The compressor fan in our heat pump went out 2 days ago. Under warranty, but it has to be ordered from Texas. No ac until next week. I'm glad we live in a berm house.
Consolidated Kansas
- Thread starter ChooksChick
- Start date
Not sure I'm posting in the correct place, lol, but here I am.
Was over on a thread in a different spot for "Kansans" where I noticed the combined effort for us Oz-peeps directed here. :-D
I'm just outside Maize (Wichita suburb). As a New Egg, I was thinking it'd be great to connect with local BYC'ers.
So, howdy y'all! ;-)
Welcome! I'm originally from Wichita myself but currently live outside Winfield. We come to Wichita at least once a week though for shopping & such. You do have quite a list there of breeds. I have quite a few myself with my laying flock & then those I raise. I hatch chicks, ducks, geese, & guineas so if you ever need any more I'm not that far & sometimes meet people in Wichita if I'm going there as well. You must not live in the city limits with all you have.
On the discussion of the FF, I only put the ACV in when I start a batch & then just add feed & water each day after I feed. I leave some in the bottom so that the starter is there & just stir to add it to the new part. It seems to work out fine for me & it lasts quite awhile before I have to start over with a new batch. This time of year it just goes kind of crazy with the heat so if you're having trouble with it going bad you may have to bring it into somewhere not so hot. I actually have mine in my sort of mudroom, which DH isn't too crazy about but it doesn't do so well in the extremes of temp either too hot or too cold. I just load up my buckets onto my wagon & roll it out to feed with. I figured out I use about 18 pounds of dry feed a day & then that's mixed with water so whatever volume that makes is what I use to feed all of my birds with. I feed all of the ducks, geese, & guineas the same thing as the chickens & they love it. The Sebbies follow me all around when I'm feeding till I get to their pen, which is last & then I get them into the pen that way. BTW Danz the two young Sebbies have joined the other pair & they hang out together now. That one I got from you last is probably a grey. I don't know what any of my babies are yet.
You made me laugh Deerfield, you behave
. Just make sure that you don't bring in any new birds or eggs and you will be ok.
I just sweat a bunch. I swear I sweat more than any human being I know. You should have seen my hair today. I was just wild city. This thin whispy, curly hair that is falling out sure can stick out when the humidity is high.Busted!
Well, Danz, I don't know how you are able to tolerate the humidity! It's brutal out there. We mulched three strawberry raised beds and wow! Sweat city. We also cleaned out the brooder and replaced all the bedding. I got some new lawn chairs ordered and even the cheap seats are expensive. I couldn't believe that but, oh well.
I worked hard as usual today but didn't get a lot done. My legs just didn't care to support me. But it was a really good day. I downsized some more. I sold 5 of my buff orp hens and kept the 4 that I want to continue using. I have one young cockerel I hatched and he and the hens are now in the building. That left one more pen open!!! Wahoo! Then I sold some young birds as well. After that I got a phone call from a lady in Oklahoma that is buying 7 sebbie goslings from me. I had two previous customers from there that gave her my name. Yay! It will be 2 weeks before she comes to get them but that is fine. I could tell she is a serious buyer. That will be awesome money.
My other customers who live in the KC area told me today that the price of eggs in one grocery store in Bonner Springs is up to $6 a dozen and a limit of one dozen. They have a sign saying they can't get enough to sell. Another person tried to order meaty chicks and were told their state wasn't allowing them to ship them. I wish I wasn't dealing with medical restrictions right now. I would keep every bird on the place. The boys would be sold for what they are worth for a change for meat and I'd keep every pullet I have for layers.
It's only going to get worse in the future. Egg producers keep their eggs for a long time and stock pile them so to speak before they are shipped to the grocery stores. Well they are biting into their stock pile without having the hens to lay more.
I think we'll see that it's nearly impossible to buy a baby chick next spring from the farm stores or from the hatcheries. That in turn is also going to hurt the feed producers. That's just my long term predictions. Sure has me thinking a lot about what to do.
My great aunt sent this email out the other day, they are up near KC as well.
