Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

SunflowerParrot, Definitely go with a Great Pyrenees or a mix with one. Particularly if you can find one that has been reared with chickens. Akbash and Antolians are also great breeds particularly if they are mixed with GPs. You will probably have to pay a bit unless you are adopting one that someone needs rehomed. Even though pups run $300 to $350 normally you can pick up one for rehoming often between $0 and $100. Just be sure it doesn't have issued attacking chickens.
Michelleml, it's always wise to quarantine new chicks. Time to do so often is decided by how old the chicks (chickens) are and where they came from. With 4 week old chicks unless they could have a case of mites I would just feed them out to at least 6 weeks on medicated food. There is enough size difference in your birds and those that they would probably get picked on severely if you integrate them. I integrate chicks all the time with older birds but my birds free range and have lots of room and they are used to newcomers. (plus the chicks are coming from my own hatching.
As others have said, once they are fully feathered then put them in a pen within a pen for a few days until they get used to seeing each other. Then let the chicks come out of the pen on their own. It would be wise to be around to monitor it when you open the inner pen to make sure all goes well.
If the other birds are older I would quarantine them just a little longer. The older the bird the more likely it will have problems it could transfer to your birds. Look for signs of diarrhea, droopy feathers, missing feathers etc. It would be wise to give the entire group, yours and the new ones, some probiotics or some yogurt for 4-5 days just to boost every one's immune system a little.
Well our outside thermometer is reading 107 in the shade. I hope three's a reflection of some kind. I had to move a fan over by the turkey's pen because my poor little babies that are used to being in the house were really suffering. They all came running to the fence crying. I feel so bad for moving them out. I went in and sat in their pen for a while with them which seemed to help. They decided since I was there they should eat. I think this whole experience of being outside is pretty scary for them. I have these babies way too spoiled. I will just be totally crushed if anything at all happens to them.

 

[checoukan]

Welcome to all the newcomers! Great to have you.
Well, just a brief minute. Its been hot, and a lot of work, but I think we are ready for the fair. Just a couple minor things to take care of and SHAZAM, Cherokee County Fair!!!
Hawkeye, Congrats on your show wins!! It is hard to have to take 2nd place, but that is what we have to do to weed out the birds that are too far from the standard. By the way, who was your judge? I have a committee of 3 under me. I delegate work out, and that lightens the load. Yes, Tuesday is very busy, but with the committee it goes smooth.
This is the first year in about 3 or 4 years I have entered any birds. Everybody was begging me too, sssooooo everybody got their baths today. Oh man I had some dirty looks from the birds. HeHe.
sunflowerparrot, you will find that your livestock gardian dogs are going to be your best bet. Young dogs are wonderful, but they can be a handful, and you have to be on your toes to stop any unwanted behavior. They can and will do things they should not do. You have to be the one to teach them what is right and what is wrong. I have had Great Pyranese for 15 years, I have had 4 dogs, and I would not have any livestock, goats, chickens, or ducks with out one on farm. A young growing dog will have a good appetite, but once they grow up which can take till they are almost 2, they usually don't eat that much.

KarenS I am so sorry about the preditor attack, it just makes me sick to see someone lose birds to night visitors.
tweety~~~congrats on the egg!! fun to go outside and find them

Every body stay cool, not forgetting anybody, just can't remember all that is going on.

Oh, yeah, the pheasant is a baby ringneck, I have had them in the past, real good escape artists!!!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

But I thought your electric fence would keep fox and coyotes away?? Did the fox climb up the electric fence?? how did it happen? If the electric fence didn't keep him away, then what is the point in having one? That is so frustrating!!!

That's exactly what I thought!

