Consolidated Kansas

[averytds]

Sorry, I've been with one kid at camp all week & having to share the PC for the little time I wasn't busy with her or battling water. Prayers for Candace.

Hawkeye-Looks like you're doing well in the Silkie show prep dept.

Tammy-Congrats on the new little one.


The nipple waterers in the pic do not work at an angle, they will drip constantly if you attach them that way.

Been there, done that. I bought a bulk bag of the 360 screw in ones off Ebay. Put "poultry nipples" in the search box. You can pick them up cheap.

The setup in the pics is secured to the post behind it, so it won't go anywhere. I don't think there was anything necessarily "wrong" with the Thermocube, but it was inside the coop out of the wind and such and the waterer was not. The water in the bucket never froze over, but there were some windy, freezing mornings the nipples did somewhat. Removing the Thermocube allowed the heater to run longer and I didn't have any problems after that. Maybe it could have been resolved with a higher watt bulb or the waterer more sheltered. I don't know, because I didn't take stuff down or move anything to try it.

Here are my favorite homemade heated poultry/nipple systems I would do if I already had the stuff laying around. http://avianaquamiser.com/posts/Heated_bucket_chicken_waterer/
and http://avianaquamiser.com/posts/Heated_chicken_bucket_waterer_good_to_20_below/ A bucket heater would do just as well.


I like my poultry cup drinkers too. I've also used them successfully attached directly to a bucket and cookie tin heater for 2 winters now. The only leaking issues I've had with them has been caused by dirt/debris/dust

something from the water reservoir. Dis-assembly and cleaning resolved every time. I've found the easiest way to avoid is to say attach tubing an Inch or so up the side, so possible debris can settle to the bottom of the reservoir and never get to the cup. Also a good lid on top.

Two things I like about the cups vs the nipples, no water mess if all is working well and deep drinks in Summer. The poultry nipples will end up with a wet area below when in consistent use. Not leaking, just drops the birds don't catch while using. Inside I use mainly cup waterers and rabbit type to keep things dry. I also add wood pellets to help absorb moisture and keep everything dry. Don't know it would be a serious issue, but I'm keeping them for outside and wire bottoms for the time being.

Off to bed. Hoping to enjoy sunny weather and dry out the next few days.

 

[MarcAustin]

Happy weekend fellow Chickeneers. The sun's rising and accu-weather claims we'll hit 70 today !! Good time to dust off the motorcycle.

Following the garden subtopic - my BFF and I have a 20'x20' plot here at the Eldorao Community Gardens. It's a project sponsored by a charity called Numana. Last weekend we started the carrots, potatoes, rutabagas, broccoli, onions, and a few others. Wanted to ask if you know how to work this thing or can give me a link. It's some type of seed starter that I might be able to use for the tomato plants such that they'll have some size before planting in a few weeks:


KarensS
FREE Cockerels:
Where are you located ??
KarensS

ChooksChick
Does anyone have experience with Chinese brown geese


Those are awesome looking. We have an assortment of geese at the local 'duck park' that I love to hang out with. If you're bored and want to watch me feed them raisin bran (thought it might be healthier than the WonderBread everyone else uses), check out this vid on YouTube:

Lastly a few pics of my chix. To TweetysVoice, my BRs are pretty pleasant as well but not nearly as precocious as the Sussex. They DEMAND attention at all times. The SexLinks are dumb as rocks and just follow what everyone else does.

I think it's time to put them in a larger pen as they seem to be so much happier when i let them out to sit on top of the brooder. They can all jump out now and the 2 largest can almost see over the lip when they crane their necks up. Any advice on dimensions?? I'd like it to last the next 4 weeks. They are all 3 wks except the Sussex are a week or two older. I'd like them to have more space and also some decent roosts so they can learn to transition to their future life. Should I put them in the garage? It's starting to get a smidge smelly here in the office. Plus I have to clean their waterer out at least 4 times a day do the them kicking litter in while practicing scratching. Thanks All !!

 

[rvroman]

Is it to early to take my chicks outside for like 30 minutes here and there? I would like to let them have some fun, but if they are to young I want to wait. I kinda figured that if they can survive outside with a mamma hen that a few minutes here and there would be ok, as long as I got them back in the brooder when they started acting cold. They are anywhere from 1-2 weeks old.

 

[Trish44]

It sounds like everyone is going to be busy this weekend. I'm off to Wichita for the day to do all of my shopping & errands. I'll catch you all later or tomorrow. Have a great day & enjoy the sun!

 

[Ivywoods]

Is it to early to take my chicks outside for like 30 minutes here and there? I would like to let them have some fun, but if they are to young I want to wait. I kinda figured that if they can survive outside with a mamma hen that a few minutes here and there would be ok, as long as I got them back in the brooder when they started acting cold. They are anywhere from 1-2 weeks old.

