Consolidated Kansas

[ThePinkCoop]

Oh good! I was beginning to feel like the odd bird! West of Wichita here!

 

[Frizzled Pink]

I forget we all like in Kansas lol. Anybody in Gardner or coming to the joco fair this year?

I am in Shawnee but my chickens live in Olathe but really closer to Gardner. I will be putting birds in the JOCO fair this year and will try for Hutch State fair and Sedalia fall show.

I wanted to mention to you, but don't know if your ready for that yet, that someone has Polish chicks on the Kansas Poultry Swap facebook page

 

[HEChicken]

I've had chicks hatching today, I had thought they weren't due yet, but looked at my records & they were due today. The turkey egg is the one that isn't due till Weds. Danz, don't beat yourself up about the duck eggs. I did the same kind of thing the other day & they were some of my most expensive chicks that I did it with. I got confused on dates too & messed up on two. I was really mad at myself, but what can you do. I have been trying to organize my trays in the incubator so I know which one goes in the hatcher next, but I had some eggs in the same tray that got mixed in. I try to verify with my records what breeds & how many I'm supposed to have in each hatch, but those I got confused on. This is why I need a bigger hatcher. I told my DH my plan for buying the new hatcher & he kind of went hmmm. He knows if I want to buy one I will anyway, so it wouldn't do him any good to object.

Oh & I got my first guinea egg today, so I figure with all the females I have I should start getting quite a few, so I will be hatching some of those when I get enough eggs.

With the confusion over hatch dates - something I can easily identify as I have so many different batches going, between multiple broodies and multiple incubators, I just had a thought. What if you wrote the date they are due on the egg at the time you set it? That way it wouldn't be so confusing 3-4 weeks down the road, trying to figure out when it was set.

Congrats on the guinea egg!

Oh good! I was beginning to feel like the odd bird! West of Wichita here!

You'll have to post a picture of your "pink coop".

Frizzled Pink, those are some cute little chicks!

Well, I spent all night worrying about all my birds as I listed to the rain pound the house. This morning I went and retrieved another dog house I remember we had, and put the Aloha hen and her brood in that, with a little thing of food and water. It is the kind you use to carry a medium sized dog to the vet - I guess more of a travel kennel - so I have it sitting ON my roosts for the day since it is easier for me to access it there and that way it doesn't take up floor space. The little poult who spent the night in the incubator was yelling for me this morning and I drank my first cup of coffee with it climbing all over me, so I took it down and gave it back to the hen. Since she is in that confined space, it won't be able to be left behind again and its a lot stronger today anyway. Most importantly it needs to start eating and drinking and it is more likely to do that with Mama and siblings to show it, than with me. Here's hoping it will be okay now

The Silkie and her chicks also needed a dry place to spend the day so I rigged them up with something. No one is going to be very happy with the confinement today, but its better than being soaking wet outside. The broody duck should be happy when she takes her broody break. Her nest is high and dry but when she gets out she will find that the hoop coop has enough water to keep her very happy.

Our pond is fuller than I've ever seen it - yay! The thermometer is currently reading 32 though so now I'm worried about my seedlings. Its always something.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Good news: we are getting some rain.

Bad news: we are getting some rain.

Enjoy the rain! We are still suffering pretty badly from drought here in NW Kansas. We did get some snow last night, though. They were calling for 2-4" and we got 7 1/2 by 7:00 AM and it is still snowing! Apparently, there was a small band that really dumped the snow, and we happened to be in the NW portion of that band.

Morning chores took me a lot longer this morning than usual because my horses were wet, cold, and shivering. I had to find blankets and get them covered and warmed up. My birds were happy and warm in the duck house and seemed to enjoy playing in the snow when I let them out this morning. We'll see how long that lasts, though!

It was 70 degrees the day before yesterday, we got 7 1/2" of snow last night, and then they are calling for "above normal" temperatures for this weekend. We are DEFINITELY in KANSAS! Sheesh!

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Some new additions...

Dorothy




OZ



Swedish flower hen babies (Trish's grandchicks), front chick is week older -smaller one in back is crested--yeah!

Nice... love the pictures, especially the babies. I really like Dorothy and Oz... cute names too...

Good news: we are getting some rain.

Bad news: we are getting some rain.

