Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Morning everyone! Supposed to be windy today and a bit cooler. Bummer. I was SO enjoying the nice 50-60 degree weather down our way. The kids have been out playing everyday. The chickens can't get enough of it-- they dive out the pop door each morning.

I got TWO eggs from my silkie girls yesterday!! YIPEE!!! They were already stone cold by the time I saw them... so they went into the fridge. But I just realized that I *thought* only one of them was laying... now I realized they both are! I noticed the two eggs today were different colors. One is more of a lighter tan and the other is darker. So then I brought out all the eggs from the fridge from them and looked them over-- sure enough, the eggs are either the same shade as the lighter tone and the darker tone. So now once I figure out who lays the lighter and who lays the darker... I'll know what kind of chicks I'll be getting since the girls are different colors. (splash and a black). If I can get ahold of those eggs before they are frozen on the bottom of their pen, I'll incubate them. They still are not laying in any particular place. Sigh.

Seymore is still laying, too! I thought turkey's went in cycles with clutches of eggs up to 10 or something? Well, we're way past that. I've even given some of her eggs away! I'm really starting to worry about how many eggs I'll be getting a day when all the pullets start in out in the coop, too! Yikes!! I'm already wondering if I should downsize. ha! I'll have to see how many of my friends want fresh eggs, and see what happens.

 

[checoukan]

Morning everyone! Supposed to be windy today and a bit cooler. Bummer. I was SO enjoying the nice 50-60 degree weather down our way. The kids have been out playing everyday. The chickens can't get enough of it-- they dive out the pop door each morning.

I got TWO eggs from my silkie girls yesterday!! YIPEE!!! They were already stone cold by the time I saw them... so they went into the fridge. But I just realized that I *thought* only one of them was laying... now I realized they both are! I noticed the two eggs today were different colors. One is more of a lighter tan and the other is darker. So then I brought out all the eggs from the fridge from them and looked them over-- sure enough, the eggs are either the same shade as the lighter tone and the darker tone. So now once I figure out who lays the lighter and who lays the darker... I'll know what kind of chicks I'll be getting since the girls are different colors. (splash and a black). If I can get ahold of those eggs before they are frozen on the bottom of their pen, I'll incubate them. They still are not laying in any particular place. Sigh.

Seymore is still laying, too! I thought turkey's went in cycles with clutches of eggs up to 10 or something? Well, we're way past that. I've even given some of her eggs away! I'm really starting to worry about how many eggs I'll be getting a day when all the pullets start in out in the coop, too! Yikes!! I'm already wondering if I should downsize. ha! I'll have to see how many of my friends want fresh eggs, and see what happens.

Congrats on the eggs hawkeye, living in your area I would sell the eggs. That is how I pay for all my chicken "things". Just have to sit down and figure your cost of feed for your birds, and then figure how many eggs your are getting, and then price your eggs. You will find you can charge just a dime more for what it costs to raise the eggs, and will make money to pay for your feed. Mine pay for there feed and then some.

I have a new baby rosecomb this morning! I thought it was pipping last night, and this now I have a new baby! I am always thrilled when these little guys hatch.

Our poultry group is thinking about looking at trying to find a different fund raiser. We have been doing monthly swap meets, but we just cannot bring in any numbers of sellers. We have the buyers, and the sellers that do come, usually sell out. Just need to do something to raise some more money, so we can continue to improve items we need at the fair. Any one have any ideas.

 

[ChooksChick]

Morning everyone!  Supposed to be windy today and a bit cooler.  Bummer.  I was SO enjoying the nice 50-60 degree weather down our way.  The kids have been out playing everyday.  The chickens can't get enough of it-- they dive out the pop door each morning. 

I got TWO eggs from my silkie girls yesterday!!  YIPEE!!!  They were already stone cold by the time I saw them... so they went into the fridge.  But I just realized that I *thought* only one of them was laying... now I realized they both are!  I noticed the two eggs today were different colors.  One is more of a lighter tan and the other is darker.  So then I brought out all the eggs from the fridge from them and looked them over-- sure enough, the eggs are either the same shade as the lighter tone and the darker tone.  So now once I figure out who lays the lighter and who lays the darker... I'll know what kind of chicks I'll be getting since the girls are different colors.  (splash and a black).  If I can get ahold of those eggs before they are frozen on the bottom of their pen, I'll incubate them.  They still are not laying in any particular place.  Sigh.  

Seymore is still laying, too!  I thought turkey's went in cycles with clutches of eggs up to 10 or something?  Well, we're way past that.  I've even given some of her eggs away!  I'm really starting to worry about how many eggs I'll be getting a day when all the pullets start in out in the coop, too!  Yikes!!  I'm already wondering if I should downsize.  ha!  I'll have to see how many of my friends want fresh eggs, and see what happens.  