"Y/day we shopped at the commissary and for two cartons of 18 eggs each, it was $8.12. That is over $.22 a egg, Our son is at camp and he said they can not find eggs to serve for breakfast, they are having to keep the eggs they have for baking. I have always used eggs freely. not any longer till the price goes down, I had saw on the new Eggs would be going up. guess that is one thing they were right on."
Hey, all! The kids and I are back from a trip to my hometown of Ulysse (which is in the southwest corner of the state, for those of you unfamiliar with that area). My parents are doing great, and I got to see my two high school besties. One of them now lives in New Zealand, so when she makes it up to the Northern Hemisphere about once a year, I always make sure to go see here. My other high school bestie lives in Ulysses with her husband, so we all get together when we are all in town! Catching up with life-long friends is like food for the soul.
The kids and I were bummed at the news of the Bird Flu restrictions put in place by the KS Department of agriculture this week As Danz alluded to, however, I am not sure I can trust that every other person bringing poultry to shows has checked their chickens for symptoms of bird flu before bringing them. The kids seemed to understand, after I read them the CDC information on bird flu, and they all agreed that they would rather keep a healthy flock than taking them to the fair and risk them being exposed to bird flu. They were very brave and understanding about it, considering they were really looking forward to showing some of their birds for 4-H for the first time this year.
@chicken danz , in one of the post from the last 10 or so days, you talked about how Silkies don't roost. I am so glad you posted this and I read it, because our pair of "teenage Silkie hens is driving me BATTY with no roosting. They, and our little Mille Fleur d'Uccle are always sleeping in the corner of one of the steps of the stairs that go down into the silo coop. Are Silkies able to fly at all, since their feathers are really just fluff? Our coop is designed so that the roost and run can only be accessed by birds that are able to hop or fly to the roost and pop door. We may need to make some design adjustments to allow them a ramp to get out the pop door if they cannot jump/fly from the roost to the pop door.
I was THRILLED to get home and find that the Poultry Standards of Perfection book had arrived in the mail while we were gone. I was bummed when I opened the box, and the book's cover was damaged. I am going to try to contact the American Poultry Association to see if I can return it for a book that is not damaged. The cover has a cut in the top that apparently happened during shipping. I wouldn't be such a stickler about it if it wasn't a $60 book. I still peeked inside of the book, and I LOVE the paintings done to show what each breed should ideally look like. I am looking forward to just sitting down with it and reading to learn.
@LavrisChica , welcome to Consolidated Kansas! I don't live far from you at all! I live between Wichita and Valley Center in the county. We have a 30-chicken, mixed breed flock. I hope you enjoy this thread. I find it to be fun and a fantastic source of education provided by experienced chicken keepers helping newbies like me along. Sounds like, from the size and variety of your flock, that you might be a poultry veteran yourself. So glad you are here with us!
I think our little Cochin Bantam, Tina, is thinking about being broody. She didn't leave the nest box much today, and I found her sleeping in the nest bucket, keeping her own little egg warm, when I went out to close the coop tonight. She finally came out of the nest bucket after I finished getting all the little stragglers up on the roost for the night. She allowed me to pick her up and put her on the roost, which gave me an opportunity to remove her prized egg from the bucket. We will see what tomorrow brings for Tina's behavior.
The kids and I were bummed at the news of the Bird Flu restrictions put in place by the KS Department of agriculture this week As Danz alluded to, however, I am not sure I can trust that every other person bringing poultry to shows has checked their chickens for symptoms of bird flu before bringing them. The kids seemed to understand, after I read them the CDC information on bird flu, and they all agreed that they would rather keep a healthy flock than taking them to the fair and risk them being exposed to bird flu. They were very brave and understanding about it, considering they were really looking forward to showing some of their birds for 4-H for the first time this year.
@chicken danz , in one of the post from the last 10 or so days, you talked about how Silkies don't roost. I am so glad you posted this and I read it, because our pair of "teenage Silkie hens is driving me BATTY with no roosting. They, and our little Mille Fleur d'Uccle are always sleeping in the corner of one of the steps of the stairs that go down into the silo coop. Are Silkies able to fly at all, since their feathers are really just fluff? Our coop is designed so that the roost and run can only be accessed by birds that are able to hop or fly to the roost and pop door. We may need to make some design adjustments to allow them a ramp to get out the pop door if they cannot jump/fly from the roost to the pop door.
