Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

What a day yesterday was started out a normal day at work until my son called me at work at 430 to tell me our house is filled with smoke and the fire alarms are going off what should he do. I told him to get out of the house and call 911 that we are coming home. Which he did and then kept me up to date on what was happening as we fought traffic to get home.

Turns out the power strip that runs our salt water fish tank malfunction and caught fire. Thankfully we have all hard wood through our home so the fire didn't spread but it did fill every room of our house with smoke to the ceiling and caused damage that way.

However my son is fine, my vet is currently boarding and looking over all our indoor pets as no one was allowed to stay in the house not sure how long that will be currently we are at a hotel. My neighbor is watching and caring for my chickens and my vet will be coming over to check them out as well. So yea yesterday sucked for my family but as it could have been so much worse the fire department said if we had had carpet we would have lost the entire house. So we are hugging our son and counting our blessing that it wasn't that bad and that after they get all the smoke damaged repaired we will have a home to go home too.

OH Dani I am so sorry. I'm glad the family and pets are okay. I hope you have good insurance. It should pay for smoke damage clean up. Servicemaster does that kind of work for one. I'm glad you didn't loose your house. You just never know when something like that will happen. I knew some people who did that kind of work and they used a simple solution of 10% bleach and water to rid the ceiling of smoke damage. Spray it on and wipe it off. I did that to a house where the previous owners smoked a lot and it did wonders. Lots of work though.
I had salt water tanks and I had problems with anything that the salt water could splash on to. I finally put all the outlets on the back of a wall dividing them to keep them from getting ruined. The salt causes corrosion and then it can short out. A down side other than just expense to a wonderful hobby. I still have thousands of dollars in salt water equipment. Just no place to keep the tanks except in the basement and I don't like going up and down the stairs. I had enough room in my old house I had four huge salt water tanks plus a mini.

Had another turkey poult hatch so that makes three now. Such cute little creatures. I have goslings due today as well.
I've let the geese free range the last few days. They are being pretty well behaved and the broodies at staying on their nests.
I was pulling weeds in my iris bed after I got home yesterday and noticed the hole the armadillo had dug getting away from the dogs was covered in grass and weeds that had been pulled. Strange, so I moved it and it is in the hole. I think it could be a female nesting there. I just covered it back up. I did hear the dogs going nuts last night though so I wondered if they had found it out and chased it off.
I've got to get busy on the garden today. Theres so much to do.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Thank you everyone yes we have very good insurance and ServicePro was already out last night they were the ones who told us that we and the pet can't stay here. Looks like we will be out of the house for two weeks but its all good its getting taken care of and that's all that matters.

 

[sharol]

When I put the almost 5 week old chicks out in the hoop coop this morning, my little Araucana hen (the one that raised the two babies) insisted on going in the run with them. I let her try it, but it wasn't a success. She is worrying about them, pacing around their run, but when she is in there, they are afraid of her.

I think I may leave them out overnight. I have a 30" sweeter heater in there about 12" off the floor, so they should be able to keep warm and the overnight low is supposed to be around 50.

I gave the other Araucana pullet 8 eggs yesterday (6 Breda and 2 EE's from one of my older hens that have tested fertile). This morning she was on the wrong nest happily sitting on a golf ball. I moved her and took the golf ball. She isn't the sharpest crayon in the box. I'm tempted to put all but a couple of eggs in the incubator and give them back to her when they hatch. That is why her last clutch didn't hatch. Anyone have any opinions on that?

 

[Ralph Moyer]

OH Dani I am so sorry. I'm glad the family and pets are okay. I hope you have good insurance. It should pay for smoke damage clean up. Servicemaster does that kind of work for one. I'm glad you didn't loose your house. You just never know when something like that will happen. I knew some people who did that kind of work and they used a simple solution of 10% bleach and water to rid the ceiling of smoke damage. Spray it on and wipe it off. I did that to a house where the previous owners smoked a lot and it did wonders. Lots of work though.
I had salt water tanks and I had problems with anything that the salt water could splash on to. I finally put all the outlets on the back of a wall dividing them to keep them from getting ruined. The salt causes corrosion and then it can short out. A down side other than just expense to a wonderful hobby. I still have thousands of dollars in salt water equipment. Just no place to keep the tanks except in the basement and I don't like going up and down the stairs. I had enough room in my old house I had four huge salt water tanks plus a mini.

Had another turkey poult hatch so that makes three now. Such cute little creatures. I have goslings due today as well.
I've let the geese free range the last few days. They are being pretty well behaved and the broodies at staying on their nests.
I was pulling weeds in my iris bed after I got home yesterday and noticed the hole the armadillo had dug getting away from the dogs was covered in grass and weeds that had been pulled. Strange, so I moved it and it is in the hole. I think it could be a female nesting there. I just covered it back up. I did hear the dogs going nuts last night though so I wondered if they had found it out and chased it off.
I've got to get busy on the garden today. Theres so much to do.

