Consolidated Kansas

[Frizzled Pink]

Hello everyone! The weather has finally warmed up here, and the forecast is calling for some much needed rain this week (at least a 20% chance Monday night through Saturday - hopefully we'll get SOMETHING out of all those chances!).

Also, my DH and I have some good news to share! Here's a picture explaining it.

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HEChicken]

Lizzy, a big congratulations!!! Great idea for spreading the news too.

Cherwill, I haven't especially noticed that my laying hens slow down when there are broodies, but I have so many broody right now that are not laying that my overall production is down.

I just came in from planting all of my new seedlings so

we are done with the last frost of the year. I did find one pepper that I had planted two weeks ago that most of the plant was frozen off but one little leaf that was under the hay I was using as mulch still looked pretty healthy, so Ieft the stem and leaf in the ground in the hopes that one might make a comeback.

Mama Duck is off her nest with her little one now and it is just the cutest little thing. It runs around and climbs in the food bowl and eats, and then runs over to the water bowl and jumps right in to play and rinse out its nostrils. I wish it were better situated for photography but I'm afraid the photos wouldn't really show it too well if I tried.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Lizzy, congrats!!!!!!!

 

[sharol]

How exciting. Your lives will be enriched.

Hello everyone! The weather has finally warmed up here, and the forecast is calling for some much needed rain this week (at least a 20% chance Monday night through Saturday - hopefully we'll get SOMETHING out of all those chances!).

Also, my DH and I have some good news to share! Here's a picture explaining it.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Hello everyone! The weather has finally warmed up here, and the forecast is calling for some much needed rain this week (at least a 20% chance Monday night through Saturday - hopefully we'll get SOMETHING out of all those chances!). Also, my DH and I have some good news to share! Here's a picture explaining it.

Lizzy, congrats!!!!! Thanks for sharing the great news. Kuan

 

[Trish44]

Hello everyone! The weather has finally warmed up here, and the forecast is calling for some much needed rain this week (at least a 20% chance Monday night through Saturday - hopefully we'll get SOMETHING out of all those chances!).

Also, my DH and I have some good news to share! Here's a picture explaining it.

Congrats!

 

[JosieChick]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

SO excited for you guys and what a great way to announce your big news!!!

Hello everyone! The weather has finally warmed up here, and the forecast is calling for some much needed rain this week (at least a 20% chance Monday night through Saturday - hopefully we'll get SOMETHING out of all those chances!).

Also, my DH and I have some good news to share! Here's a picture explaining it.

 

[cherwill]

Hello everyone! The weather has finally warmed up here, and the forecast is calling for some much needed rain this week (at least a 20% chance Monday night through Saturday - hopefully we'll get SOMETHING out of all those chances!).

Also, my DH and I have some good news to share! Here's a picture explaining it.


Congratulations! What a fun way to make the announcement.

I just came in from planting all of my new seedlings so

we are done with the last frost of the year. I did find one pepper that I had planted two weeks ago that most of the plant was frozen off but one little leaf that was under the hay I was using as mulch still looked pretty healthy, so Ieft the stem and leaf in the ground in the hopes that one might make a comeback.

I've got my fingers crossed all right. We didn't plant anything today because DH had another project going. You never know about that pepper. Looks like the rain has moved to Wednesday, so hopefully we'll get some more planting done. Tuesday probably.

Mama Duck is off her nest with her little one now and it is just the cutest little thing. It runs around and climbs in the food bowl and eats, and then runs over to the water bowl and jumps right in to play and rinse out its nostrils. I wish it were better situated for photography but I'm afraid the photos wouldn't really show it too well if I tried.

Sounds really cute.

If I get things planted, the chickens' free-range days will be over. Here's a picture of them in my raised beds. They spent a long time taking dirt baths before they decided to do some hunting and pecking in the yard. Can you find all ten?

