Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

Sharol, that could make sense. Cuz why did they single this one out. Maybe they were tired of looking at her raggedy non feathered. I've had one of my roosters pop the dogs on the butt a few times and the dogs run away.

I saw someone post pics on another site for a living willow shelter for their chickens. So I made one today. I pray it roots and survives. If not I will have a wicker igloo in the chicken run.

I know. It looks pitiful. But I did what I could with what I had. Lol. The chickens love it. I just hope they don't distroy it too bad

That's interesting, I'm afraid mine would have that destroyed in nothing flat though, not even to speak of the goats would have a heyday! My chickens have lots of places to get in the shade & I hope after we get this fence up for the sheep & goats that the chicken's favorite bush will get a chance to recover. It's one of the few bushes I have left closer to the house. The goats ate all the rest of them.

 

[sharol]

My 7 week olds:

This one looks just like her egg-mother. I'm am thinking pullet? Can you tell enough for input? Mom is a Marans cross, dad is EE (ee mom, ee dad).





This one is clearly a cockerel -- note the 3 row comb and the irridescent feathers in the tail. I believe his mother was marans/orp, same daddy (the comb is clearly from dad).



This is the only one who got the feathered feet. I believe her mother is the Blue Copper Marans pullet. I'm hoping it is a she: her comb has some black in it, and it is looking like a pea comb.

 

[Trish44]

Sharol the top one looks girly to me. On the bottom one are the feathers around the neck rounded or pointy? It doesn't appear to have any saddle feathers developing, yet anyway. I would guess girl.

Yesterday was another busy day & this afternoon is going to be busy as well. I haven't had much computer time lately. It sure has been cool here, it did warm up a bit yesterday afternoon.

 

[cherwill]

Quote:

Sharol, that could make sense. Cuz why did they single this one out. Maybe they were tired of looking at her raggedy non feathered. I've had one of my roosters pop the dogs on the butt a few times and the dogs run away.

I saw someone post pics on another site for a living willow shelter for their chickens. So I made one today. I pray it roots and survives. If not I will have a wicker igloo in the chicken run.

I know. It looks pitiful. But I did what I could with what I had. Lol. The chickens love it. I just hope they don't distroy it too bad

What a neat idea; thanks for posting the picture.

We haven't been up to much of anything new lately. My nine girls have really gotten on the ball and there were several days they laid 6 eggs! Those were pretty warm days, though. Now they're back to laying 1-3 eggs a day.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

Hi guys, I have a few minutes so was popping in to say hi. I've been so busy (busier than when it was tax season!) lately with my project that by the time I get home, I don't even want to go online at all. I saw a few new comers so a big welcome to all. Also saw people getting ducklings... sooooo cute!

My garden was a disaster after the unexpected 5/2 frost and the unruly wind that we had. It pretty much wiped out 90% of what I had started this year. I was about to give up! But I went to Atwoods for some shavings and decided to check out what they have and lo and behold, they have some heirloom tomatoes that I lost! So I picked up a handful of those and some peppers. By then, I still had my eggplants and Asian sweet melons indoor so I slowly moved to them to get them acclimated to the weather and wind! I plant a couple out everyday (that's the only time I've after work) and my DH put sprinklers in (a huge project for 1 acre of land) so now we have a garden going. My potatoes survived the frost (still have some black top), garlics aren't doing so well though. I also planted sweet potatoes out the last few days. Hopefully, the rest will go in later this weekend and next week.

On the chicken front, they are all doing really well. I have 2 broody mamas and the original broody was kicked out by the new one. So now the original broody is sitting on nothing. I am thinking of sneaking a few chicks under her. The new broody mama are now sitting on some old duck eggs that I found so I really don't know if they will hatch or not. They are about due in a week or so. If they don't, I guess I can also sneak some baby chicks under her to break the broodiness.

I have 2 peking ducks I got from Danz that are hilarious. When I fill the duck pond, they love to look at me and I would spray them with water. They stand like a penguin, enjoying the shower on them. They really do crack me up.

After a long day of work, my only time is spent feeding and cleaning the coop, feeder, and pond. But It is also a way for me to relax.

I also came down with a severe sinus infection and lost my voice for 2 days. I'm hoping the antibiotics will kick in soon enough.

Enjoy the nice weather. Not much wind lately but I'm sure that will change.

 

[sharol]

I'm going to buy food for my mixed flock tomorrow or Monday, and I can't decide what to buy. I have 11 layers, 1 broody (not laying) 3 7 week old chicks, 1 rooster, and 3 2 week olds that will be joining the flock in the next couple of weeks.

