Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, Ivy has been here before so it's not a first meet but it'll be great to see her again. She is s super fun person to be around. I can't wait for them to see the puppies. I love them to death.
This is something to toss around in everyone's head. I keep thinking the perfect central place to have a swap meet would be in or around Emporia. I would have to do some checking to see what I can do without violating any local ordinances and where we could have it. The two best possibilities would be at Bluestem or Sutherlands because they both sell poultry products and both have decent parking lots. Sutherlands parking lot would be the most accomodating, but we would have more interested buyers at Bluestem that just happened to stop in. I would have to talk to the owners and see what they said. I also would like to be as legal as possible. If anyone has any ideas or input I would appreciate it. It is going to take some work and effort to organize it.
Any opinions? I would also like to schedule for warm but not hot weather.
There is always the fair grounds as well but I have a feeling they would want an arm and a leg to rent the facilities. I'm thinking we need a free venue.

Sounds fun! I've passed through Emporia, (turnpike) but never spent any time there. Sounds like an easy location. I like free. Do you need tables to set cages on, or will it all be on the ground-- or can it be like a tail gate party-- where people can back up in a row with their tailgates down (trunks open) that kind of thing? I don't know if that has ever been done before-- the only reason I thought of it is because we have trunk or treat (for Halloween)-- and we line up cars down an aisle on either side so their trunks are facing each other-- you could do a couple of aisles that way? That may be a bad idea.. I don't know.

 

[Candace69]

Sounds kewl about the meet, maybe we could even do like a mini tailgate, not for the public, but just bring sandwiches, chips, dips, drinks?? Just a thought.... lol

Hawkeye, I do appreciate all the info, and I am still keeping an eye on him. I wasn't discounting what you'd told me at all, and appreciated the input....

But, update, this morning, NO SWELLING, still keeping breath held and fingers crossed, but he spent the whole day IN the building yesterday, we had to make him come out to the waterer, today when I went out about 7; he was out laying stretched out where he was enjoying the sun, it was chilly, but he wasn't just sitting on the roost....so I'm doing the happy dance!

Oh, and Danz's pup name is Xena, the male I retained from our last cross to replace my 10 year old stud we named Hercules, so Kelsey wanted to do either Hera or Xena....Xena stuck.

.

 

[chicken danz]

Most of the swaps I go to people just set their cages or whatever at the front or the back (depending of how they pulled in of their vehicles.)
I have seen a few people who have brought fold up tables to set boxes of chicks on when they had a lot. It's kind of a matter of individual tastes. If we actually planned this thing we could make up a flyer and each person here could hang a few or pass them out in their area and we could post on Craiglist. As long as several of us do a post it isn't against the rules to post on different areas.
Some of the rules for conducting a swap are: The birds have to be in a container or cage and have food and water available. No sick birds. All birds must be NPIP tested or if they are under 4 months the parents must be. If I can get my friend to help we might be able to test any there that aren't previously done. It would require a small fee though.
I've never seen anyone check but I still like to be within the law. I can get the entire list of State rules and post them here if anyone is interested. I was thinking maybe late May or early June would be a good time to do this. We don't want to be too late but if we deal with rainy or cold weather it presents problems.
Some swaps charge a $5 entry fee to sell. I would think we would be better off if we can do it without a fee unless we incur some unexpected expenses. But I do think people need to check in some way.
On another subject, Chopper found the cat food dishes last night and he loved the tuna. So the first thing this morning he followed me to the kitchen and ran to the bowls and cleaned out all the food he could find. Then he decided to take a bath in the cat water fountain. He wore himself out between eating and drinking. He is doing a good job of sitting on his towel until he gets really tired then he wants to sleep on my lap. He is cat napping right now.
I really need to get moving. I have tons to do today. Ugh!

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

Random thoughts on a swap. I do not know if any would agree or not to allowing use of their lots.

Bluestem - Big parking lot. Busy on Saturdays, lot fills up with customers. Last summer they had chicks for sale one sat a month. Closed on Sun, no parking lot competition, couldn't do shopping. Would have to be outside.

Fairgrounds. The Anderson building is used for a LOT of things. I do not know cost, etc. Could be inside. Maybe use a livestock area, outside, covered.

F&F Feeds - does a LOT of local business including poultry. Parking lot is not huge, if the turn out is not too large. Open Sat morning, closed sun.

Sutherlands - in the mall, would have mall traffic to deal with. Places to eat and shop close.

Staples allows people to use the front of their place with pre arrangements,

Gions *sp) the furniture store on 6th st. allows use of their lot for lots of things. Lots of room.

Also, Pennys has a huge lot that is behind Sutherlands. I have never seen it full and it is more "out of the way" from the rest of the mall traffic.

 

[Candace69]

Ok, testing, what is NPIP? and how do you test for it?
also read that at the Yates sale they had to be poularn, did I spell that Right? free..and have read that ppl have a whatever the word was, free farm, how do you test, what are the costs? Where do you go to test? How do you est EVERY bird? if it comes from a free flock do you need to test>

 

[HEChicken]

Danz, Chopper sounds adorable - LOL. I wonder if you'll be able to convince him to move outside when the others are ready....