This thing had to endure the shock going under both ways! I believe it pushed it's way underneath the fence and took the shock to do it. I don't know that for sure, but that's what I think happened and there is an area where these little weed things that are blowing around the yard appeared to be pushed aside. They catch in the bottom of the fence and while there aren't tons of them there are enough to make it appear odd in one area. There is also a place inside the fence that was dug up. Isn't that just unbelievable? It hung around to dig up a spot where my tiny little serama that died was buried. So stupid. I've decided a person needs a dog and a fence. I don't think DH may see it the same way, but I'm going to talk to him about it. He may surprise me, who knows?

I am sorry that you lost your chickens there is a great pry up for re-homing i saw posted on here maybe it is time to get one.

I'm checking to see if it's still available and then I'll have to see what DH thinks.

OH Karen I can't believe a stupid predator got through and got some of your birds. I am sure you are just sick about it. Maybe you will have to shut them all inside the big coop at night until you can find a way to get rid of that fox. Does John have a gun? Or maybe you could set up a tender trap if you can find a large one. Bait it with a sacrificial chicken. Then once it is caught kill the no good ...............
I think you need HEchicken and her dead on eye to shoot it for you. You are sure it wasn't a coyote or a dog? Did it take the birds or leave them behind?.
I hope your DS isn't too upset. I know it must be very disappointing.

I am just sick. I hate to shut the big coop even with fans running because it's been so hot. However, at this point I can either babysit them all night or shut them in and I haven't decided for sure which I'm going to choose. I've since discovered that I lost one of my most spotty Speckled Sussex hens also. So sad. We don't own a gun but I am going to get either a .22 rifle or maybe a pellet gun. I grew up with brothers and I was a pretty good shot when I owned guns. We just haven't had any guns in the house since we started our family but the kids are all old enough to learn to use and respect a gun. DH has never owned a gun and does not like them. He had already seen the need for one before this incident. I'm not sure it wasn't a coyote or dog because I didn't see the sucker, just it's footprints and it looked like a smaller dog print. All that was left of the birds was a few feathers. I find it very curious that it didn't do more damage because the big coop doors were open because of the heat so all of the birds, including all the ducks, were vulnerable. DS had quite a few tears this morning. His younger brother spent the night with a friend last night and will be home soon. He was also very attached to this particular bird and he just found out this week that he's allergic to his cat. Good grief!

Oh NO NO NO NO NO NO! Karen, I am so, so sorry. DH and I were just talking this afternoon and pondering whether foxes are actually worse this year or if I'm just more tuned into the posts that relate to them as a result of my experience. He thinks it is probably just that when a thread title has the word "fox" in it, I notice it more than I did before and probably he's right, but before my fox visited, I don't really remember hearing that much about them. I was far more worried about coyotes and raccoons than I was foxes.

I know they were project birds and the ones you gave me were birds that didn't fit into your project but if anything has changed on that - particularly the Aloha hen - PLEASE let me know. I need to return your dog crates anyway, so if I can help in any way by giving you back a bird that you are able to use in your project, I would be delighted to do so.

Thanks, Heather. No, I won't need any of the birds I gave you. I'm really fortunate to have lost only lost 3 birds. I can just imagine how awful it was for you to discover so many injured and dead. It's just such a horrible feeling to know I failed to protect my birds when I thought I had them pretty well covered. It's just sickening. I had pens set up so if an owl came they could duck under and get away. I knew for a fact the fence was on and working correctly and that's part of why I felt I needn't dash out for a change. I wish I had and I also want to get the dumb creature, fox, coyote or dog, that did this. All that was left was bits of feathers. So sad.

Quote:
Thanks Tweety!

Congrats on your eggs, that is so exciting to get your first eggs. I'm glad this second one went in the nest box where it belonged! My birds are finally getting the hang of laying in the nest boxes to my great relief. That's a great idea with the egg shells! That oyster shell stuff is expensive.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

KarenS I am so sorry about the preditor attack, it just makes me sick to see someone lose birds to night visitors.

Thanks so much. I knew DH wouldn't want another dog so I went with the electric fence thinking that would take care of it but a very hungry animal is apparently very willing to tolerate the shock. I won't be sleeping well for quite sometime.

