Consolidated Kansas

[tntblake]

What is this red hen Danz? She is beautiful!

I didn't get much done this afternoon but didn't get a nap either. It was one of those days the phone kept ringing. Anyway while I was outside I discovered some sweet things and it always catches me by surprise because I think I know where all the ladies are sitting.
This gal you can tell has been a rooster favorite. I did notice that neither chick looked to be one of her own eggs. I have no idea where she has been being broody.

This pheonix came out a few days ago with 7 purebred pheonix chicks. I think she was sitting under the hen house which sits about 8 inches off the ground. I love watching her scratch the dirt to feed her babies. I do hope they make it because I need a back up rooster. I sold all the ones I had.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

OMGosh Hawkeye!!!!!! Congrats on that baby!! I'm so happy it made it. The little beggars sure can be worrisome!

Danz, I'm PMing you.

HEChicken, it's a real adjustment from working to being a SAHM, but it is so enjoyable once you get the hang of it! Congrats!

Tweety, sorry about the muscle spasms, I've had those too and they're awful. Great job with the 4.0!

Today, DH worked on a movable pen for my birds and I worked on breeder pens.I started out making a duck shelter but then changed my mind. I'm using a redwood dog house a friend gave us that was still in the box. I put it together today for the ducks, when I decided that a bit of modification would make it work beautifully for a breeder pen. So, off to Atwoods I went where I picked up two more @ $185 each, it wasn't fun to part with the money, but was well worth it since I can put it together myself. DH is going to show me how to use the hole saw so I can put in openings for ventilation. Then I'll trim out some hardware cloth over that to keep any unwanteds from visiting. After that, I can add nest boxes to them and done! I'm so happy to have figured out this particular little detail.

DH is making a covered run area that is easily moved and connects to the breeder pens for use as a tractor until I separate the birds for breeding. At night, all I have to do is shut in the birds and move their pens inside the electric fence. Yay! Oh well, ducks aren't ready for their own digs yet anyway so I'll get another one for them later. I'll take pics once it's all done.

Back to work...

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, that really is a cool run. We can't cover ours easily because there are three lilacs in it. Predators aren't a big problem here in town, but we do have the occasional escapee.

We were hoping to get the drip watering system tweaked this week, but ran out of time. Every year we have to check to see that all the drippers and misters are working, and we usually have moved some plants around or added some. Then we have to add or move components of the watering system. Now that the dirt is all wet, it's impossible to see where the dead spots are. It figures this would be the one time McPherson actually got the rain that was in the forecast! On the up side, I don't have to drive around town watering our gardens.

Here are the two hens Justhatchin' gave us in exchange for Stan and Dorothy, the roos. They won't let me get too close unless they've already roosted for the night. Then they still don't like me messing with them.


Looks like someone else wanted to get in the picture!

This is our community garden plot. Two plots, actually, 8 & 9:


And our bonus garden, just a small section of this man's beautiful yard:

Nice looking hens! And WOW, I love your garden plat! The other garden in your friend's yard is gorgeous-- love the area. Hope you get your watering system worked out.

A truck is the next thing on my wishlist LOL. It would come in REALLY handy so much of the time. Living in the city, I didn't need a truck and have a nice sensible car that works great for schlepping kids around all over, but even here, more than once a truck would have been handy. Now that we are moving, I know the time will come we'll decide we can't live without a truck. It did help that we bought an older SUV last year and it has a roof rack, so as long as the item we are hauling is lightweight enough we can get it up there, we can carry some larger items than will fit in my car. But some of the heavier things, or getting a load of top soil or mulch....well, you just can't beat a truck for those kinds of things.

I love that coop and run. I agree that the clear panels are a good option if you don't have to worry about too much sun, as they will let a lot of light in. We used something similar for our current coop and I like that they are cheap, lightweight and easy to install, but very effective. I also like their use of the PVC for the run to create more headroom for the people. Kind of the same idea as the hoop houses, except using them on the roof instead.

We don't drive our truck much. It's a large one-ton diesel. I use it for hauling horses and the occasional run to Lowes that requires a big bed. But yeah, it comes in handy a lot. Yeah, I love the PVC and how it can be easily worked into coop designs.

I have two little chicks who need a new home. My neighborhood will not let me have a rooster, let alone 2. One is a cuckoo Marans and the other is a Salmon Favarolle- both were from Orschelens. If any one knows of anyone who would want them, for something besides dinner.... I would be much happier giving them away for that!
Thanks!!!

