Consolidated Kansas

[22qZoo]

Hi, everyone ! Been lurking just not posting.
Danz , sorry about your bird I had a young roo do something similar . He was SO skinny , didn't act sick , comb was bright red, was still acting normal, the only thing I could really identify was that he had a slight rattle ( congestion )I was sure I would loose him if I didn't do something.
I had tried some of the Vet-rx, some antibiotic feed, (that stuff bugs me cuz it seems like they never eat ,or drink it)tried probiotics etc..Finally I picked up some of the tetracycline powder and dissolved about 1/8 tsp in water and gave it to him and also treated him with some ivermectin .
I guess I figured he was probably going to die if I didn't do something . Two days later he was a whole new bird, hogging the feed bowl, challenging another young roo,preening . I guess my point is I might have had something similar to what your girl had and if we hadn't

caught him to do whatever it was we were doing I don't think we would have noticed ,cuz he seemed pretty normal.
I don't know if what I did was right or wrong but I can't justify taking a chicken that I payed $4.00 for to the vet to spend a fortune .
On a side note, my sister is m

 

[22qZoo]

Oops , phone rang and I lost my place. Anyway. She is trading for an old camper 1960s Aristocrat, anybody ever heard of "glamping" Like I needed a new thing to waste time and money on . Ha ha ha It's kind of like doll houses for big girls.

 

[Frizzled Pink]

Quote: I use aspen shavings for chicks and prefer the shavings for any feather leg/booted breed. Nest boxes and other coop areas get straw. I cannot remember what the issue exactly is but do not use cedar shavings for chicks or chickens-it is apparently toxic for them.

I am not a fan of DLM (deep litter method) ((to each his own)) and clean coops and use DE at least 1x every week. We use straw on the coop floors over a vinyl linoleum flooring as it seems to make clean up much easier than just bare wood.

As far as pricing, i believe its pretty comparable either way. TSC usually has store brand of shavings about 5.00 and if you go for the brand name at pet supply maybe $10-11. Straw--same way pending your location anywhere from $3-8 a bale etc. unless you can buy in bulk from a farmer then you would be looking at less $ but more storage space/care.

 

[cherwill]

It was either HeChicken or Ralph who said that he puts a bale of straw in the coop and the birds distribute it. I tried that. My coop is 6x4 and already has alot of pine chips, so I just put a flake in. It sat for half a day or so and then when I checked, was fully distributed and mixed in with the wood chips. That was amazing.

I use pine shavings in my coops & straw or grass clippings in my outside pens. The shavings are great for the DLM & don't seem to get wet. I just keep adding fresh shavings & stirring it up to keep things from clumping & every 6 months I do a total cleanout. I compost what comes out of the coop & it is really good for gardens or flower beds. I tried buying pine shavings from the COOP here but I really don't like the sawdust like stuff they have, I prefer the type Orschelyn's has in the cubes.

We use the pine shavings from Orscheln, and the deep litter method, and we're very happy with it. We do the same as Trish, and compost it for the garden. The chicken yard is dirt because they eat any grass that grows. DH throws in grass clippings for them. We don't use straw in the coop, but we throw a bale in the yard and let them eat all the seeds. They also cut the straw into smaller lengths. Then we rake it up and use it for the garden.

I can't believe how every one got rain. We got a tiny bit during the evening last night. Once again we are still in the dry hole.

We didn't get any. I was in Wal-Mart and kept hearing this very loud thunder, but it was completely dry when I went outside. DH said it rained on the north side of town, but not south where we live. It's not that far from one end of town to the other, but the north side gets a lot of weather that the south side doesn't. We've had plenty this year, though, so it wasn't a big deal not to get it this time. I'm sorry you're still not getting any.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Had some excitement last night. KCI (airport) reported record rainfall for Sept 19th. Towards the end of the storms, but while it was still pouring, I looked out back to see all of my birds sitting on the ramp to get into their coop -- in the downpour. They had been under the coop during the down-pours, and apparently the door had closed before they decided to venture out. So, I head out in the heavy rain, which has created a ton of mud, press the button, the door slowly goes up, and none of them move. Not a one... I had to pick each up, put them through the door, where they still just sat, until I put another one in, then the first one would scamper out of the way. As I was doing it I realized how dark it was inside the coop, which was likely a factor. I hung a flashlight from the ceiling for a few minutes so they could get settled in... 

Also made an interesting discovery yesterday. After putting down grass seed around their run, I had kept them more in their run more to let the seed sprout. Now that it's sprouted, it appears they are eating the new grass shoots. I thought they'd just eat the seeds, I guess someone told them how healthy freshly sprouted seeds are. I think my back yard will never be the same with the birds back there!

It was either HeChicken or Ralph who said that he puts a bale of straw in the coop and the birds distribute it. I tried that. My coop is 6x4 and already has alot of pine chips, so I just put a flake in. It sat for half a day or so and then when I checked, was fully distributed and mixed in with the wood chips. That was amazing.