I went upstairs to make a cup of tea around 8pm and with shock, looked out to see my backyard is a lake. I put on a coat and ran down to check on the birds and found the lake extended to inside my hoop coop. The Aloha hen, under her dog house (top only) was still dry but I worried if we got any more rain, that wouldn't be the case, so I stuffed chicks and poults into my coat, picked up a grumpy hen, with two more chicks tucked under wings, and carried them all to the main coop. Inside, I got them settled, pulled all the babies out of my coat and was getting ready to go check on Mama Silkie when I heard a plaintive "peep-peep-peep". I turned my coat inside out thinking I had one still in there somewhere but the peeping continued. Then it occurred to me to look outside and there was a lone chick, in standing water, getting rained on and NOT happy about it. I think it must have been one of the ones under her wing and when I juggled everything to open the coop door, it fell out. Fortunately tucking it under Mama Hen made everyone happy again.

Poor Mama Silkie was getting wet too so she and her chicks were also moved to the main coop. Now I'm sitting here worrying about where I'm going to put them in the morning. I don't feel these chicks are really ready to be at the mercy of the rest of the flock yet but if the water hasn't receded by tomorrow, I don't know what other option I have. I won't sleep tonight for worrying about it all. On the other hand, I'm glad everyone is safe and dry tonight.

Mid-afternoon I went to check on everyone and found a poult lying stiff and cold in the hoop coop. It was the last to hatch and therefore still the weakest and I think it just couldn't keep up with the hen and get back under her when she sat back down. It was already in rigor. I picked it up, messed around with a few other things, then looked at the poult in my hand and its eyes were open! I could not believe it - this poult was so stiff and cold I knew it had to be dead - it was even stretched out in that death pose. So I hurriedly tucked it back under the hen to warm it up but then worried that next time she gets up to move it would get left behind again, so I tucked it into my bra (whew - it really was cold) and left it there while I prepared dinner and waited for my home-built to warm up. I decided to let it stay in that overnight but had to get it warm enough first. As I moved around, I occasionally felt it move. After dinner I placed it in the incubator and several hours later, it was yelling its head off. I tucked it back into my chest and it was happy again. It stayed there until I had to go and rescue the birds and is now back in the incubator for the night. I am amazed by the will of this little bird to live, coming back from freezing like that. I'm also glad it was almost 70 degrees out today. Tomorrow is supposed to be much colder and I know it wouldn't have still been alive had this happened then.

I hope everyone - and their animals - is safe and dry tonight. We need the rain, but the rain also brings me lots of worry.

I'm glad you found the "lost" chick and everyone was dry and safe. It rained all night long... hopefully your chickens are still dry. That little one sure is a fighter, isn't she/he? Glad you gave her a chance and now she is all chirpy!

Nothing beats the bra incubator in this case...

I tried it when I first got the chicks last month and those sharp little nails scratched me crazy and I couldn't do it.

Oh good! I was beginning to feel like the odd bird! West of Wichita here!

Welcome!!

You won't feel odd here. Birds of a feather flock together... just saying...

***********************************************************************************************
Well, I ordered the rest of the hardware cloth to convert the horse stall. I ran out so I've to order more. With the nice weather we had yesterday, DH decided to fire up the grill for some BBQ ribs. Guess what he found once he lifted the cover and opened the grill? A huge bird nest! This is not the first time we have bird nest inside the grill. What I don't understand is how the bird could get inside the grill with the cover on.

We didn't find any eggs in there so DH just removed the nest and fire it up. This seems to happen to us every year.

The Salmon got outside her "hospital bed" while I was cleaning it yesterday evening and one of the roosters got a hold her. The new skin was ripped a bit so I gave her a lecture not to venture out until she is fully healed. She was still fiesty and what not and refused to let me spray the Vetrimycin on her wound. I think I got a couple of squirts on it though.

I can't believe we have this cold weather, again. But the weatherman did say that this is the last cold snap so hopefully we will be on our way to Spring... or Summer.

Stay dry everyone.

Kuan

 

[HEChicken]

That little one sure is a fighter, isn't she/he? Glad you gave her a chance and now she is all chirpy!

Nothing beats the bra incubator in this case...

I tried it when I first got the chicks last month and those sharp little nails scratched me crazy and I couldn't do it.

