Consolidated Kansas

[bbsnooks]

Hello.. all.. there are some very cute chicks being posted..
Do we have any experienced.. caponizing ... person's.. out there?

Just wondering.. i would like to get in on a lesson .. w/ in the next year.
thanks..

 

[jhammett]

So here are my 20 birds investigating the interesting dish of white stuff ( oyster shell). I thought that here at week 9 it might be a good time to start building calcium in prep for the coming eggs. You can see here how I got them out of my nesting boxes. They roost on the TOP of the barn stall wall which is about 2 feet above the tallest roost I set up for them. JUst curious I bought 50# bags of layer yesterday at 15.80 per bag. Is that an average price here in Kansas. I am buying at a coop in Colwich.

 

[HEChicken]

So here are my 20 birds investigating the interesting dish of white stuff ( oyster shell). I thought that here at week 9 it might be a good time to start building calcium in prep for the coming eggs. You can see here how I got them out of my nesting boxes. They roost on the TOP of the barn stall wall which is about 2 feet above the tallest roost I set up for them. JUst curious I bought 50# bags of layer yesterday at 15.80 per bag. Is that an average price here in Kansas. I am buying at a coop in Colwich.

9 weeks is really too early for calcium - it can do more harm than good at this age, as the build up can damage organs. Fortunately if you are offering it on the side they probably won't eat much, if any, at this point. However I would avoid feeding them layer feed until they are at least 16 weeks old, since it contains calcium already and they can't avoid it if it is mixed in with the feed. At this age, the best thing for them is to find a grower formula - it doesn't have the calcium but does contain a little more protein, which they need while they are growing and maturing.

That price sounds like a very good price though.

 

[Blkpwdernut]

So here are my 20 birds investigating the interesting dish of white stuff ( oyster shell). I thought that here at week 9 it might be a good time to start building calcium in prep for the coming eggs. You can see here how I got them out of my nesting boxes. They roost on the TOP of the barn stall wall which is about 2 feet above the tallest roost I set up for them. JUst curious I bought 50# bags of layer yesterday at 15.80 per bag. Is that an average price here in Kansas. I am buying at a coop in Colwich.

I bought 50# of layer for 11.80 at the clearwater coop.

 

[Blkpwdernut]

Welcome! I live fairly close to your area. Over between Burlington and Waverly. Join in.
I haven't heard of that. I do garden I just can't maintain like pulling weeds and such. It's the bending that gets me. I can bend all right, just can't stand back up if I do. Too many back surgeries. I'll check that straw bale gardening out. I was thinking more of flower gardening because that is what I really really miss. I don't care if I have a few weeds in the veggies.
Just sold my last pair of silver laced polish. Of all the polish they are my favorite.

Well I spent most of my day... not intending to finishing my granddaughter's princess dress. I had planned to do this since December and got tired of stuff sitting out. Of course things didn't go as planned and it took me a lot longer than I ever would have thought. Maybe if I took more time and got it right the first time I wouldn't have to spend so much time ripping out and redoing things.
Also the next time I do a project like that I am going to use different fabric. Not stuff that shreds as soon as you cut it and that is slimy and slick. I've had enough of that! And then I'm thinking the first time it is washed it will probably fall apart anyway.
I need to get it packaged up and mailed now before she outgrows it.
I didn't spend my normal hours out feeding. That weather was just brutal. I did what I needed to and the birds will have to get along until tomorrow afternoon.
At least with all the moisture no one will thirst to death.
Then I had to come in and clean bins and cages for all these critters I have in the house because of the crummy weather. I don't think I'll ever get rid of the dust or smells.

Danz, have you looked into raised beds? And I do mean RAISED, found a site somewhere online that the people raised their 3x4 beds up to waist level to fix just that problem with the back, I may have to look into it before long, it isnt my back per say but my knees. ( shoulda listened to my NCO's about jumping from the top of armored vehicles)

 

[jhammett]

SO HEChicken should I maybe take the Oyster Shell out for Now to limit the calcium intake. I read somewhere that I should introduce calcium a few weeks before laying starts to let it build up in the chickens. I may have gotten over zealous not sure. Also I love your coop and yard. How many birds do you have. I am planning on around 40 or 50 at the most have 20 currently. My run plan is 16x 32. Is that big enough?

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Tweetybaby ~ THANK YOU!!! for mentioning ordering wire from Wayfair. I had never heard about them and need wire but have no way to get it home without paying for the store to deliver it. Even if I got a roll into the car (my farm truck) I don't know that I would be able to get it out by myself. Now I have a way to get it here, Yea!!

You are more than welcome Chickies. Hope you get yours soon.

Good morning everyone. I love this Ks forum. I live in the high desert in CA with my husband and we have chickens. KS is our second home you might say becuase my husband was born and raised in KS and taught school there before coming to CA where he met me. We go back to KS every year as hubby has family there. His sister is 95 and lives in KC but he was born in Paola and has children in Emporia, Wichita and Newton. Just wanted to say "Hi". I had a double surprise yesterday, a bull snake on the back step and one in the chicken coop. The chickens don't get upset with them and they do keep the mice down. They get quite big, both were about 4 feet long, but their heads are very small and in all the time we've lived here none of my chickens have been hurt. My rooster, a silkie/maran, doesn't bother them. So far I haven't seen a sidwinder or a Mojave Green our two venemous rattlers. I have nine big hens with roo and a polish and five bantams in the other pen. The Polish, Tilly, belonged to a friend that needed to let her go and she still lays eggs several times a week and she's seven years old.

Welcome to our forums baustin.

Hi folks! Can I join? I'm right next to Emdale!

Welcome!

