Consolidated Kansas

[ChooksChick]

Just wanted to introduce myself! Living out in Southwest Kansas. Currently have a "flock" of 46 chickens of various breeds.

Hola!! My in-laws were out in Garden for a zillion years, but moved to Arkansas a couple of years ago. Still have some of hubby's cousins and whatnot in the area.

Quote:
Hola! I've issed you guys. I'm sorry you have had such a challenge...will you buy a cheap fridge for the short time you'll be there, or will you buy a nice one and move it with you...assuming you have to go?

On the SweeterHeater, you can get several different sizes. I got the second from the smallest, and it can easily keep 30-40 new chicks warm. It comes with chan and hooks, which I use so I can make one side lower so smaller chicks aren't at a disadvantage. You can mount it any way, even if you order the opposite model; the main difference is where the cord exits the unit. It needs to be plugged in for a couple of days without chicks when brand new, so it doesn't smell like hot plastic, but it's just that first time you use it.

I've been going through the process of banding my chickens anew. I got some metal stamped bands with my phone number and whatnot on them, and it's an arduous task. I did 50 last night, and suddenly realized that I didn't order anywhere near enough bands...sort of a 'duh!' moment.

 

[chicken danz]

Chooks where are you finding your bands? I am wanting to do color banding for each year to keep track of ages and NPIP testing etc. I'm having trouble tracking down what I want. I know they exist because I have seen them here and there.

 

[HEChicken]

Trish and Danz, yes, it is the Chicken Tracker. Trish, you can find the download here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...or-tracking-expenses-and-income-from-chickens Steve updates it every year but I don't download a new version each year. Instead I saved the original file to my computer as "Steve's Chicken Tracker" and then each year I do a "save as" and name it "My Chicken Tracker 2013". I've had to add in a few columns and that's what works for me. For example, he has columns for brown, white and colored eggs but I added in columns for duck and turkey, and then I had to redo the formula to make sure that info also transferred over to the summary page.

Chooks, I meant to say I'm so sorry about your incubator woes and losing so many eggs - how terribly frustrating, and not the kind of thing you can predict happening and therefore prevent.

Josie, I can easily imagine the frustration of having all those workmen there all the time and see why you don't feel the summer kitchen is a priority. How long have the barn cats been in it? When we moved, we left our cats locked in our barn for about a month so they would bond to the new place and when we let them out, that was it - they seemed to know this is home.

It is snowing like crazy here, but according to the weather forecast this is the last day of winter and then it will be spring

I spent the morning working outside despite the snow, as I figured I would stay warm working, and that worked. The sellers of our house left a rusted out water tank under the pole barn. It is round, about 3' in diameter and close to 2' tall. No good as a water tank any more but I figured it would make a great chick brooder. It was full of rocks and trash so this morning I emptied it out - I had needed some rocks down at the chicken yard anyway, to put around the edge of my hoop coop so I was able to kill two birds with one stone [no pun intended]. Once the "brooder" was empty, I was finally able to assess how badly rusted it is. I was afraid the bottom might be rusted so much it would need to be cut out altogether but I found it is in much better shape than I expected. There are two places where it is rusted through and I will need to use pliers to bend the metal back so there is no possibility of a chick getting injured on the sharp edge. I'll probably then cover the tear with duct tape but other than that, it is ready for use. I moved it to our 3-season room where the chicks will be brooded, and now I have a week to get it set up with bedding and EcoGlows, feeder and waterer and then I'll be ready for my chick shipment next week.

 

[JosieChick]

Trish and Danz, yes, it is the Chicken Tracker. Trish, you can find the download here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...or-tracking-expenses-and-income-from-chickens Steve updates it every year but I don't download a new version each year. Instead I saved the original file to my computer as "Steve's Chicken Tracker" and then each year I do a "save as" and name it "My Chicken Tracker 2013". I've had to add in a few columns and that's what works for me. For example, he has columns for brown, white and colored eggs but I added in columns for duck and turkey, and then I had to redo the formula to make sure that info also transferred over to the summary page.