***********************************************************************************************
Well, I ordered the rest of the hardware cloth to convert the horse stall. I ran out so I've to order more.

With the first two poults, I tried keeping them warm on my chest and their little nails were scratching me up badly. This one was so still there was no issue with it. By this morning it was determined to climb out of there and up as high as it could get. It got to my shoulder and pushed up into my ponytail and then went to sleep. I guess that was as close as it could find to snuggling under a Mama

Isn't ordering hardware cloth awfully expensive? From where you are, there should be several options for picking it up locally. Any of the hardware stores like Ace, Lowes, Home Depot, Sutherlands will carry it, as well as feed stores like Atwoods or TSC. Its not cheap stuff anyway, but by the time you pay shipping, it makes it really expensive.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Enjoy the rain! We are still suffering pretty badly from drought here in NW Kansas. We did get some snow last night, though. They were calling for 2-4" and we got 7 1/2 by 7:00 AM and it is still snowing! Apparently, there was a small band that really dumped the snow, and we happened to be in the NW portion of that band.

Morning chores took me a lot longer this morning than usual because my horses were wet, cold, and shivering. I had to find blankets and get them covered and warmed up. My birds were happy and warm in the duck house and seemed to enjoy playing in the snow when I let them out this morning. We'll see how long that lasts, though!

It was 70 degrees the day before yesterday, we got 7 1/2" of snow last night, and then they are calling for "above normal" temperatures for this weekend. We are DEFINITELY in KANSAS! Sheesh!

7.5" of snow? Holy cow! The forecase I saw was 1"-3" for NW Kansas and you got 7.5" so far. I always wonder if the weather will be too cold for the horses because there are a lot of horse around my area and I see them outside 24/7, doesn't matter rain or snow. You are right about this crazy weather; Spring one day and Winter the next. We are definitely in Kansas.

Kuan

 

[tweetybaby2005]

With the first two poults, I tried keeping them warm on my chest and their little nails were scratching me up badly. This one was so still there was no issue with it. By this morning it was determined to climb out of there and up as high as it could get. It got to my shoulder and pushed up into my ponytail and then went to sleep. I guess that was as close as it could find to snuggling under a Mama

Isn't ordering hardware cloth awfully expensive? From where you are, there should be several options for picking it up locally. Any of the hardware stores like Ace, Lowes, Home Depot, Sutherlands will carry it, as well as feed stores like Atwoods or TSC. Its not cheap stuff anyway, but by the time you pay shipping, it makes it really expensive.

That's cute that it climbs up high to snuggle up to your ponytail! As for the hardware cloth, it is actually cheaper to order. I checked around Menards, Ace, HD, and Lowes and their prices are more expensive. I ordered it from Wayfair and it has free shipping on it. Should be here in a couple of days according to the estimated arrival date which is perfect because I will need it this weekend to complete the project with this "supposedly" Spring like weather.

Kuan

 

[HEChicken]

That's cute that it climbs up high to snuggle up to your ponytail! As for the hardware cloth, it is actually cheaper to order. I checked around Menards, Ace, HD, and Lowes and their prices are more expensive. I ordered it from Wayfair and it has free shipping on it. Should be here in a couple of days according to the estimated arrival date which is perfect because I will need it this weekend to complete the project with this "supposedly" Spring like weather.

That is good to know. I think I've ordered from Wayfair before so probably even already have an account.

 

[RoosterLew]

Enjoy the rain! We are still suffering pretty badly from drought here in NW Kansas. We did get some snow last night, though. They were calling for 2-4" and we got 7 1/2 by 7:00 AM and it is still snowing! Apparently, there was a small band that really dumped the snow, and we happened to be in the NW portion of that band.

Actually all of Kansas is still in some level of Drought Condition as of last Thursday. Thursdays are when the drought conditions are updated. A very small portion of eastern Kansas is in "D0" or Drought Condition 0; Abnormally Dry.
Almost the entire western half of the state is D3(Extreme) and almost half of that D4(Exceptional - the worst condition).
Soil moisture is still low across the state!
The rain we have been getting here seems to be coming well, some rain, then time off to soak in, then more rain about the time the surface dries up.
Creeks are running and Ponds are full again!

Roosters forecast - Its going to be a great year!

Agriculture lives and dies by rain!