Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

22Qzoo, thanks. I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought it was funny.
Looks like I have to make another trip to town today. I was hoping the guy would just come out and get these roosters but he says the cage is too big to fit in his car. So I guess I'll be taking in another cage and bringing two back.
I was feeling so lousy yesterday I forgot to shut up the chicken pens. I heard the dogs going crazy about 10:30 and remembered it. I was already for bed so I didn't go out. I sure hope the birds are okay.
DH told me there's been several confirmed cases of H1N1 on people working at the plant. It kind of irritates me that he didn't bother to get the flu shot. He's been coughing a lot lately but it's not the flu, just some congestion I think. But if he gets worn down he will for sure get the flu.I know people vary in their opinions but I for one don't have the immune system to fight off the flu without a flu shot.
Another crazy day ahead. I am ready for things to slow down a little.

 

[HEChicken]

I still have Konzas. I sold off most of the adults and juvies and kept a few, plus had a few chicks and eggs. The very minute I realized I was moving and not closing down, the eggs went in! I have eggs coming at about 3 a week now, and want to mix the breeders up a bit for selection of size. I'm going to have to build again...

I'm not at all sure what sheep Pinwheel has! I'll have to get her on here so she can speak to that. I think she's butchering some soon- I've been trying to ignore them until then so I don't get all attached. You know how I sob like a baby when I think about things like that. I'm terrible. Once I know who's staying and is a keeper I'll pay attention to them!

I keep sheep as well and really enjoy them. We butchered the first two in November and are really enjoying the fresh, grass-fed lamb. Even though I cared for them day in, day out, I found when the time came, it really wasn't that bad.

I am still so interested in the Konza project. Are you selling eggs, chicks or juveniles?

We still haven't seen the fox and haven't yet heard from DH's friend. My SIL texted me this morning that my brother had seen a fox trotting down their street yesterday afternoon. Maybe I need to send the friend there, too. Their ducks have the run of the back yard, and there are gaps in the fence that would make it very easy for a fox to get in.

Oh yeah, foxes will kill a duck as soon as a chicken. I hope hers are okay and that you are able to get something set up soon. As you said, even though you haven't seen yours again, just knowing it is out there, you know it has probably been visiting.

Every once in a while I see that someone is logged on but they don't post.

That may be me sometimes. I have a tendency to walk away from the computer leaving it open so it appears that I am online when I'm really nowhere near it. And sometimes I get on and read but then get called away before I get a chance to respond.

My Barnevelder eggs got here unbroken today, but they sat them on the cold concrete on the front porch while I was gone. Those postal service people just don't get it at all. Fortunately there was quite a bit of insulation in there, so hopefully the eggs will be OK.

Luckily it wasn't below freezing yesterday so hopefully the eggs are okay.

Hey everybody, I just lost ALL 6 of my chickens a couple nights ago to a fox. I'm looking to buy between 8-10 more. Please, if anybody has any for sale let me know. You can text me at 316-258-3494 thank you!

Rachel

Not to sound harsh, but have you taken care of the fox problem? If not, now that it knows where you live, it will probably check back regularly to see if you have any more meals for it, so any more that you get are likely to meet the same fate. I do live in the area and could see what I have available although I'm honestly not sure which of my birds of that age I can part with, since most of them I am raising up as part of a project. However I wouldn't want to rehome any of them if I thought there was a high probably they were going to end up dead within the week to a fox you know is around. I hope that makes sense.

Trish I think maybe you are icing the wrong spot. Maybe just eat some ice cream and that would make it all feel better!

Well it sounded like a better option to me any way.

I spent the last two days in Okieland taking care of my bees. Besides encountering a few stings and a couple of dead hives everything looked pretty good. I gave all the hives a candy board just for added insurance to help them make it thru the cold. My hives have a lot of bees and they will eat thru their stored honey pretty fast. Warm days when they get out and fly uses more energy than just huddling in the hive.

I am still fascinated to learn more about bees. I think we've decided we won't try to add them this year as we have too many other new projects to focus on, but I'm keeping it in mind for perhaps next year.

Hello everyone, been off for a while due to work. It has been quite a stressful tax year (so far) for me. I seriously don't remember the last time it was this bad at work. I won't bore you guys/gals with the details but just want to pop back in here for a bit to say hi and take a break from work!

Good to see you here and sorry work is being so tough on you. I hope it gets easier for a bit before tax season starts in earnest.

 

[tazcat70]

Tis the season.

 

[Mommabear5]

HEChicken- I don't really know how I'm supposed to take care of the fox problem. I never saw him, but I know that's what it was. Everyone I know on this side of town talks about seeing a fox, so how would I keep my chickens safe with all these foxes running around? Trust me, I'm scared to get more... I was sick over what happened. They were our pets, my kids named them and held them everyday. They knocked on my back door when they wanted to play. The only thing I can think of would be to not let them free range, but that's a pretty crappy existence in my opinion. Do foxes only "strike" when it's dark?

 

[CHIKENROOKIE]

Finally, my g retreiver leaves my girls alone. I have walked away and they still live! Warm enough this morn, I spent some time outside with them and they have free run of the whole backyard. I am just sitting by back door sipping coffee and watching for hawks out back. Hope to set up my netting tomor, going to be int the 60's............defin ready for spring I am.

