Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Trish building is all just a matter of preplanning. You can do it! Square and plumb are the two biggest things to consider. Measure twice cut once and don't give up if you make a mistake.
I forgot that DH wanted to go to Emporia. So I had to stop all my ongoing projects and come in. So much for accomplishing anything. He has to go to work tomorrow night so he always wants to get some shopping done and eat out before night shift begins. I've begged off recently so I'd better go with him. I can't seem to get anything done although I've been busy all day. I could really use a down day again but don't see if coming soon. Tomorrow is going to be major busy.

 

[medawinks]

We will be trying to get there on Saturday. I need to give away a bantam cochin roo..... I don't know if that is a good place to do it or not, but he has to go. We have just had bad luck with EVERY straight run chick we have picked. I had hoped he was a pullet, but today he started jumping at the others like my little Hopper used to :-( He has a pretty big comb and is starting to carry himself the way Hopper did.

I am even getting panicked that out Ameracauna (Orschelens) or EE pullets from the pullet bin may not be pullets..... They don't have any bigger feet than the Ameracauna ( true) pullet I bought from Next to Nature. If one of them is a roo, odds are they ALL are :-( Their combs are all about the same size and are pink. They are 10 weeks old. I have asked on the EE threads if anyone can tell, but so far no replys. My kids will be so upset. They are counting on colored eggs.
Also, these birds are very friendly and sweet. Our youngest EE, is just 4 weeks and I have no idea if she will be a she either, as with the Silkies..... I am sure my Marans are pullets and my BO is, but if we end up with only 3 pullets out of all these chickens I am going to scream....


I had my phone with me when we watered and fed the birds tonight and took a few pics. Sera is turning out to be my chicken girl! Sorry if her face is dirty, she doesn't have tear ducts and we have to have her wipe her eyes often, but NOT while playing with the chickens She has a Tessier Cleft, the same type as the boy you might see on FB whose eyes were not formed. Thankfully, her sparkly eyes are always igniting smiles every where! She is my blessing!! The chickens agree! Oh... and I remembered to catch a shot of our little gutter garden. When we expanded the run, we have yet to expand the garden. Always something to do!

Karen, I hope you are feeling better! That crud is AWFUL!!! We had a similar version her and it was no fun at all.

Ivy, I am so impressed with 130 degrees!!!! I had my left knee replaced 2 yrs ago. I had my knee cap out in 92 and it never was right. It still isnt, but at least I can walk on it. When they did my surgery, they cut a nerve or ? I have had over 20 surgeries on that leg and it is so full of scar tissue, they don't really know. I cannot bend it further than 90 degrees and less on bad days, but it didn't bend much better than that before the surgery. Not being able to feel my toes and feeling that horrible pain in my heel really ticked me off, but as time has passed, I am very thankful to be able to walk Keep up the work! I know just how hard it is!!

The naughty boy pony has met his match it sounds like Such fun!!!

The sticky Silkies are so cute!!!!! My Sera just loves her silkie, who has started to cluck when we pick her up. She is bigger than our white one, but they are not related. I am hoping that is all.... Hoping Chloe is not Clyde. When do Silkies start to crow? Cluck?

Ahh.... I am off for a hot shower. I moved my classroom today and am feeling my age and several muscles I wish I werent! Hot shower time Sera has promised me to put the chickens to be on her own tonight. We will see!

 

[Ivywoods]

Medawinks-easter eggers and ameraucanas are some of the more difficult chickens to sex. Sometimes it takes several months. The darker red and white one of yours definitely has rooster looking feet and legs, but that can be deceiving. Are the saddle feathers (just ahead of the tail coming in with a point on them? That is indicative of a rooster. I really can't tell from the picture. the comb doesn't look particularly roosterish, however, so I'm not going to say it's definitely a roo, but it is very likely.

Interesting gutter garden. I've never seen anything quite like that. Neat idea.

I don't know if I will make it to Topeka on Saturday or not. It's still quite a drive for us, and I would spend more in gas than I would make selling birds that day, so I am not making a commitment yet. I have some of my chicks advertised, so it might depend on what sells by then. If I do make it, I have a young wheaten ameraucana (pure, not easter egger) that I would be willing to sell. I can guarantee she is a pullet. Wheatens are easy to differentiate because they feather out different colors. I have a lot of others, but most are too young to tell, and would have to be sold straight run, which I assume you wouldn't be interested in at this time. I've had great hatches recently with my lavenders and silvers.

Just had 5 turkeys hatch today. All are doing well so far. I am wondering if part of the problems people are having with their turkeys is caused by what they are eating. They have different nutritional needs than chickens.