 

[HEChicken]

Okay, what is the deal with ringneck pheasants? Why are they not allowed when other types are?

Sunflowerparrot, glad to see you over here! You said you don't want a large dog but unfortunately the LGD's are pretty much all quite big dogs. I know where you're coming from - I didn't want a large dog either. All of the dogs I've had in the past few years have been around the 40-50lb mark and that size suits me fine. However on the 4th of July I was visited by a fox who decimated my flock in broad daylight, and, knowing there would be other predators, I decided to trial a LGD. I was lucky to find an Akbash/Great Pyrenees mix who is 16-months-old. Young enough to learn her job and bond with the chickens she has to guard, but old enough to be through the worst of the puppy stage. She's only been with me a week but so far she has been terrific. I am really liking the mix of the two breeds. Mixes can be a risk if you get the bad traits of each of the breeds but so far in my dog, I feel like I got the best traits of each breed

DD and I sat out watching her play with our 37lb Lab/Border Collie the other night, and the small dog can outrun the larger one easily - she is smaller and more nimble and built for speed. Watching the LGD lumbering around playing with the smaller one, I commented to DD that a small, fast dog might make for a better LGD and she wisely pointed out that LGD's need the size in order to intimidate and run off the larger predators. Duh. I felt really dumb when she said that because of course she is right. My small dog might be fast but a coyote is not going to be that afraid of her. But having a 90-150lb dog come out to attack is far more likely to keep them at bay.

If you keep an eye out on Craigslist, you will likely see them available for adoption from time to time. Sometimes people get them thinking they'll be a great house dog to watch over their kids but as the dog grows up, they find out the dog really wants to be outside guarding livestock, not lying inside by the fire, and when they realize its not a good match for them, they post it for adoption.

 

[GardenMacgyver]

Hello all from Reno County, Kansas! Just poking around, still getting the hang of the site. I have 3 chickens that I thought would be 2 females and a male, but Im thinking I have 2 males, One female! May be needing to trade a boy for another girl if anyone is interested. I know I have to post that in the buy-sell-trade section but I need 20 posts first
Oh and my chickens are good ol' mixed breeds, but they sure are getting beautiful and changing feathers. I became a poultry pamperer on May 13th, 2012 and have been enjoying watching the little boogers grow. I CANT WAIT to try the first egg I get because I have always bought from the store and have sadly never had a "brown egg". I'm even more excited since this year was my first with a garden as well. Its going great. Keeping me busy and home grown cucumbers OUTSHINE store bought 10 to 1. Who'd have known?
Well Im off for now to finish up for the day. Take care all and avoid the heat! Ive kept a board in front of my coop area because I have learned SO MUCH off of here and I know they do not like this KS heat. They DO like the home grown tomatoes though! Thanks to anyone who has posted anything educational, opinionated, interesting or just anything. BYC Rocks!

 

[tweetysvoice]

Hello all from Reno County, Kansas! Just poking around, still getting the hang of the site. I have 3 chickens that I thought would be 2 females and a male, but Im thinking I have 2 males, One female! May be needing to trade a boy for another girl if anyone is interested. I know I have to post that in the buy-sell-trade section but I need 20 posts first
Oh and my chickens are good ol' mixed breeds, but they sure are getting beautiful and changing feathers. I became a poultry pamperer on May 13th, 2012 and have been enjoying watching the little boogers grow. I CANT WAIT to try the first egg I get because I have always bought from the store and have sadly never had a "brown egg". I'm even more excited since this year was my first with a garden as well. Its going great. Keeping me busy and home grown cucumbers OUTSHINE store bought 10 to 1. Who'd have known?
Well Im off for now to finish up for the day. Take care all and avoid the heat! Ive kept a board in front of my coop area because I have learned SO MUCH off of here and I know they do not like this KS heat. They DO like the home grown tomatoes though! Thanks to anyone who has posted anything educational, opinionated, interesting or just anything. BYC Rocks!