Eggs can be incubated even if they get really cold unless they crack. There are even threads on here where folks have taken eggs out of the fridge after weeks and had success. The Trader Joe's eggs thread is good, too, where folks have incubated grocery store fertile eggs.

Danz, I just saw the puppies opened their eyes?? Where are the pics, Chicky?

 

[chicken danz]

@#$@%#@# I just typed a bunch and accidentally hit the wrong button and lost it all.
Hawkeye, the turkeys will lay clutches if they are going to go broody. But in general they just keep laying for a period of a few months. Cool eggs will hatch. I actually used to keep my collected eggs in the fridge before I'd hatch them and they did fine. As long as they aren't frozen solid and as Chooks says the shell cracks most will still hatch. As warm as it has been lately you would have nothing to worry about.
I don't convert my egg money into my costs for sure. I would have no market at all. I sell my eggs for $1.50 a dozen year round regardless of the super market price and that way I have the same customers every week and never have to worry about not selling them. I guess if I lived in an area closer to a major city I would raise my price up to at least $3 a dozen. Those city folks will pay for farm fresh free range eggs. There are people that charge that much around here but they have a place in town to sell them. I have the game birds which only lay in the spring and then I have the fancy chickens which aren't known for great laying. I'd much rather have the oohs and ahs in my chickens than some plain old egg laying machines. After all, they are here for my enjoyment not to make money on. Not that it wouldn't be nice.
You guys know I just took a picture of the pups 4 days ago! The only difference is their eyes weren't open. But I'll try to find some time to do so anyway. I am going to be gone a good deal of the day. I've got to go get feed this morning and then this afternoon I have to go to town to deliver some hatching eggs and to get my hair cut and visit my Mom and sister.

Who was it that mentioned the Yates Center sale the other day? I haven't heard the date yet. I normally go weather permitting. I did so more when I had goats because I was always buying and selling something. I don't like the fees they charge per cage for selling birds. After you make a cage and pay their fees you can't make that much money on them. I am sure it is better in the spring for birds. I might go down this year and try to score some more diamond doves though.
I do plan to go to Gardner in March though. I have a lot to sell down there.

 

[HEChicken]

@#$@%#@# I just typed a bunch and accidentally hit the wrong button and lost it all.

For future reference.....if this happens, hold down the CTRL key and type the letter "z". This is basically an "undo". Depending on how you lost what you had typed and when the last save was, you *might* get it back. I just tested it and it does work on the forum. I typed a bunch of letters, selected all and hit the delete key. Then I CTRL-z'd and what I had typed all reappeared.

 

[chicken danz]

Hadn't heard that before. It didn't help I had a cat rolling around on my key board at the time. I never know what happens then. I have one right now and it's very difficult to type with a head on your hands.

 

[Trish44]

Candace is trying to make a map of where everybody is on Google, so if everyone would go to the Kansas Poultry site & under her post add your location & what name you want there then she can add you. That way we can see where everybody is around the state, there will be little markers where we all are. We're still getting new members on our site today. Chooks, you don't have to be an admin to put a link on a site for us, just go to the page & copy the link at the top of the browser & paste it into whatever site you want. I have done it several places, but just make sure you have permission to do so on the site. Also, anybody who is already a member can add someone if you're already friends with them on Facebook.

HE, I didn't know that either, I learned something today too. That would have been very handy quite a few times when I typed a whole bunch of stuff & hit the wrong button & lost it all, I understand your frustration Danz because I've done it too.

I sell my eggs for $2 a dozen here, I really don't think the people around here would pay any more than that. They have gladly paid the $2 & not questioned it, but I don't think they would pay any more, but I don't adjust the price at all, it will stay that price year-round. I have seen in other areas where they are able to get $3 a dozen, but they're closer to Wichita. So Hawkeye, if you decide to sell your eggs you will have to see what the going rate is around where you are. I don't know how many Barred Rocks you have, but they're really good layers & pretty consistent ones. They will lay when some others don't.

 

[chicken danz]

I just looked and the first Yates Center sale is Feb 25th and 26th. I"m afraid it will be too cold for me down there that day since they don't heat that place. But if the weather is cooperative I might show up. I am always afraid I will bring home more goats or a zebra or something!

 

[HEChicken]

Hadn't heard that before. It didn't help I had a cat rolling around on my key board at the time. I never know what happens then. I have one right now and it's very difficult to type with a head on your hands.

Okay, this reminded me of a photo DH showed me last weekend and I had to go looking for it:

 

[rittert3]

So I was watching my OEs today and I'm starting to learn more about their personalities and pecking order. I was wondering about the younger hen she yonned consantly and would shake her head and/ scratch at her ear between yons this went on for about 2 or 3 minutes. She's a really healthy looking bird and the only one that wasn't ever effected by leg mites. Are her ears just draining or what is going on? I was using clorox water to disinfect an old brooder in the building the stay the nights in. It was aired out pretty well when I put them back in. I was wondering if that might have irritated their respritory systems?