Should I get Flock Raiser (18% protein) or chick starter (unmedicated) for the whole flock since they will be eating together. I got Flock Raiser last time, but it rang up as meat chicken feed, and I'm not sure if that is the right way to go. Of course they are getting oyster shell and their own eggshells on the side.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

I'm going to buy food for my mixed flock tomorrow or Monday, and I can't decide what to buy. I have 11 layers, 1 broody (not laying) 3 7 week old chicks, 1 rooster, and 3 2 week olds that will be joining the flock in the next couple of weeks.

Should I get Flock Raiser (18% protein) or chick starter (unmedicated) for the whole flock since they will be eating together. I got Flock Raiser last time, but it rang up as meat chicken feed, and I'm not sure if that is the right way to go. Of course they are getting oyster shell and their own eggshells on the side.

I have a mixed group right now too. I mix half and half of layer feed crumbles and chick starter; everyone gets a little bit of everything and a nice variety of the two types of feed.

 

[friendshipstar]

I have a mixed group right now too. I mix half and half of layer feed crumbles and chick starter; everyone gets a little bit of everything and a nice variety of the two types of feed.

I have three coops going right now with. Meat birds get 22% meat bird crumbles. Babies get chick starter 18%. And the free range Cochins get layer pellets and scratch mixed. We left home at 2:00 this morning for a trip to Colorado. Our daughter and her family are staying at our place to take care of the animals. I sure hope they can keep it all straight.

 

[chicken danz]

I'm going to buy food for my mixed flock tomorrow or Monday, and I can't decide what to buy. I have 11 layers, 1 broody (not laying) 3 7 week old chicks, 1 rooster, and 3 2 week olds that will be joining the flock in the next couple of weeks.

Should I get Flock Raiser (18% protein) or chick starter (unmedicated) for the whole flock since they will be eating together. I got Flock Raiser last time, but it rang up as meat chicken feed, and I'm not sure if that is the right way to go. Of course they are getting oyster shell and their own eggshells on the side.

Sharol if it were me I would buy the flock raiser. It won't hurt them as it is formulated to raise all kinds of birds. It probably has a higher fat content but that won't hurt them in the long run. I assume that your girls get some kind of calcium supplement as well. Layer feed would give excess calcium which isn't good for the growing chicks. Chick starter would be great but it's an unnecessary expense especially since it is spring and the birds are getting excess protein from bugs and stuff.
I am so far behind I'll never get caught up. I went on a trip with my DH to pick up a farm truck in Nebraska. We were gone at total of 30 hours and spent most of that time on the road. I drove from 10am yesterday until 8Pm last night getting home and I am exhausted. The day before I let him drive but we made much better time because we could take the interstates etc.
I was following him in the feed truck on the way home which was slow going and it was raining almost non-stop. He had no working windshield wipers so that made it even worse. I am so road weary. This has been the longest time I have been away from home in probably the last 5 years other than to be in the hospital. I was so worried about my birds. I only had three casualties. One valuable chick and two others that had just hatched before I left. My incubators were full of chicks when I got back.
I had my first two guinea keets, a duck, and a ton of chicks to get put in brooders when I got home.
I was so worried about the chicks in the brooder house and trailer and the baby geese but they did really well. The birds in the brooder house were out of feed and water which didn't surprise me. That is where I lost the valuable chick, but the others seemed to be doing okay.
Of course the baby geese were ready for fresh water and feed but they were all okay.
I didn't have time to clean the brooder bin for the chicks last night before I put the babies in so I need to clean one up and get those new kids moved to cleaner quarters.
I sold 90 orpingtons to this guy in Nebraska who just happened to call the night before we left. It was a nice payday and helped me move some excess birds. I sold pretty cheap but I needed to move them and cut some of the feed bill so it worked out well. I still have tons more and hatched that whole new bunch while I was gone. I assure you listening to a group of chicks that large for at least 6 hours who were hungry and thirsty isn't something I want to repeat often. But they all arrived in perfect condition which I was really worried about. I think he wants to buy some other birds from me and wants me to ship them the next time. He was interested in turkey poults. He is wanting them for eating. It really seems a shame to sell girls to someone who wants eating birds but I don't have any way of sexing poults.
Unforetunately family matters and another dental appointment is going to keep me busy the next several days as well. I think by mid week I will probably just collapse.

 

[sharol]

Sharol if it were me I would buy the flock raiser. It won't hurt them as it is formulated to raise all kinds of birds. It probably has a higher fat content but that won't hurt them in the long run. I assume that your girls get some kind of calcium supplement as well. Layer feed would give excess calcium which isn't good for the growing chicks. Chick starter would be great but it's an unnecessary expense especially since it is spring and the birds are getting excess protein from bugs and stuff.

That is sort of what I thought. I've been feeding Flock Raiser to them since the 7 week olds moved into the run with the big girls, but I was second guessing myself. Guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Yes there is calcium -- both oyster shell and chicken shells available.