Consolidated Kansas

[ivyrash]

I have a question. I have several young hens that have just started laying in the last month or so. How long do you wait before you incubate your eggs? I realize a lot of people don't hatch eggs this late in the year but I have had so much trouble with foxes this year I don't really want to wait till spring to get chicks on the ground. I have been told wait till they are regular sized eggs, is that what you go by? If that is the case, how big do bantam cochin eggs usually get? I don't have any mature ones to compare to, can someone tell me an approx. weight?

I have several older Americana hens and some young SFH and those foxes get the SFH every time! I want to know how he knows the difference! I guess maybe the older hens are just smarter.

 

[cherwill]

zigzag If the other waterers have been removed and you have a little water in the cup they should learn to use them. I don't think I would fill the cup if it has a trigger mechanism cause they need to learn how to use it. If it is just a cup that fills to a certain level then I would let it fill. Let us know how you like them when they get used to them.
My morning began by chewing a guy out. A man from the water department showed up and forced the electric gate open. It could break the mechanism. What the H*** do they think I have that gate for in the first place??? I told him if the mechanism got broken from pushing it open I would file trespassing charges as well as take him to court to replace the gate opener. How dumb can a person be? All he had to do was leave his little test bottle on the gate with instructions ...no different than if someone were not here. All the meters are read electronically so there is no reason for any of these guys to come inside the gate. There's a bright orange sign on the gate that says trying to force the gate open can cause injury or death. It just really ticks me off that people think they can just come and go on other people's property without permission. Had I not been waiting for the metal buyer to show up I probably wouldn't have noticed him out there.
We suddenly have been overrun by mice in the house. I think all the moisture has caused them to come in. I set a trap and had one this morning within 15 minutes. I have company coming next weekend so now I have to clean out cabinets and drawers along with my other cleaning. I'll be a total be-atch all week because I hate cleaning and with all the mud it's going to be twice as bad.
Anyway I hope the rest of this metal gets moved this week. I'd really like to get started building a new place for my turkeys.
The peachicks are getting crowded and I would really like to get them moved to the bigger pen.
I keep my dog food in a large black storage box. I had almost 100 pounds in there and the storm night before last blew the lid open. so yesterday all the birds had dog food to eat. They thoroughly enjoyed it but it was a very expensive feed day. I don't have any dog food left so I guess I am going to have to cook them some until I can get somewhere to get some. I feel like I've been starving my birds anyway cause I haven't put out as much as usual. The rain keeps ruining it and it becomes worthless. I don't like to feed in the buildings because it attracts mice in there. I may have to if this rain continues much longer.

The water guy is an idiot. There's a fence and a gate for a reason. He could have ended up letting some of your critters out.

Danz I agree this rain is a blessing but for goodness sake give it a rest. I also have not been putting out as much food.
The water guy pushing the gate open like that would have really ticked me off. I know what you mean about people think they can just come onto anyones property. That is how my turkey got killed. Just because you wear a uniform does not mean you have the right..
Here are a few pics of the hatchlings


The 2 in front I am thinking lemon cuckoo and the one in back I am not sure maybe Swedish flower?? It has white wings. It is a very faint silver on the top of its head and down its back


Swedish flower hens???

and of course lavenders. They are all so good looking.

Awww, I miss having fuzzy butts!

 

[ChickieWickies]

Trish, we've been keeping a close eye on the river's level. This morning it was on the lower road at the fairgrounds. The animals leave tonight, and the other exhibits leave tomorrow morning.

I've been worried about the birds at the fair. Some people don't take care of them at all! There were ducks there that didn't have water for multiple hours. These poor birds were there before mine were moved in, and I helped the superintendent move birds to different cages for several hours after mine were caged. I found solo cups and gave them water. Another girl told me she has been feeding them since the 2nd day because no one gave them feed. We've both been watering them. They aren't getting cleaned out or cared for. Several people aren't cleaning their areas, and I wonder if they'd dare to live in those kinds of conditions--no feed, no water, laying in your own filth, and surrounded by flies. The 4-Her summed it up pretty well when she asked me, "Why are they bringing them here if they have no intention of taking care of them?" Also, we've had several people want to buy the roosters--but only the ones that are stressing out and jumping around. I'm afraid they want them as fighting roosters.

The costume contest went well. We had 30+ entries--poultry, goats, sheep, a rabbit, and cattle.