 

[chicken danz]

HEChicken- I don't really know how I'm supposed to take care of the fox problem. I never saw him, but I know that's what it was. Everyone I know on this side of town talks about seeing a fox, so how would I keep my chickens safe with all these foxes running around? Trust me, I'm scared to get more... I was sick over what happened. They were our pets, my kids named them and held them everyday. They knocked on my back door when they wanted to play. The only thing I can think of would be to not let them free range, but that's a pretty crappy existence in my opinion. Do foxes only "strike" when it's dark?

Mammabear5, You would have to trap him or find someone who would do it for you for the fur. Foxes attack during the day and at night. They are opportunist and will wait and watch until the time is right. Better to trap one now than an entire litter later this spring. If you built a large enough pen that was nicely reinforced and covered the chickens would be fine. You could always let them out when you were available to be outside with them.

No HEChicken, I meant people that haven't posted in a long while that obviously stop in to read.
Are you kidding? It wasn't freezing there yesterday? We just broke freezing mid afternoon yesterday. It was quite uncomfortable out and the wind was still blowing. It's kicking some butt today as well. The news said it would be coming from the north but it would still be warming up. That's pretty unusual for sure.
Chickenrookie glad you dog is cooperating. Isn't it great to just watch the chickens. I guess that is something I miss the most. Since I have so many I don't have time to watch and enjoy them much. Usually in the summer when the garden is producing though it's a daily ritual to end the afternoon sitting on the back step giving the girls treats and just enjoying their silly little selves.
Yesterday when I was feeding I did take a moment to stop and watch one pen. There are multiple birds in there, both hens and roosters. I had put feed in the bowl several minutes earlier and they had all flocked in and grabbed some. Once the frenzy was over I watched one rooster. He would pick out a single piece of corn or something, drop it on the ground away from the bowl then do that excited little sound they make to let the girls know there is food. A hen would come over and eat it and he would do it again. He never once ate any of the morsels himself. What an awesome rooster. I wish I knew which one he was because he would for sure be one I keep as a breeder. I have several that look the same in there so it's a guessing game.

 

[HEChicken]

HEChicken- I don't really know how I'm supposed to take care of the fox problem. I never saw him, but I know that's what it was. Everyone I know on this side of town talks about seeing a fox, so how would I keep my chickens safe with all these foxes running around? Trust me, I'm scared to get more... I was sick over what happened. They were our pets, my kids named them and held them everyday. They knocked on my back door when they wanted to play. The only thing I can think of would be to not let them free range, but that's a pretty crappy existence in my opinion. Do foxes only "strike" when it's dark?

Therein lies the rub. Foxes are crafty, intelligent and a difficult problem to eliminate, especially if you are in town where shooting is not an option. Cherwill on here is also dealing with a fox at the moment and plans to set a trap in the hopes of catching it. She knows of someone who will be interested in the pelt if she is able to trap it. She also lives in town so that is the best option she has and probably your best option as well.

Unfortunately, foxes will hunt as much by day as by night. In my signature is a link to a story about a fox attack that did a number on my flock. Since I'm outside city limits, shooting was an option for me and I was very fortunate to actually get the opportunity, as typically they are too wary to come within range.

I wish you luck!

 

[HEChicken]

Are you kidding? It wasn't freezing there yesterday?

Once the frenzy was over I watched one rooster. He would pick out a single piece of corn or something, drop it on the ground away from the bowl then do that excited little sound they make to let the girls know there is food. A hen would come over and eat it and he would do it again. He never once ate any of the morsels himself. What an awesome rooster. I wish I knew which one he was because he would for sure be one I keep as a breeder. I have several that look the same in there so it's a guessing game.

Wow. No, it was cool here but was above freezing most of the day - high 30's or low 40's. I didn't check the thermometer most of the day so I can't say for sure but water bowls stayed unfrozen all day so I know it was above freezing. And Trish is even further south than me so usually it is a degree or two warmer where she is than where I am.

Cyrus was like that about treats - he NEVER ate treats himself but always gave them to his hens, no matter how delectable they were. That's why, even though he was a jerk to me, it was hard for me to make the decision to get rid of him, because he was the best rooster I've ever had when it came to the hens. He was unfailingly gentle with them, always asked permission to mate them versus just taking them, was on constant lookout for danger, when he wasn't actively looking for treats for them. He would even walk around the coop every night to be sure all the hens were safely inside, before he retired for the night. I've never had another rooster who was as good a flock protector as him, but the daily attacks on me took their toll and after putting up with it for months, I finally couldn't any more. Since then I've had several head roosters, none of which have attacked me, and all have been good with the hens but not to the extent Cyrus was.

 

[michelleml]

I hope everyone is doing good. Wind has started to pick up again in my area. I'm getting over flu still have cough but it's getting better. Dh is doing good still on chemo every other week and using the novottf device. Tumor has not changed sense Nov 8(recent MRI Jan 6). It measure 1.16 in in length and 1 in in diameter. The swelling has gone down. My flock is good have to many rooster need to get rid of. I only have 1 hen laying out of 12. But I'm trying to decided if I want to hatch this year or just buy pullets. Try not to get blown away

 

[Mommabear5]

Ok, so after talking to you guys, I want to try to trap this fox. Only a snare trap will work right? What if I get him? I can't discharge my gun to put him down. Who is this guy that wants the fur? Will he put it down? Ugh, so many questions!