Welcome!! Glad to have you join our thread, feel free to ask any questions - there are such very knowlegable people on here, you'll almost always find the answer!
We have a few people that are from the hutch area, i believe. Too bad about the two males. It's always a crap shoot. I just got my first two eggs yesterday and today, so let me tell you, it's verryyy eggsiting to see that when it happens! Congrats on your garden and yes, it's amazing how much better home grown food tastes compared to grocery store veges!! Btw - we love pictures on here hehe

 

[schellie69]

Welcome to byc I have been gone from byc for while and just came back it was great to see some of the same ones and so many new faces.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Has anyone ever tried chunky chicken caviar?

What is it?? Is it for chickens?

Soooooo I found a second egg!!! I'm still not sure whose laying it. It wasn't there at noon and was there at 4pm. AND She laid it in the nest box!! WHOOHOOO!! I'm hoping that wasn't a fluke since the first one was laid right in the middle of the misting patio! I've been out petting the birds all morning and all of the LF are hunching down when i scratch their back, so that's not a clue. LOL. I also added a bowl of really crushed up egg shells for the birds to graze on. I've been saving egg shells since I first ordered chicks (back in January) and crushing them with a rolling pen so they are unrecognizable as eggs.

We had to extend the patio out a bit today (well, DH did it) because the misters were creating a muddy mess right on the outter edges. They do love to play in mud! LOL

YAY on the second egg being IN the nest box! They'll get the hang of it.

Well our outside thermometer is reading 107 in the shade. I hope three's a reflection of some kind. I had to move a fan over by the turkey's pen because my poor little babies that are used to being in the house were really suffering. They all came running to the fence crying. I feel so bad for moving them out. I went in and sat in their pen for a while with them which seemed to help. They decided since I was there they should eat. I think this whole experience of being outside is pretty scary for them. I have these babies way too spoiled. I will just be totally crushed if anything at all happens to them.

Poor turkey babies!!! My heart is just melting with everyone's turkeys. I miss mine. Sigh.

Well, just a brief minute. Its been hot, and a lot of work, but I think we are ready for the fair. Just a couple minor things to take care of and SHAZAM, Cherokee County Fair!!!
Hawkeye, Congrats on your show wins!! It is hard to have to take 2nd place, but that is what we have to do to weed out the birds that are too far from the standard. By the way, who was your judge? I have a committee of 3 under me. I delegate work out, and that lightens the load. Yes, Tuesday is very busy, but with the committee it goes smooth.
This is the first year in about 3 or 4 years I have entered any birds. Everybody was begging me too, sssooooo everybody got their baths today. Oh man I had some dirty looks from the birds. HeHe.


Every body stay cool, not forgetting anybody, just can't remember all that is going on.

Oh, yeah, the pheasant is a baby ringneck, I have had them in the past, real good escape artists!!!

Yay, glad you are ready for the fair! I hope those cages all got to you in time! I've been to the Cherokee Co Fair many, many times! Good memories!! And yes, it was hard to take second place, for sure! ha!! I'm glad I know now that silkie boys can be TOO big!! Who'd have known!! (well, apparently not me!) Currently I think I am raising up a couple of "runts" that might be able to replace him next year. I was going to get rid of them, because I thought they were too small!

