Consolidated Kansas

[michelleml]

Today I noticed my roo mounted two of my hens. I heard a ruckus a few day's also. at what age does this start? If I'm correct they are around 15 weeks should I start layer feed? Can it be mixed with the feed I have now?

 

[Trish44]

Hawkeye, I hope your buyer shows up for your little Silkie cockerel, that would be awesome!

Josie, I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with posting on CL, I just don't get people, I guess they have nothing better to do. I was hoping someone on the Farm Swap would want her. There is someone on there with Antolian pups who has been having some trouble getting homes for them too & they're full blood Antolians.

Well I'm just pooped out tonight bigtime. I went out there & I had hooked on 3 livestock panels to the frame boards for both sides & then I needed to bend the thing to get it into the hoop shape so I could hook it onto the end frame pieces. Danz, I hooked on those tie down straps & got them bent to a point & then couldn't get them bent any more with that, I think if I would have had one more strap in the middle it might have helped, but all I could find was two straps, one for each end. I looked at that thing & thought there is no way I'm going to get this thing bent into place by myself, I even texted Sunflowerparrot & told her I didn't think it was a one person job. Then I went back out there one more time & picked up the side that was bent & kind of flipped it over & then pulled the underneath side over & voila it was standing up, sort of anyway. I got the front end piece hooked on & looked at it & then decided after all that instead of 8x12 I wanted it to be 8x16, so I went & cut some other boards that I had extra that had been sitting in the garage for a long time anyway & hooked them together with the other one with a metal plate to extend it. I have 3 panels all hooked onto the frame & I managed after I got the extension boards on to screw on the other end piece for the frame. That was the hardest one of all. Then I put a brace across the middle to stabilize it some since it's so long. I just have the last panel sitting inside of the frame right now. Tomorrow I have to go out & hook it onto the frame too & then I will add some corner braces & a brace at the back in a triangular shape to give it some stability back there. I have a partial panel that I can use for making a door & still have two more panels out by the horse shed if I need them. I'm going to put hardware cloth up aways on the sides to keep the birds in for one thing because they're still young & small enough I think they can get through those squares on the livestock panels. Then I have a net I bought I will use for the top & I still have some chicken wire left from other projects & some other rabbit fencing I can use also to make it all more secure. Thank goodness for cable ties, those things are the handiest things in the world when you need to hook things together & to tie down tarps, I wish I had known about them years ago. I sure use a lot of then now though. I used those to hook the panels together where they intersect so they wouldn't move. I used about a bag & a half so far of those. Won't my DH be surprised when he goes out to work on the coop again to see a peacock pen taking shape, he won't be able to believe that I did that by myself. I'm kind of having a hard time believing it myself. I think it was sheer determination that kept me going tonight. I'm pretty stubborn about things when I start on something I usually find a way to do it if at all possible. I probably will be paying tomorrow for what I did today, but I'm so happy I got as far as I did. I should have this thing done I think by the end of the week so I can move my little peahens in there & then I can go get my peacock. I know they're molting right now, but from the pics the gal had she has some beautiful birds, I can't wait to see them. I will try to get some pics tomorrow of my progress on the pen so far.

 

[HEChicken]

Well.... if this lady shows up, I have my little cockerel sold on Craigslist! YAY! That was fast!!

Wow that's great that you sold him so fast!

Today I noticed my roo mounted two of my hens. I heard a ruckus a few day's also. at what age does this start? If I'm correct they are around 15 weeks should I start layer feed? Can it be mixed with the feed I have now?

If I were you, I would just finish the bag of what you are feeding and when it is out, start them on layer. In the meantime, if you put out a bowl of shell on the side, if they do need a little extra calcium they can help themselves. You can buy oyster shell at the feed store but to be honest, my birds won't eat the oyster shell. Since before I had laying hens, I've always saved back the egg shells of any eggs I use, and I crush them up and offer them on the side instead. Apparently they are a lot more tasty than oyster shell because when I run out of egg shell and offer the oyster shell, they turn their little beaks up at it and hold out for egg shell.