Tell us more about your chickens! We love to hear about others' chickens and anything you would like to share with us.

I'm back from my short trip back to texas. The weather was beautiful in the 70's and so green loved it. Then on my way home my husband text me to say we have snow coming

.

Welcome to all the new people glad you joined us.

I need see we are going to get some nicer weather closer to the weekend i so can't wait for the warmer weather. stay warm and dry eveyone

Michelle

Has anyone heard from Josiechick? I know its getting closer for baby to arrive

Glad you enjoyed the TX weather. My sister is in Plano and she said other than a few days here and there this past weeks, the weather there had been gorgeous! Unlike here in Kansas... sigh

. We had 1/4" of snow as of last night and broke the 1/10" of snow in April back in 1918, I think. This kind of weather has got to stop!

So here are my 20 birds investigating the interesting dish of white stuff ( oyster shell). I thought that here at week 9 it might be a good time to start building calcium in prep for the coming eggs. You can see here how I got them out of my nesting boxes. They roost on the TOP of the barn stall wall which is about 2 feet above the tallest roost I set up for them. JUst curious I bought 50# bags of layer yesterday at 15.80 per bag. Is that an average price here in Kansas. I am buying at a coop in Colwich.

Nice chickens there jhammett! I would take the oyster shells out now. They are too young at 9 weeks to have calcium.

**************************************************************************

OK. So we had 1/4" of snow on the ground since last night. I'm really ready for Spring now and this is from someone who likes winter and snow. I just told DH if he is any where near the co-op up in Colwich or Andale (I really can't remember where we have the nearest co-op) to pick up some bags of feeds. But more than likely I'll have to go pick them up since he is sooooo busy lately.

I'm signing my kids up for summer camp and I completely forgot we have to get the Drs to sign the forms so now I have to get them forms to the dr's office, pick them up, get the camp forms ready and then turn them in. I thought I had turned some forms in already but guess not. Don't think my memory is that bad but lately, with everything going on, I'm a bit scatter brain apparently.

My sheltie was not himself this morning. He pee'd in the bathroom. Not sure why. I let him out last night before bed and he usually can hold it pretty good till morning around 6:30am. Will need to keep an eye on him.

Have a good one everyone!

Kuan

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I have chicks hatching. Cant wait to see what I get this time. I have a polish and a brahma hatched out and lots of little pips.
Looks like the weather is due to warm back up,, Oh I cant wait for more sunny days..

 

[HEChicken]

SO HEChicken should I maybe take the Oyster Shell out for Now to limit the calcium intake. I read somewhere that I should introduce calcium a few weeks before laying starts to let it build up in the chickens. I may have gotten over zealous not sure. Also I love your coop and yard. How many birds do you have. I am planning on around 40 or 50 at the most have 20 currently. My run plan is 16x 32. Is that big enough?

It shouldn't hurt to leave it in since they probably won't eat it until they need it. However I wouldn't feed the layer feed just yet - if you can store it in a rodent proof container for about 2 months, you'll be glad to have it on hand already when you do need. Yep - I'd say you got a little over-zealous

. Average laying age is 20-25 weeks, so you can wait to start the layer feed until they are around 18 weeks and you'll still be in plenty of time.

Thanks for the compliment on my coop - I am really happy with it as it is very functional and I've had few issues with it. Living in it right now are a pair of turkeys, 6 ducks and around 30 chickens. However thanks to broodies and a project I am starting on, I also have chicks and turkey poults. One former broody has 2 chicks she is raising, another has 3 chicks and 4 poults. I also have 21 chicks in a brooder on my sun porch. Egad!

OK. So we had 1/4" of snow on the ground since last night. I'm really ready for Spring now and this is from someone who likes winter and snow. I just told DH if he is any where near the co-op up in Colwich or Andale (I really can't remember where we have the nearest co-op) to pick up some bags of feeds. But more than likely I'll have to go pick them up since he is sooooo busy lately.

I am so over this winter weather. I couldn't believe it when at 10pm last night a friend facebooked that it was snowing and I looked out my window and it was snowing here too! Fortunately it all melted off pretty quickly this morning and without that biting cold wind of yesterday its turning out to be a fairly nice day.

I have chicks hatching. Cant wait to see what I get this time. I have a polish and a brahma hatched out and lots of little pips.

Yay! Congratulations.


Well, my four little turkey poults survived the awful day yesterday. I kept them confined to a small dog kennel with their Mama hen so they couldn't get too far from her and get cold. They stayed under her almost all day. She needed a little more space than that though, so this morning I put them out in my chick grow out pen. The poults are getting stronger and walking much better and the hen was so happy to have space to flap her wings and run around. The poults are drinking and tearing at dandelion leaves but still don't seem to get that the chick crumble is food. Poor Mama is desperately trying to encourage them to eat. I did see one pecking some food off her beak so that's a start. Hopefully soon they will understand how to get food properly. Now I see why people hatch "tutors" with their poults. I thought with these having a mother AND siblings as tutors, there would be no issues but even with all that assistance they still seem to be slow to catch on. It makes me worry about the incubator full of turkey eggs I currently have going. Its not too late to set tutors - if I add a couple of eggs on Friday they will all hatch together. I didn't want any more chickens but I think I'm going to have to do that or I'm worried the poults will hatch and then I won't be able to get them through the first week.

My seedlings did not fare so well. I covered them with bed sheets held down by rocks last night, knowing it was going to freeze. However when it snowed, the snow stayed on the sheets and froze them right through it. Grrr... All my work planting them - I even got a huge blister on the palm of my hand while doing it - was for nothing. Now I still have to start over. Double grrr.

 

[Derrick785]