Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

Wow! Lots of activities on here! Busy springtime....

Sapphire-That sounds like something I would do. Fortunately, I've got a guy who never complains about taking care of my "projects."

Danz-You really should talk to my DH. He just finished signing up for his Medicare/Medigap/Prescription coverage. He has spent HOURS plowing through all the stuff. He now has it set up so that it is going to cost him MUCH less and will have WAY better coverage than before.

Hawkeye-CUTE little chick at the "ugly" stage. It reminds me of some of these younger kids with their "radical" hairdoos.

I don't know the secret to Colorado blue spruce. I know they do not do well in the majority of Kansas. Mine is still in the pot the guy brought it in. Our weather here is just not like it is in the Colorado mountains. Be sure to check out the "recommended tree list" for Wichita. That will have suggestions you probably never thought of.

HEChicken-I hope you find just the place you can love in the country. When we found this place we knew right away it was what we wanted.... the ground but not the house.... it was uninhabitable. It's been a TON of work, worse than starting from scratch because we had to clean up all the mess that had been left by the previous owners, and it was over 100 loads in my gator, plus stuff that was bulldozed and burned. I spent months cleaning it up. Now it looks like we may have to move in the next year, and although I am not against the idea, I do hate leaving a place we have put so much of ourselves into.

Karen-Don't feel bad about the cottonwoods. One of my houses in Salina had a ton of them and the place at Solomon was absolutely loaded with them. They are, however, a native Kansas tree, and so many species of birds rely on the cotton for their nests, etc. I always loved listening to the rustle of their leaves. It is so gentle and relaxing. Of course there was always the "clean out the air conditioner" thing but the worst part for me was cleaning up after a storm. They are so weak and brittle they always lost limbs in a storm.

Trish-Glad your were able to get your grandaughter's tooth fixed. Thankfully my kids never broke any permanent teeth, just the baby teeth.

Pikeman-We had tons of those little rodents when we moved in here. I think our barn cats are now taking care of the problem.

 

[tweetysvoice]

I just figured out this morning that I HAVE to sign up for medicare. I didn't realize it wasn't an option. My insurance is now only going to pay as a secondary payment. I can see my health care going down hill drastically. I also have tons of forms to fill out which I am just not in the state of mind to do. Getting old really stinks! Being unhealthy stinks worse. You would think paying over $800 a month for health insurance they could still pay like always.

Danz,
Not sure if anyone has responded as I have several pages to go through, but this is part of my job at work is Medicare insurance. There are so many plans out there that you can sign up for a replacement that will save you more money than your other insurance! You are lucky that you have a secondary insurance because medicare doesn't pay squat on medical claims.

Back to reading and multi quoating so I can respond to everyone

 

[Hawkeye95]

Well, I'll have to come back later and catch up. I was nearly done with a big post out to everyone and my computer decided to reset itself and shut down!! ARGH!! I hate when it does that, because I can't stop it. It wants to load updates or something. I'm going to tell my DH about it, because I don't need no stinkin' updates!! LOL Anyway... it's a preschool morning and my oldest has Field day today... sigh, looks pretty busy.

 

[pikeman94]

Pikeman are you sure they are eating the chicken feed? As far as I'm aware they are exclusively insectivores, so I would be surprised if they are. But no, I don't know a good way to get rid of them. Years ago we adopted a dog who started "digging to China" in the backyard. We thought it was just a vice but it turns out, he was digging to get the voles. He made a mess of the yard but he did get rid of the voles.

He has passed now, and last year I saw a little of their activity again. Haven't seen them (yet) this year.

That is good to know. I have been finding their itty bitty turds in the water dispenser the last few mornings. Also, a couple of nights ago I saw one scurrying about along the fence. It may be time to take the pellet gun with me to the coop at night and pick off the little buggers!

 

[tweetysvoice]

Alrighty.. so much going on that I HAVE to respond!!

Don’t remember who posted about bugs on their garden – but something that I’ve found very useful (which we might all have on hand) is to sprinkle some DE onto the plants. That stuff does the same thing it does to mites and what-not in the pens, to the beetles and bugs that are eating plants.

Karen: the breeder pen looks great!! That’s the same dog kennel that we have as our duck house – isn’t it wonderful! So very well built. Your garden area looks amazing as well! I wish I had that much land to garden! And I have to mention that your new duckies are absolutely adorable! Our Cayuga is getting so big. He’s finally got his “green sheen” that looks amazing in the sun.

Trish – just wanted to send hugs your way. Just because.

Rvroman – Love the new birdies!! Very cute! (James is as well! Hehe)

Hawkeye – I have to share your love of trees. We had a cottonwood willow in our last house and wow did that thing shed. I couldn’t bare to cut it down because it was a willow and I love willows. I want to plant some apple and cherry trees soon! And OMG!!!! Your 4wk old is gorgeous!!! Mine are only a week behind yours so I love seeing the difference. I’ll post pics tonight, but my 3 week olds now have wings. LOL. How is she so clean? Mine are an absolute mess! I think they play in the water or something. Their feet are all sticky from trying to get in it (it’s still jus the quail waterer) dunno what else makes their little furry feathers all sticky. LOL

HeChicken - Hugs for Henrietta! How old did she make it to? That’s so sweet about Scramble letting you know. I truly believe that other animals mourn just like we do.