Chooks, I meant to say I'm so sorry about your incubator woes and losing so many eggs - how terribly frustrating, and not the kind of thing you can predict happening and therefore prevent.
The cats moved the same day the chickens moved. I think in another week or so they will get let out but I REALLY want Molly out and trained to her invisible fence before we "release" them because we have a lot of lone coyotes here and I am so scared they will get one of the cats. At the very least Lily is very smart and bonded to Molly and "knows" where Molly goes she can go safely. At our old property she might as well have been trained to the invisible fence herself because she never left the fenced in area and was always right around the dog. I think both cats are smart enough to know that the dogs will protect them and are quite bonded to them. I also worry that messing with the place we have designated as their "home" shortly after letting them out will absolutely terrify Linus who is a giant wimp and petrified of strangers. I am worried that if we let them out and someone comes and takes their "home" off its foundation that he won't come back. I think when the weather is nicer I can "re bond" them to the barn for a time so they summer kitchen could be worked on but to let them out and then try to move them to a new feeding and sleeping location seems like a bit much to me. Plus, I really like to shut them in at night at first and there is no way to do that in the barn. We also have several feral cats running around and I am kind of hoping the dogs out working the property will make them move along so I don't have feral cats duking it out with my barn cats. I wish I could trap them and get them fixed but we are at maximum mouths to feed these days!

Josie, I can easily imagine the frustration of having all those workmen there all the time and see why you don't feel the summer kitchen is a priority. How long have the barn cats been in it? When we moved, we left our cats locked in our barn for about a month so they would bond to the new place and when we let them out, that was it - they seemed to know this is home.
Promise??? I am so ready for spring! I can't believe it's snowing...it doesn't feel cold enough but that is what its doing! What are you getting for babies?
It is snowing like crazy here, but according to the weather forecast this is the last day of winter and then it will be spring

I spent the morning working outside despite the snow, as I figured I would stay warm working, and that worked. The sellers of our house left a rusted out water tank under the pole barn. It is round, about 3' in diameter and close to 2' tall. No good as a water tank any more but I figured it would make a great chick brooder. It was full of rocks and trash so this morning I emptied it out - I had needed some rocks down at the chicken yard anyway, to put around the edge of my hoop coop so I was able to kill two birds with one stone [no pun intended]. Once the "brooder" was empty, I was finally able to assess how badly rusted it is. I was afraid the bottom might be rusted so much it would need to be cut out altogether but I found it is in much better shape than I expected. There are two places where it is rusted through and I will need to use pliers to bend the metal back so there is no possibility of a chick getting injured on the sharp edge. I'll probably then cover the tear with duct tape but other than that, it is ready for use. I moved it to our 3-season room where the chicks will be brooded, and now I have a week to get it set up with bedding and EcoGlows, feeder and waterer and then I'll be ready for my chick shipment next week.

 

[HEChicken]

I am getting some Exchequer Leghorns, primarily. To make up the order, I got two each of five other breeds but now I can't remember what they were other than that I got a couple of Welsummers

Ironic, because the only reason I picked the Wellies was because I had the Welsummer cockerel and now I don't. Oh well, I will still enjoy the dark eggs. My cuckoo marans was a spring chick two years ago, and though she still lays 2 out of 3 days, I know she will slow down after this laying season, right about when the Welsummer pullets are starting up, so that might work out pretty well.

