Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

sharol, I have read there is a 14 day egg withdrawal period. I haven't used it yet on my hens, I think I will wait until they're molting & not laying anyway.

Danz, I only meant that I will have one alpha rooster for my general laying flock. I will have a roo for each breed for breeding purposes. I may end up with one more roo for the general flock if some of these lavender Orps end up being roos. They're so pretty & I wouldn't mind having one of them over my hens. I'm pretty sure it's looking like I will have some to choose from.

I told my DH today that I got guinea keets, he hadn't seen them yet so I hadn't said anything about getting them. He was complaining today about the ticks so I thought it was a good time to tell him I got the guineas to help control them. He really didn't say much except he hoped I didn't let them loose until they're big enough to defend themselves against the chickens. He saw one before when I had them killed by a chicken & I guess that kind of stuck with him.

Sunflowerparrot, Fern is doing great I think with the chickens so far. They will get used to her the longer she is there. Just be aware though like some of the others have said that she may decide a chicken looks like a good play toy like she was doing with the kitten the other day. She will not mean to hurt it, but won't understand that she is playing too rough, she is a baby after all & has to learn. Always keeping things out there for her to chew on helps I think. My two really like plastic milk jugs or 2 liter bottles just to carry around & play with even now. I have let them keep a couple of bottles they brought home just for toys. When they get too chewed up they can bring home some more, but I only let them keep a couple at a time. I let them keep an old leather boot to chew, which they have now shredded, but it gave them a lot of chewing fun for awhile.

 

[michelleml]

Working hard... or hardly working? lol

She is relaxed around them looks like you have a keeper

 

[MarximusMG]

Just posted this on the ordinance forum and wanted to update everyone here as well. Great news - the Rose Hill Council voted to approve the request! They will now draft up the details of the ordinance and vote to approve all of the fine print on 8/20. Of course, I will keep everyone here posted.

 

[chicken danz]

Congratulations MarximusMG! Well done. Another step toward being able to do things the good ole natural way. Go Chicken People!!!

I've just spent the last 3 hours or so cleaning out DH's shop. He had to work a little later today so I tackled the project he keeps putting off. It was one of the excuses he uses for not doing my projects. If I had all day I might have moved everything out of there and done it right but as it was I hauled out three huge garbage bags full of trash. Now I need another shower.
Trish I know what you mean about the lavenders being pretty. I have those 5 roos I hatched earlier and they are just gorgeous. I have no idea what I will do with them. I just hope some of these that just hatched are female, especially since I can't get any more local eggs.
The lemon cuckoo orps are very pretty too. I haven't determined what sexes I have in those yet.
I am really getting fascinated by some of the rare breeds and the new imports. I just can't afford to pay $99 a chick for some of them.
Daren I wasn't aware she jumped you. Sorry.

 

[sharol]

14 days it is. I'm glad I stashed a couple dozen before I started this. Thanks for the answers


Sharol

 

[Hawkeye95]

Yeah Hawkeye, back when I had a brain I loved reading stuff like that. Anything to do with biology has all been like a big puzzle to me and the more knowledge I gained the more the pieces came into place. However these days, I have to reread some of this a couple times to understand it. I found nothing more defined from any of my other research though. It just wasn't as laid out as this was. I tend to skip the forum opinions on these issues and look more into university or research studies. It sounds like to me that they just don't have a black and white answer.
Same way with hatching in hot weather and the ratio of male to female. I still find that hot weather hatches result in more males. After reading this it seems it could influence sex just by all the variables here. It's my hypothesis and that works for me.
Kind of like changing roosters. My old Salmon Favorelle produced a nice balance number of pullets and cockerels. I have had nothing but cockerels since I started using this one. So it's time to change roosters again and see what happens. Sure wish this little guy would hurry up and mature. He is awesome. He is so much of a big baby, eat out of your hand pet though, I almost hate to turn him into a full time breeder.

I am enjoying reading about the color genetics, but it's about all I can handle right now!

my chickens don't get on the roost. what do i need to do to train them? they are about 13 wks old

You won't need to train them, once they get older, they will naturally do it on their own.

Sitting here at Lawrence Hospital waiting for a MRI. Man I hate this Hospital.
Hey Loralee,
are you going to Valley Falls 4-H fair.
Verna,
are you ready for the Auction?
Duck an I got lots of duckies and bunnies we are taking if they don't sell at Filmore swap.

I hadn't planned on going to the Valley Falls Fair-- we have school starting next week and it coincides with another poultry show we were wanting to do down in Crawford Co in SE Kansas. Disappointing! But I do plan on going to the Valley Falls next Spring-- it was so neat running into you up there!