Well I'm just pooped out tonight bigtime. I went out there & I had hooked on 3 livestock panels to the frame boards for both sides & then I needed to bend the thing to get it into the hoop shape so I could hook it onto the end frame pieces. Danz, I hooked on those tie down straps & got them bent to a point & then couldn't get them bent any more with that, I think if I would have had one more strap in the middle it might have helped, but all I could find was two straps, one for each end. I looked at that thing & thought there is no way I'm going to get this thing bent into place by myself, I even texted Sunflowerparrot & told her I didn't think it was a one person job. Then I went back out there one more time & picked up the side that was bent & kind of flipped it over & then pulled the underneath side over & voila it was standing up, sort of anyway. I got the front end piece hooked on & looked at it & then decided after all that instead of 8x12 I wanted it to be 8x16, so I went & cut some other boards that I had extra that had been sitting in the garage for a long time anyway & hooked them together with the other one with a metal plate to extend it. I have 3 panels all hooked onto the frame & I managed after I got the extension boards on to screw on the other end piece for the frame. That was the hardest one of all. Then I put a brace across the middle to stabilize it some since it's so long. I just have the last panel sitting inside of the frame right now. Tomorrow I have to go out & hook it onto the frame too & then I will add some corner braces & a brace at the back in a triangular shape to give it some stability back there. I have a partial panel that I can use for making a door & still have two more panels out by the horse shed if I need them. I'm going to put hardware cloth up aways on the sides to keep the birds in for one thing because they're still young & small enough I think they can get through those squares on the livestock panels. Then I have a net I bought I will use for the top & I still have some chicken wire left from other projects & some other rabbit fencing I can use also to make it all more secure. Thank goodness for cable ties, those things are the handiest things in the world when you need to hook things together & to tie down tarps, I wish I had known about them years ago. I sure use a lot of then now though. I used those to hook the panels together where they intersect so they wouldn't move. I used about a bag & a half so far of those. Won't my DH be surprised when he goes out to work on the coop again to see a peacock pen taking shape, he won't be able to believe that I did that by myself. I'm kind of having a hard time believing it myself. I think it was sheer determination that kept me going tonight. I'm pretty stubborn about things when I start on something I usually find a way to do it if at all possible. I probably will be paying tomorrow for what I did today, but I'm so happy I got as far as I did. I should have this thing done I think by the end of the week so I can move my little peahens in there & then I can go get my peacock. I know they're molting right now, but from the pics the gal had she has some beautiful birds, I can't wait to see them. I will try to get some pics tomorrow of my progress on the pen so far.

Congratulations on getting so much of it done. Now we need pictures.

 

[medawinks]

Josie! Wow!!! Your brooders look professional . Way cool!!

I guess maybe my pullets are pulling their own feathers out. If so they all should start laying soon !

Woot! Woot! Check out what we found tonight . My D'uccle and White rock joined Bloom in providing us with eggs!!! They are tiny and weren't where Bloom lays hers, but we're in nest boxes

 

[sunflowerparrot]

Hawkeye, I hope your buyer shows up for your little Silkie cockerel, that would be awesome!

Josie, I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with posting on CL, I just don't get people, I guess they have nothing better to do. I was hoping someone on the Farm Swap would want her. There is someone on there with Antolian pups who has been having some trouble getting homes for them too & they're full blood Antolians.

