Consolidated Kansas

[averytds]

Ivy-I don't know a thing about ducks. I posted about the panels as a possible alternative for you for chicken cages. That's what we have in our breeder/show chicken cages. No idea where ducks came into it. We don't own any ducks. Have never owned any ducks. Don't know anything about ducks.

Please people don't go possibly hurting your ducks trying to trim their beaks and what not. I wasn't talking about ducks and don't have any idea as to their proper care.

Danz-The panels are food grade safe and approved for animal enclosures and what not. We've only used them for flooring at present. I would imagine you could do a whole inside, seal seams with silicone and have a coop capable of just hosing out the whole thing. I was won over by the durability and ease of cleaning.



Ivy-Curious on your testing. I was the last doing the entire mail order process as far as I know. Did you take your test online or did you have to print it out and mail it in? I heard back about my test results from Kstate, but I think that was only because I specifically asked about them. I didn't really hear about anything from the state, I basically received a bill from them for my license fee.

As they didn't prorate, now would be a bad time to file. Maybe they've gotten griped about it and decided to only send out at year start now and yours will come then.

 

[Ivywoods]

Ivy-I don't know a thing about ducks. I posted about the panels as a possible alternative for you for chicken cages. That's what we have in our breeder/show chicken cages. No idea where ducks came into it. We don't own any ducks. Have never owned any ducks. Don't know anything about ducks.

Please people don't go possibly hurting your ducks trying to trim their beaks and what not. I wasn't talking about ducks and don't have any idea as to their proper care.

Danz-The panels are food grade safe and approved for animal enclosures and what not. We've only used them for flooring at present. I would imagine you could do a whole inside, seal seams with silicone and have a coop capable of just hosing out the whole thing. I was won over by the durability and ease of cleaning.



Ivy-Curious on your testing. I was the last doing the entire mail order process as far as I know. Did you take your test online or did you have to print it out and mail it in? I heard back about my test results from Kstate, but I think that was only because I specifically asked about them. I didn't really hear about anything from the state, I basically received a bill from them for my license fee.

As they didn't prorate, now would be a bad time to file. Maybe they've gotten griped about it and decided to only send out at year start now and yours will come then.

OOOPPPSSS!! I must have mixed your post up with someone else's. My apologies! Chalk it up to a senior moment.

I took the testing online and it was immediately graded and I was notified that day by K-State that I had passed. She informed me that she had sent the info on to the state. She said I should hear back from the state to finish getting my lisence. I didn't hear for about a month or so, then called K-State back. She told me she had indeed sent the info on, and even forwarded a copy of what she had sent back to me to prove that she had. She gave me a number to call, which I did and I ended up leaving a message twice. I did not hear back and decided not to persue it further once I heard what the price of the antigen was going to be. I just didn't think I could justify that much of an expense with no more demand than I would probably have up in this area. It would mean a LOT of driving for me, so lost interest in it.

On the liner for the chicken cages, I followed the link and that looks like pretty nice stuff. Does it cut easily with a circular saw?

I am just going to use some wood I already have. The wood is the right price..... free.

I've managed to get quite a bit done today and that feels good, but I had to come in and put my leg up for a while and get a bite to eat.

I helped my DH trim some hooves.
Cleaned out the walking area of the barn.
Fed and watered birds.
Pulled a BUNCH of weeds.
Broke my hoe. Repurposed part of what was left of the handle into a roost for one of my new pens.
Found another old farm auction hoe and got rid of more weeds.

I'll be going back out to continue on the rest of the mountain of projects pretty soon.

 

[Ivywoods]

Aha! It was LizzyGSR that asked about the ducks.

I hope I wasn't too misunderstood. I've never owned ducks, either. It was my bantam chickens that are in cages that I occaisionally have to trim beaks and toes.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Aha! It was LizzyGSR that asked about the ducks.

I hope I wasn't too misunderstood. I've never owned ducks, either. It was my bantam chickens that are in cages that I occaisionally have to trim beaks and toes.

Sorry, guys. I didn't mean to confuse people. I saw the post about the cage bottom helping to keep toes trimmed and have been having problems with getting scratched by my ducks' toe nails, so I thought I'd ask in hopes that SOMEONE would have an answer. I didn't mean to confuse anyone.

I did understand that the original poster was talking about chickens. And, just to make things clear, I was NOT asking about or ever thinking about trimming my ducks' beaks and do not think that doing so would be a good idea.

 

[averytds]

I thought I was having a senior moment myself. Sorry about the bold type. It was for the skimmers. I didn't want it missed and a poor duck potentially injured because someone "read"/skimmed it on BYC.

I've never so much as held a duckling, so I've got no clue.


The textured fiberglass panel stuff just happened to be on the scrap board my DH used in one of the outside coop floors. I had some new cages and was looking at alternatives for flooring when I commented how easily and quickly that coop floor cleaned and someone told me what it was. It cuts just fine with a circular or jigsaw, but has a really funky odor to it while cutting. The new cages were 2'x 4' shelving units to start, so it was just as easy to have the store cut it for me right then and get the 4 equal/perfect pieces.