I have so much to do in the next week or so and I have no energy. I have a darned sinus infection that won't let go and it is running me down.
Trish I have alpha roos in each group. I can't imagine having just one rooster in charge. Maybe one of these days it will just be individual groups and they will each just have one rooster. I sure wish I could blink my eyes and make all the work get finished around here...including the money part!!!
I got my renewal for my NPIP testing in the mail yesterday. Time to give the state some more money again. It sure doesn't pay to keep it up but at least it is there when I need it.
I talked to the gal I got my last lavender orpington eggs from and the heat killed all but one of her hens. Crap! I was going to buy some more eggs from her.

Sorry about the sinus infection. Seems like everyone is getting sick lately!

It has taken the chickens several days to even be within eyesight of the dog! The chickens do well as long as she isn't up and walking in their space. I know in time, they'll be ok with her walking around them and being in their personal space. I'm not comfortable putting the dog in the small coop with the chickens yet because the chickens would have no place to get away from her should she decide it is playtime! Once the big coop is finished, then the chickens and dog can be in there together because they'll have roosts they can get to.

I'm loving the 90s, but it's still really hot and dry. Still too hot to go out and do much. I want the 70s!

So glad the pup is working out and that pic you just posted is adorable! Yeah, I'm ready for Fall, too!! Esh... just hope it brings RAIN!!

Just posted this on the ordinance forum and wanted to update everyone here as well. Great news - the Rose Hill Council voted to approve the request! They will now draft up the details of the ordinance and vote to approve all of the fine print on 8/20. Of course, I will keep everyone here posted.

YAY!!!!

BIG HUGE CONGRATS!!!! So glad you all got it passed!! Keep us posted and post pics of the chicks when you get them!

 

[Trish44]

MaximusMG, congrats on getting the ordinance changed! Maybe Derby will change theirs now at some point too if someone asks. What kind of chicks are you planning to get?

I went out this evening, it was actually cool enough to feel like doing something so I moved some dirt around my last pen I put up to hold the rocks I put around it. It's just kind of a barrier to help keep things from digging under & having rocks underneath the dirt is kind of a deterrent. My DH & I were discussing the little pullet that got killed & we think Lily went & found her & brought her back to me because he saw her carrying her down the driveway when he was leaving early that morning to go to OKC. She laid her in the front yard where she knew I would see her & laid beside her until I came to pick her up. I think she got lost in the trees & ran into a possum in there because the damage just looked like possum to me. The dogs probably didn't find her in time.

I decided to shut the young pullets in the coop tonight to see if I can get them to go in there instead of roosting on the guinea pen. It seems cool enough tonight for the door to be shut with all the windows open & all, so hopefully they all will be OK. They've been making a big mess on the guinea pen & pooping down into their water so I would like to get them to get in the habit of going into the coop instead. I'm also having quite a time getting them to go in at night. All of the older hens & roosters go in about 8, but the youngsters want to stay out until dark, which I would rather they wouldn't do. It's just a hassle to try to chase them all in every night when they don't want to go. Hopefully they will start going in earlier as it gets dark earlier. That I'm not looking forward to, but just some cooler weather & some rain would be great. I hope we get a fall instead of going right from 100 degrees into winter.

Sunflowerparrot & I are going to experiment with the cattail stuff for bedding for our coops, so we'll let you all know what the verdict is after we've had it in there for awhile. I have a layer of pine shavings in mine already, so I'm going to go get some cattail cuttings tomorrow evening & add a layer of it to my coop & see how it goes. It's free so we figure we might as well put it to some good use. If you could see all the area they have cattails growing you would be as amazed as I was, I have never seen anything like it. If it wasn't for this drought they would have a lot of water there. Right now it's drying up & you can see where the water has been. In a wet year though it would be pretty amazing back there, just a natural wetland.

 

[tweetysvoice]

Danz - Thanks for sharing that video! I loved it!!

Sunflower - What a good pup you have there!! Already guarding the chickens! Yeehaw!!

HEChicken - Ok, I had to laugh at Tory stealing the toys - sorry, but that's just funny. Of all the things for her to take from another yard. LOL Bad doggie.. LOL

Michelle - I trained mine by just putting them up on the roost when they were sleepy so they woke up on it. Some go on the roost, and sometimes they still sleep on the ground. My thought is that when it gets cold it will be warmer on the roost than they ground and they'll do it automatically, but who knows.

Ozawkie - I'm sorry you hate my hospital L If I'd know you were coming I could have tried to get you through a bit faster. I work in the ER. Did you have a long wait? We've been so unusually busy these past couple weeks it's crazy! I'm exhausted every day.

Marximus - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!

I'm loving this weather!! Took off work tomorrow and going to drive into Kansas City to visit the aquarium and walk around the plaza. Couldn't ask for better weather tomorrow!

So, I've kept quiet on the subject because I thought it was a fluke, but.... I had my gall bladder removed about 7 years ago and after that I was unable to eat eggs. They really did a number on me. I could eat them in cakes and cookies, but fried eggs - forget about it. I'd better be home and near a toilet for a couple days. Kinda ironic that I wanted chickens, huh? LOL. Well, since I've gotten my own eggs, I've decided to make myself scrambled eggs a few times. OMG do they taste better than I ever remembered! I'm sure it's cuz they are fresh and not just cuz I hadn't eaten on in a while. Anyways, I've had absolutely NO issues with them at all! You have no idea how excited I am. I can eat a fried egg sandwich and feel no ill side effects! I've come to the conclusion that it must be due to the diet of the chickens.

