Consolidated Kansas

[JosieChick]

Oh my I am so far behind again! Every couple days checking in is hard to keep up with everyone!

Danz/Trish- Did you guys get your roo squared away? Sorry I have been such a disaster running back and forth. My car looks like I live in it right now. With four dogs in the back and half our life jammed into the rest of it there is hardly room for me to drive!

Maidenwolf- Were you looking for serama and cochins for pets? If so I have a few pullets of each that are culls and would be sold this spring. They aren't breeding quality but would make wonderful pets. I have to take a pic of a couple breeding birds that a gentleman is interested in so if you are looking for some pet quality birds let me know!

Hawkeye- Thanks for loaning us your plumber! He is a super nice guy. I hope he wasn't too annoyed with me on Friday. I didn't realize he was so close to being done so we were out in the pasture yacking with the barn builder when I realized he was done and packed up and waiting on me! Oops!


Hope everyone who has been ill is on the mend! My sister lives in Boston and the flu has just been rampant there. We spent the weekend working on packing here and working on the chicken pens down there. We had a small snafu with the tractor and auger. The Kubota is only designed to drive the hydraulic auger down in one direction so it kept getting stuck, like really stuck, every couple inches and we would have to manually back the thing back out. With 40 some odd post holes to dig we only gone 1 1/2 done. SO we have found a guy with a bobcat who is very reasonable and is going to come out Friday and buzz all our post holes out for us! I also have a really nice guy who is going to build us our horse run in kit from Sutherlands and he came out on Friday and met with us.

Great American Hardwood Floors started working on repairing and refinishing our hardwood floors today. Super nice bunch of guys!!! I was really impressed with how thorough they were on our walk through this morning and am SOOOO excited to see the floors when they are done. Can't wait. And my plaster repair kit came today in the mail so that should be an interesting project. I hope it goes fairly well.

Danz- Forgot I was going to ask you, when you build your pens, do you use the nail gun to put the rails and posts together or screws? We used the nail gun to manufacture the sandwiched posts and it seems like the nail gun would be super fast but I don't know if it is as sturdy for constructing the actual pen frame?

 

[JosieChick]

Oh! HEchicken-Forgot to say that I am glad Millie is on the mend and you caught her illness in time. Can't wait to see a pic of her! I love that color and am curious how cochin she looks!

 

[HEChicken]

Wow Josie, it sounds like you have been really busy and have so many projects going on!

Okay, I went out and took pics of all 6 Silchins - let me know what you think. I have no experience with Cochins so to me they all look very Cochin-ey, but to your more experienced eye, you may see things I don't.

I'll do Millie first - she is just the sweetest little thing. I have her segregated during the day so she can drink the medicated water but let her out in the late afternoon so she can go to bed with the flock. I let her out a little early tonight so I could get some pics of her for you. She was so pleased to be out she wouldn't hold still and all the other pics I took of her were blurry so I'm giving you the only two that weren't even though they're not great pics:



Next is an almost-white-splash hen who is also very sweet. I've always thought she just has a very kind face. I can just imagine her with chicks:


The last hen is "Big Blue", so named because when I first got them from you she was so much bigger than the others that I thought she must be a lot older. When I questioned you, you said no, they were all about the same age and at some point she slowed down and is now one of the smallest of the six. Nevertheless, I continue to call her "Big Blue". The sunlight doesn't show it and makes her look lighter than she really is, but she is a really good blue color in my opinion as it is very uniform throughout her body.



Then there are the 3 cockerels. First is "Little Blue" (who is now much larger than Big Blue):


Then there is an almost white splash cockerel:


And last, a much bluer cockerel. Well, now that I've uploaded it, the contrast between them isn't so great. I had to go into the coop to find him so with the flash, the light is different, making him look more white than he is in person:

 

[JosieChick]

Oh, they are so cute!!! I love Millie, she looks like my foundation mille fleur hen. Wonder if she got caught up with a silkie roo by accident...she is a fence flyer. That girl definitely has some silkie cheeks! The washed out splash hen looks very much cochin, glad you got the third blue girl with the crest, I always thought that was cute! Are you going to keep all those boys!?! Have you had any issues with bad attitudes? Thanks for pics, love to see them, little oopsies!!