Speaking of the Exchequer Legorns....I am getting them for a project and won't need them past about 7-8 months old. Some have already been spoken for, and I will keep a couple for my laying flock, but I will have some going spare, so I will offer them up here first, before I put them on the swap site. So, if you are considering getting some, keep that in mind.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, I normally am a proponent of trying to talk to the neighbors and work something out but in your situation I know you've had ongoing issues with these dogs and the neighbor is not likely to be interested in doing anything about it, so in this case I'd lean towards taking action instead. I do have one suggestion for something you can try first though. We had several dogs who used to visit here on a regular basis the last half of last year. I didn't mind too much as long as they didn't mess with my birds. One is a Burmese Mtn Dog - I don't know if you know them but they are the size of a GP. Anyway, he used to be here everyday and didn't show any interest in my birds until one day he visited while my ducks were down at my pond and I saw him start chasing them. I won't stand for that. DH was with me and he grabbed his rifle and took aim, deliberately aiming close to the dog but not trying to hit him. He fired and the bullet whizzed right close to the dog who took off like a shot. That was months ago and we haven't seen him - on our property - since. He's still around the neighborhood but steers clear of us now. A few weeks later we had to repeat this with another neighbor's dog. This is a friendly dog who used to love to come down for a play date with one of our dogs a couple times every week. Since the play time was good for her, we didn't mind but one day the birds were out free-ranging and he grabbed a duck (why is it always the ducks?) and pinned her. I yelled and he dropped her, while DH grabbed the rifle and once again, aimed to be close but not hit. Once again, the dog heard/sensed the bullet whiz by, tucked his tail between his legs and high-tailed it out of there. Once again, he hasn't been back since. I don't know how dogs know, but they do seem to understand that being shot at is not a good thing and in our case, we were able to solve the problem without injury to the dog, or bad feelings with the neighbors. In your case, maybe its worth a try? If it doesn't work with these dogs, your next step is to aim FOR the dog, but it is only the cost of a bullet to try it this way first, right? In either case, when you take aim, just be aware of what is in the background in the direction you are shooting. I am so sorry for the loss of your birds. Is it any consolation that it was one of the older hatchery BR's and not one of your Reese birds?

Sounds like a good idea. I can try the non-leathal version first. At least with that option I can plunk at them the second they come over here. Let's hope they are smart dogs. If not, they will be dead dogs. I've decided against talking to him, I know where that will lead and there is no way I could ever get him to work with me and keep his dogs on HIS property. Yeah, I have told myself that at least they were hatchery birds. But still.... the rock was an excellent layer and that's going to suck. The Polish wasn't an excellent layer, but they do lay every other day. And they are pretty and silly birds. I hated to see one of them die like that because I'm sure she just couldn't see what was coming after her with that big mop on her noggin. My DH even mentioned that well, at least I still have my new chicks. SO glad it wasn't my Reese birds. I'd need to make another trip up there. If we move, I'm going to create a big fenced in chicken yard like what you have! I think that is the best idea for my layers. No more dog runs.

I'm so sorry about your hens, that's just the pits. I don't know, I'm kind of in the mindset that you just have to protect your livestock & you have a right to do that. I have only shot a dog once years ago when I lived outside of Derby, but it was threatening me & my family, so it had to go. It may have had something wrong with it & I was terrified it was going to attack me or my son who was small at the time. Since you have had ongoing problems with these dogs & the owner isn't willing to do anything about it I think you have the right to protect your birds, pets, & family. Just take care of it, make sure the dogs aren't ever found & go on. Even though they aren't expensive birds, they still have cost you money & all the time to raise them to get them to laying age & you lost the eggs they would have laid.

It is snowing here like crazy, it has been since I got up & my DH said he got up in the night & it was sleeting. It has gone back & forth between sleeting & snowing big flakes. Right now it's snowing huge flakes, I can't believe it's snowing in April. Are we ever going to have spring? I have so many things I need to go out & do & keep waiting & waiting on this stupid weather. I bought a few pansies, johnny jump ups, & snapdragons last night at the store. They were such cheerful little things, now hopefully it will get nice enough for me to go out & plant them soon.

