Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

That is an adorable coop.
I went and got grain but it got so cold and windy I don't know if it would just blow away while I try to shovel it. I thought i was supposed to be warm today with rain late. This weather just depresses the crap out of me!
Chooks the pup with the ring around the tail is a boy and will have a new home in Hutchinson.
I ran out of dog food and had to buy some at the coop. It was pretty pricey and a brand I hadn't heard of before. Sure hope the dogs will like it. They get kind of picky.
I've got 4 turkeys in the hatcher. They are due to hatch in a couple days. I'm pretty nervous. I had 3 in the last bunch that made it to full size and then didn't hatch.I want some buddies for my lone turkey.
At least I have some baby ducks now and maybe I can get this little lap duck interested in ducks instead of me. He is sitting in my lap sleeping as I type. I have on my dirty ski pants I wear to feed in. I took his picture and it woke him up. Here's my lap duck.

 

[ESP Chickens]

Wow...that one is great! Thanks! Any & all ideas are welcome....we are still in design phase! I'm hoping to run into my "building mentor" this week and ask his opinion of what we have come up with so far....Still trying to keep some of the pieces of the playset, my daughter still wants the slide and the top deck with the rock wall access to it...and currently our design would keep those parts. The coop part is about 3' x 4' with a really nice large run attached.....if we get our fence issue resolved then they can free range...but in the beginning they will have to be happy with the run. Thanks also for the encouragement of the chicks...Cackle says it is an assortment...or it could be all of one of the breeds...sounds to me that it is really a "grab bag" rather than "assortment", but yes...all Bantams. I'll definitely keep you posted!

 

[chicken danz]

You'll be very happy with Cackle I think. I ordered my first chicks form them and they were all very nice. Just be sure you start that coop far ahead of time. It might go pretty fast but those last minute details and actually getting it ready for the chicks with bedding and lights takes more time than you'd think.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hey, hawkeye, they don't have to be kept in a barn. I have let a lot of mine just run around, just as long as they have a building to get into when they need it, they do real well. They are really tough little guys.
On the rosecombs, when they are babies, you have to watch the leader on their combs during winter, but unless it just gets super cold for -30 degress for 40 days and nights they do fine.

Good to know! Thanks! Sounds like they are fairly hardy.

You haven't had a Silkie go broody yet have you Loralee? I'm planning on getting Silkies this year (I think) for their broody tendencies and am trying to figure out how many to get. Since they are usually only straight run, I want to get enough to ensure I have a couple of hens and enough to ensure I get broodies, but not so many that I am drowning in broodies. Its a fine line, methinks.

No one has gone broody yet! Or I'd let them have at it. ON the other hand, if you run to Atwoods and pick up some silkies (which is where I got mine <well the white ones in the layer coop, anyway> -- count their toes to be sure you're getting silkies) then be sure to get at least 5 or 6 or so. I picked out two and both of them are cockerels! They crowed for the very first time yesterday! I was sure hoping at least ONE would be a pullet. Sigh. Yeah, the straight run really is a gamble and my guess is that out of 3- you'll get a pullet. I guess with the excess cockerel's you could test out the delicacy theory and have black chicken for dinner...? hehe!

Isn't that the coolest playhouse coop?! I remember when he was building that last summer-- I thought it was such a fabulous idea, and it turned out super cool looking! I wouldn't be ashamed to have that in my yard!

 

[ESP Chickens]

I was thinking about how long some of those slides are!!! "Watch out below" or " Bombs Away"!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks...took your suggestion and tried the "quote" button...COOL! I'll catch on eventually!

But in regards to the slides....you guys might have just invented a new game! Ha!

 

[Trish44]

Welcome ESP, glad to have you here!

Wow, I just was able to skim over a bunch of pages to try to catch up, this thread has been busy! We went to Wichita yesterday afternoon & evening to run errands & finally have our Valentine's dinner. It got delayed by the weather when we were going to go before. I picked up chicken feed at TSC & shotah the one you mentioned was about $2 a bag higher, not worth it to me. I did notice that they also had the VetRX, but only had one bottle left, so they do carry it at times if anyone is looking for any.