I think there is also a non fiberglass plastic version for maybe a little less money. We still do trims on DD's Silkies, just not as often or as much. We used to use tar paper, so I figure it has to be something to do with the texturing. It was easier than gluing down a patch of sandpaper anyways.


Hmmm...weird on the testing thing. Be on the look-out in August. Odd for the state to drop the ball when they expect to collect money.

To cut expenses, try and get a group together to split antigen. If you have say 5 or 6 people splitting a bottle, it's not such a big expense. When they used to sell the smaller bottles, that's exactly what they sold. Re-packaged smaller bottles split out of the 1000 dose bottles. The company took issue with retailers over it, but individuals are still free to do it that way.

 

[Ivywoods]

I agree. It's just not worth it now for me to become certified, especially with a probable move coming up in the next year. Maybe once I know where I end up and how much of a demand there is in that area I can go ahead, especially if I have others I can split the antigen with.

Danz-DUH!!! Now why didn't one of us think of doing that yesterday when you were going to be here??? I guess we can chalk it up to another senior moment. Between that and the pain pills I'm lucky to remember my own name. That would have been perfect and I'm sure we could have talked my DH into helping. (There's ALWAYS ways to gently persuade!) Although, I was pretty worn out just catching all the pullets that were yours.

Well, wack to bork.

I mean back to work.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

This is the brooder pen DH and I are putting together. The enclosed area is a dog kennel purchased at Atwoods and can hold 10 - 12 LF. This one is for the bantams. The kennel and the run are both light weight enough for me and one of the kids to move. I may or may not put the whole thing on wheels later.



The nest boxes will be next to the kennel part with openings through the solid board area. The runs were built with old pallets we took apart and removed nails from. We also used other boards we had lying around. Keeps the big birds out and the little birds safe.




This is the dog kennel we used. Youngest DS cut out a piece of vinyl for each and put it in for easy cleaning. The hinged top is really nice for cleaning. We purchased the dog kennels at Atwoods. Except for one that was given to us free!!!! Good price!



Here's the interior. The kennel comes with a drop in floor that is in 3 sections.




Here is a run propped atop another, ready for paint.





Moving on to the garden project. The vague lines of mulch show where the rows of tomatoes and peppers are. Directly in front of them are root and leafy crops. Of course, the onions and garlic are in the front. You can see my baby fruit trees just left of the gazebo thing and behind the garden area. The strawberry patch and asparagus we just put in this year are in the very back of the garden.



Here are the strawberries and asparagus. The asparagus are planted in pallets with some of the boards removed. This section is still unplanted, but will be in time.



The potato plants are planted in between the fruit trees in these brick raised bed planters we threw together. The potatoes are doing well, so far! Twenty seven of thirty six planted are doing really well.



Here is a pic of the newest members of the flock. 3 Cayuga ducklings and one Bourbon Red turkey with an unabsorbed yolk.



Okay, so this is the last pic. Look how big the Alohas are getting!



My job was to take pics today and I have done. I'm still just worn out and moving slowly. I have to revive soon cause I have lots of stuff to do!

Have to go pick up the girls.

 

[averytds]

Sigh....Looking at all you've gotten done reminds me of all the things I should be doing right now instead of lolly gagging around online.

Love the brooder pens.


Just something to think on if/when Ivy. I don't think you would have any problems at all splitting up a bottle for next year with enough people....you, Danz. Rosie maybe???? would open up this area to you. I got mine for fair this year last weekend, but would go in with you all next year. That's 4 people. I go to Wichita regularly....so Hawkeye maybe? Something to think on. Just don' t let Danz do the shopping.

 

[HEChicken]

Wow Karen, I am super impressed with all the work you've done and how its coming out. I'd never have guessed those runs came from pallet wood - they look great! What do you know about growing asparagus? I'd love to grow some but never have.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Wow Karen, I am super impressed with all the work you've done and how its coming out. I'd never have guessed those runs came from pallet wood - they look great! What do you know about growing asparagus? I'd love to grow some but never have.

My mom used to always have an asparagus patch. The trick with them is to double dig (two spades deep). I cheated a little on the first bed by raising it a bit. Then raised the second one a lot because it was so much work! The asparagus come with really long roots so you make a little hill of soil in the chasm you've just dug, then spread the roots over the hill with the crown on top. Cover with like 8 inches of dirt. Once the asparagus sprouts keep adding dirt until they are at ground level (or the top of your raised bed). Then, depending on the age of your starts, forego harvesting anything the first year or two while they get established and voila! Oh, forgot the asparagus food when you plant them. I got mine from Henry Fields. I need to put in a couple more beds for this huge family but it's a lot harder than it looks to dig the whole bed out that deeply and I've still got blisters from all the other activities!

Thanks muchly, HEChicken! DH has a planer and he cleaned up the pallet boards for me. I still have a ways to go but am getting there one project at a time!