I'm so excited today, I have 4 brand new Cream Legbar chicks, my first ones to hatch!! I'm not sure yet, but I'm thinking I may have two pair. I really need to keep one pullet since I just lost my hen that had the broken foot. The rooster I kept isn't crested, but I have a hen that is. The rooster I got from Eileen still isn't grown yet & he is going to be bigger than the one I kept. I'm waiting for him to grow out so I can see how he measures up. I'm also waiting on the little pullet to mature some more. She has a different line than I do, so I have two now. Eventually I will have to just keep crested ones as I get some to replace the ones I have since the new SOP calls for crested birds. Most everyone right now is in the same boat, so we all have to work on our breeding stock.

Sounded like that dog was very dangerous! These dogs are too. They've tried to attack my kids before! That was when I had "the talk" with the neighbor and he told me that I could do whatever I felt was necessary, but he wasn't going to be penning them up and it was MY responsibility to deal with his dogs. What a jerk, right? And he's not a next door neighbor-- this is a guy further down the road. These dogs roam and terrorize the new born calves too.

I'm soooo envious that you are buying flowers! I desperatly want to plant, plant, plant!! It's in my blood. The second we move, I will be buying apple trees to create another orchard. It'll just be a shame they won't produce right away. I will go ahead and plant all of my pots though with flowers. If we are going to list the house, I want it to be beautiful on the outside as well and nothing makes a home more cheerful than large pots on the front porch and by the garage! Congrats on your CL chicks! Sounds like fun with your new standard and the crested! That will be fun to see how the crests come out when you all really start working on them. Did you know that silkies only got larger crests when people crossed Polish in with them and then bred back to silkie to bring the type back? But that is how the silkie gets such a large crest now-- AND it's why so many of them are plagued with vaulted skulls-- because Polish have vaulted skulls. It's not ideal in silkies, but it's none the less, there. So if you really wanted to bring out the crested gene, you could cross back to a Polish with a HUGE crest-- in which case, I'd get good breeding stock, NOT hatchery birds and cross them in and then breed them back to get the type and coloring back to where you want it. It'd take a few generations, but it could be done!

She has a beautiful head! I would keep her too. It wouldn't be a big deal if I wasn't trying to deal with unpacking the house and work on all these projects to have people here but we have had several months of people here working on s*** and I am over it. The dogs bark all day, even after they leave, because they think someone is coming back. I also have my two barn cats locked in the summer kitchen to bond to the property and we specifically picked the summer kitchen to bond them to as their "home" because it was on the bottom of the list of things that would get fixed. It is the detached building behind the house and the house needs so much work that I figured it wouldn't get worked on for quite a while and would give the cats plenty of time to settle in and feel at home. I just don't see the sense in spending a small fortune on the foundation back there when the house foundation is in desperate need of repair, never mind paint, new upstairs windows, a new back door, rotten wood work replaced etc. In my mind the house should be the main investment of finances and the summer kitchen can wait because if it is falling over can always be removed if we don't have money to repair it. It is so bad that they are talking about having to take it off the foundation, replace the foundation then move the building back. I can't even imagine how much that will cost and we can't even afford to pay someone to paint one room in the house? Ugh. Sorry for the vent!!!!
I didn't realize they have been causing problems and the owner hasn't done anything. Might be time to take matters into your own hands. I have neighbors who have shot "at or near" dogs and it does scare them badly enough to keep them away. I have heard of something you can load into a shot gun that is non lethal but stings like nothing else that you might be able to use as a deterrent. Such a shame people aren't more responsible, its not the dogs' fault they have a stupid owner. One of our dogs chased a neighbors calf once and I went up an apologized profusely and told him to let me know if he ever saw the dog get loose on his property (he would dig under our fence) and that if the dog was chasing his livestock that I would completely understand if he had to take lethal measures to protect his animals. We then rehomed that dog because he was so much trouble and really didn't belong with our family anyway. I was horrified though when I saw he had gotten out and went looking for him immediately.