Danz!!!- I just went out and fed/watered and one of your little serama hens is sitting on a huge stinkin pile of eggs. I am going to have to pull them if they aren't visibly started yet. I have nowhere to put chicks right now and don't want to risk having to move babies this time of year. I was really worried about where she was and started looking around and opened the coop and there she was all puddled out and broody. Why do they go broody this time of year? Craziness...

Wow Josie, it sounds like you have been really busy and have so many projects going on!

Okay, I went out and took pics of all 6 Silchins - let me know what you think. I have no experience with Cochins so to me they all look very Cochin-ey, but to your more experienced eye, you may see things I don't.

I'll do Millie first - she is just the sweetest little thing. I have her segregated during the day so she can drink the medicated water but let her out in the late afternoon so she can go to bed with the flock. I let her out a little early tonight so I could get some pics of her for you. She was so pleased to be out she wouldn't hold still and all the other pics I took of her were blurry so I'm giving you the only two that weren't even though they're not great pics:



Next is an almost-white-splash hen who is also very sweet. I've always thought she just has a very kind face. I can just imagine her with chicks:


The last hen is "Big Blue", so named because when I first got them from you she was so much bigger than the others that I thought she must be a lot older. When I questioned you, you said no, they were all about the same age and at some point she slowed down and is now one of the smallest of the six. Nevertheless, I continue to call her "Big Blue". The sunlight doesn't show it and makes her look lighter than she really is, but she is a really good blue color in my opinion as it is very uniform throughout her body.



Then there are the 3 cockerels. First is "Little Blue" (who is now much larger than Big Blue):


Then there is an almost white splash cockerel:


And last, a much bluer cockerel. Well, now that I've uploaded it, the contrast between them isn't so great. I had to go into the coop to find him so with the flash, the light is different, making him look more white than he is in person:

 

[HEChicken]

The boys all have attitude but they're such little fluff balls its hard not to just laugh. They don't chase me around and have never tried to flog me but if I have to pick one up to handle them for any reason, they'll often peck at my hands as I get close. But as soon as they're in my arms, they're fine, and this time of year wearing gloves, I see it happen but don't feel a thing. As for whether I'm keeping them....it is more boys than I need so if I can find someone who needs a Bantam Cochin roo, I'd be happy to pass them along. I figure there's no point processing them - they'd have less meat on them than a quail - so until that day comes, I'll keep feeding them

. I was going to wait until spring to put them on the Facebook groups, but things already seem to be amping up so now that I have photos, I'll probably do it sooner than later. I don't suppose you want some Bantam Cochin/Silchin cockerels at your new place??? Or anyone else on here before I put them up on Facebook?

 

[michelleml]

Wow Josie, it sounds like you have been really busy and have so many projects going on!

Okay, I went out and took pics of all 6 Silchins - let me know what you think. I have no experience with Cochins so to me they all look very Cochin-ey, but to your more experienced eye, you may see things I don't.

I'll do Millie first - she is just the sweetest little thing. I have her segregated during the day so she can drink the medicated water but let her out in the late afternoon so she can go to bed with the flock. I let her out a little early tonight so I could get some pics of her for you. She was so pleased to be out she wouldn't hold still and all the other pics I took of her were blurry so I'm giving you the only two that weren't even though they're not great pics:



Next is an almost-white-splash hen who is also very sweet. I've always thought she just has a very kind face. I can just imagine her with chicks:


The last hen is "Big Blue", so named because when I first got them from you she was so much bigger than the others that I thought she must be a lot older. When I questioned you, you said no, they were all about the same age and at some point she slowed down and is now one of the smallest of the six. Nevertheless, I continue to call her "Big Blue". The sunlight doesn't show it and makes her look lighter than she really is, but she is a really good blue color in my opinion as it is very uniform throughout her body.



Then there are the 3 cockerels. First is "Little Blue" (who is now much larger than Big Blue):


Then there is an almost white splash cockerel:


And last, a much bluer cockerel. Well, now that I've uploaded it, the contrast between them isn't so great. I had to go into the coop to find him so with the flash, the light is different, making him look more white than he is in person:

love the pictures very beautiful birds. What are silchins?

