Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

Well I had always heard that the BOs were good mommas & I have known of some people who had them raise a bunch of chicks for them. Oh well, I guess if she doesn't maybe one of my BC Marans or one of the others will or not. At any rate I have the incubators if nobody goes broody.

I left an egg in the nest this morning just to see if the pups went in there after I did & I didn't see them & sure enough I checked later & it was gone. I can't wait until that shock collar gets here to try it & see if it has any effect or not.

My granddaughter is coming in a few minutes, can't wait to see her, so I probably won't be on here till later this evening. I hope you all have a great day & enjoy the sunshine!

 

[checoukan]

Let me know if you hatch any Faverolles this year!! I WANT! My neighbors told me I could keep anything (including Guineas) EXCEPT peacocks. Shame too, because those whites are just stunning. Ah well, they're good neighbors, we get along well, and I'd like to keep it that way!

I plan on getting some Faverolles eggs later this month. Where I will be getting the eggs from I cannot sell the chicks, they are to be given away. Since I will have to hatch them. Just part of the program, but I don't think they would mind if someone would donate gas money, as I have to drive to go pickup the eggs.

 

[chicken danz]

I've got a several faverolle hens and 2 roosters that aren't related. There will be chicks for sure.
I have a problem. I have a hen that is limping. I've checked over and over and can't find a thinking wrong with her leg or foot. But the roosters take advantage of her not being able to run away and are just beating her to death. I've had her in a cage inside for a couple days but she isn't happy. I tried putting her back out earlier today and instantly 6 roosters had her penned down. I'm afraid they are going to kill her.
Any idea on what to do with her so she can be out and about and not caged?
I did put some ivermectin on her a couple days ago and held my breath. I was so afraid that mites would come off of her after reading on here. Nothing. It was a bit of relief. I had seen no evidence of mites on the birds but I just wanted to make sure. I worry about these starlings bringing those in too. I still plan to give all the birds a dose of ivermectin to be sure. It just creeps me out to think about having bugs living on my chickens.

 

[shotah]

@Ivy--It shouldn't be all that costly. What I plan on doing is building plywood bins (with lids) down the middle of my hoophouse. I heard about doing it that way from Harvey Ussery's book "The Small Scale Poultry Flock." The biggest thing would be keeping them cool enough in summer, but I'm thinking that buried bins would help. I wouldn't see why you couldn't use the ones you already have, although I've heard that redworms are better at composting. Try googling Vermiculture as well.

Let me know how it works for you, and I'll let you know how it works for me!

 

[Hawkeye95]

I've been looking for grapes myself to put around some runs. No luck though unless I get one year plants. I am looking for two or three year plants so I don't have to wait forever to get fruit. I was thinking I was feeling better but I'm back to sneezing and blowing. Ugh! I really was hoping this would only last 3 days. I really was ready to get out and get some work done today. But now I'm not so sure. I've been sleeping a lot and I'm starting to feel really lazy.
I have a bunch of eggs hatching today. They were some I found in the barn in a pile. Looks like it might be 100% hatch. You just never know when the weather has been cool.
I've hatched so many Seramas that having some big fluffy chicks hatch is such a thrill again.
My daughter has buff orps and hers are always broody. She is always trying to break them from it. They are only allowed 10 chickens in Austin, and because of them she keeps going over her limit.
In my own flock the number one broody hens I have are the silver pheonix. The cochins, brahmas, and the faverolles have gone broody but these Pheonix are the champions. I guess some just tend to be more so than others.
I wrote my nephew and asked about getting some peacock eggs to hatch. He typically steps on the eggs because he hates them. He said his dad would probably just give me a pair of birds.. I'm not sure I want a pair of grown peacocks,and I don't have a pen for them, but it would be nice to hatch some eggs and make a little profit. That is what I had in mind. I told him if he brought me eggs and I hatched them I would give him half of all I made off of them . I wasn't really prepared to have full grown birds around. I guess we'll see what happens.
My DH would kill me for sure!
I gave the puppies their first meal last night. Marshmallow had taken a pup out and placed it by the Fluff's food bowl. I decided that she was trying to get it to eat. I put a pan of moist food in their house. Those babies were covered from head to toe with food but it sure didn't take any coaxing to get them eating. I hate to shut the kennel gate but I am afraid that Marshmallow is going to start dragging her pups out all the time. I really haven't messed with them much so they are a little timid. I wish the weather would warm again so I could get them out and let them get used to chickens and such. Maybe next week will be better. I think I like having warm weather pups better.