I was THRILLED to get home and find that the Poultry Standards of Perfection book had arrived in the mail while we were gone. I was bummed when I opened the box, and the book's cover was damaged. I am going to try to contact the American Poultry Association to see if I can return it for a book that is not damaged. The cover has a cut in the top that apparently happened during shipping. I wouldn't be such a stickler about it if it wasn't a $60 book. I still peeked inside of the book, and I LOVE the paintings done to show what each breed should ideally look like. I am looking forward to just sitting down with it and reading to learn.
@LavrisChica , welcome to Consolidated Kansas! I don't live far from you at all! I live between Wichita and Valley Center in the county. We have a 30-chicken, mixed breed flock. I hope you enjoy this thread. I find it to be fun and a fantastic source of education provided by experienced chicken keepers helping newbies like me along. Sounds like, from the size and variety of your flock, that you might be a poultry veteran yourself. So glad you are here with us!
I think our little Cochin Bantam, Tina, is thinking about being broody. She didn't leave the nest box much today, and I found her sleeping in the nest bucket, keeping her own little egg warm, when I went out to close the coop tonight. She finally came out of the nest bucket after I finished getting all the little stragglers up on the roost for the night. She allowed me to pick her up and put her on the roost, which gave me an opportunity to remove her prized egg from the bucket. We will see what tomorrow brings for Tina's behavior.
Glad to see you back Grain Gypsy. We need some fun writing here!
Silkies can fly but it's more like that of a heavy built chicken. They can just go low heights for short distances. Some might consider that not flying but if that is the case these big English Orps I have can't fly either. I think it's kind of like some domestic ducks. They can go a foot or so high for 2-3 feet. Is that flying or not?Another thing left to interpretation. I do know of someone who raises silkies who has a rooster who flies out of a 6 foot tall pen all of the time. My guess is that he probably uses the wire to climb as he flaps his wings to assist.
I keep reading some really dumb assumptions on some sites about the AI thing. I really hate the way people jump to conclusions. People always seem to read more into what is said or and make conclusions without research. Then they spread that information as fact. I feel perfectly safe reading information from the CDC and the Dept of Animal Health as compared to what this person and that comes up with interpretation.
The CDC says the real danger of the disease spreading is not by air, but on people who have been around infected chickens carrying it in on their footwear and clothing and then coming in contact with their own chickens or going to some place that has chickens. It also says it could potentially be on the outside of an egg shell. So I am guessing it wouldn't be a good time to have eggs shipped in to hatch.... Technically though a sick bird will cease laying. AI is so destructive so fast I see very little danger in that occurring in reality unless some of the birds are sick and the others haven't caught it yet.
Of course some people would be afraid to buy eggs to eat if they read that because again they don't research. The law requires washing and disinfecting so there is no danger there either. Personally I wouldn't want to have a bird shipped right now because you have no idea what it will come in contact with while going through the shipping process. But that is my opinion not a fact.
Good bio security will protect your birds. Also if you buy birds know your seller or their reputation. I've had a closed farm for some time now but have allowed a few people I personally know have healthy birds to come in one area or another in past years if they are wearing shoes they don't wear with their own birds. I have tightened down a lot, but think I'll have to do more now to be sure. It will probably hurt my sales because seeing in selling. Pictures don't mean a lot in my books when it comes to judging the size and quality of a bird.
Of course if you think about it. Are you not going to allow your friends and family to come visit if they own chickens?
If one stops to think about the whole thing, nature takes care of itself. Plagues and sicknesses infect every animal kingdom to keep things in check. And then something else comes into play to stop that illness or over population when the balance is made. This whole thing to me is one of nature's check marks. It will balance out at some point.
Sorry. I hate to beat a dead horse. I just want people to be careful but research and not assume everything they hear is correct.
Now I'm wondering what price to set for my eating eggs. Anyone else that sells eggs to eat have any idea what is acceptable? I am not in the egg business per say but have regular customers. I have always sold cheap comparatively but it is time to change prices some.