 

[HEChicken]

Heather I wasn't trying to be disagreeable on the chicken sex thing. I am just one of those biology geeks and really enjoy trying to piece the puzzles together. Either it is very complicated or I have gotten really stupid over the years because it is all difficult for me to understand. I am one of those people who have to know how things work.

Oh, I never thought that. I apparently don't have a head for it so if someone says "this" is how it works, I just accept it. I'm thankful for people who have the patience and interest in delving into it further to get to the real bottom of things.

HEChicken, I sent you a PM with pics of the pen, I hope it helps & you get it figured out. I know that is frustrating when you can't figure out how to put something together. I just kept trying different things until it all started fitting together because I didn't have instructions either. I sure hope they included all the parts for you. I thought at first one of my corner poles was missing, but it turned out to be rolled up inside the fencing & then I had to unroll the whole thing to get it out & then roll it all back up because you need it rolled to start putting it around the frame. Let me know how it goes.

Duh. I never even thought to look there for any missing poles. I probably won't get a chance to work on it tomorrow but maybe the next day....

My two really like plastic milk jugs or 2 liter bottles just to carry around & play with even now. I have let them keep a couple of bottles they brought home just for toys. When they get too chewed up they can bring home some more, but I only let them keep a couple at a time. I let them keep an old leather boot to chew, which they have now shredded, but it gave them a lot of chewing fun for awhile.

That is so weird because the first "toy" Tory adopted was a gallon milk container I had put out by the trash can. It was too full so I set it next to the can and the next morning Tory had it flattened and has played with it ever since. You would think it was a premium dog toy. Turns out flattened milk jugs are great for playing "keep away" or "tug-of-war" or even "fetch". Who knew?

Just posted this on the ordinance forum and wanted to update everyone here as well. Great news - the Rose Hill Council voted to approve the request! They will now draft up the details of the ordinance and vote to approve all of the fine print on 8/20. Of course, I will keep everyone here posted.

That is awesome news - congratulations!

Sunflowerparrot & I are going to experiment with the cattail stuff for bedding for our coops, so we'll let you all know what the verdict is after we've had it in there for awhile. I have a layer of pine shavings in mine already, so I'm going to go get some cattail cuttings tomorrow evening & add a layer of it to my coop & see how it goes. It's free so we figure we might as well put it to some good use. If you could see all the area they have cattails growing you would be as amazed as I was, I have never seen anything like it. If it wasn't for this drought they would have a lot of water there. Right now it's drying up & you can see where the water has been. In a wet year though it would be pretty amazing back there, just a natural wetland.

Yes, please do let us know how it turns out. I'm really intrigued by the stuff, and would love to get down and see it sometime.

So, I've kept quiet on the subject because I thought it was a fluke, but.... I had my gall bladder removed about 7 years ago and after that I was unable to eat eggs. They really did a number on me. I could eat them in cakes and cookies, but fried eggs - forget about it. I'd better be home and near a toilet for a couple days. Kinda ironic that I wanted chickens, huh? LOL. Well, since I've gotten my own eggs, I've decided to make myself scrambled eggs a few times. OMG do they taste better than I ever remembered! I'm sure it's cuz they are fresh and not just cuz I hadn't eaten on in a while. Anyways, I've had absolutely NO issues with them at all! You have no idea how excited I am. I can eat a fried egg sandwich and feel no ill side effects! I've come to the conclusion that it must be due to the diet of the chickens.

That is so awesome. I can't imagine not being able to eat eggs - there aren't too many days go by that I don't eat one or more. If its not a fried egg in a sandwich, its a couple hard-boiled eggs, or a pickled egg for a snack or.....well, I guess I just love eggs. I'm glad you are able to eat them without any problems now - it must make it even more enjoyable to go and collect the eggs.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

No more guessing or wondering if one of my chickens is a rooster or not - Yupp - that "Cockadoodledoo" attempt this morning sure gave it away Trish was pretty sure he was a roo based on his looks and behavior.. I'm lucky to have just one roo out of a group of 5 straight runs from Atwoods. Can't wait till the girls start laying this winter - probably Decemberish.

Today is going to be beautiful outside - even though I personally think the 90s are still too hot for a lot of labor work. Fern has a vet appointment this morning (will be easier to get her in/out of the car than Tish had with Fern's sisters! lol) Going to buy paint for the new coop - figured it was easier to paint the walls before putting them up - can always touch up afterwards if needed.

Welp - time to get breakfast, shower, and out the door in an hour. Have a great day everyone - I LOVE THIS GROUP! You may not know it, but each of you have coffee with me every morning