Consolidated Kansas

[ByN8ureHomstead]

Quote:
Not me, I keep my cages.

 

[averytds]

It depends on the swap/auction. I always bring my own to transport home. IMHO when they sell w/ the cage, "the cage" often is something fairly disposable, loosely thrown together.

 

[FondofChicks]

I can see why it might be cage and all at an auction, but makes more sense to have your own cage. I've only been to one small swap in Maize. I think there was only one cage of chickens, one for turkeys and one with guineas. It was good I went alone as they had some very cute guinea pigs there. My daughter use to have those. Started out with three and they started producing. It doesn't take long to run out of friends to take a free guinea pig. At one point we had 16 of them. Gave my girls some cooked spaghetti for the first time today. It was so funny. The smallest one is definately the smartest one. She did not get into the game of keep-away the other two were playing. While the other two were running and stealing/restealing the same piece of spaghetti the little one would just come over and get herself another noodle. The other two didn't care at all that there were more noodles, they wanted the noodle the other chicken had in its beak. So two chickens just keep after each other trying to get that one noodle. The little one figured out there was plenty for her if she stayed out of the game.

 

[CarolAnn]

Quote:
Many of those cages were definitely throw-aways as far as I'm concerned. But then I can surely see how you wouldn't want to put a lot into cages that would have to go with the birds. If I'd come to buy I would have brought my own cage and transferred the critters to that for transport. I saw some awesome beautiful ducks there! The ones posted with the red on their faces are beautiful!

 

[averytds]

on the spaghetti story.


I completely understand about the throw away cages, it does actually make sense from both a buyer and seller perspective. Some just do a better job than others. Even the roughest could probably get you home though.

At the state fair, there was a guy that bought some he carried out. I've wondered since if he had some cages, boxes, something out in his car or lived close. I had a friend with us who knew nothing about chickens who was really thrown by him and the idea of him buying birds on the spot and toting them around with possibly no plans on how to get them home.

Shows how far out there I've gone. I probably wouldn't even have noticed him if he hadn't approached me while I was cooping out and said "I bought that bird."

Luckily I think just a language barrier. I told him she wasn't for sale. He came back a bit later to ask me about the ages and sexes of the ones he had bought and was carrying. That at least I was able to help him with.

 

[FondofChicks]

Quote:
Odd how he asks about sex and age AFTER he bought the birds. I hope he had plans for the birds after he got them home. Which comes first-the chicken or the coop? I was ready when I brought my first chickens home (white leghorns) from the K-State Agricultural dept. These were good size pullets, one even laid an egg on the drive home. The coop had wire fencing around the run and the birds could stick their head through it when they thought the grass was greener outside the run. So I thought I was prepared when I brought home 7 week old pullets. My dog (pomeranian) gets along with the chickens pretty good but as these were new I guess she wanted to show she was the alpha critter of the yard. So she stood about a foot away from the run and watched as the chickens came over to see her. Then she just gave a little jump toward the run and all three chickens turned and ran straight through the wire fence. I did not think they would fit but they did not even slow down. My dog then just sat and watched me chase those chickens and put them in a box while I modified the fencing on the run.

 

[Kramer Farms]

Kansas Kid: I was the guy who helped you with those ducks. The guy that was supposed to be bringing most of the waterfowl had to make an emergency trip to Chicago and couldn't bring any. I think after you left there was some mandarins and woodducks came in.

To everyone else: Tell how you liked things and what you thought. I'm curious as to what everyone that comes thinks of the operation. I was the guy getting complained to all day and running from here to there chasing myself around I guess. It was a busy weekend!

 

[cackler]

This was the first time for me to go. I thought that you all did a great job. I think it would be difficult to keep it moving and keep everyone "in line" but it was handled superbly. I was really amazed by the variety of animals available there. We only went Saturday so can't comment on Sunday. We didn't buy anything - primarily because I wanted to buy a Jenny but didn't really want a pregnant Jenny with a baby already - but that's the way it goes. Everyone there was courteous. The auction was very well ran. My husband and myself enjoyed it. I really was more awed than anything else. Next time I may be a buyer now that I'm over the newness of it all!

 

[averytds]

Fondofchicks I don't personally chase chickens. That's the kid's job. I'll occasionally herd them if I have to.


I'm sure the guy who bought the chickens probably asked who he bought them from and just wanted me to verify he got what he paid for.

The cage cards all said pullets but 2 or 3 of the 4 (don't remember) were cockerels and they were all pretty young. I think he intends to breed them because he seemed really happy when I told him they were a young pair.

I really can't talk. I've always got at least enough grid panels and zip ties for a couple of quick cages in my trunk.

 

[FondofChicks]

Quote:
Yeah, I am past my chasing days. It was probably more like herding them. My "kids" are "away" at college so it was all up to me. My daughter actually put it on her facebook page the first time she caught a chicken. And the dog has learned not to chase the chickens. Last time she "thought" about it I told her "NO!" So she just sat down pretending she really wasn't going to chase them in the first place. Well the chickens caught onto that fast and ran over and started running in circles around the dog.