HEchicken- He is the funniest rooster. He calls to me after I feed him! Such a sweet boy! Love his chatter to tell everyone he has found a goody!

Oh yikes, I didn't really pay attention in the first place that it was the unattached summer kitchen!! I would be a bit livid about that. I'm with you-- spend the time and money on the main house! Why are they worrying about the building that doesn't really matter much? Ugh, I can understand your anger. I would be fixing the foundation on the house and the porch and getting everything solid. Your new home is just gorgeous, and I think it will be a lot of fun to see it come back to life. I certainly would be concentrating on the area you are living in. *Shaking my head* SO yeah, I get it. Perhaps it's time to talk to your Dh and pull the whole pg hormonal mad woman gig. LOL!! You don't have much longer to use that card... use it while you can! hehe

Hola! I've issed you guys. I'm sorry you have had such a challenge...will you buy a cheap fridge for the short time you'll be there, or will you buy a nice one and move it with you...assuming you have to go?

On the SweeterHeater, you can get several different sizes. I got the second from the smallest, and it can easily keep 30-40 new chicks warm. It comes with chan and hooks, which I use so I can make one side lower so smaller chicks aren't at a disadvantage. You can mount it any way, even if you order the opposite model; the main difference is where the cord exits the unit. It needs to be plugged in for a couple of days without chicks when brand new, so it doesn't smell like hot plastic, but it's just that first time you use it.

I've been going through the process of banding my chickens anew. I got some metal stamped bands with my phone number and whatnot on them, and it's an arduous task. I did 50 last night, and suddenly realized that I didn't order anywhere near enough bands...sort of a 'duh!' moment.

Actually, someone offered us their fridge that they don't need! So, we're good. I hated to buy a new one and then leave it. I'm liking the sound of the sweeter heater. Sounds really easy to use and hang. What kind of bands are you using??? Are these leg bands or wing bands??

It is snowing like crazy here, but according to the weather forecast this is the last day of winter and then it will be spring

I spent the morning working outside despite the snow, as I figured I would stay warm working, and that worked. The sellers of our house left a rusted out water tank under the pole barn. It is round, about 3' in diameter and close to 2' tall. No good as a water tank any more but I figured it would make a great chick brooder. It was full of rocks and trash so this morning I emptied it out - I had needed some rocks down at the chicken yard anyway, to put around the edge of my hoop coop so I was able to kill two birds with one stone [no pun intended]. Once the "brooder" was empty, I was finally able to assess how badly rusted it is. I was afraid the bottom might be rusted so much it would need to be cut out altogether but I found it is in much better shape than I expected. There are two places where it is rusted through and I will need to use pliers to bend the metal back so there is no possibility of a chick getting injured on the sharp edge. I'll probably then cover the tear with duct tape but other than that, it is ready for use. I moved it to our 3-season room where the chicks will be brooded, and now I have a week to get it set up with bedding and EcoGlows, feeder and waterer and then I'll be ready for my chick shipment next week.

Wow, the new brooder sounds cool! I really need one of those hoop coops for this summer! At least it seems super easy to build in a hurry, which I may need to do!

 

[RoosterLew]

. I have neighbors who have shot "at or near" dogs and it does scare them badly enough to keep them away. I have heard of something you can load into a shot gun that is non lethal but stings like nothing else that you might be able to use as a deterrent.

Sounds like a good idea. I can try the non-leathal version first. At least with that option I can plunk at them the second they



I'm soooo envious that you are buying flowers! I desperatly want to plant, plant, plant!! It's in my blood. The second we move, I will be buying apple trees to create another orchard.

What your looking for is rock salt. You know, that stuff for making home made Ice cream! it wont penetrate as well as normal pellets will, but will stick into the skin and burn their butts for a few days...which is where to aim. you can still take their eye out or worse shooting them in the face. There is no reason to mess with "hiding bodies", lol, it is perfectly legal and to most people more than acceptable to "pepper" troublesome or dangerous K9's with rock salt! Some shooting supplies even carry shells already loaded with it.
If you cannot find that, a good light load of bird shot in the hind quarters of most mutts won't kill them, but they will definitely remember where they got it!