Gosh the cold moved in today with the wind blowing & I think it might be raining, I haven't looked lately. I had hoped today was going to be nicer so I could do some work in the garage, but no such luck. Hawkeye, sorry about your wood getting wet, hopefully it will warm up the rest of the week.

Danz, I hope your parents feel better quick, I know you're worried about them. I will keep them in my prayers also.

Checoukan, congrats on your barn! I agree though I would push for the skylights. We have them in our garage, which is a metal building & it does make a big difference because the lighting in there isn't great. We have had no problems with leaking around them so far anyway & it was built in 1986 or so.

Seeing all the building going on really makes me want to get started on my breeder coop, now if the weather would just cooperate. My DH has almost got the new shed for the wood up, he just needs to put the roof & front doors on, so that project will be done. Unfortunately he pulled a muscle in his abdomen yesterday pushing down on the panels to attach them to the floor, so he's pretty sore today.

HeChicken, thanks for thinking of me on the rabbit cages, I think I'll pass on those. I was told they have them cheaper at the swap meet in Mulvane, so I think I'll just wait now until they start up again to get any more. I did buy two outdoor hutches from my friend in Ark City, one of them is needing quite a bit of work, so that will be another project.

 

[Marty1876]

Hello ChickenDanz, Hawkeye, and Trish! (Hello everyone else too!)

Sorry I havn't been posting much, but I've been reading every day. Just wanted to say hi to my fellow Kansans!

Hawkeye, I'm still

your pups! Kinda wish I had one to live around the birds. I have lots of trouble with bored city dogs thinking my duckies are a snack! Sometimes I find one in the pen in the morning, and I'm sooooo tempted to just shoot, shovel, and shut up! (But Ive NEVER done it, I just think it at them) Wish theys keep their stupid dogs under their care. Id rather have the ducks than the $15 per duck compensation anyday.

Sometimes animal control is called, and the owners never even go get their dog. I don't always know if I should feel sorry for the dogs, or the ducks. (Yes, I use 6" fence too!! Its even got 2 x 4s top and bottem! Those bird dogs are good climbers! One brittney owner has bought 4 ducks so far.... One about 15 minutes ago.

(I think I need a hug)

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[checoukan]

Sorry for the loses on your ducks. Rule of thumb here is, everything here has to get along with everything else. If you don't, you don't stay, and usually means lead poisoning. I have too much invested in my birds. Not going to let anything ruin that for me. Strays are considered here the same as a coyote or bobcat. Trouble.

 

[HEChicken]

Marty, so sorry about your duck(s). I think I would be inclined to SSS myself. Don't get me wrong - I'm an animal lover with two dogs of my own. But I do tend to be of the opinion that there are worse fates than death. A dog that is not being cared for adequately may be better off dead than continuing life with an irresponsible owner who doesn't meet its needs.

 

[chicken danz]

I've been busy cleaning up the mess of feed and dust in the basement and mopping my back hallway. At least I got the major stuff cleaned up for now. It would take me every day for a month to really clean it. I haven't heard from this guy and he said he'd be here about 2:00 and call when he got close. It has been raining here for a couple of hours. I sure hope the tarp I have on my feed is keeping it dry. I haven't fed any birds except those in the brooder so far. I keep thinking the weather might clear up. I really wanted to get started on building pens in the trailer today too but I guess it will wait. I probably don't have the lumber I need anyway.
I also need to go catch my Welsummers but maybe there'll be break in weather later.
Thanks for the prayers for my Mom and Dad. I talked to my sister on the way to the co-op and she said my Mom has the flu now. She is taking both of them to the doctor this afternoon. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't go ahead and admit my Mom into the hospital. I've said all along if she got this it would kill her. I am feeling angry because I stayed away from them for 3 weeks so I wouldn't infect them. Mom hasn't been out of the house but Dad has. Somehow he picked it up. So I'm pretty scared for them....and me.