My two little ones have a crazy cough that keeps everyone up. I tried the vicks rub on the soles of the feet and that seems to work. They have appt tomorrow i think I'm finished with winter its i ready for spring

 

[mstng67]

Interesting idea.  I have a pressure canner but never thought of using it for meat - just vegetables.  How do you use the canned meat when the time comes?  I'm guessing since it would already be cooked, you just throw it in a stew or pot of spaghetti or something?

Exactly! Barbecued chicken, beef, or pork, or whatever sauce you want. This is the first year I have canned meat and soups etc, but it has been great. Heat something up for their school lunches and put it in a thermos. Other kids are jealous. It makes it easy when I'm teaching piano late to come up with something healthy as well.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Oh my I am so far behind again! Every couple days checking in is hard to keep up with everyone!

Danz/Trish- Did you guys get your roo squared away? Sorry I have been such a disaster running back and forth. My car looks like I live in it right now. With four dogs in the back and half our life jammed into the rest of it there is hardly room for me to drive!

Maidenwolf- Were you looking for serama and cochins for pets? If so I have a few pullets of each that are culls and would be sold this spring. They aren't breeding quality but would make wonderful pets. I have to take a pic of a couple breeding birds that a gentleman is interested in so if you are looking for some pet quality birds let me know!

Hawkeye- Thanks for loaning us your plumber! He is a super nice guy. I hope he wasn't too annoyed with me on Friday. I didn't realize he was so close to being done so we were out in the pasture yacking with the barn builder when I realized he was done and packed up and waiting on me! Oops!


Hope everyone who has been ill is on the mend! My sister lives in Boston and the flu has just been rampant there. We spent the weekend working on packing here and working on the chicken pens down there. We had a small snafu with the tractor and auger. The Kubota is only designed to drive the hydraulic auger down in one direction so it kept getting stuck, like really stuck, every couple inches and we would have to manually back the thing back out. With 40 some odd post holes to dig we only gone 1 1/2 done. SO we have found a guy with a bobcat who is very reasonable and is going to come out Friday and buzz all our post holes out for us! I also have a really nice guy who is going to build us our horse run in kit from Sutherlands and he came out on Friday and met with us.

Great American Hardwood Floors started working on repairing and refinishing our hardwood floors today. Super nice bunch of guys!!! I was really impressed with how thorough they were on our walk through this morning and am SOOOO excited to see the floors when they are done. Can't wait. And my plaster repair kit came today in the mail so that should be an interesting project. I hope it goes fairly well.

Danz- Forgot I was going to ask you, when you build your pens, do you use the nail gun to put the rails and posts together or screws? We used the nail gun to manufacture the sandwiched posts and it seems like the nail gun would be super fast but I don't know if it is as sturdy for constructing the actual pen frame?

yes I just want pets. How much are you wanting and hoe many and age?

Ok I have a mite infestation..HELP!! I dusted with wood ash.. What else can I do??

 

[JosieChick]

Hahaha! Pistols. I never had good luck with those boys, we wound up butchering them all. They actually aren't bad for size if you end up not being able to find homes for them. We would just bake one and split it in half. They are kind of like cornish game hens, good if its just you and DH for dinner some night.

The boys all have attitude but they're such little fluff balls its hard not to just laugh. They don't chase me around and have never tried to flog me but if I have to pick one up to handle them for any reason, they'll often peck at my hands as I get close. But as soon as they're in my arms, they're fine, and this time of year wearing gloves, I see it happen but don't feel a thing. As for whether I'm keeping them....it is more boys than I need so if I can find someone who needs a Bantam Cochin roo, I'd be happy to pass them along. I figure there's no point processing them - they'd have less meat on them than a quail - so until that day comes, I'll keep feeding them

. I was going to wait until spring to put them on the Facebook groups, but things already seem to be amping up so now that I have photos, I'll probably do it sooner than later. I don't suppose you want some Bantam Cochin/Silchin cockerels at your new place??? Or anyone else on here before I put them up on Facebook?

Silchins are accidental chicks from my silkie and cochins that ran together for a while. Some folks are trying to make it a breed but to me its like saying a labradoodle is a breed. Hard to find a standard when you get so much variety in type. Let me know when your little ones are feeling better and I will give you a ring!

love the pictures very beautiful birds. What are silchins?