 

[bbsnooks]

Hello. all.. i finally caught up..
I've gotten lots of inspiration here from HeChicken Danz and Trish
and just wanted to post a video.from you tube..
for any one.. like me who are looking for a
visually orientation on how 2... 4 Hoop Coops..
- thanks.. for all your help and input... will post photo's.. when done..



Here's my video guide.. great video at you tube..
from Kentucky state university poultry department.
video on you tube.. 7 parts long.. ( 8 video's ) on the hoop coop construction.

however i've taken notes.. and will mark times of useful tips
- pig ring's.. we will need some to stabilize joint of cattle pannels


Video 1 begins with parts & tool list.
1) furring strips.. screwed into 2x4 to make resting place for cattle pannel. on inside.
2) 2( 101" 2x4) he used 8' for end pieces because he's tall..
3) use scrap pieces for bracing..
4) welded wire.. for end piece
video 2
5) place cattle pannel rib side up onto furring strip... says its easier on the tarp..
6) Fence staple every other iron bar. to 2x4 laying on furring strip.
time 3:50
7) show staple verticle placement of staple on last iron rod at juction of cattle pannel's
8) 4:12 he inserts #2 cattle pannel slick..
9) pig rings.. where the 2 pannels abut..
video 3
10) 2- 2x4's measure where door will be.. mark & screw 1 ( allow's to adkust top of frame)
marking top of 2x4 to where it meets hoop. sawzaw off
@5:21 moving hinge.. on top of door.. 2 re set.. hinge if too tall for opening.
6:50 how to make gate latch.. w add on 2x4 to make latch..
*8:22 safety tip.. string from inside.. for his latch .. incase it lockes you inside ( grin )
Video 4
Rear bracing.. t-bracing 3" up to match wire.. for protection.. <<< may alter for our use.. >>> due to
4:30 cornor braces.. knee bracing..
** if building on slope.. start at bottom.. and work way up
Video 5 part 5 a - adding welding wire step 1
Pig ring & welding wire.
wire will match up w/ 2x4 cross brace from rear X-brace string from back to front
2:30 min @ front end of welding wire.. cut.. and bend piece around Cattle panel to prevent tearing tarp.
4:30 attch bottom welding wire to hoop pen - he uses screw's and fender washers.. to
5:50 front end wire attchment Vertical welding wire..
video 6 (part 5 b) Constructing a hoop pen - Part 5B: Adding the welded wire
patching cornor with cut off pieces and hog rings
- to complete front protection - tight cornor and - to make smooth for tarp..
4:20 -rear protrection 8:20 bending corner
Video 7 Part 6 adding the Tarp-
Tarp. the tighter the better
tightening up with rope at the ends..
additions for layers.. waterer Ideas

Video 8 (part 7)
Adding the toe rope

 

[HEChicken]

If I get things planted, the chickens' free-range days will be over. Here's a picture of them in my raised beds. They spent a long time taking dirt baths before they decided to do some hunting and pecking in the yard. Can you find all ten?

I think I found 9 if there is a barred outside the garden bed in front of the pic....

Mine haven't found the vegie garden yet but I know its only a matter of time. I have already started fencing it off but this reminds me I'll need to complete that soon.

Here's my video guide.. great video at you tube..

Hey - thanks for that - I started it but don't have time to watch them all so I'll come back to it later. Saw some videos off to the side of other projects that I'd like to view as well so I need to set aside some YouTube time

I finally have a pip in my turkey eggs that were due to hatch yesterday. I started them in the incubator, moved them under the broody duck sometime in their first week, and only retrieved them Friday after her duckling hatched. On candling I could see movement in all of them except one stinker that I tossed, so that left 7 to hatch. I guess with this wild spring we've been having and the cold temperatures, it slowed them down a day or two. I've been trying to have faith they would hatch since I was seeing movement but even I was starting to worry so I'm relieved to have one external pip this morning.

Weather forecast is for May-like weather all week this week - yay!