My son won Best Poultry--His Turken dressed as Dracula. My daughter won best homemade--her White Langshan was dressed as Rambo. All the kids got an animal shaped sugar cookie for participating. It was fun. Several kids were talking about what they would do next year! I'll post pics later. We had a prom queen EE, a Black Langshan hen in a bikini, a Black Langshan cockerel as a robber (my son said he robbed Atwood's and took all the chicken feed), an EE cockerel as a mummy, our cochin and chick as a mommy sheep and a lamb, a Turken cockerel Dracula, and a White Langshan Rambo.

Danz, I'm guilty of cutting too much off the tops of strawberries and leaving too much on the melon rinds for my ladies. Our poor puppy thinks she's their mommy; and with most of them gone at the fair, she just sits outside their pen like "I'm not letting any more go!" She'll be happy tonight when they come home.

 

[ivyrash]

Trish, we've been keeping a close eye on the river's level. This morning it was on the lower road at the fairgrounds. The animals leave tonight, and the other exhibits leave tomorrow morning.

I've been worried about the birds at the fair. Some people don't take care of them at all! There were ducks there that didn't have water for multiple hours. These poor birds were there before mine were moved in, and I helped the superintendent move birds to different cages for several hours after mine were caged. I found solo cups and gave them water. Another girl told me she has been feeding them since the 2nd day because no one gave them feed. We've both been watering them. They aren't getting cleaned out or cared for. Several people aren't cleaning their areas, and I wonder if they'd dare to live in those kinds of conditions--no feed, no water, laying in your own filth, and surrounded by flies. The 4-Her summed it up pretty well when she asked me, "Why are they bringing them here if they have no intention of taking care of them?" Also, we've had several people want to buy the roosters--but only the ones that are stressing out and jumping around. I'm afraid they want them as fighting roosters.

The costume contest went well. We had 30+ entries--poultry, goats, sheep, a rabbit, and cattle.

My son won Best Poultry--His Turken dressed as Dracula. My daughter won best homemade--her White Langshan was dressed as Rambo. All the kids got an animal shaped sugar cookie for participating. It was fun. Several kids were talking about what they would do next year! I'll post pics later. We had a prom queen EE, a Black Langshan hen in a bikini, a Black Langshan cockerel as a robber (my son said he robbed Atwood's and took all the chicken feed), an EE cockerel as a mummy, our cochin and chick as a mommy sheep and a lamb, a Turken cockerel Dracula, and a White Langshan Rambo.

Danz, I'm guilty of cutting too much off the tops of strawberries and leaving too much on the melon rinds for my ladies. Our poor puppy thinks she's their mommy; and with most of them gone at the fair, she just sits outside their pen like "I'm not letting any more go!" She'll be happy tonight when they come home.

I would love to see pics of all these chickens dressed up! I think that's a great idea though, I wonder if I could get our county fair to do something like that?

We have a superintendent at our fair that basically spends the whole weekend in and around the poultry barn and they water the birds the whole weekend. When we water we always check the birds around us too, you never know if the animals knock them over or what.

 

[cherwill]

I would love to see pics of all these chickens dressed up!

Me too, that sounds like fun!

 

[maidenwolfx80]

So I have a question, I am doing FF on the Cornish cross. I was thinking on adding grain to it. Does anyone add grain to their FF?

 

[Trish44]

Trish, we've been keeping a close eye on the river's level. This morning it was on the lower road at the fairgrounds. The animals leave tonight, and the other exhibits leave tomorrow morning.

I've been worried about the birds at the fair. Some people don't take care of them at all! There were ducks there that didn't have water for multiple hours. These poor birds were there before mine were moved in, and I helped the superintendent move birds to different cages for several hours after mine were caged. I found solo cups and gave them water. Another girl told me she has been feeding them since the 2nd day because no one gave them feed. We've both been watering them. They aren't getting cleaned out or cared for. Several people aren't cleaning their areas, and I wonder if they'd dare to live in those kinds of conditions--no feed, no water, laying in your own filth, and surrounded by flies. The 4-Her summed it up pretty well when she asked me, "Why are they bringing them here if they have no intention of taking care of them?" Also, we've had several people want to buy the roosters--but only the ones that are stressing out and jumping around. I'm afraid they want them as fighting roosters.

The costume contest went well. We had 30+ entries--poultry, goats, sheep, a rabbit, and cattle.

