Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

So you don't think that top soil would be too awful? I'm just afraid of fertalizing chemicals that are added to some of them. I guess maybe the super cheap stuff won't have that, will it? I know the organic bags that I got (they were tiny too) were stupid priced for what they were.

Top soil shouldn't have any additives like the potting soil does.

 

[chicken danz]

Great Job, Hawkeye. Just like normal!

 

[HEChicken]

Great Job, Hawkeye. Just like normal!

x2

 

[Candace69]

You can start with the Duramycin since that is what you have on hand. Give it a day or two-- unless he shows signs of being worse. The unfortunate thing about Duramycin is that it binds to calcium in the body and it just isn't very effective at all. I almost think if you dose them a bit over, it might work better, but it's not a good idea to over dose on purpose. I think in your situation you'll need the Tylan. Worst case-- you'll need Baytril. (injection) The Tylan can be injected or put in the water. Personally, I'd inject it just so you know exactly how much he's gotten. But the water soluble will work too--- it'll just be slower.

Peacock update, had to wait for DH to be able to do the VetRx, helped him finish up the pens for the Pheasants, then we were going to move the peafowl to the nursery, which was where there was a light and such....But GOOD NEWS, I do think it was a abscess, I still did the VetRx, but we didn't put him in the nursery, the swelling around the eye is 1/4 what it was earlier, and he is not scratching, yawning or no puss is coming out. It's still soft to the touch, but was praying it was just an injury, and now seeing this, I am hopeful it was! (Esp since all these are Dh's b-day gifts!)

Thanks for all the help, I'll be keeping a close eye on everyone, shipping stress related stuff can effect anything.

Candace, Duramycin will only work if you aren't feeding calcium. If you are feeding layer feed or additional calcium it will block the duramycin so it won't work.
I personally would only give VetRX to all the birds at this point. You can just squirt some in their water if you aren't treating one individually. The only one I would give antibiotics to is the sick one with the swollen eye. If this is a virus which most colds and flues are, antibiotics won't do any thing but imbalance their system. You should only give antibiotics when a cold or flu has caused a secondary infection, like that swollen eye or more obvious labored breathing.
I looked for Tylan at Bluestem and they didn't have it, Candace. I found some at TSC though. It would probably work better for respiratory infections than duramycin does. but you can use that until you can find something else.
I sure don't understand the price of cattle around here. They should be going way down rather than up. The stupid things are starving because of the drought. I've said I should just take a semi to Texas and load up.
BTW, the white swan went for about $180 I think. The black swan went for $250.

Thanks, but it really wasn't his eye, but below his eye; but all that info is good to know. It sounds about like what I do with the goats. I am just doing the vetRx for him and I'll check him in the morning. The TSC is 1 1/2 hours from me, but I did price it on valleyvet. Is it the big jar at TSC?

Interesting to know about the Swans, but that was just one, don't they need to be a mated pair?

Hawkeye, that's a cute lil coup!

 

[tweetysvoice]

Are those the trellis's you're talking about that are hung on the privacy fence? That is really pretty. What are you thinking of growing on them?

No, those were there when we moved in - I believe it has honeysuckle already below it. I created the PVC square frame and added netting directly behind the raised beds. I plan on growing sugar snap peas, green beans and melons on them.

Okay, I got more done on my coop. Looked at the pics, and that is great work!! Good job at piecing everything together from the scrap pile. I'm really wishing we would have taken all the scrap wood we had at our old place, but DH insisted that it was too much work to move it.

Oh I forgot something. Tweety you do very pleasant and appealing work. (blush) awww.. shucks. Thank you. I had fun creating the nesting box. I had to pull apart most of it and re-piece it together so I didn't have spaces between the slate. I remembered what you guys said about them wanting a private dark place.


Don't worry about fertilizer. It may not be chemicals at all. Most fertilizers are minerals and minerals are essential to life. Now herbicides and insecticides are an entirely different thing. Look for potting soils that say STERILE. That indicates they've been heat treated and hopefully all the bad stuff has been removed. Thank you! That's what I was hoping to hear!

Quote:

.But GOOD NEWS, I do think it was a abscess That is good news if that's all it is!! Keep us posted

 

[chicken danz]

Yeah and both swans were male. Obviously someone was changing blood lines or had too many males. There were a couple sizes of Tylan. I think it is tylan 50 soluble in a small jar for $9.99 at TSC.
Tell Kelsey those hogs were heritage hogs so they got really expensive. Surely I can find a weaning or feeder pig since spring is coming. With my expenses I may have to just eat chicken this year. LOL

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Tweety: Nice work!

Candace: Hope the peacock is doing better.

Hawkeye: Almost done, looks great!

Envy those who went to the swap in Yates even though it wasn't quite what you expected! Sounds like fun seeing all the different critters.