I've actually never been to a swap so I would enjoy going. Perhaps a few of the Wichita peeps who want to attend could carpool and share the toll fees/gas...just a thought.

In all the time I've kept poultry, I've never had to deal with illness but with all the talk recently about Pikeman and Candace's respiratory problems, when I saw VetRx in Atwoods the other day, I went ahead and got a bottle to have on hand "just in case". Well blow me down with a feather, but a day or two after I got it, I noticed one of my hens sneezing a lot. I figured she just got water in her nose while drinking or something but as the evening wore on, I could hear her sneezing away, even from inside the house. So I got out the VetRx and have treated her with it a couple of times. She is NOT doing any of the things you described for a respiratory infection - she isn't yawning, scratching or head shaking. The only symptom is sneezing. However last night when I was treating her I noticed she did sound a little congested. None of the others are showing any signs of it at all, so I'm a little puzzled. I.e., it is a very closed flock - no one in the near vicinity keeps any kind of poultry, and I the last new birds that were added are the chicks my broody hen hatched last summer. For that matter, even I haven't been around anyone else's poultry since I picked up those eggs for my broody, so I couldn't have carried it in to her. So if she has a cold, WHERE could she have gotten it, and why is she the only one?

I guess the answers to those questions don't really matter - the important thing is to get her feeling better again. I read the instructions in the VetRx bottle and it said you can pour a few drops directly into the mouth. I might try that tonight.

 

[Candace69]

The roo that I talked about that wasn't feeling good the other day, he was the only one, and I too have a closed flock, yeah I brought in some birds, from Yates, but it's probably been 2 years or more since I did bring in any chicks. I am getting chicks in this year, but I always buy chicks and raise them and then I didn't get anything last year...So it's been at least 18 months to 2 years....I think it was fall before last I got chicks in....point is, no matter how much you keep it closed, thing can happen, where did the first cold bug flu bug whatever come from if you think about it... lol

I see the same thing with the goats, sheep, whatever, I haven't had anything new in at least 3 years, but I watch them too, and keep antibiotics on hand, as you never know.


The peacock is fine, thankfully nothing respiratory, that roo, he's doing great, had a really hard time catching him last night to treat him! lol

 

[Trish44]

Wow, I had to catch up again on reading here. Candace, it sounds like your DH's peacock is doing lots better, I'm glad it wasn't something too bad. I'm watching my little hen & will be for awhile to make sure she didn't get something there at the sale. She looks very healthy right now, but there were quite a few sick birds there. I couldn't believe the shape some people brought their birds in. That one cage had a rooster that was throwing blood all over the place & he had an obvious cold.

Danz, that sounds good about the swap meet in Emporia, it would be nice to meet some more of the people on here. I agree it should happen before it gets too hot or otherwise it's just too miserable. It would be nice for people if testing could be done at the meet for people who can't get it done otherwise, but I know the testing material is expensive too, so there definitely would have to be a charge for it. What all is involved in that?

IVY, I know you're excited about getting your new puppy, let us all know what you end up naming her.

Hawkeye, great job on the little chicken coop or hutch. I wish you lived closer to me, I sure could use your help with mine, you're so creative.

KarenS, you will have to keep us updated on how your Aloha project is going. That's intriguing to me, but I just have too much going on this year to join in, plus I would have to build another coop just for that probably & another pen.

 

[chicken danz]

Candace, NPIP stands for National Poultry Improvement program. I am a certified NPIP tester. The test actually tests for pullorum typhoid or in other words 5 different types of Salmonella.
I could probably test birds for $5 plus $1 per bird with a minimum of 3 birds. I think that would cover my costs. All birds over 4 months of age require a test and parents should must be tested once a year. I think if you had a few adult birds tested and brought some chicks, although not legal it would at least indicate your flock was ok if someone checked. Some states only require between 20 and 50% of the flock be tested. Kansas is not so lenient.
The way to get your flock tested is to have some one come out and do it. I can't afford to drive all over to do tests . I suppose with enough birds it would pay for my gas though.
I just ordered the antigen. I have to get some tested before the Gardner swap. So I figured I might as well fork out the $$. It is costing about $200 for a bottle. Ouch! I think it will be comforting though to get it done. This allows me to legally ship birds and eggs across the US as well.
I think Bluestem would be the perfect place because of potential buyers. Sutherlands has the mall parking lot and we'd have more room but there isn't as much traffic there. I would guess a minimum of $150 rent for an area at the fair grounds. That is what it costs at Morris County any way.
DH suggested the Big Lots parking lot. There has been nothing there for a few years. It is very close to Bluestem and also Industrial road. I think it would be an excellent spot. I will see who has the real estate listing for the property and see if they would allow it without rent. What do those of you that are familiar with Emporia think about that? I think it would be awesome.
Yes I think we could all have a little private tail gate lunch. Or better yet if we could attract someone to come in with a concession stand that would help keep people there longer.
I personally would like to do this on a Saturday for the best attendance and crowds. I have a personal conviction that makes me feel having it on a Sunday is wrong.
I will do as much leg work as I can if everyone is interested but will also need some help if we can really organize it.

 

[MarcAustin]

http://www.eldoradolivestock.com/ Regular Sale 11:00AM Thursdays. Call to confirm, I haven't been out there at this time of the year