Silkies can fly but it's more like that of a heavy built chicken. They can just go low heights for short distances. Some might consider that not flying but if that is the case these big English Orps I have can't fly either. I think it's kind of like some domestic ducks. They can go a foot or so high for 2-3 feet. Is that flying or not?Another thing left to interpretation. I do know of someone who raises silkies who has a rooster who flies out of a 6 foot tall pen all of the time. My guess is that he probably uses the wire to climb as he flaps his wings to assist.
I keep reading some really dumb assumptions on some sites about the AI thing. I really hate the way people jump to conclusions. People always seem to read more into what is said or and make conclusions without research. Then they spread that information as fact. I feel perfectly safe reading information from the CDC and the Dept of Animal Health as compared to what this person and that comes up with interpretation.
The CDC says the real danger of the disease spreading is not by air, but on people who have been around infected chickens carrying it in on their footwear and clothing and then coming in contact with their own chickens or going to some place that has chickens. It also says it could potentially be on the outside of an egg shell. So I am guessing it wouldn't be a good time to have eggs shipped in to hatch.... Technically though a sick bird will cease laying. AI is so destructive so fast I see very little danger in that occurring in reality unless some of the birds are sick and the others haven't caught it yet.
Of course some people would be afraid to buy eggs to eat if they read that because again they don't research. The law requires washing and disinfecting so there is no danger there either. Personally I wouldn't want to have a bird shipped right now because you have no idea what it will come in contact with while going through the shipping process. But that is my opinion not a fact.
Good bio security will protect your birds. Also if you buy birds know your seller or their reputation. I've had a closed farm for some time now but have allowed a few people I personally know have healthy birds to come in one area or another in past years if they are wearing shoes they don't wear with their own birds. I have tightened down a lot, but think I'll have to do more now to be sure. It will probably hurt my sales because seeing in selling. Pictures don't mean a lot in my books when it comes to judging the size and quality of a bird.
Of course if you think about it. Are you not going to allow your friends and family to come visit if they own chickens?
If one stops to think about the whole thing, nature takes care of itself. Plagues and sicknesses infect every animal kingdom to keep things in check. And then something else comes into play to stop that illness or over population when the balance is made. This whole thing to me is one of nature's check marks. It will balance out at some point.
Sorry. I hate to beat a dead horse. I just want people to be careful but research and not assume everything they hear is correct.
Now I'm wondering what price to set for my eating eggs. Anyone else that sells eggs to eat have any idea what is acceptable? I am not in the egg business per say but have regular customers. I have always sold cheap comparatively but it is time to change prices some.
LavrisChica
In the Brooder
LOL!Howdy and welcome!
I'm between Derby and Rose Hill... you have quite a flock! I have Buff, Light, Speckled and Silver Sussex plus a couple White Rock hens, an EE, 2 Jubilee Orpingtons, a couple Alohas, some mixes of Buff Sussex/Aloha or Speckled Sussex. Then I have 3 adult Anconas, a one of a kind pewter colored duck, and a group of 11 Silver Appleyards growing out very quickly. They keep me out of mischief, for the most part.
I know exactly what you mean! They keep me busy and give my world color, adventure, joy, and challenge! I would have never thought I would enjoy them so much and become twitterpated! he he he
LavrisChica
In the Brooder
That's great to know! So, you're a hatchery of sorts?? Website? I'll definitely keep that in mind, as there ARE a few more I'd like to add after this round of babies mature a bit more. They're about 4 weeks old now.
And yep, on the outskirts of town. Our property was actually annexed into city limits; however, its 80 acres and we are well on our way to having it rezoned as agriculture. Just need some sheep or goats to complete that deal!!
LavrisChica
In the Brooder
@Grain Gypsy and each of you, thanks for the warm welcome, and so nice to meet other clucker and quacker lovers like myself in the local area!! YAY!!!
Say, I have an abundance of Roos and Drakes. What/When/Where are the best sales, auctions, markets, etc for our feathered friends?
Say, I have an abundance of Roos and Drakes. What/When/Where are the best sales, auctions, markets, etc for our feathered friends?
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