Consolidated Kansas

[cherwill]

I'm going to make one of those layered chocolate pudding cakes that are topped with cool whip for the party. Another busy day!!

Sounds delicious.

My nephew is still here and still using my car, so I'm homebound on the days DH works. I gave my aunt all kinds of instructions for taking care of the garden today!

Did you see the high in the nation yesterday was a Kansas town? 114 degrees!

Was the name of the town He!! ??? It must have felt like it!

Egad. And its only June! The 7-day forecast calls for triple digits here every day through Friday. I really hope no one loses any more birds to the heat but even last year I don't remember it being THIS hot in June. Maybe I'm just not remembering it clearly. It looks like it is going to be another scorcher of a summer. My parents are coming for two weeks in August. Not only are they not used to this kind of heat but they will be leaving from Melbourne where it is winter, and coming to Kansas where it will likely be triple digits for their entire stay so it will probably be even harder on them than it is for us since we are somewhat more acclimated to it. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with them.

Well, my to-do list is getting another kick in the teeth this morning due to a sick cat. This cat has a history of UTI and crystals in his urine so I'm sure its just that again but it means I need to find a vet in our new town and get him in to be checked out. Then 2 weeks of twice a day meds. I wish the kids weren't so fond of this cat or I'd just have him put to sleep as it costs a small fortune every time we have one of these episodes, and even though he's a sweet cat, my feeling is there are just so many cats out there that I really don't need one that is such high-maintenance.

Your poor parents! August is usually one of the hottest months in Kansas. DH and I keep our house fairly warm (78) in summer so it won't kill us to go outside and mow and garden. Still, it doesn't really work when it's 105 or so.

I hope your cat is OK.

Today I'm going to hang around inside, with frequent forays outside to check on the chickens and make sure my plants here aren't dying in the heat. I have some beans from the garden; I'm trying to decide if I want to can them or save them to eat this week. Canning sounds hot ....

 

[prairie]

Good morning all! I am back inside with the AC --- we got our chicken door installed this morning and the solar battery is charging. It was really simple even with cutting through 2 layers of siding (our old chicken house was an old sheep shed! )

I still have to tack the wire down so they don't blow and then cut a piece of chicken wire and put up to keep the chickens from roosting on the battery. Then read some more as to how to set the open and close. Really excited about it and so happy you all helped me in the decision! I still remember when I first heard about the auto doors -- I really thought it was a joke -- but here I am with one. It will be so wonderful when we go on trips instead of having to leave the big door open all night!

 

[JosieChick]

I need an opinion on something. 2 1/2 weeks ago I used Wazine to worm my chickens. I intended to do a followup with Ivermectin tonight, but it is so hot I hate to stress them any more.

Question 1: Does the use of Ivermectin stress the birds and does heat increase the stress?

QUestion 2: How long do I have to do the followup before I have to start over with the Wazine?

Sharol

Sharol- If it was my flock I would go ahead and continue on your worming routine. I usually deworm earlier in the spring and then again in the fall but I have found that every time I deworm all my hens pick up laying better and I start getting more eggs which tells me that they are feeling better.

Heat is going to stress your birds. Put pans of water out for them to stand in and make sure they have plenty of fresh water to drink. I think the ivermectin is less stressful than the wazine on their digestive system. You could give them some plain yogurt for a few days to help get them back into balance quicker too. I think having a heavy worm load is more stressful than deworming personally.

Trish- Sorry about your SS hen.

Its always the sweetest birds that we lose isn't it?

Hawkeye- We planted yellow knockout roses that I bought as bareroot plants this spring and DH was just SURE they were dead for 2 months after I put them in buckets of soil!! Imagine his amazement when they finally started to leaf out! We also put in peonies, hardy hibiscus, black eyed susans, day lilies, catmint, salvia, russian sage, couple kinds of ornamental grasses, hydrangeas, and hosta. It should look really nice on of these days. I have a lot of holes to fill in and a rock retaining wall to build now but it should be pretty nice! Most of the plants I bought on sale or off the dead and dying rack (which is usually just in rough shape but just needs some TLC) and the hostas I got at Orschelns for 75% off so they were full grown $25 for hostas for $5!! I was so excited!