WELCOME to the Kansas thread!!! And

Hope you stick around, we're a great group!

I actually made a start on my coop today

All I did was lay out one of the walls but it is a 14' wall and um....a 14' wall is gonna be BIG. I guess I hadn't quite realized how large it was going to look until I saw it laying there. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do any more than lay it out. I had my air compressor all fired up and at pressure when I discovered that my framing nailer is missing the connector to be able to attach the air hose. Grrrrr. Why is it that I always seem to spend more of my "project time" running around trying to find the tools I need, than actually getting anything done? I plan to stop by Lowes tomorrow on my way there and get the attachment I need and then nothing is going to stop me getting that wall completely built tomorrow.

That's great you are started on the coop!! Even laying it out takes time, so don't feel bad. Now you'll understand why I work so slow-- especially when I do this by myself.

Sorry about your nailer not having the attachment. It wasn't in the box? Ours has attachments in the plastic tool box with the nailer. Anyway, that stinks, but you'll get there!!!

I didn't get much done this afternoon but didn't get a nap either. It was one of those days the phone kept ringing. Anyway while I was outside I discovered some sweet things and it always catches me by surprise because I think I know where all the ladies are sitting.
This gal you can tell has been a rooster favorite. I did notice that neither chick looked to be one of her own eggs. I have no idea where she has been being broody.

This pheonix came out a few days ago with 7 purebred pheonix chicks. I think she was sitting under the hen house which sits about 8 inches off the ground. I love watching her scratch the dirt to feed her babies. I do hope they make it because I need a back up rooster. I sold all the ones I had.

Danz-- totally drooling!!! That first hen is GORGEOUS!!!!! Look at her wings!!! And I love the pheonix and chicks-- just too darned adorable! I think that is another gorgeous bird! Wow, you have some really amazing birds there! I'm sure one of those will be a rooster. I'd wait to see how they develop so you can pick the best one.

Well, we sold the goats today. I was kinda sad to see them go but I am tired of chasing lose goats around and they went to a wonderful family that will have a lot more time and attention for them. They even have portable corrals built for them so they can move them from one weedy hill to another! I had a guy call last night who sounded like a goat trader and had like 200 goats already that wanted them and when I got back to him this morning that I had found another buyer he was pretty ticked off. I really didn't feel good about sending them to his place and I wanted them to be taken good care of.

Hoping the dogs are going to be okay without the goats. They have been penned with them for a while now. Lucie got in big trouble this afternoon for grabbing the rooster that she is penned with by the behind and dragging him around. SO the roo has been removed and she is only allowed supervised visits with the chickens now. I swear she is going through her terrible twos right now, finds trouble anywhere she can!!

Oh Josie, I'm sorry about your goats, but I understand your frustration. I'm sure you will miss them, though. And you have EVERY right to refuse to sell your animals to someone. I would not want to sell nice quality pets to a trader, either. So sad. I'm glad you found a nice family that will use them and enjoy them. I hope Lucie does better with the chickens. Maybe that was just a fluke?? Kind of like Trish's dogs killing the kitties on accident??

 

[HEChicken]

My chick HATCHED!!!!!! It has a huge vaulted skull-- so that is the thing on it's head. I didn't realize I'd get so many vaults out of my pair.

Congratulations! I was a little worried when you were talking about a crack that wasn't a pip - I'm so glad it turned out okay. This is your first incubator hatched chick, isn't it?

HEChicken, it's a real adjustment from working to being a SAHM, but it is so enjoyable once you get the hang of it! Congrats!

Its actually more like going back to it for me. I was a SAHM until my kids were in school and then I had to go back to work. Three years ago I resigned from that job to return to staying home and I was so content. I wasn't looking for a job, but a friend talked me into this job which was only part-time anyway, and I had a really hard time making the decision to do it. I was only there a year and it was overall a good experience but I am really happy with the move to staying home again. Although my kids are older, I've found that their needs change, (for example, a 2YO may need help dressing, an 8YO doesn't and if you tried to dress a 14YO it would be just plain weird), the amount of time they need really doesn't. Currently my kids take almost more of my time than they did when they were younger because their activities take up so much time. So between that and trying to get moved to the new place, I started to get very overwhelmed because my work hours made it difficult to get anything done. So, when DH suggested I give up the PT job and focus on getting us moved and getting some projects done around the new place, I was really more than happy to oblige.

How is your eye doing?

 

[Hawkeye95]

OMGosh Hawkeye!!!!!! Congrats on that baby!! I'm so happy it made it. The little beggars sure can be worrisome!