It's a little early, and it's still a little cool (here, anyway) I would just be sure they are in the sun and out of any WET grass so they don't get wet at all. If you are watching them and keep it short they will probably be okay.

 

[Ivywoods]

MarcAustin-Sorry, I don't know anything about the seed starter. It looks pretty fancy. I haven't started seeds indoors for years, but I always just used some sort of free plastic to cover mine if they needed it.

Love the pictures of the chicks getting a look at the world around them.

Avery-I have some of the nipples. I just haven't put them in a bucket yet. I just ordered a set of cage cups. I REALLY want to get them hooked up to a system before I go in the hospital. I just looked at the website and they still haven't processed my order. Guess I will have to call them. As far as debris getting into the reservoir, I know Checoukan uses a bucket for her reservoir and she just keeps the bucket covered with a lid and never has a problem. That's what I intend to do if my system ever gets here!

 

[Ivywoods]

Tweety- Those chicks look very tame and sweet, I bet they will grow up to be big, pesky love bugs!

Our day started out rough today. The mail lady stopped by at 10 with a package that was my new used saddle for my walking horse mare and I unpacked it and hung it on the porch railing. DH came downstairs and I said "Oh, come out and see the saddle, it just came in the mail." He said he wanted to get a cup of coffee first and I said just come out real quick and look at it and then grab a cup of coffee. Well, thank heavens we went out to look at the saddle. We were looking at it on the railing and I heard the geese start carrying on in the back pasture so I looked up a coyote was jumping around on top of my gander!!!! So I start screaming and run down the stairs, grab a shovel, kick my slippers off and start running as fast as my legs can carry me through the wet muck with DH in hot pursuit. So I am yelling at the top of my lungs which scares the coyote who grabs the gander by the neck and starts dragging him up the hill. Fortunately he got to the back fence line and couldn't get through the fence with the gander in his mouth so he panicked and dropped him and poor Sebastian comes running as fast as his big orange feet could carry him right into my arms. DH scared the coyote away who was still trying to decide if he should come back after his goose dinner.

Poor boy had a punctured air sac so we called all around looking for a vet that would see him and Town and Country Animal Hospital in Louisburg (who is our horses veterinarian) said they could see him so we packed him and Sybil his goose up in the back of the jeep and he got some sutures and pain meds and antibiotics and is home recovering. They took wonderful care of him at Town and Country and I am so glad he is going to be ok. Guess we are in the market for a gun now and this coyote better not come back. The geese are in a pen with electric fence but I let them free range when we are home but I don't let them out til mid morning to avoid any nocturnal predators that might be winding down for the day.

If anyone has info on livestock guardian dogs we are thinking that might not be a bad idea. We have talked about using portable electric pens to free range the birds but I am worried that may not be practical and a dog might be a better investment.

A big, big thank you to Renee for getting back to us so quick because I knew she had a great chicken vet in Lawrence but couldn't remember their name.

Oh, my! I would have been so mad! The first thing I would have grabbed was a rifle. If I didn't get one my DH would have. I tell ya, there is NO susbsitute for our livestock guardians. We have 3 great pyrenees, two adult males (one neutered) and one female pup from ChickenDanz. Those guys are worth their weight in gold. We have predators all around us all the time, but we have never lost a single animal to a predator and that is because of our dogs. They are not right for every situation, so rather than ramble on here, I will PM you with some info on GP's.....and rifles.

I'm so glad you were able to retrieve your gander and get him to a good vet.

 

[Trish44]

JosieChick, did you get my PM on here?

 

[chicken danz]

Cherwill, sorry this is late but yes I would say that chick on the left is definitely a roo.
Josie so sorry about your gander. I am sure that was very scary. Ask me any questions you want about LGDs. IMO I have some of the very best around. I won't have any pups for awhile but have recently gotten a request to use my male as a stud.
RVRoman, don't worry about your chickens. They avoid the poisonous plants. Somehow they just know. About the only thing I worry about is them getting mold. They will eat moldy things and it will kill them. I wouldn't be taking the chicks out just yet. If I remember they aren't that old. They need some heat until they are about 6 weeks old. If it gets up to 75 degrees or so with no strong wind you might be able to take them out. Otherwise give them a little time.
I just figured out that Chopper is getting a little angel wing. He is eating too much cat food obviously and not enough of the good stuff. Okay so that means he is going to be going out to chore with me and I am going to have to lock him in his crate when the cats get fed. To much protein in his diet obviously!I'm going to try to tape his wing to correct it. I hope it works! Poor duck will just have to go without a bath for a few days. That'll make him mad!

 

[chicken danz]

I just pulled yet another batch of chicks from the hatcher. 25 chicks and another 5 ducks. Got my first Ancona duck hatch so far this year. All the others have been cayugas.