I think we are going to put in some shade trees behind our coop. I am not sure what to put in that is fast growing, let me know if you have any suggestions.

Darn it, I can't remember what everyone else wrote, one of these days I will get my act together and learn how to use the mulit quote! Don't melt today everyone!

 

[HEChicken]

Your poor parents! August is usually one of the hottest months in Kansas. DH and I keep our house fairly warm (78) in summer so it won't kill us to go outside and mow and garden. Still, it doesn't really work when it's 105 or so.

I hope your cat is OK.

I have some beans from the garden; I'm trying to decide if I want to can them or save them to eat this week. Canning sounds hot ....

LOL, 78 sounds cool. Last year we kept our AC set to not come on until it is 85. This year we have gone all out and reduced it to 82...

Canning will really heat up the house as it has to run for so long at such a high temperature. I'm considering getting one of those portable plug-in burners so I can run it outside and not heat up the inside of the house as much. Not that I have anything to can this year but next year I plan to have a garden again.

Good morning all! I am back inside with the AC --- we got our chicken door installed this morning and the solar battery is charging. It was really simple even with cutting through 2 layers of siding (our old chicken house was an old sheep shed! )

I still have to tack the wire down so they don't blow and then cut a piece of chicken wire and put up to keep the chickens from roosting on the battery. Then read some more as to how to set the open and close. Really excited about it and so happy you all helped me in the decision! I still remember when I first heard about the auto doors -- I really thought it was a joke -- but here I am with one. It will be so wonderful when we go on trips instead of having to leave the big door open all night!

Yay - glad you found it easy to install. I predict you're going to love it. I am still amazed by mine and go down and check it around close time each morning. It is nice not to have to get up and let them out first thing in the morning too.

Well, unfortunately we had to have the cat put to sleep as it was not another UTI but advanced liver disease. The vet gave several possibilities for what could be causing it but in short, there is no cure and even the best case scenario had us medicating him for the rest of his life. We decided with the hot summer coming up and how miserable he is now, not to put him through all of that. The vet did agree that it was a valid decision to make. Poor DD and DS are struggling with it as they were very fond of him (in truth, so was I but age helps with perspective - I've said goodbye to far more pets than they have), but they understand that we gave him a good life and made the decision because we didn't want to see him suffer. They elected to stay with him while the shot was administered and I think it was somewhat reassuring to them to see for themselves how peaceful a passing it is.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I set these up-- this one is on the silkie pen and I have another one in the layer pen. The little brochure that comes with the "cobra water mister stand" says it keeps temps 20 degrees cooler! I used this last year on my birds, too. Everyone seems to like it. I hadn't planned on having to break it out this soon, though. Sigh. Ah well, here's to combating the heat!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

What a scorcher! We just got back from buying more wading pools and some kitty litter pans to put water in for the chickens. The kids are filling them as I type. We are using ice packs for the bunnies and ice in everyone's water. I wish I could bring them all in the house! The chicks and turkey in the craft room are more comfortable because it's insulated. I have a fan running in there just in case. The ducks seem to be doing just fine at the pond and the younger ones are going back for another try so we'll see how that goes.

It was nice to meet Pikeman94, his cousin and daughter yesterday! They had the grand tour and took one of my sweet speckled Sussex hens home.

Once again, we're dumping the water on the garden. It makes me really thankful we have a well. It never went dry last year so we'll cross our fingers and hope for the best this year.

We're going to go swim today after lunch. It's just so hot there really is nothing else we want to do.

Trish44 so sorry about your Sussex hen. That's just the pits.

I hope everyone's animals make it through this summer -- it's going to be another hot one.

medawinks, that's such a lovely story about Sera and the new chicken! Loved it.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Oh, HeChicken, I'm sooo sorry about your kitty. That will be hard on the kids, but I agree, it does sometimes help to be there in the passing. Your parents might like to check out the jazz band on Thursday evenings at Bradley Fair (it's free). There are a lot of other things going on during the week all over Wichita. You could take them out to Hutch to see the Salt Mines-- that is pretty cool, and then have lunch or dinner at the Yoder restaurant. I'm sure we could all help you brain storm for neat ideas to do around town that won't break the bank.