Well I'm just pooped out tonight bigtime. I went out there & I had hooked on 3 livestock panels to the frame boards for both sides & then I needed to bend the thing to get it into the hoop shape so I could hook it onto the end frame pieces. Danz, I hooked on those tie down straps & got them bent to a point & then couldn't get them bent any more with that, I think if I would have had one more strap in the middle it might have helped, but all I could find was two straps, one for each end. I looked at that thing & thought there is no way I'm going to get this thing bent into place by myself, I even texted Sunflowerparrot & told her I didn't think it was a one person job. Then I went back out there one more time & picked up the side that was bent & kind of flipped it over & then pulled the underneath side over & voila it was standing up, sort of anyway. I got the front end piece hooked on & looked at it & then decided after all that instead of 8x12 I wanted it to be 8x16, so I went & cut some other boards that I had extra that had been sitting in the garage for a long time anyway & hooked them together with the other one with a metal plate to extend it. I have 3 panels all hooked onto the frame & I managed after I got the extension boards on to screw on the other end piece for the frame. That was the hardest one of all. Then I put a brace across the middle to stabilize it some since it's so long. I just have the last panel sitting inside of the frame right now. Tomorrow I have to go out & hook it onto the frame too & then I will add some corner braces & a brace at the back in a triangular shape to give it some stability back there. I have a partial panel that I can use for making a door & still have two more panels out by the horse shed if I need them. I'm going to put hardware cloth up aways on the sides to keep the birds in for one thing because they're still young & small enough I think they can get through those squares on the livestock panels. Then I have a net I bought I will use for the top & I still have some chicken wire left from other projects & some other rabbit fencing I can use also to make it all more secure. Thank goodness for cable ties, those things are the handiest things in the world when you need to hook things together & to tie down tarps, I wish I had known about them years ago. I sure use a lot of then now though. I used those to hook the panels together where they intersect so they wouldn't move. I used about a bag & a half so far of those. Won't my DH be surprised when he goes out to work on the coop again to see a peacock pen taking shape, he won't be able to believe that I did that by myself. I'm kind of having a hard time believing it myself. I think it was sheer determination that kept me going tonight. I'm pretty stubborn about things when I start on something I usually find a way to do it if at all possible. I probably will be paying tomorrow for what I did today, but I'm so happy I got as far as I did. I should have this thing done I think by the end of the week so I can move my little peahens in there & then I can go get my peacock. I know they're molting right now, but from the pics the gal had she has some beautiful birds, I can't wait to see them. I will try to get some pics tomorrow of my progress on the pen so far.

Awesome! I can't wait to see your new pen - post some pictures for us I am going to build a set of 4 nest boxes and a little brooder for about 50 chicks - I am going to be amazed if I can do that! I can't imagine building an entire pen - you rock

I have 3 full super busy days starting today... we are putting the roof on the coop today, the gable panels, and I am doing some housework and laundry. Tomorrow, I am going to be in Wichita all day and then pick up my brother at the airport. Friday, we are all driving down to Cherryvale to pick up my daughter... then, I will have a housefull for 10 days! (Just wait till everyone sees their To Do lists!)

 

[sunflowerparrot]

My little chicks are scheduled to arrive Sept. 4th (25 broilers and 11 hens). My coop will be done within a week too. With all this, and fall approaching, I am thinking about how to keep the chicks warm. I am a little worried about traditional heat lamps and fires. I am considering getting one of the EcoGlow Heaters

http://www.amazon.com/EcoGlow-50-La...e=UTF8&qid=1345636297&sr=1-2&keywords=ecoglow

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[sharol]

I got 2 of these Sweeter Heaters ( a 30"' and a 40") a year ago to use in the coop. You can hang them over roosts or use them in brooders. I like the idea that they can be used for a variety of purposes, and they are really nice. I plugged them into a thermocube (on at 0 off at 20) and they kept the girls comfortable during our few cold snaps last winter. I wish I had had them a year earlier for THAT nasty winter. I haven't used an ecogolow, but they have a good reputation. http://www.sweeterheater.com/page2.asp

My little chicks are scheduled to arrive Sept. 4th (25 broilers and 11 hens). My coop will be done within a week too. With all this, and fall approaching, I am thinking about how to keep the chicks warm. I am a little worried about traditional heat lamps and fires. I am considering getting one of the EcoGlow Heaters

http://www.amazon.com/EcoGlow-50-La...e=UTF8&qid=1345636297&sr=1-2&keywords=ecoglow

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[sunflowerparrot]

I got 2 of these Sweeter Heaters ( a 30"' and a 40") a year ago to use in the coop. You can hang them over roosts or use them in brooders. I like the idea that they can be used for a variety of purposes, and they are really nice. I plugged them into a thermocube (on at 0 off at 20) and they kept the girls comfortable during our few cold snaps last winter. I wish I had had them a year earlier for THAT nasty winter. I haven't used an ecogolow, but they have a good reputation. http://www.sweeterheater.com/page2.asp

I assume I would want an overhead mount? These are a lot cheaper in price than Ecoglow! I would be happy to get this instead due to price..

