Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

Quote:
I have been trying to look at it as just one more day that won't be horribly hot. The cooler weather is better for the chickens and for me. You have been drowning over there. Every time we get an inch of rain, you get 3 or 4. Hang in there. It will dry out eventually. Easy for me to say. Yesterday I threw some bedding out of the coop onto the entry area of the run. It was so swampy I couldn't stand it. I also dusted it with DE, and at least it smells better today.

 

[zigzag45]

@Deerfield Acres - Thanks for description on your breeding project. Pretty fascinating. I can say, "Sure glad I'll never go down that road" but I'm already doing things with birds I never thought I'd do - including raising them. So, I should never say never.

I do love the speckled sussex - the two I got from @chicken danz both went down the male road which was pretty sad. They were super laid back and pretty.

 

[chicken danz]

I moved some birds outside. I started having some problems due to overcrowding. It wasn't in my plans to move birds today but it was at the point I had to. I wish people could butcher little cockerels cause I'd be selling a few hundred of them on the cheap. I don't have room to raise all these birds and they just haven't sold well this spring. I know that later everyone will be wanting older pullets. I'm already seeing that but that won't move these boys.
It was just about the worst day ever today. If it could go wrong it did. I could have moved a ton more if I'd had a place to put them and any more energy to chase them around. Maybe tomorrow I'll get some more moved somewhere. I need to clean the brooders and it's time to get these guys out whether it's raining or not.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Crazy Kansas! Here near the OK border we had our first 'summer' day of the season. High 80's. Hopefully you guys will get a chance to dry out soon too. We have so much yard work to catch up on. I have Wed and Thursday off so I plan to get a lot done, hopefully I still feel as motivated when it gets here LOL.

@Prairie Fleur My Lavs enjoyed their first jont outside today, they sure enjoyed scratching around and spreding their wings a bit more.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

I've been moving my Ams out to the coop with the hens 5 or 6 at a time. They're doing well so far, even free ranging a bit. They're really good about staying close to the coop too. I'm sure glad to have them out of the crowded brooder!! Got pumpkins and zucchini planted this evening and I helped DH get the drip on the tomatoes and peppers. Slowly slowly were getting the garden in. Got some sweet corn planted today too. I have more sweet corn, popcorn, green beans, and sweet potatoes that I want to get in yet for sure. Now that we're drying out here everyone is spraying it seems like so I'll be locked in the house indefinitely in a couple days I'm sure. I so want to be outside on these lovely days!!! I'm trying to get as much done as I can while it's still safe out for me.

 

[chicken danz]

I sure hope it dries out and warms up here. I had to wear long sleeves all day yesterday. It was just too chilly. Just in the upper 60s. I can't imgaine being able to do yard work or get in the garden yet. I'm still sloshing in mud and water around here. We did have some rain forecast for today but I'm hoping it doesn't happen. The sky appears to be clearing a little. However I just checked the forecast and it says we will have rain in 116 minutes. Oh Great.

Talk about bursting my bubble. And it's still only 60 degrees.
I did look at my garden yesterday and the tomato plants are all but gone. They are still sitting in water. I can't get out there to them so there's nothing I can do to fix them. I really really want to get my cucumbers and watermellon etc planted but I can't.
Maybe I should be thinking about starting a fish farm instead of raising birds and food!!

 

[Trish44]

It's windy today & warmer here so there is hope of drying, keeping my fingers crossed. I was still wading in mud in the pens yesterday. We don't have much of a chance of rain here till next Tues. & that's only 40% so I wouldn't mind it if we had a couple of weeks of dry weather. Wheat harvest is coming up soon, the wheat is already starting to turn so I know the farmers here sure need it to dry out to get into the fields before long. It's always bad news to have rain at harvest time.

Ha, ha Danz, a fish farm!

 

[sharol]

I have babies hatching. I'm sure the BR hen is glad she has her nest where I can't get to it very easily. One blue egg shell this morning and a peek at the baby just a little while ago. They are Araucanas from Danz as well as a few Breda Fowl, so I'm VERY excited about them. All 12 were developing at 14 days.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

I've been hard at today! Love the sunshine and got a lot done in the garden, after the usual rounds with the birds.

I had to put hardware cloth over my small brooder because one of the turkey babies got out and into my sacred craft room. It left a couple calling cards, but we could not find that bird. We were thinking it was dead because there was no peeping in an odd location. Finally, called out all the kids (except the recovering tonsillectomy patient) and we looked high and low. At last, DS called out "Here it is!" I cringed, expecting the worst but suddenly "PEEP, PEEP, PEEP!" So once he nabbed it, it found it's voice. I was so happy!

After that little bit of drama, we finished up the weeding and started planting. We planted more tomatoes, peppers, carrots, swiss chard, kale, lettuce, sunflowers, indian corn, coriander and beets. Tomorrow I want to get more radishes and carrots planted, plus, onions, garlic, squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelons, nasturtiums, marigolds and maybe some Amaranth planted. We'll see if I am able to move tomorrow!

 

[chicken danz]

I have babies hatching. I'm sure the BR hen is glad she has her nest where I can't get to it very easily. One blue egg shell this morning and a peek at the baby just a little while ago. They are Araucanas from Danz as well as a few Breda Fowl, so I'm VERY excited about them. All 12 were developing at 14 days.

Can't wait to here and see the results. Sure wish the deadly gene in the Araucanas wouldn't appear. I have something in the incubator today but I haven't even had a moment to check it. I cleaned out and disinfected then vacuumed up the results in the brooder in the building. I didn't feel at all like tackling it but I got it done. I may have over chilled a couple babies that got in the water. They are under the sweeter heaters but at least still alive.
That was a major job. It smells fresh and clean in there now....for a day or two anyway.
I watered the birds and put out some feed and was actually able to do part of it without sinking in the mud. Today was a great day for starting to dry some things out a little. I don't have a clue what I am going to do with the pens that were standing in water though. There is visible mold forming. Does anyone know how to get rid if mold on soil without totally ruining the soil for future grass? I've got a bunch of it to deal with.
Then I actually mowed for a while. There are places the grass/weeds etc are way too high for the mower. Also they tend to be too wet and then the belt starts slipping. I can't hook up the brush hog on the tractor myself and DH is working nights so he's not available to do it either.
We had periods of dark skies and I swore we were going to get poured on but alas we got no rain. Praise the Lord!