Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

HEChicken, wow what a great deal, you can't beat that even if you did have to drive to get it! I could really use another pen to move some of my chicks into, but maybe when I get these guineas out I can move a few into their pen. I wish they would hurry up & grow so I could let the bigger ones out to eat those darned ticks. It seems like forever they have been in that pen, but when you're waiting on something it seems a lot longer. I tried to get some chainlink fence from a gal on the Farm Swap that lives in Ark City to use for dividers for my breeder pens, but someone had already spoken for it, the price was really cheap darnit. I really didn't need chainlink, but the price was right. If I could find some welded wire or something that would be great. It seems like I'm not able to be at the right place at the right time most of the time to get things.

 

[HEChicken]

HEChicken, wow what a great deal, you can't beat that even if you did have to drive to get it! I could really use another pen to move some of my chicks into, but maybe when I get these guineas out I can move a few into their pen. I wish they would hurry up & grow so I could let the bigger ones out to eat those darned ticks. It seems like forever they have been in that pen, but when you're waiting on something it seems a lot longer. I tried to get some chainlink fence from a gal on the Farm Swap that lives in Ark City to use for dividers for my breeder pens, but someone had already spoken for it, the price was really cheap darnit. I really didn't need chainlink, but the price was right. If I could find some welded wire or something that would be great. It seems like I'm not able to be at the right place at the right time most of the time to get things.

I'll keep in mind that you are looking for something like that. I saw some welded wire not too long ago on CL so if I see something like that I'll let you know. I still think if all of the external walls are going to be a predator-proof material, then the internal dividers could just be chicken wire.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish your pen looks great. You did a wonderful job. Proof positive you can build without your DH!

Male peafowl get along fine normally except during breeding season I am told. Some of them just never do fight but then some of them get downright mean with each other. My pheasants are that way too. I have one male that is just downright mean to other males. but then I have 2 other males together that don't fight at all.
I figure if they are raised together then chances are they might get along better. I guess you can always put them together then next spring keep your eyes open for trouble.
I am still waiting to hear back from the guy with the two peachicks. I want them so bad! It's insane! My little white kid needs some friends. He is so funny. He is scared of DH but is perfectly content to sit on my lap. How does he know they difference? I had him hold him yesterday while I cleaned out his bin and he was one very unhappy little peachick!
I got the chicks back in the brooder and have a fan going down on the floor level to dry it out real well. It smells clean in there. What a nice change.
The pond is full and the mandarin ducks are happy. They are getting their pretty feathers back in and looking just gorgeous again.
DH got some holes drilled for the rest of the pens on the new building. No posts set yet but at least there are holes to put them in! Woot!
I need to meet a gal SW of here to trade ducks tomorrow if possible. I also need to drive the other direction and meet the guy I got the hens from. He's got 4 more hens for me.
Hope I have better luck with them.
Friday I have a guy coming for pheasants, then I am going to Ottawa Friday evening to get some more hatching eggs. Yeah it's just crazy. More birds, less birds, etc.Yeah Hawkeye maybe I should rename downsizing the way I do it. Maybe I should call it Danz-sizing instead!

 

[HEChicken]

Maybe I should call it Danz-sizing instead!

I love that - yes, we definitely have another new term to go along with doing a rain danz.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

It seems the rain kept us all hopping today. I had to take DD to a Dr. apt. today and it took forever. I hope tomorrow's ortho apt doesn't take quite so long. I also had all kinds of chicken chores to do: cleaning out feeders that were left out in the rain and then I had to clean out a bunch of wet wood shavings from the coop cause the screen doors were open and evidently the rain came in from the north. Not complaining though because I'm happy about the rain. The humidity just had me drenched. Sounds like we were all really busy today with Dr. apts. and cleaning up after the rain. I ran into an elder lady my mom was friends with before passing and Hawkeye, she sounds like your friend. She's in her 90's but just as sharp and sassy as can be. She's a blast to hang out with.

Trish, HEChicken, just a tiny bit envious of the pens but very happy for you! I really like that peacock pen, Trish, and have thought something like that would be good for relocating my birds when their grass needs a rest around the coop. Is it too heavy to move around? It looks relatively light. HEChicken, the price was absolutely right for that pen!

My Swedish Flower chicks' little feathers are growing in. They are so cute and busy! I took them back out to their big brooder today and they did fine even though it was humid. I'll put them back in the craft room if it gets too hot tomorrow. I really enjoy watching them trying out their wings and chest bumping each other. Too cute.

Tomorrow, I need to treat the pond to slow the algae growth a bit and work on the craft room some more.

I have 4 kids in middle school who are very active this year in band, yearbook and cross country. I'm not the most organized person but I think I've finally got the various fees paid, new band books purchased and instruments in proper repair, plus the reeds and whatnot that go along with the instruments. Then, of course, the running shoes and uniforms. I'm so thankful for digital cameras. At least we don't have to have all those pics developed! Oldest son in HS has buried himself in Physics, Chemistry and Calculus so we don't see much of him anymore.

He is in a quartet that sings at all the games so I'll have to pencil that in on my gigantic calendar as well. And then there's a dance this friday, a meet next week, another Dr. apt. etc., etc.

I'm busy tomorrow and all day Friday pretty much, so Saturday I'll be ready to stay home

I'm Danz-sizing

-- hoping to get some Buff Sussex hatching eggs and maybe a chick or two from revolutionmama. I'm pretty excited about them, just waiting till she has some ready.