So you have experience in building an Orchard ? We really would like to have one on our new place, but have no idea how to go about it?!?

 

[Hawkeye95]

What your looking for is rock salt. You know, that stuff for making home made Ice cream! it wont penetrate as well as normal pellets will, but will stick into the skin and burn their butts for a few days...which is where to aim. you can still take their eye out or worse shooting them in the face. There is no reason to mess with "hiding bodies", lol, it is perfectly legal and to most people more than acceptable to "pepper" troublesome or dangerous K9's with rock salt! Some shooting supplies even carry shells already loaded with it.
If you cannot find that, a good light load of bird shot in the hind quarters of most mutts won't kill them, but they will definitely remember where they got it!


So you have experience in building an Orchard ? We really would like to have one on our new place, but have no idea how to go about it?!?

GREAT ideas! I will be looking this up as I only have real ammo. Thanks! I don't know if I have experience in orchards, but I have planted quite a few fruit trees. They don't require too much work, but you do have to stay on top of any leaf rust or bug infestations, etc. But that sounds worse than it is, I promise. I just have a sprayer I use on them when needed. I get all of my supplies at Dutch's in Haysville. They carry a lot of stuff for fruit trees and can diagnose about anything. I can bring in a leaf, or branch, etc and talk to them about it and come out with the right product. They also deal in organic products, so it's not all pesticides! I didn't have to do any spraying last year at all. Everything did really well, despite the drought. But I watered all the trees REALLY well over the summer too. I know that Deerfield has a much larger orchard than I have!

Just research what kind of fruit you are looking to grow and see what you need. With apples (and most fruits) you need no less than two trees to pollinate and some varieties don't pllinate each other-- so if you get two of the same type, they may not pollinate each other. So pay attention to what varieties pollinate each other so that you can buy from another variety that will pollinate that tree. So every time you add a tree, make sure that the trees you have currently will pollinate them OR buy one that will at the same time. No point in buying a bunch of trees that won't produce! So that part I know. Other than that, they need lots of water getting started. I water in the mornings and evenings. Not TOO much.. but they do need to dry out in between. Last summer, they were dry each day, so I watered daily. Two years before that, I watered every other day to wait for them to dry. I keep up on the watering regimine to get them going. I also use a root stimulator early Spring to boost them. But be careful which one you choose!! It needs to be FOR fruit trees. You could do harm there. But it will help them produce and it's applied to the roots with LOTS of water to prevent burning. You can also mulch with manure which is a great idea if you don't want to do the root stimulator. So there is lots to know, but it's mostly easy stuff. Just start reading on it. Be sure you know what you are buying-- like if you have size requirements. Dwarfs, and mini's and standard trees are all different sizes. I personaly would not buy a dwarf if I didn't have to-- but if you don't have a lot of room, that IS an option and the trees do just fine. They mostly need full sun, too. Anyway, I could go on and on. But just Google it and get started! I'd start out with 2 to 4 of each kind of tree to begin with and make sure they pollinate each other and see where you are by next year on how hard it was to care for them. (the watering will be intensive when you first start out-- but gets easier after each year)

 

[Trish44]

HEChicken, I just found the page for the 2013 version if anyone wants to download it, I had to look a little to find it & this will save someone having to look through 30 plus pages of posts. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...racking-expenses-and-income-from-chickens/300 The corrected one is on post 306.

 

[HEChicken]

HEChicken, I just found the page for the 2013 version if anyone wants to download it, I had to look a little to find it & this will save someone having to look through 30 plus pages of posts. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...racking-expenses-and-income-from-chickens/300 The corrected one is on post 306.

Sorry about that - I didn't realize he wasn't updating the 1st post each time with the new version.