 

[chicken danz]

Medawinks, How old are your Mille's. Maybe Renee could explain that better or someone who raises them. I know the sussex get more speckles as they get older.I went back and looked at this guys pictures and even found one of some of his chicks which showed some lighter color influences. How old are the chicks? The white should be at the tips of the black. OK chicken experts jump in here. My understanding is that the porcelains have a very recessive lavender gene which makes them a very pale lavender toned white.
Here's a couple pics I got of this guys birds he had taken.
I am assuming that white comes in as the feathers develop.
I was too tired to post last evening. I worked way too hard and by early evening I couldn't walk. I had my back messed up and my sciatic nerve was going nuts all the way down to my foot. It seems every day I have some unexpected project to take care of that keeps me from getting much else done. Then I ended up spending a few hours pulling weeds out of my iris bed. I never even got that done last year. It was so dry I couldn't get them out of the ground. It was just moist enough that some of them came out. I have this huge pile of volunteer brome that I pulled out. I have to load it up this morning and I'm going to put it in the ducks' pen. They will love me for it. It might make it smell a little better for a day or two also.
The pump I bought for my Mandarin pond quit yesterday. The bearings are shot on it. I paid $10 for a 2 year warranty on it. Boy am I glad. Now I have to find my papers and make a trip to Topeka to get it replaced some time. I have a very expensive pond pump I retrofitted to make work until I can get a new pump. But that leaves me without one to pump the pond dry to change the water. Just one more thing to take a chunk out of my day.
Hawkeye I never knew those trees were called Catalpa trees. I looked them up after I read your post and those things were all over when I was a kid. I always thought they were beautiful too. I used to grab the pods and pretend they were big beans from my garden. I'd put them on the little toy plates for a "tea party." Okay don't judge, Some people like having beans with their tea!

No wonder my sisters always told me I was weird.
I 've always like more sun and big open spaces but in the last few years I've come to wanting more and more trees. I hate to admit how much I've spent on trees that just didn't make it. Last year I bought a magnolia and watered it faithfully all summer when nothing else got water and the darned thing died this winter. I have no idea why. I also had two japanese maples and two spruce that died last summer. The spruce I understand. It was just too hot. The maples however had been established and were about 4 years old. They just burnt up in the sun regardless of water. My soil is such thick awful clay it's a wonder that anything grows here.
Cherwill there will be no looking back when you get out in the country. There are times I wish I didn't have to drive so far to get to town to get something, but the benefits out weigh any of the bad. I love just sitting on my porch and looking out. I can sit and stare and enjoy the peace and quiet for hours. Unfortunately my quiet has been interrupted because I always end up with three big white dogs that want to be in my face each time I sit down. But just the same it's still wonderful out here. I don't have neighbors bothering me or watching me. I can watch wildlife and dress like I want to go outside. It's just a wonderful thing to be near nature.

 

[chicken danz]

Some how I missed two pages of posts before I answered. Now I need to go back and read.

 

[Ivywoods]

Verna-Thank you so much for the card, and the feed money is definitely appreciated. I was just really glad I could help when I knew you dealing with such a huge emotional weekend. I hope all the girls are doing well.

I think I goofed up my posts and referred to the wrong person again.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish, Hope things are going better for you today.

Tweety, I haven't even looked at these stupid papers yet. I didn't realize I had to sign up for medicare so I hope I didn't toss anything important. Is there any one who shows you what to do with these? anyone you can go to for advise? I pay over $800 a month for my insurance coverage. I understand I will also have to pay for medicare? Is that right? I hate to loose my current insurance because I am afraid it will be like life insurance. There'll be so many pre-existent conditions they won't cover if I change. I have blue cross through my ex employer that I carried over as a retiree. I get part of that paid because of years of service. But not much. It is taken out of my retirement check. I had no idea I had to have medicare until Blue Cross said I would now be covered by them as a secondary payer. That bites. I'm not even sure why I have to have it at this point. I'm not even 60 yet.
I've got a hatcher full of chicks I need to get moved out. Lots of guineas yelling and a bunch of baby chicks. I had to cull most of the duck eggs that were in there. I decided that most of those had come from the incubator that I accidentally turned down for over 24 hours. They were nearly all full formed but apparently had died. I have all three of my incubators completely full and I need to get some more eggs in. I don't have any more coming out for 4 more days. I guess I'll just be holding eggs for awhile.
I need to find some room in the brooder too. I guess I am going to have to move some of these older chicks outside regardless. I would rather separate them into pens to keep track of them. Ihave enough panels to make another pen or two but no houses to move into them.
I've got to wash eggs and get them to town today, check on my dad, etc. It's going to be another full day. DH finally got the post holes drilled for the first pen with the new building. I really need to be out there working on that as well.
I discovered a bunch of eggs under the front porch that didn't get hatched and they are going bad. I've got to hold my breath, get on my belly and see if I can get those out of there without an explosion! They are drawing flies. Not a job I am looking forward to doing!
Help! I need more of me!

 

[chicken danz]

Ivy, the girls are doing great. I got 8 eggs yesterday from them. I am assuming they'll quit laying after the move but they haven't yet. They are a little flighty compared to the other breeds I've had but I really do like them. I have them in with some young cockerels and they are beating them up! They don't like boys!!!

Thanks again for all your help.