Danz, I do hope that you know that the Armadillo carries Leprosy, and humans can get it by touching them. Anyway that was what I was told by a state highway worker. The first one I saw here was about 20 years ago. They use to be no farther north than southern Oklahoma, but they keep moving north now. Armadillos and groundhogs are doing a lot of damage to crop land and pastures here. My dogs must see them as no threat, and don't go after them. They probably keep the coyotes from getting them.

 

[chicken danz]

Quote:
Ralph I'm very aware of that. Armadillos and humans are the only two species that can carry leprosy but we don't go around fearing humans. There are about 100 cases of leprosy reported a year in the US, and it is a curable disease, not like what they used to believe. It can only be contracted from contact with nose and mouth exudes. I sure don't plan to be touching their mouths. I handled gobs of armadillos when I lived in Oklahoma and no diseases yet. It's fair to be conscious of something like this but I certainly not afraid of it. Like I don't fear dogs and cats and rodents because they can carry rabies... unless they are acting agressive. Then I will respect their differences.
The reasons armadillos get a bad rap is because they burrow and uproot plants. I'd love to put them in a lot I have that is nothing but pig weed, Johnson grass, and Queen Anne's lace!!!

When I put the almost 5 week old chicks out in the hoop coop this morning, my little Araucana hen (the one that raised the two babies) insisted on going in the run with them. I let her try it, but it wasn't a success. She is worrying about them, pacing around their run, but when she is in there, they are afraid of her.

I think I may leave them out overnight. I have a 30" sweeter heater in there about 12" off the floor, so they should be able to keep warm and the overnight low is supposed to be around 50.

I gave the other Araucana pullet 8 eggs yesterday (6 Breda and 2 EE's from one of my older hens that have tested fertile). This morning she was on the wrong nest happily sitting on a golf ball. I moved her and took the golf ball. She isn't the sharpest crayon in the box. I'm tempted to put all but a couple of eggs in the incubator and give them back to her when they hatch. That is why her last clutch didn't hatch. Anyone have any opinions on that?

I've had several of my Araucana go broody but they really aren't great at hatching. They can be so obsessed when they get the idea in their mind. I'd let her sit on the golf balls or some eggs you don't care about and then replace the eggs about the time they pip. If she finishes hatching them she'll think their hers for sure.
I'm giving a couple of duck eggs that are close to hatch to a friend to put under her call duck. Her eggs are rotten. At least she'll have something to mother.

 

[sharol]

Ralph I'm very aware of that. Armadillos and humans are the only two species that can carry leprosy but we don't go around fearing humans. There are about 100 cases of leprosy reported a year in the US, and it is a curable disease, not like what they used to believe. It can only be contracted from contact with nose and mouth exudes. I sure don't plan to be touching their mouths. I handled gobs of armadillos when I lived in Oklahoma and no diseases yet. It's fair to be conscious of something like this but I certainly not afraid of it. Like I don't fear dogs and cats and rodents because they can carry rabies... unless they are acting agressive. Then I will respect their differences.
The reasons armadillos get a bad rap is because they burrow and uproot plants. I'd love to put them in a lot I have that is nothing but pig weed, Johnson grass, and Queen Anne's lace!!!

I've had several of my Araucana go broody but they really aren't great at hatching. They can be so obsessed when they get the idea in their mind. I'd let her sit on the golf balls or some eggs you don't care about and then replace the eggs about the time they pip. If she finishes hatching them she'll think their hers for sure.
I'm giving a couple of duck eggs that are close to hatch to a friend to put under her call duck. Her eggs are rotten. At least she'll have something to mother.

It sure seems early in the year to see armadillos in this area. They have been moving gradually north for several years, but I haven't seen them this early or that far north that I can remember.

I think I'll move the eggs to the incubator when it stabilizes later today. I set it up Tuesday and ran it for 24 hours or so and so I know it is running the right temps. Maybe I'll put some of the orp eggs in there and try again. I'd like a few more of them in the Orp run. They are egg laying machines. And a full incubator is more stable, right? ARRRRGGGGGHHHH. Chicken math strikes again.

 

[chicken danz]

I gave the eggs away the broody hen was sitting on and put some more desirable eggs under her. If she is going to hatch something it might as well be something I can use.
Been out working and got a lot of crap cleaned up and burnt and got the posts in for my garden. Crooked of course but they are in. Now i need to drag some wire up to put around it, and figure out where to put a gate.

 

[HEChicken]

Dani - oh no on the fire, but glad no one was hurt. It will be a pain to live in a motel for a week or two but at least the house will then be inhabitable.

Its a lot of work to put a fence around a garden, Danz, but well worth it. Actually, I don't think it would be possible to have a garden without it

Sharol, a full incubator is definitely more stable

I had another busy day, in yet another busy week - is there any other kind? I am gradually getting stuff transplanted out to my garden and its starting to look like a real veggie garden. Today we also had cows, sheep and goats grazing up front since its the only place the grass is sorta growing. There are some good chances to get wet this weekend and we're hoping against hope we actually get some this time around. We're in dire straits otherwise.

My Royal Palm turkey finally went broody. I just set 18-20 turkey eggs in the incubator yesterday so right now the turkey is sitting on a single wooden egg. However she is a good broody who always sits in the same place - the old hay wall - where she is safe, secure and sheltered. I have another 20 or so turkey eggs so I may just give her some more to sit on.