Josie-- I LOVE all your flowering plants that you put in! I'm in love with double knock outs. We have a place called Dutch's and they have the best rose selection in the area and they always have a great assortment of knockouts. But the doubles are by far, the best! Shade trees--- the fastes are the Silver Maple. They grow faster than the Red or Acer Maples. Also, Green Ash is pretty fast growing-- but not nearly as fast as the Silver Maple. Your other trees are all going to be about average. I did buy a Globe Willow this year. It says "fast growing" on the tag... but I've heard that before! LOL I'm just telling you from experience what is REALLY fast. Oh, and of course cottonwoods are going to be super fast too, and they do have "seedless/cottonless" varieties. But, they are a less dense tree and break limbs in wind storms easily. Can you post a pic of your bed that you put in? I've love to see! That was an amazing score on the hostas. Those are expensive things to buy normally.

Prairie, hope your door works as good as you are hoping! Glad it is installed!

 

[JosieChick]

Hawkeye- I will try to get some pics today, it is looking pretty pitiful still but it will fill in next spring. I love those cobra misters! Where did you get those???

Danz!!! Darn you!! I just bid on stinkin peafowl eggs!! Someone had 5 cameo listed and I couldn't resist....Alright girls, you have to give me your pea hatching advice, I have never set peafowl eggs before. I am already a basket case and I haven't even won them yet!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye- I will try to get some pics today, it is looking pretty pitiful still but it will fill in next spring. I love those cobra misters! Where did you get those???

Danz!!! Darn you!! I just bid on stinkin peafowl eggs!! Someone had 5 cameo listed and I couldn't resist....Alright girls, you have to give me your pea hatching advice, I have never set peafowl eggs before. I am already a basket case and I haven't even won them yet!

OH!! I just thought of another really fast tree!! The Catalpa trees are really fast too! You can start those from seed and in like 3-5 years, they will be huge!! I have seeds in my fridge and I'll be ready to poke them and soak them and then if they fluff up, then pot them. I plan on trying to plant around 30 of those trees on my property! LOL You can also find started ones on eBay. The native trees are going to be the most hardy and fast growing. I had a Cobra mister from last year and I went to Atwoods and bought two more this morning. In case one breaks or I want to hook up another one. I really only needed two. But the thing is, the rest of the year, they are impossible to find. I couldnt find them at Walmart this year, that was a bummer. Maybe TSC would have them?? If you have an Atwoods up there, try that.

 

[Trish44]

Wow, I'm not even going to try to keep up with all of the writing today to answer back. I went out to check on everyone & boy is it hot already. I put two 2 liter bottles in to freeze to put out & I'll put more in later. Last year I put frozen bottles in the pen & the chickens stood on them & around them, it looks like I'll be doing that again. I'll probably go out & spray off my rabbits again this afternoon. They weren't that happy about the hose, but seemed to feel better after they were wet. They're in a really shady spot, so they have the best place to be, but it's still hot. I went out & put two fans on the chicks in the brooders, so at least they have moving air, even if it is hot. I've got to get something frozen for them too, I just need to find something smaller. I think I used water bottles last year from bottled water. I hate it that it's getting so hot so early, what a bummer. I was hoping this summer wouldn't be as bad as last year, so much for hoping.

HeChicken, I'm so sorry about your cat, I'll bet that was hard for your kids. We have one that is getting old & she has lung problems, I don't think she is going to last much longer either. I'm glad your horse got through OK. That's scary when they do that. I remember one of ours years ago getting into the feed can & eating way too much & we had to walk her around for a very long time.

We have a couple of those mister things, I'll have to see if I can find them & put one on my young chicks in the run. I'll do it after my DH goes to work though, he would have a fit if he saw me doing that. We don't have a well here & he wouldn't like me using the rural water for that, but I can't stand seeing them suffer.

Everybody try to stay cool today. Me, I'm staying inside unless I have to go out to tend to animals, that heat just makes me feel ill.