass. You too Hawkeye, I hope something works out for both of you.
Yesterday was a crazy day. I'm not as well as I thought. A simple trip to Topeka wiped me out. I had made an appointment for DH and I both to get eye exams and then get new glasses. We had to wait a couple hours for the glasses to be made so he dropped me at Burlington Coat Factory and he went to Sears. (I was buying children's books for my youngest granddaughters for Christmas.) by the time we got our glasses I could just barely put one foot in front of the other.
My doctor is gone so I had to see his PA. What a waste of time. He told me that the pain across my shoulder is muscle (yeah I knew that) and that happens when they straighten the neck out with the back. Ugh! I would rather ask my surgeon and see what he says. He left me on no more than lifting 5 pounds and no strenuous activity but I can drive now. Basically he just looked at my incision and told me it would lay flatter when the swelling was all gone. I knew that too since this is the 3rd time I've had neck surgery.

After we got home and went to bed I was awakened by my dogs. They have a certain bark when they are patrolling and another pitch when there is something big going on. I could hear that "we have a problem bark". I got up and went to the back door and they had a huge coon cornered by the back porch. Again I had to run in and wake up DH. He had worked all night night before last, taken me to Topeka and was finally getting to sleep after about 30 hours of being awake. He came out and shot that monster point blank in the head and he was still fighting. He put another one in his heart and he finally gave it up. He said and I have to agree, that was about the biggest coon either of us has ever seen. We haven't had coons around here in years. This predator situation is getting worse and worse. This was a nasty hissing fighting coon at that. I'm sure glad my dogs didn't get hurt in the process! They were both really excited. They each got a pat on the head, praise and a dog bacon for stopping him. I just hope the dogs spotted him before he got close to any of the bird pens.
My poor birds really got ignored yesterday. Thank goodness the water situation was under control with the heated bowls and such. the only ones out of water when we got home were the ducks. It was getting dark so most of the birds were up for the night.

 

[chicken danz]

I just read this story and changed it a bit because I felt it fit the situation perfectly with the changes.

The young couple had made their usual hurried, pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of goats. The farm had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine which topped the hill behind the farm, and through the years had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside.

The old folks no longer showed their goats, for the years had taken their toll, but they sold a little milk, and a few kids each year, and the goats were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Crossly, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. "Why do you not at least dispose of "The Old One", pointing at the old Great Pyrenees dog that laid with the goats. "She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since she could get around good and she serves no purpose. You should cut corners and save where you can. Why do you keep her, anyway?" The old man looked down at his worn boot, scuffed at the barn floor, and his arm stole defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her to him and rubbed her gently behind the ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Only because of love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley.

So it was, that because of the leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark at all. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save his beloved goats. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife. They thanked those who had come to their aid, and the old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as he clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana.

Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us, therefore, climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared."

And so, he took her by the hand and helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his hand. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they looked up and gasped in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on it's top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder, and incredible joy as he pulled his wife forward. There, beneath the tree, was their Christmas gift.

Bedded down about the "Old One", close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the goats through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping daintily through the snow. The kids were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The milkers pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of those she loved. Her body was brittle with years, but her eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift - because of love.

 

[Ivywoods]

Brrrr. Supposed to snow again.

(That's me under the chair hiding from the wind and turning blue in the cold!)

Good morning folks!

Well, it's morning for me, anyway.

Danz-I had read that story before, but the charcters were horses instead of goats and a dog. It always brings tears to my eyes. Aren't we just the biggest great pyrenees fan club?

This move thing for me is just "talk" at this point. If it happens, it will be a long time from now. We've got more stuff, junk, equipment and supplies than 10 people ought to have! Moving would take some MAJOR scaling back. Just the thought of moving makes me tired, even though the thought of being someplace a little warmer and with less snow sounds appealing. We are on a dirt road in the hills, and last year we were snowed in 5 times!