My two little ones have a crazy cough that keeps everyone up. I tried the vicks rub on the soles of the feet and that seems to work. They have appt tomorrow i think I'm finished with winter its i ready for spring

I will go through them tomorrow and get some pics. They were all hatched this past spring or summer so just under or around a year old. I know I have two washed out buff columbian pullets that are super sweet but def pet quality. They have no feathering on their middle toes, they were an oops from my mille fleur birds. I also have a black cochin cockerel who is going to get butchered if nobody wants him because he has gold leakage in his hackles. There are at least a couple serama pullets out there that are pet quality and I have another lady who wants one or two so I will see what she wants and keep you posted on them. I will send a PM when I get pics.

If you have a serious mite problem pour on ivermectin is your best bet. It is about $15 at the feed store. I think it is around a drop per pound so 3-4 drops for bantams, 5 drops for regular LF birds and 6 drops for extra large chickens. I am not sure on turkeys but I think I can find it. You would want to apply it to the back of the neck right down on the skin like you would put flea prevention on a cat or dog. If it isn't terrible you could try Frontline or Adams flea spray. I usually put a spritz under each wing and near the vent. If the chemical gets drawn into the vent it can cause temporary infertility.

Mites can be a really serious problem and can kill a bird. A gal I know lost her favorite splash cochin boy to anemia caused by a mite infestation. (Some species of mites only feed on birds at night so she wasn't aware he had a problem until it was too late) I don't like to use chemicals in my birds unless I have to and this is one of those instances where I have not found anything like DE or ash to be effective enough to eliminate the infestation.

yes I just want pets. How much are you wanting and hoe many and age?

Ok I have a mite infestation..HELP!! I dusted with wood ash.. What else can I do??

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Hahaha! Pistols. I never had good luck with those boys, we wound up butchering them all. They actually aren't bad for size if you end up not being able to find homes for them. We would just bake one and split it in half. They are kind of like cornish game hens, good if its just you and DH for dinner some night.

Silchins are accidental chicks from my silkie and cochins that ran together for a while. Some folks are trying to make it a breed but to me its like saying a labradoodle is a breed. Hard to find a standard when you get so much variety in type. Let me know when your little ones are feeling better and I will give you a ring!
I will go through them tomorrow and get some pics. They were all hatched this past spring or summer so just under or around a year old. I know I have two washed out buff columbian pullets that are super sweet but def pet quality. They have no feathering on their middle toes, they were an oops from my mille fleur birds. I also have a black cochin cockerel who is going to get butchered if nobody wants him because he has gold leakage in his hackles. There are at least a couple serama pullets out there that are pet quality and I have another lady who wants one or two so I will see what she wants and keep you posted on them. I will send a PM when I get pics.

If you have a serious mite problem pour on ivermectin is your best bet. It is about $15 at the feed store. I think it is around a drop per pound so 3-4 drops for bantams, 5 drops for regular LF birds and 6 drops for extra large chickens. I am not sure on turkeys but I think I can find it. You would want to apply it to the back of the neck right down on the skin like you would put flea prevention on a cat or dog. If it isn't terrible you could try Frontline or Adams flea spray. I usually put a spritz under each wing and near the vent. If the chemical gets drawn into the vent it can cause temporary infertility.

Mites can be a really serious problem and can kill a bird. A gal I know lost her favorite splash cochin boy to anemia caused by a mite infestation. (Some species of mites only feed on birds at night so she wasn't aware he had a problem until it was too late) I don't like to use chemicals in my birds unless I have to and this is one of those instances where I have not found anything like DE or ash to be effective enough to eliminate the infestation.

Thank you. I dont need anymore roos. I have a beautiful black cochin roo already. Anything on the seramas though. I have been looking for so long to find some.
The mites are enough to see them crawling around near the vent. Pretty big and a clear/white color. Lots of eggs on teh feather shaft and red skin. I dont have any ivermectin or flea spray at all. I will have to go get some but cant till wed. I hope the wood ash helps alittle for now. I will also coat the roosts tomorrow with oil to smother andy remaining there.