I spent the day making the rounds of Walmart, Dillons, Lowe's and Atwood's, all in Derby, while DH continued work on my chicken projects. I was tempted at Atwood's by the bantams but restrained my impulsive self. They were really cute. Anyway, DH has really worked hard on my brooder enclosure/light box, getting the large brooder secured and ready and converting a shed into a permanent coop. He still has to complete the coop and run but he's done an amazing amount of work in a short period of time. His allergies are making him feel tired but he forged ahead.

The sand is slowly but surely drying in the new brooder area. In the meantime, the chicks are doing amazingly well in their smaller area in the craft room. I was nervous about picking and stuff like that but they're happy birds and that makes me happy. I added a 2 gallon waterer today and put the waterers up on concrete blocks so as to keep the little messes from kicking them full of pine shavings. The metal waterers clog easily and it was just too much work checking on them so often. I still have bantams so had to make sure they still have access so I made ramps with bricks and boards and it's working just great. That's a relief. I'm such a newbie. Every little thing is a big deal.

That's it for me tonight. Good night, Kansas.

 

[Ivywoods]

I get to be the one to say the REALLY late-night Goodnight!

Hawkeye-The little coop looks great. Yes working with used stuff is a bit more of a challenge. It involves a lot of "scrounging" to find the piece that will fit and then to make sure you have enough pieces to do the rest of the project, and on and on. New material is a lot easier to work with (a lot less splinters, too!) but I get a lot of satisfaction out of adaptive re-use!

Danz-I'm going to bed soon. Hope I can sleep. Mike and I are SO excited to see our new pup. We will think of a name once we spend some time with her.

Candace-I'm so glad the peacock is doing better. I was so worried you had brought home something really bad and contagious. What a relief. I know those peacocks really don't like to be confined, so it is very possible it threw a fit and hurt itself.

Good night everyone. I think I am just about brain dead for the day!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Danz and HEchicken-- thanks! It's coming along. It won't win a beauty pagent, but it'll be rustically charming.

Candace, that is great that he isn't scratching and shaking his head. The VetRX won't hurt anything-- it's not a medicine, so if you get at all worried, don't feel bad about using it. I would probably still give him an antibiotic of some kind for the problem area on his face-- even if that is a topic triple antibiotic. The respiratory usually goes in this order-- the yawn, a scratch near the face, and then a head shake. It's so odd to hear people write that order in over and over-- it must be classic symptoms. I've spent a lot of time reading 'injuries/illness' when my own birds came down sick.

Tweety-- a friend of mine was able to grow watermelon on a trellis-- or maybe it was a clothes line. I don't remember. She made the vines grow up off the ground, and then when a melon formed, it was put in a fabric 'sling' to support the weight and tied to the trellis. Pretty cool idea. I think your idea should work, too! That will be fun, and hopefully easier. Let us know if it works out well.

Karen, sounds like a chickie wonderland you have set up in there. When do you plan on moving them? Do you already have their barn ready to go when they outgrow the brooder? I do all of my shopping in Derby, too. It's much easier than driving into Wichita. I bet everyone at the Derby Lowes knows me though. There are a couple of them I know by name now. There is a lady there that has pigs, cows and chickens-- all raised for meat. I love talking to her-- she is usually in flooring. (blond hair, young)

Ivy-- we must have puppy pictures when you get your girl! So fun that you get to see Danz today! Hopefully there will be a reason of some kind for me to meet her this summer too! Maybe at a meet or something. Sounds like you understand the making out of recycling. Things don't always fit perfectly. I'm working with wood that isn't always as long as I need it and trying to make do or just get really creative about it. Good night and good morning!

There is a 20% chance of rain today, and I have appts today I have to be at. So I don't know what I'll get done (if anything) on the coop. If it rains, then nothing. I'm ready to have it finished and move on to the next one. I'm NOT looking forward to fixing windows, though.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye, Ivy has been here before so it's not a first meet but it'll be great to see her again. She is s super fun person to be around. I can't wait for them to see the puppies. I love them to death.
This is something to toss around in everyone's head. I keep thinking the perfect central place to have a swap meet would be in or around Emporia. I would have to do some checking to see what I can do without violating any local ordinances and where we could have it. The two best possibilities would be at Bluestem or Sutherlands because they both sell poultry products and both have decent parking lots. Sutherlands parking lot would be the most accomodating, but we would have more interested buyers at Bluestem that just happened to stop in. I would have to talk to the owners and see what they said. I also would like to be as legal as possible. If anyone has any ideas or input I would appreciate it. It is going to take some work and effort to organize it.
Any opinions? I would also like to schedule for warm but not hot weather.
There is always the fair grounds as well but I have a feeling they would want an arm and a leg to rent the facilities. I'm thinking we need a free venue.