Today, DH worked on a movable pen for my birds and I worked on breeder pens.I started out making a duck shelter but then changed my mind. I'm using a redwood dog house a friend gave us that was still in the box. I put it together today for the ducks, when I decided that a bit of modification would make it work beautifully for a breeder pen. So, off to Atwoods I went where I picked up two more @ $185 each, it wasn't fun to part with the money, but was well worth it since I can put it together myself. DH is going to show me how to use the hole saw so I can put in openings for ventilation. Then I'll trim out some hardware cloth over that to keep any unwanteds from visiting. After that, I can add nest boxes to them and done! I'm so happy to have figured out this particular little detail.

DH is making a covered run area that is easily moved and connects to the breeder pens for use as a tractor until I separate the birds for breeding. At night, all I have to do is shut in the birds and move their pens inside the electric fence. Yay! Oh well, ducks aren't ready for their own digs yet anyway so I'll get another one for them later. I'll take pics once it's all done.

Back to work...

Thanks Karen!! I can't believe how excited I am about it!!!! LOL!!

I checked it's toes -- and they are ALL there, AND there are NO fused toes and no missing nails!! This is a much better quality bird than the one that my broody hatched! Looks like I'll probably be getting rid of the first chick once I see it grow out a bit just to be sure. Then again, I think it's already pretty much on my cull list.

I HAVE to see pictures of what you are doing with the dog house!! What a fabulous idea!

I'll be expecting updates on that! hehe! Sounds like you all have been really busy and getting a lot done. That will be so nice when you get it all completed. I think you already have a great set up!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Congratulations! I was a little worried when you were talking about a crack that wasn't a pip - I'm so glad it turned out okay. This is your first incubator hatched chick, isn't it?

Its actually more like going back to it for me. I was a SAHM until my kids were in school and then I had to go back to work. Three years ago I resigned from that job to return to staying home and I was so content. I wasn't looking for a job, but a friend talked me into this job which was only part-time anyway, and I had a really hard time making the decision to do it. I was only there a year and it was overall a good experience but I am really happy with the move to staying home again. Although my kids are older, I've found that their needs change, (for example, a 2YO may need help dressing, an 8YO doesn't and if you tried to dress a 14YO it would be just plain weird), the amount of time they need really doesn't. Currently my kids take almost more of my time than they did when they were younger because their activities take up so much time. So between that and trying to get moved to the new place, I started to get very overwhelmed because my work hours made it difficult to get anything done. So, when DH suggested I give up the PT job and focus on getting us moved and getting some projects done around the new place, I was really more than happy to oblige.

It is my first incubated chick, yes! I was so worried about the humidity because I have a staggered hatch in there.

That is great that you can be a SAHM again, then. I really love it and I sure don't want to go back to work if I can help it! I'm finding they need more time with me as they grow-- they have field trips, lessons, sports, on and on... it is a full time gig to keep them going. Anyway, so glad you can go do what makes you happy!

 

[tweetysvoice]

OKay, I remember this one because when they built it, they got a lot of flack for the clear roofing panels they used on the coop. But in their situation it was perfect because they are practically in a forrest and have no sunlight, so it didn't matter. But the RUN is what is so cool! They just used PVC pipe and attached it to the dog run and put wire over it-- but I've seen people use this same technique to put tarps over too!

We actually thought about doing that, but the problem is that it's a 10x10 space and we couldn't find PVC pipe that was long enough. We put in a 4x4post in the middle with a post anchor and we'll see how that does for now. Looks like circus tent. LOL Thanks for the ideas though. We might have to resort to that and just connect a couple together if this doesn't work.

 

[HEChicken]

We actually thought about doing that, but the problem is that it's a 10x10 space and we couldn't find PVC pipe that was long enough. We put in a 4x4post in the middle with a post anchor and we'll see how that does for now. Looks like circus tent. LOL Thanks for the ideas though. We might have to resort to that and just connect a couple together if this doesn't work.

Haha - the funny thing is, when you first asked for suggestions, what I pictured was a circus tent type post in the middle with the tarp coming down all the way around it but then you got so many other good suggestions that I decided you didn't need mine. Well, I guess you really didn't need my offering , since you came up with the same idea anyway!

 

[rvroman]

MY CHICKENS HAVE A HOME!!!!!




I cant wait to get the paneling on the outside and roofing on!!!

 

[HEChicken]

Awesome job RVRoman!