My son won Best Poultry--His Turken dressed as Dracula. My daughter won best homemade--her White Langshan was dressed as Rambo. All the kids got an animal shaped sugar cookie for participating. It was fun. Several kids were talking about what they would do next year! I'll post pics later. We had a prom queen EE, a Black Langshan hen in a bikini, a Black Langshan cockerel as a robber (my son said he robbed Atwood's and took all the chicken feed), an EE cockerel as a mummy, our cochin and chick as a mommy sheep and a lamb, a Turken cockerel Dracula, and a White Langshan Rambo.

Danz, I'm guilty of cutting too much off the tops of strawberries and leaving too much on the melon rinds for my ladies. Our poor puppy thinks she's their mommy; and with most of them gone at the fair, she just sits outside their pen like "I'm not letting any more go!" She'll be happy tonight when they come home.

The river is supposed to come up to 22 feet today by one report, so just keep an eye on it. If it comes that high it definitely will come into the fairgrounds. The flood warning is until tomorrow morning. I hope you took pics of the dressed up birds & animals, we would all love to see them. I didn't make it over there at all, my DH was out of town all weekend & I worked all day Saturday on my hoop coop then I was tired yesterday & mostly just rested other than regular chores. That's terrible that people just brought birds there & didn't care for them, it makes you wonder how much care they get at home.

So I have a question, I am doing FF on the Cornish cross. I was thinking on adding grain to it. Does anyone add grain to their FF?

I mix scratch in my FF because it seems to give it more bulk & the birds love it that way.

I just got my door hung on my hoop coop & moved the roost, feeder & waterer in there so all I have to do this afternoon is go out & cut all the long ends off the cable ties & I can move the turkeys in there this evening at feeding time. It was just nasty going in that pen to get things to move them, you sink into poopy nasty mud in that old pen. I'm sure the turkeys will be much happier in a drier bigger pen. I hope the other hen comes back long enough I can catch her & get her into the new pen. They all will be staying in for a few days to get used to it.

 

[zigzag45]

Cherwill - you concerned me for a second. I saw your Danz quote that started with my name, then I saw your words "idiot and water" in your response and thought, "Wow - I didn't think it was that dumb of a question to be called an idiot, what did I miss?"

I should probably quit skimming.....

Originally Posted by chicken danz

zigzag If the other waterers have been removed.....

The water guy is an idiot. There's a fence and a gate for a reason. He could have ended up letting some of your critters out.

 

[chicken danz]

Danz I agree this rain is a blessing but for goodness sake give it a rest. I also have not been putting out as much food.
The water guy pushing the gate open like that would have really ticked me off. I know what you mean about people think they can just come onto anyones property. That is how my turkey got killed. Just because you wear a uniform does not mean you have the right..
Here are a few pics of the hatchlings


The 2 in front I am thinking lemon cuckoo and the one in back I am not sure maybe Swedish flower?? It has white wings. It is a very faint silver on the top of its head and down its back


Swedish flower hens???

and of course lavenders. They are all so good looking.

Maidenwolf I think you are right on all counts. The one with the lemons that has the silver on it's head could still be a lemon. If it turns white with gray when it feathers out it will be a Swedish Flower hen. I had one flower hen that was almost pure white. If it turns yellow or buff it will be a lemon. I did produce a few really light lemons which is what I was striving for. I sold one of those I was going to breed with to Trish. He is a gorgeous young cockerel. So just watch and see what it feathers out to be. The Swedish are typically smaller than the orps so size might give you a clue as well.
Quote:

Yup - love my auto door. It IS really nice to not have to rush out first thing in the morning, and to be able to go out at night and know that all the birds will be locked in automatically while we're gone. We even went away for a few days one time. I was able to leave enough food and water for them, and they locked themselves in the coop every night, and the door let them out again next morning. It was great!

Oh wow, I would have been mad about that too! We plan to eventually put in an electric gate and it does make me mad to think about someone breaking something that costs so much to buy and install. It does lead the question then about the meter reader. Do you send in your own reading now, or did you give him a code to get in?
All our meters, which are only the electric and water meters are read by a remote thing. They just drive down the road, push a button or their reader and it records the reading. The only thing anyone needs in here for is propane to fill the tank. I will have a code for the propane guy to use. I haven't been too concerned about that just yet. I guess I am just going to have to find a way to buy my electronic gate lock so they can't do that any more. It seems kind of rediculous to have to spend an additional $160 or so just because people can't respect a gate.
We have mice too. At first I thought it was just one - the one that I had inadvertently let loose in here while trying to feed a snake. So when we caught it, I was happy but we've now caught 4 with two more confirmed sightings. I have all the traps set but its slow going. DH discovered this morning that one of those Victor traps isn't working. The door isn't fully going up after a mouse is in, so they can probably get back out again. He said he doesn't really like the design - he understands what they were going for, but thinks they made some errors in design so it doesn't work as well as it should and is also almost impossible to clean. Always the engineer. Hey - isn't there a joke about "building a better mouse trap?"