I should have quite a few more chicks hatching in the next couple days. I think I would have a long ways to go to catch up with Danz, however!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye I don't know if I'll get all those breeds or not. It is just whatever they have left that they didn't otherwise sell. I could end up with all males. That would be awful. But I decided what the heck. It is a good week to get chicks because so many people will be gone this following weekend and don't want to deal with them.
I just got 2 pens in my brooder cleaned out and disinfected. After tomorrow when I empty out a couple more I'll do some more of it. That is such nasty work.
I've been waiting to get the midget white turkeys since last fall so I am ecstatic. It just happened this chick offer was this week as well.

Gotta get busy.

Ah, well I hope they aren't all boys! Sounds like you were busy today! I don't feel like I got a whole lot accomplished today, but tomorrow I will!

Of course it's not that important to him, so it's not HIS priority. If I could build the darned thing by myself I would do it, but seeing as how I can't I have to wait on him to help. I sure wish I was as talented as you Hawkeye with building.

I hear you, my DH is the same way with his running. He must put in those 10 miles before work, and he's out of here by 5:30am to get to the gym. Then on the weekends, he sleeps in and then runs later which often messes up my mornings. THIS is why I do a lot of things myself and tell him later. You can do it!! Yeah, it's intimidating at first, but once you start, it gets easier.

I am even getting panicked that out Ameracauna (Orschelens) or EE pullets from the pullet bin may not be pullets.....

I had my phone with me when we watered and fed the birds tonight and took a few pics. Sera is turning out to be my chicken girl! Sorry if her face is dirty, she doesn't have tear ducts and we have to have her wipe her eyes often, but NOT while playing with the chickens She has a Tessier Cleft, the same type as the boy you might see on FB whose eyes were not formed. Thankfully, her sparkly eyes are always igniting smiles every where! She is my blessing!! The chickens agree! Oh... and I remembered to catch a shot of our little gutter garden. When we expanded the run, we have yet to expand the garden. Always something to do!

The sticky Silkies are so cute!!!!! My Sera just loves her silkie, who has started to cluck when we pick her up. She is bigger than our white one, but they are not related. I am hoping that is all.... Hoping Chloe is not Clyde. When do Silkies start to crow? Cluck?

Ahh.... I am off for a hot shower. I moved my classroom today and am feeling my age and several muscles I wish I werent! Hot shower time Sera has promised me to put the chickens to be on her own tonight. We will see!

Your little girl is beautiful! Great smile! Looks like she loves her silkie! Don't worry about showing a dirty face-- you should see my kids half the time! They are now taking baths every night, they are so filthy! How old is your silkie now? You might be able to tell what gender it is by around 3 months. Maybe a bit earlier if a comb really starts coming in by then. If not, then you have a girl! I can't see any comb on that bird, so I'm voting girl. But that isn't really an educated guess since I can't really see her beak and comb very well with her head facing down. I love your gutter garden! That is so neat! There is this restaurant in Lawrence (oops! I put in a local Italian restaurant and now I can't remember the name of my favorite Italian place in Lawrence geesh!!-- Tweety, you said it's over by your house) and anyway, one of my favorite things about that place is that they have guttering up along the walls and they stuck lights and ivy in it. It's so neat!

Just had 5 turkeys hatch today. All are doing well so far. I am wondering if part of the problems people are having with their turkeys is caused by what they are eating. They have different nutritional needs than chickens.

I should have quite a few more chicks hatching in the next couple days. I think I would have a long ways to go to catch up with Danz, however!

Congrats on your turkeys! I hope they continue to do great for you! I'm hoping that by next year if my DH can find a job here, maybe I can get me another turkey to baby. Maybe it will be a celebratory turkey! LOL I sure don't want to move.


Danz-- have fun out tonight with your DH! I hope you get to eat out someplace yummy. I would love to get out without kids and spend some one on one time with my DH.

 

[medawinks]

Ivy, I just looked up images of wheaten ameracaunas. They really are pretty I would like one for sure, especially knowing it would be a pullet. If you do make it Saturday, i would definitely be interested. My darker EE has different looking feathers on its back than the other one, they are white with a red outline and red center line, but they are not especially pointed. They are round at the tip just like the other EE who has light red and white blends in her feathers on her back. I compared both of their feet and they look the same to me, size and color and are the same size as my dark gray Ameracauna, who is supposed to be a pullet also. They are a bit sturdier than my BO, but not as stocky as my house mate's sons's white rock. I have read and re read the EE threads on sexing and I just get more confused when I look at these three.... The silkies too... My kids and I are attached to these EE chickens... They have so much personality.