 

[chicken danz]

Congrats on the eggs Medawinks! I'll bet the kids were excited.
Trish what a great job getting that much done on your peafowl pen. I think if I were going to do it I would use the straps and cinch the panels down to the right size then move them to the inside of the frame work. To me it sounds a little easier to handle than fastening one side first. Maybe not since I haven't ever built one. I was hoping the panels would be back on sale this week but they aren't. Dang it!
I may have a lead on some more white peachicks. A guy I used to work with has some according to DH. It sounded like he might sell them. I will buy them all if they aren't too high. More of my downsizing! I have to have a mate for my baby here, so since I don't know what sex it is, I need to be able to have a couple to choose from, right? I can always sell the others if I want to. DH is supposed to talk to him today at work if he doesn't forget. I want them!!!
I haven't heard back from that one guy interested in the chickens yet. I had the first guy that called, call me back yesterday but he wants a count and seems only interested in the younger ones.I don't think I have enough for him to make a drive. He wants like 100 pullets. I wish people would really follow up when they say they will. Even if they just called back to say they weren't interested.
Sunflower, Chooks swears by her Ecoglow. I found a decent thing last year. I had a discarded oil filled radiator heater that my DIL had tossed. It had no feet and no cord. I made some new metal bracket feet for it, took the cord off another dead appliance and put it on a digital temperature controller. They use a lot of energy getting hot but are efficient when they get the oil hot. I set it to 70 degrees at the outlet, which is on the ceiling of the brooder. It kept the brooder house toasty warm all winter, was perfectly safe and didn't cost me a dime. I guess that is one of those cases when hoarding pays off. It was actually in our junk pile. The nice thing about it is the chick dust doesn't bother it like heaters with a fan. It seems like I look at everything these days as to what it could be transformed to, to use for the birds. I have some of those old food warmer trays from the 70s and 80s that I sealed off with silicone so they would be water tight. I used those under water bowls last winter. They not only kept the water warm but radiated some heat into the coop. Not super energy efficient, but they did the job I needed them to do. I did have them on a thermocube so they only ran when they needed to.
MichelleML, I would go ahead and start mixing in the layer feed. The reason being is in case the taste and texture is different you want the birds to get used to it. About the only difference in those feeds would be less fat and more calcium.
When I feed any animal and change foods I try to do it gradually by mixing foods. A change in diet can cause diarrhea or other problems if you make a sudden change. That is just my opinion though. It seems to work better for me with my pets as well as my birds.
I haven't felt good at all for days. I finally figured out that my arthritis is flaring really bad. I am sore all over. I don't know if it is the change in weather or I just did too much last week. At any rate it sure has messed with my progress on things.
I need to get around today and make a trip to Topeka for dog food. I really don't want to go. It is either go or cook the dogs dinner tonight.
I have a ripe pumpkin in the garden. I grew these for the birds. Now I have to decide how to divide it up among the pens. I am sure I will have some very happy chickens! I would be very tempted to make some pumpkin puree so I can make my own homemade pumpkin pies too. I hope I have several more out there in the next couple months.

 

[Trish44]

Sunflowerparrot, I have heard good things about the EcoGlow & I have thought of getting one myself, but haven't had the money as of yet. That Sweeter Heater looks good too though & it is a lot cheaper, you could get two of those for what the Ecoglow costs. It kind of depends on what kind of brooder you're going to build. Have you seen the two I have in my garage yet? I kept them busy last spring & am thinking I probably will need another one for next year too.

I know this has nothing to do with chickens, but I got some devastating news this morning in a text from my son. His girlfriend was just diagnosed this morning with malignant cancer & they say it's already in her lymph nodes & possibly metastasized all over her body. She's a heavy smoker so I have no doubt the original site was in a lung. They don't know yet if there will be any treatment or not. She is so young to have to go through something like this & it's going to destroy my son. He finally found someone who treats him really well & he has been happy for once & now this. Please send prayers their way, her name is Dana & my son's is Kyle. I went through all of this with two people in my family from smoking, my late father-in-law & my late husband. They have a really hard road ahead in the next few months.