Consolidated Kansas

[ChickenCanoe]

I finally made myself go out and do chores. I can honestly say this is the worst day so far all winter. The temperature isn't the lowest but with that brutal wind and the moisture in the air it was totally unbearable. Even though I blew it out, my stupid hose was frozen. I swear this IS the last winter I am going to do this. If I can't get things organized and fixed for winter I will seriously have to sell most of the birds.
I did manage to find a freshly laid goose egg while I was out that was still toasty warm. I think they have decided to lay in the early evening. Now if I just could get them confined where I could get eggs each evening it would be okay.

I said the same thing last winter (which was worse). I had 7 flocks and spent the bulk of each day just feeding and watering. It was a bad year to switch to fermented feed.
I pared it down to 3 flocks this year but had planned to have a circulated heated water system installed before freezing weather hit but guess what. I didn't get it done in time.
In warm weather I have auto water that saves so much time.

Anyone in Jefferson or Douglas county with 6-12 mo old chickens for sale? I'm looking for 12 to add to my flock.

Kansas may have a document like this but for those close to MO looking for specific breeds you can check this out.

http://agriculture.mo.gov/animals/pdf/poultry_yearbook.pdf

 

[nick1234]

ChickenCanoe,
That document is long, but seems to have a lot of good info. Thanks!

 

[nick1234]

chickendanz,
Don't worry, I didn't take it as self-promotion or anything. you seem very knowledgeable and are very helpful, thank you!

But, do you ever sell any of your chickens?

Also, (just learning more about each breed) do your barred rocks get along with the other chickens?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[chicken danz]

I said the same thing last winter (which was worse). I had 7 flocks and spent the bulk of each day just feeding and watering. It was a bad year to switch to fermented feed.
I pared it down to 3 flocks this year but had planned to have a circulated heated water system installed before freezing weather hit but guess what. I didn't get it done in time.
In warm weather I have auto water that saves so much time.

http://agriculture.mo.gov/animals/pdf/poultry_yearbook.pdf

I'm pretty sure Kansas doesn't have anything similar to that.
I did put in a building for the birds this year but of course it got put in too late (this fall) and still has a ton of work to be done before it's usuable. I forked out so much money but it's taking twice as much to build pens etc. I will still have pens outside but hope to run a water lines to them this year so I don't have to drag hoses all over the place.
I wish I only had 7 to deal with. I have 36 pens at the moment. I'm hoping to get all the chickens moved to the new building this year except the free range layers. The game birds etc will still be in pens outside. It would be nice to be able to build a heated building for them as well. It's not going to happen in my life time though. I'll be lucky to get my pens built inside and out let alone anything else.

 

[KsKingBee]

The cock was BCM and the hen was Zimmerman Exhibition Buff Orp. The hen is gone as we are more concentrating on the BCMs now. We recently upgraded our cock BCM and the flock is looking really good and true to the SOP.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

With the MO poultry yearbook, you can search for a breed and then scroll through the list that comes up and look for people with your area code or zip code.
Someone just posted on the MO thread that Rural King has chick days going on now with BOs.

 

[Trish44]

chickendanz,
Don't worry, I didn't take it as self-promotion or anything. you seem very knowledgeable and are very helpful, thank you!

But, do you ever sell any of your chickens?

Also, (just learning more about each breed) do your barred rocks get along with the other chickens?

Thanks,
Nick

Nick1234 I'm not Danz but I have Barred Rocks in with my laying flock & they do fine. I also raise the Heritage Barred Rocks & I have Heritage Rhode Island Reds as well & will be hatching this spring if you ever want to make a trip down this way. I hatch by order & have a waiting list. Danz is closer to you & she has the BRs but not the RIRs. I have a lot of breeds other than that as well, which you can see in my signature line. I do have two colors of Ameraucanas if you decide you want those. Mine are pure bred, not Easter Eggers like the hatcheries sell. Again, like Danz said we're just letting you know what we do have in case you're interested. I do have ads out on the online swaps & CL.

It looks like it's snowing lightly here again & it sure isn't very warm either. Right now it's only 19 degrees out with a high expected of 25 today.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
I wish I only had 7 to deal with. I have 36 pens at the moment. I'm hoping to get all the chickens moved to the new building this year except the free range layers. The game birds etc will still be in pens outside. It would be nice to be able to build a heated building for them as well. It's not going to happen in my life time though. I'll be lucky to get my pens built inside and out let alone anything else.

One winter I successfully got all my roosters to coexist in one building I was able to put enough heat on to keep the frostbite at bay.
I'm either going to build a compartmentalized building just for roosters or put a second level in the brooder house and put individual rooster pens on it.
I never have frostbite issues with the hens or cockerels.

 

[nick1234]

Nick1234 I'm not Danz but I have Barred Rocks in with my laying flock & they do fine. I also raise the Heritage Barred Rocks & I have Heritage Rhode Island Reds as well & will be hatching this spring if you ever want to make a trip down this way. I hatch by order & have a waiting list. Danz is closer to you & she has the BRs but not the RIRs. I have a lot of breeds other than that as well, which you can see in my signature line. I do have two colors of Ameraucanas if you decide you want those. Mine are pure bred, not Easter Eggers like the hatcheries sell. Again, like Danz said we're just letting you know what we do have in case you're interested. I do have ads out on the online swaps & CL.

It looks like it's snowing lightly here again & it sure isn't very warm either. Right now it's only 19 degrees out with a high expected of 25 today.

Thank you!
Does "heritage" pretty much mean pure-breed? What exactly does heritage mean?

Do you agree with Danz about the Speckled Sussex, Brahmas, and Orpingtons?

Thanks for the help!

 

[nick1234]

Nick1234 I'm not Danz but I have Barred Rocks in with my laying flock & they do fine. I also raise the Heritage Barred Rocks & I have Heritage Rhode Island Reds as well & will be hatching this spring if you ever want to make a trip down this way. I hatch by order & have a waiting list. Danz is closer to you & she has the BRs but not the RIRs. I have a lot of breeds other than that as well, which you can see in my signature line. I do have two colors of Ameraucanas if you decide you want those. Mine are pure bred, not Easter Eggers like the hatcheries sell. Again, like Danz said we're just letting you know what we do have in case you're interested. I do have ads out on the online swaps & CL.

It looks like it's snowing lightly here again & it sure isn't very warm either. Right now it's only 19 degrees out with a high expected of 25 today.

Oh and ya, winfield is quite the trip from lawrence!