Danz, I made it thru church this morning! No coughing or sneezing on the bread. But the cold medicine I'm taking has made me really loopy and I am better off sitting down than standing. I think I might fall. I'm really impressed with your hatches! Cute that the pups ate their food and basically bathed in it, too.


Renee-- thanks for the heads up on the silkies! I told my Dh you are our local 'silkie extraordinaire' and thought it was pretty neat that they might hatch a day early! That would make it a Saturday/Sunday hatch. The kids will all be home and that would be so neat for them! Great idea on the grapes and leaves. I have no trees here-- but my neighbor does and I bet he'd love it if I carted off leaves for him! LOL He'd probably pay me! (j/k)

My hens laid an egg each this morning, so I put those in the incubator too. That's the last ones in. So I bet they will be several hours behind the others. But ah well. Here's an odd thing-- after letting my incubator sit over night on 100 degrees on the glass temp-- and then double checking it again this morning.... I came home today and saw that the glass now reads 101!!! So I know everyone says that egg tray in the Brinsea reads lower than the glass, but my question is-- why on earth would the temp increase after being steady for a day?? I didn't add water or anything-- just added the eggs!! ????? I hope they will be okay, I don't think my digital reader comes in until Monday or Tuesday. Sigh.

 

[WichitaKidd]

shotah-I was reading about hoop houses this morning. Got me thinking about doing one for my run instead of building a structure of some kind. Might even be a less expensive option. Would love to see pics of your hoop house if you have them to get some ideas. Thanks.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I've got a several faverolle hens and 2 roosters that aren't related. There will be chicks for sure.
I have a problem. I have a hen that is limping. I've checked over and over and can't find a thinking wrong with her leg or foot. But the roosters take advantage of her not being able to run away and are just beating her to death. I've had her in a cage inside for a couple days but she isn't happy. I tried putting her back out earlier today and instantly 6 roosters had her penned down. I'm afraid they are going to kill her.
Any idea on what to do with her so she can be out and about and not caged?
I did put some ivermectin on her a couple days ago and held my breath. I was so afraid that mites would come off of her after reading on here. Nothing. It was a bit of relief. I had seen no evidence of mites on the birds but I just wanted to make sure. I worry about these starlings bringing those in too. I still plan to give all the birds a dose of ivermectin to be sure. It just creeps me out to think about having bugs living on my chickens.

Possibly bumblefoot??? I was reading on a thread that said the plug can be hard to spot sometimes. Hopefully it's not anything serious. I don't think I'd let her out if she is going to be mauled. Poor thing. She may be unhappy, but like I tell Seymore (on the days I'm forced to lock her up)-- you do want to be a live turkey, or a dead turkey? If you still can't find anything, perhaps pen her for a week or so and give her some time to heal up and calm down.

Trish--- pups are at it again! You have your hands full! Have fun with your grand daughter today! It looks beautiful out there.

Shotah, I'm so impressed that you raise all those creepy crawlys! ha!

 

[Hawkeye95]

shotah-I was reading about hoop houses this morning. Got me thinking about doing one for my run instead of building a structure of some kind. Might even be a less expensive option. Would love to see pics of your hoop house if you have them to get some ideas. Thanks.

X2! I think they would be really cheap and fast to make! I think I might build one for my silkie harem.

 

[shotah]

Here ya go, pics of the hoophouses (both covered and uncovered) and my cold frames up near the house. The hoops are just cattle panels bent over and covered with heavy plastic sheeting. I haven't started running chickens in them yet, but plan to this spring/summer. Smaller wire around the bottoms would probably be a good idea. The plastic covered one probably wouldn't be great in winter, since it gets so humid in there, but it sure does stay warm! Enjoy, and I'll be happy to answer any questions that I can!

 

[chicken danz]

Oops another double post. It must be the cold meds