It doesn't take all that much snow to get us stranded. All it takes is for the wind to blow a little. We bought a 4WD Jeep last year...raised up, big tires, etc. First snowstorm after we got it DH got it stuck trying to get home. Luckily someone else came along that couldn't get through, either, and hauled DH back to town where he stayed for several days while I was here at home.

Checoukan-Gee whiz! If we lived closer together we'd be in trouble ALL the time!

Shhhhh.... people might find out just how NUTS we really are!

Actually, I've always thought the area around Joplin is a beautiful area. I would never move too far from Kansas. It's my home. That Joplin tornado was so unbelievable. Having watched that thing form right over you guy's property must have been a pretty...well.... I can't come up with the word to describe how I think I would have felt.

Anyway, I'm sure that's a day that will live in infamy in your memory forever.

Yes, I think we have formed a bit of an "online family." There are still folks on here I would love to meet someday.

I hope that folks that come to the thread aren't "put off" by the fact that we respond so much to each other. I certainly don't want to discourage anyone or make anyone feel "not accepted." I only post this because I read it on another thread recently where there was a group that interacted a lot. Sometimes when it comes to new situations or people I feel I don't "know" I'm just quiet. I'm that way. I'm an introvert and to be extraverted I have to REALLY work at it. I hope more folks feel like joining our online "family."

 

[chicken danz]

I feel the same way. I'm definitely a hermit and prefer to be alone at home but I feel I have a circle of friends here that I am comfortable with. I adore every one of you. It took me awhile to find the consolidated Kansas group but it is so different than the other groups. I rarely post elsewhere on BYC because I feel like the people here are my friends and I've met many of you. It just seems so much more personable. Yeah we get off on different subjects beside birds but that is what makes us a "family" of sorts. The group has changed since I subscribed, but definitely for the better. Less bickering and much more relaxed. I think there is a degree of total respect among each other. Many of us have so much in common, but at the same time we can learn from each other as well.
I honestly don't know how what I would do if I couldn't just touch base here.
I am feeling pretty crappy today. Must have over done it yesterday. I haven't done a thing yet either. I am trying to do some more Christmas shopping on line. It isn't going well. My spirit of giving is kind of low in accordance to my bank account balance.

 

[Trish44]

Danz & IVY, I feel the same way that I would really miss you all if I couldn't get on here every day & read your posts, I'm so glad I found this KS thread. So what if we don't always talk about birds, that's OK, we find our way back to them eventually. I think we all do have quite a lot in common & that makes it nice. People here have been very welcoming & friendly & I appreciate that. I have felt pretty isolated here every since I moved from Derby where I lived for 23 years. I have never really acclimated to this town or the people, so finding people online has been an outlet for me. I'm not really a very outgoing person either, I'm reserved & quiet until I get to know people.

Danz, I hope you feel better soon, it takes awhile to get your strength back after any surgery & you had a pretty major one. I had two this year & I know they took a lot out of me. It has taken me months to get back to myself again. This cold doesn't help things at all either, if you hurt it just makes you hurt more.

Today it's not really too bad outside, but tomorrow is supposed to be colder again, ugh. My automatic pop door still isn't opening, so we've got to get out there & look at it. I wonder if the cord broke when it froze up.

 

[chicken danz]

I am so steamed right now.

I happened to notice a $10 service charge on my old savings account at my old bank. I called them to see what it was about and learned that since I didn't have at least $10,000 in there that they have been charging me $10 a month service fee for the past 9 months!!! It is supposed to be a savings account. I got a lousy $12.44 interest on it this year and got charge $90 this year so far just for having the account. That doesn't sound like savings to me.
So I tried to close the account and transfer my money to my checking account with them. Can't do it. I have to go to the bank in person or write them a dated letter. So I guess they think I am going to drive 160 miles to close an account!!
I got on line and transferred all of my savings to my checking and then wrote a check to myself for the balance of my checking account. Then I wrote them a letter and told them to close both accounts and why.
I've dealt with this bank for 25 years. You would think I would have some decent service. I know this has nothing to do with chickens but it's a total rip and I needed to vent.