Well, now I'll be keeping them for sure! That is nice that you have 3 people to delegate work out to. How did you manage to do that? It looks like I'm going to be in charge of the poultry barn/set up next year. The Superintendent has been doing it for 21 years and she was trying to tell me as much about it as possible today... but I know doing it is different from talking about it. So exciting that you are entering your own birds!!! Are you bringing your black Rosecombs?? They are sooooo gorgeous! We didn't have any of those at this show. But we did see several of them at the last show we were at. Yours were much nicer than the ones we saw. Their earlobes were barely white. Our judge was Milton... somebody. Does that ring a bell? He is an older guy, but super nice and he is both APA and ABA. He loved to talk birds!! He gave me all kinds of pointers on how to kick off my breeding program with my silkies next year and get a better start. He said my girls were fine-- but my boy needed to be phased out for a smaller one. I need to work on downsizing the bird itself. So I have a goal and he gave me the names of two people in Oklahoma that are apparently excellent breeders and he said I should see if I could work with them or meet up with them at a show down there. I hope you have a great fair and the weather is cooler for you. Ours was pretty brutal-- it was hot and there was NO wind!! I mean-- we're in kansas, how could there be no wind!?!? We had two birds die the first day (right before judging) from heat and stress. But I saw them-- they were also crazy flighty and I don't think they'd been handled before.

That's exactly what I thought!

This thing had to endure the shock going under both ways! I believe it pushed it's way underneath the fence and took the shock to do it. I don't know that for sure, but that's what I think happened and there is an area where these little weed things that are blowing around the yard appeared to be pushed aside. They catch in the bottom of the fence and while there aren't tons of them there are enough to make it appear odd in one area. There is also a place inside the fence that was dug up. Isn't that just unbelievable? It hung around to dig up a spot where my tiny little serama that died was buried. So stupid. I've decided a person needs a dog and a fence. I don't think DH may see it the same way, but I'm going to talk to him about it. He may surprise me, who knows?

I can hardly believe an animal would be so bold as to shock itself!! Geez! That is one determined canine. I don't know what to tell you, I'd be baffled too! I was thinking of getting that fencing for next year!

Hello all from Reno County, Kansas! Just poking around, still getting the hang of the site. I have 3 chickens that I thought would be 2 females and a male, but Im thinking I have 2 males, One female! May be needing to trade a boy for another girl if anyone is interested. I know I have to post that in the buy-sell-trade section but I need 20 posts first
Oh and my chickens are good ol' mixed breeds, but they sure are getting beautiful and changing feathers. I became a poultry pamperer on May 13th, 2012 and have been enjoying watching the little boogers grow. I CANT WAIT to try the first egg I get because I have always bought from the store and have sadly never had a "brown egg". I'm even more excited since this year was my first with a garden as well. Its going great. Keeping me busy and home grown cucumbers OUTSHINE store bought 10 to 1. Who'd have known?
Well Im off for now to finish up for the day. Take care all and avoid the heat! Ive kept a board in front of my coop area because I have learned SO MUCH off of here and I know they do not like this KS heat. They DO like the home grown tomatoes though! Thanks to anyone who has posted anything educational, opinionated, interesting or just anything. BYC Rocks!

Welcome, welcome!! Glad you have joined us here! We have a Kansas Facebook swap where you could probably get rid of your extra rooster. I love my brown eggs--- it feels so homey and earthy and wonderful! LOL! Congrats on the garden growing so well for you this year! This is my second year with a garden and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner, and honestly I don't know why I haven't done it sooner. Mine is out of control, it's producing like crazy! I discovered that it's hilarious to throw in a little cherry tomato into the run and watch the chickens go nuts over them! They grab it and it drops, someone else grabs it and the race is on!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Just got back home from the fair not too long ago. Unloaded chickens in the dark and then had to put the rest of my flock to "bed" and lock them all up. I'm tired but it was a good day. I'm pretty excited about getting to do the poultry barn next year, but I sure hope I can round up help to get it done.

As I was telling Checoukan, I have two "runts" hatch out of my shipped eggs. Has anyone ever had that happen before? Not the shipped eggs part... but the runt part! The rest of their siblings are normal sized and these two are barely growing at all! I think they might be boys, too. Which actually would be fantastic since I'm needing small roosters. I wonder if this is some kind of divine intervention! LOL! Anyway, I can't wait to see what everyone looks like this Fall when they start to look more mature.

Well better run-- I'm dead beat here.