Do you guys prefer wood chips or straw as bedding? My coop is raised (Purina design). I'm not sure which is cheaper at this point.

We did get quite a bit of rain here so we are happy. The birds seem to appreciate the rain too!

We use sand but just the other day, DH was commenting about the long prairie grass on our property and wondering if we could just have our neighbor come bale the hays and use that in the coop instead of sand. If this works, I may just switch to that and see how that goes. I have never tried the DLM before so it will be interesting to see how well that will work.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

[COLOR=006400]We use the pine shavings from Orscheln, and the deep litter method, and we're very happy with it. We do the same as Trish, and compost it for the garden. The chicken yard is dirt because they eat any grass that grows. DH throws in grass clippings for them. We don't use straw in the coop, but we throw a bale in the yard and let them eat all the seeds. They also cut the straw into smaller lengths. Then we rake it up and use it for the garden. [/COLOR]



[COLOR=006400]We didn't get any. I was in Wal-Mart and kept hearing this very loud thunder, but it was completely dry when I went outside. DH said it rained on the north side of town, but not south where we live. It's not that far from one end of town to the other, but the north side gets a lot of weather that the south side doesn't. We've had plenty this year, though, so it wasn't a big deal not to get it this time. I'm sorry you're still not getting any. [/COLOR]

A few days ago we had some rain but just 1/8nmile north of us didn't get diddly squat. It was weird to see dusty dry dirt road while we were battling puddles and messy mud down our road.

Glad you guys got some rain before and is not desperate for rain. Last 2 yrs wasnjust horribly dry and hot. I think this year's weather isnmuch tolerable even though instill complained about the heat. LOL

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Tragedy strikes at our house this morning. We went to have breakfast and when we came home, we noticed the chickens were all hiding in the coop. Upon further inspection, we noticed that the garage door was wedged open and the 2 GPs were gone. Someone either took the dogs or let the dogs out. DH found a wood block wedged under the garage door and created a big gap. We are absolutely devastated. We holler and drove around but didn't find the dogs. It's especially heart broken for DS because he was very close to the dogs.

I just don't know who would have done it.

I'm not even sure the dogs know their way back if they were still around the area here some where.

 

[chicken danz]

Oh so sorry Tweety. Who would have known they were in there? You haven't had them that long. Do you have neighbors that might have been unhappy about you having them? Is there any chance they might have gotten out on their own? If the chickens were hiding, I was thinking maybe a predator came up and they went after it. If that was the case they might come back. I so hope so.
I slept late this morning. Must have been the cooler weather that made me lazy.
22Qzoo, I bought an old camper trailer. It was from the 50's. I got to researching and got the bug to redo it but then decided the outer boards underneath were too far gone. DH was thinking of making a trailer out of the base because it pulled like a dream. But like many projects that never happened. So I ended up gutting it and making it into what I call the ghetto. It's now a chicken house. Mine had been painted a few times on the outside which really made it look tacky but I had thought about striping it off and repainting it. At any rate the reasons for using it as a chicken house (which I bought it for in the first place) were the floor and the fact there is no AC. The refrigerator was actually an ice box. In other words it had no cooling without adding ice. Some of the lights were even originally gas powered but they had switched them to electric at some point. I wouldn't have ever camped in it any way cause that isn't my thing...but it would have been a fun project. As it is it is an awesome chicken house on the cheap.
I need to find some more brooder space. My babies are really crowded in here. I may have to rebuild one of the brooder boxes I have so I can use it in the brooder house.
DH got the corner pieces on the turkey house I built yesterday so it is done ...for now. I still may put a door panel up on one side to help block the wind in the winter. Mostly just to keep the snow from drifting in. He goes back to work in a couple days so we need to get the pen started so I can get them moved into their new quarters soon.
I may have to spend the day cleaning house though. If my son and DIL are coming tomorrow I'll need to at least clean up a little. Like wash dishes and sweep the floor any way.
I've been trying to gather my pieces so I can make a crank ghost. I bought all the stuff to do it probably 10 years ago and I decided this year I was really going to complete it. It's been so long though I have parts here and there. I ran across the motor a while back and now I can't find the LEDs I bought to make eyes. I also have stuff strung all over the front room to work on my Christmas decorations. More projects I probably won't get done.

 

[Trish44]

Tragedy strikes at our house this morning. We went to have breakfast and when we came home, we noticed the chickens were all hiding in the coop. Upon further inspection, we noticed that the garage door was wedged open and the 2 GPs were gone. Someone either took the dogs or let the dogs out. DH found a wood block wedged under the garage door and created a big gap. We are absolutely devastated. We holler and drove around but didn't find the dogs. It's especially heart broken for DS because he was very close to the dogs.

I just don't know who would have done it.

I'm not even sure the dogs know their way back if they were still around the area here some where.

Oh tweety, I'm so sorry about the dogs, I hope you find them. I agree, it does kind of sound like the dogs might have gone after something if the chickens were hiding. I hope they will come back or you find them.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

I saw some of my young Muscovy ducks catching some early morning sun. I thought it made a nice group photo.