This morning I butchered the last of my excess cockerels. I was thrilled to have him done and have that much less testosterone in the flock. I still have 7 mature roosters out there and I'm even considering giving up one of them but at least the ones I really don't need are gone. Then this afternoon I went out to collect eggs and came eye to eye with the cockerel I had butchered a few hours before. YIKES!!!! I had no idea there were two of them! They are so identical that I truly didn't realize there were two and my feeling of accomplishment at having finished butchering for awhile disintegrated. Keep your fingers crossed for me that this really is the last one and that after doing him a few days from now, I don't find myself eye to eye with yet another

 

[lizzyGSR]

Dani - oh no on the fire, but glad no one was hurt. It will be a pain to live in a motel for a week or two but at least the house will then be inhabitable.

Its a lot of work to put a fence around a garden, Danz, but well worth it. Actually, I don't think it would be possible to have a garden without it

Sharol, a full incubator is definitely more stable

I had another busy day, in yet another busy week - is there any other kind? I am gradually getting stuff transplanted out to my garden and its starting to look like a real veggie garden. Today we also had cows, sheep and goats grazing up front since its the only place the grass is sorta growing. There are some good chances to get wet this weekend and we're hoping against hope we actually get some this time around. We're in dire straits otherwise.

My Royal Palm turkey finally went broody. I just set 18-20 turkey eggs in the incubator yesterday so right now the turkey is sitting on a single wooden egg. However she is a good broody who always sits in the same place - the old hay wall - where she is safe, secure and sheltered. I have another 20 or so turkey eggs so I may just give her some more to sit on.

This morning I butchered the last of my excess cockerels. I was thrilled to have him done and have that much less testosterone in the flock. I still have 7 mature roosters out there and I'm even considering giving up one of them but at least the ones I really don't need are gone. Then this afternoon I went out to collect eggs and came eye to eye with the cockerel I had butchered a few hours before. YIKES!!!! I had no idea there were two of them! They are so identical that I truly didn't realize there were two and my feeling of accomplishment at having finished butchering for awhile disintegrated. Keep your fingers crossed for me that this really is the last one and that after doing him a few days from now, I don't find myself eye to eye with yet another

Rain... we need it pretty desperately as well. The forecast is currently calling for us to get 4-6 inches of RAIN this Friday through Monday. I sure hope it comes nice and slowly so it soaks in. We need the moisture awfully bad! It's been a fairly dry winter.

yesterday, I worked hard to get the run to a usable state. I painted the door and door frame and then hung some chicken wire on it (just enough to be usable, not completely "up" yet. It really needed to be done. It's getting too warm for them to be in a metal building all day. Plus, I needed to get the wood painted before this rain. I was so sore after I finished for the day though. I could barely walk by the time I got to church. Carrying anything but my purse was out of the question. I am so tired of being sore! That accident sure messed things up for me for this pregnancy!

LOL on the "eye to eye with the cockerel I just butchered" thing!

When I first read that, I pictured it in my head as some sort of mean prank until I realized you meant you had two identical roosters.

I saw my first rattlesnake of the year today. Ugh! It seems way too early in the year to be seeing them already. This one wasn't too far from the house either. I guess it's time to get everyone (horses and dogs anyway) their rattlesnake vaccines! Anyone else think they need to make one for people???

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Rain...  we need it pretty desperately as well.  The forecast is currently calling for us to get 4-6 inches of RAIN this Friday through Monday.  I sure hope it comes nice and slowly so it soaks in.  We need the moisture awfully bad!  It's been a fairly dry winter.

yesterday, I worked hard to get the run to a usable state.  I painted the door and door frame and then hung some chicken wire on it (just enough to be usable, not completely "up" yet.  It really needed to be done.  It's getting too warm for them to be in a metal building all day. Plus, I needed to get the wood painted before this rain.  I was so sore after I finished for the day though.  I could barely walk by the time I got to church.  Carrying anything but my purse was out of the question.  I am so tired of being sore!  That accident sure messed things up for me for this pregnancy! 


LOL on the "eye to eye with the cockerel I just butchered" thing!     When I first read that, I pictured it in my head as some sort of mean prank until I realized you meant you had two identical roosters.  


I saw my first rattlesnake of the year today.  Ugh!  It seems way too early in the year to be seeing them already.  This one wasn't too far from the house either.  I guess it's time to get everyone (horses and dogs anyway) their rattlesnake vaccines!  Anyone else think they need to make one for people???

Do the rattlesnake vaccines actually work? Do you have to give them every year?

We got half inch of rain earlier this week but I sure wouldn't mind a bit more. Did anyone else get any? Hoping so.
Havent been on much more than to skim thru a few threads occasionally. Life's been busy and I've been sick. Sold two of my peas. I miss them but it's good to not have to deal with them for now. Hoping I can get the adult pair sold this spring yet. Butchered 3 of my cockerels that were way older than they should have been but I had to cut down on roosters and didn't want to waste the meat. It was a first for me and was a little bit much but I think I did ok. kudos to everyone who butchers on a regular basis. That's a huge job!!!!