Lavender is such a pretty color for chickens. Danz has our little Lavender DUccle roo. I have looked for lavender Orpingtons because I like the color do much and because we don't have but one light brown egg layer.I would be happy if all of our flock was lavender, and still had a variety of egg colors, but as my kids tell me, our chickens should be as diverse as the family. They have a point

The gutter garden was on pinterest. I hope it disguises my chicken run some and keeps my neighbors from complaining. I have some flowering vines planted inside in baskets, hoping I can drape them over the netting...  If the coop looks like a garden, maybe.... Just maybe..... At least I hope!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Oh, forgot to mention that the chick that was stuck and having a hard time standing up and was flipping over-- he died this evening. I was expecting it, he just was not doing good at all. Ah well. The others are all doing great-- including Sticky. Who isn't so sticky anymore after his bath this morning.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Trish building is all just a matter of preplanning. You can do it! Square and plumb are the two biggest things to consider. Measure twice cut once and don't give up if you make a mistake.
I forgot that DH wanted to go to Emporia. So I had to stop all my ongoing projects and come in. So much for accomplishing anything. He has to go to work tomorrow night so he always wants to get some shopping done and eat out before night shift begins. I've begged off recently so I'd better go with him. I can't seem to get anything done although I've been busy all day. I could really use a down day again but don't see if coming soon. Tomorrow is going to be major busy.

Once I get over this crud, I'm going to make a brave attempt to finish my breeder runs. I think I can do it. Thankfully, I'm feeling better this evening so I can begin to make all kinds of unreasonable plans for myself: Weed the entire garden, rake out the mulch in the mini orchard, plant some annuals in the two front flower beds, finish breeder pens, mow and that's just for starters!

I had my phone with me when we watered and fed the birds tonight and took a few pics. Sera is turning out to be my chicken girl! Sorry if her face is dirty, she doesn't have tear ducts and we have to have her wipe her eyes often, but NOT while playing with the chickens She has a Tessier Cleft, the same type as the boy you might see on FB whose eyes were not formed. Thankfully, her sparkly eyes are always igniting smiles every where! She is my blessing!! The chickens agree! Oh... and I remembered to catch a shot of our little gutter garden. When we expanded the run, we have yet to expand the garden. Always something to do!

Karen, I hope you are feeling better! That crud is AWFUL!!! We had a similar version her and it was no fun at all.

Thanks, medawinks! Love your daughter's happy face, she looks like a lot of fun! There's nothing like happy kids and silly silkies to make a person smile! Love the gutter garden idea, I think I'll add that to my unreasonable expectations list!

Just had 5 turkeys hatch today. All are doing well so far. I am wondering if part of the problems people are having with their turkeys is caused by what they are eating. They have different nutritional needs than chickens.

I'm wondering the same. I started my ducks and turkey out on game bird starter and then read something that said that was way too high a protein content for them, panicked, and put them back on chick starter. I had to pick up the girls from the bus today so made a quick stagger into Atwood's for some game bird starter and we'll see how we do once we get them switched over. Little turkey was all snuggled in with the cornish and rock chicks. One of the chicks jumped on top of him like a chick blanket and he seemed just fine with it all. Turkeys are really special, if you can keep them alive.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Oh, forgot to mention that the chick that was stuck and having a hard time standing up and was flipping over-- he died this evening. I was expecting it, he just was not doing good at all. Ah well. The others are all doing great-- including Sticky. Who isn't so sticky anymore after his bath this morning.

Sorry you lost stuck chick.

 

[medawinks]

Thanks Hawkeye! I adore her smile too. She is such a happy little bug! It hurts me to see her hurt lately when kids make mean comments. But, she seems to overcome it all and still is able to make cooments that shock me with her wisdom, like when she told me about the boy who wanted to know if it was her China mom or me who had kicked her face in. She just popped of that he must not be a very bright boy if he has to spend time wondering about that! She said that she has told him she was born that way. He must not be able to remember much!

And dirty.... Wow!! I don't remember getting so dirty as a kid!!! At least they are having fun doing it!

Her Silkie was hatched the end of February. It is our oldest chick. It has a tiny black piece of skin where a comb should be but it is not raised at all. We will keep hoping that Chloe is a girl I am excited that she seems to have a beard. Our white Silkie doesn't. Sera's was supposed to be white, but it is more gray than white and has a few streaks of darker gray.

I am so sorry your little chick didn't make it, but happy that Sticky is doing good! It is just precious! Silkies definitely have a different appeal... My oldest calls them diva chickens I love your chicks colors!!

 

[Ivywoods]

As far as feeding turkeys, I'll see how my "crop" does this year, and if my feeding routine makes any difference in survivability I will certainly let people know. I don't really want to put it on here now until I've had a chance to thoroughly test it. I've not tried this method before, but so far so good.