Yeah one of my sons is an engineer and he would be the same way. I noticed that some of the traps aren't quite as limber as others so I squirted a little lubricant on the moving parts. Seemed to work just fine.
Quote:

I have a question. I have several young hens that have just started laying in the last month or so. How long do you wait before you incubate your eggs? I realize a lot of people don't hatch eggs this late in the year but I have had so much trouble with foxes this year I don't really want to wait till spring to get chicks on the ground. I have been told wait till they are regular sized eggs, is that what you go by? If that is the case, how big do bantam cochin eggs usually get? I don't have any mature ones to compare to, can someone tell me an approx. weight?

I have several older Americana hens and some young SFH and those foxes get the SFH every time! I want to know how he knows the difference! I guess maybe the older hens are just smarter.

I don't wait. I do test hatches. I throw in one or two at a time and wait until they show development before setting several at once. I've found it usually doesn't take many eggs before you get a fertile one. However right now heat could be a factor that might make them less fertile. If you check them after 10 days or so and there isn't any veins or anything you can toss them and keep checking.

Trish, we've been keeping a close eye on the river's level. This morning it was on the lower road at the fairgrounds. The animals leave tonight, and the other exhibits leave tomorrow morning.



The costume contest went well. We had 30+ entries--poultry, goats, sheep, a rabbit, and cattle.

My son won Best Poultry--His Turken dressed as Dracula. My daughter won best homemade--her White Langshan was dressed as Rambo. All the kids got an animal shaped sugar cookie for participating. It was fun. Several kids were talking about what they would do next year! I'll post pics later. We had a prom queen EE, a Black Langshan hen in a bikini, a Black Langshan cockerel as a robber (my son said he robbed Atwood's and took all the chicken feed), an EE cockerel as a mummy, our cochin and chick as a mommy sheep and a lamb, a Turken cockerel Dracula, and a White Langshan Rambo.
LOL I thought when you posted this a while back that you meant the people were dressing up..not the animals. I imagine my comment that I would dress like a chicken probably sounded totally lame!!!!
Danz, I'm guilty of cutting too much off the tops of strawberries and leaving too much on the melon rinds for my ladies. Our poor puppy thinks she's their mommy; and with most of them gone at the fair, she just sits outside their pen like "I'm not letting any more go!" She'll be happy tonight when they come home.

I figure I took these birds on as a responsibility so it's my responsibility to make sure they eat.
All that talk about cucumbers worked though. I picked a load of them yesterday. I'm thinking of making some pickles. Even a few of them were a little large for my taste to make pickles so the girls will still get treats.

So I have a question, I am doing FF on the Cornish cross. I was thinking on adding grain to it. Does anyone add grain to their FF?

I make my FF using grain. And even using chick starter I added some grain. It might make the little stinkers smell better.

Cherwill - you concerned me for a second. I saw your Danz quote that started with my name, then I saw your words "idiot and water" in your response and thought, "Wow - I didn't think it was that dumb of a question to be called an idiot, what did I miss?"

I should probably quit skimming.....

Funny!

Well I am feeling like an old grizzly. I am soaked head to toe with sweat. I fed and watered and it was almost too much. I feel icky all over. It's so miserable humid out there. I lost a hen too. She was broody and apparently didn't bother getting up when she got too hot. I hate to see that start again. This weather makes my normally controlled asthma act up too. The muscles don't work properly when your oxygen intake is reduced by humidity.

 

[ChickieWickies]

I would love to see pics of all these chickens dressed up! I think that's a great idea though, I wonder if I could get our county fair to do something like that?

We have a superintendent at our fair that basically spends the whole weekend in and around the poultry barn and they water the birds the whole weekend. When we water we always check the birds around us too, you never know if the animals knock them over or what.

Our club's Chicken Project Leader organized it. Originally we were just going to do it at one of our monthly meetings (bring pics if the animal was large). We decided to try it at the fair--and I think it went over great. The 4-Hers had fun--and THAT was the important thing. They did the contest right before the scavenger hunt (a questionnaire our community leader came up with that gets all the club's 4-Hers to look at all the entries to answer questions) and ice cream social.