 

[Trish44]

HEChicken, see now you have to start a dictionary of Danz terms, lol!

I'm kind of frustrated with the lady I was supposed to get the yearling peacock from, she hasn't been able to catch him. I kind of wish she had caught him before she put the ad on. I worked really hard to get that pen done so I could go pick him up & now I have to wait for her to let me know he's caught. If I knew for sure the other one is a male I would just tell her I changed my mind, but the other lady isn't 100% sure. I may ask for better pics from her & maybe I could tell. I was able to sex mine with pics online. She said she hatched this one from an egg someone gave her. Who knows maybe I'll find something I like better up in KC. Danz, what do you feed your peacocks? Mine seem kind of picky about what they will eat. I know they love sunflower seeds, but they can't just eat those, I give them those for a bedtime snack like I do the chickens.

Danz, yeah I built all of that hoop coop/pen except for the door, we built that together, I had him help me so I could get it done fast. He cut the wood for it & screwed it together & we both put the hardware cloth on it & then hung it together. Here are some pics of the progress on the breeder coop, finally it's taking shape! I just had him do the slant style roof to make it simpler. I was afraid it would take him too long to figure out how to build the peaked roof. It's taken him all summer just to get to this point, but after he was able to draw up the plans & get his dimensions & all he started feeling better about building it.



Front of coop - you can see where the windows are, I have 4 on the front & one on each end - I'm using old recycled windows that will be hinged & hardware cloth behind them.



Back of coop - there are 4 people doors, one for each section

I keep sweeping the leaves out of there & before long they're all back.

Oh & KarenS, I don't know if two people could move that hoop coop or not, it's heavier than you think with all of those livestock panels hooked on. There are 4 complete panels on there. I really would like to sit it all up on bricks to keep the wood frame off the ground, but haven't found enough cheap or free bricks to go all the way around it.

HEChicken, I don't think the chicken wire would be heavy enough for dividers because I will need to have a gate on each section so I have access to each pen. I wish I could build some pens like that Birdman has. Weren't those nice pens he had! I wonder if I could recruit him to build me some, lol! I would like to have those rabbit hutches he has down there, but with buying peacocks right now I don't have the money. Maybe they will be there still later on. I don't really think he's looking to get rid of them right now.

 

[HEChicken]

Karen, I bet having 4 kids in middle school is a variety, considering there are only 3 grades in middle school! I can only imagine trying to stay on top of it all. With only two it seems there is an amazing amount of signing and check-writing to do in the first few weeks of school. It seems every teacher wants the parent to sign an understanding of the class rules and that adds up to a lot of signatures even with just two kids taking 8 classes apiece! Mine are both in band and sports so there go a few more signatures and checks. Yep, that calendar, she just keeps filling up. I guess you reach a point with your kids that there are conflicting activities and you just can't be at everything at once. This is the first year in quite a few years that my kids have been at the same school, since they went to different middle schools. Plus, they are both in the same band so for once some of their activities are at the same time and I don't have to choose between them.

Trish, oh I see what you are saying about the chicken wire - that makes sense. Are you planning to make the door frame that goes between each pen from wood?

 

[Deerfield Acres]

HEChicken, see now you have to start a dictionary of Danz terms, lol!





Front of coop - you can see where the windows are, I have 4 on the front & one on each end - I'm using old recycled windows that will be hinged & hardware cloth behind them.



Back of coop - there are 4 people doors, one for each section

I keep sweeping the leaves out of there & before long they're all back.

Oh & KarenS, I don't know if two people could move that hoop coop or not, it's heavier than you think with all of those livestock panels hooked on. There are 4 complete panels on there. I really would like to sit it all up on bricks to keep the wood frame off the ground, but haven't found enough cheap or free bricks to go all the way around it.

Yeah, that sounds a bit much to move but it sure is nice. I just need to build several in different areas! Uh oh. More projects!

Karen, I bet having 4 kids in middle school is a variety, considering there are only 3 grades in middle school! I can only imagine trying to stay on top of it all. With only two it seems there is an amazing amount of signing and check-writing to do in the first few weeks of school. It seems every teacher wants the parent to sign an understanding of the class rules and that adds up to a lot of signatures even with just two kids taking 8 classes apiece! Mine are both in band and sports so there go a few more signatures and checks. Yep, that calendar, she just keeps filling up. I guess you reach a point with your kids that there are conflicting activities and you just can't be at everything at once. This is the first year in quite a few years that my kids have been at the same school, since they went to different middle schools. Plus, they are both in the same band so for once some of their activities are at the same time and I don't have to choose between them.

It does help immensely now that they are all in the same school system. Next year I will have 5 in middle school and 2 in high school. So this year will seem like a vacation, I suppose.

Last year we were split between two different school systems with different days off and that got to be quite tricky. I couldn't seem to keep track of when who was going to be out.

Fortunately, this school system's not so large that they can't recognize when conflicts exist, so they adjust the different schedules or excuse kids from activities when they are in multiple activities and have conflicting schedules. I think DH and I will be able to go to almost everything together without having to split up this year. That will be a great relief, although we may be attending events 4 days out of 5 occasionally. Yikes.

 

[sapphireblu76]

I just kind of skimmed through posts today. I've been off too long again, lol

Your FB page looks nice. Love the egg variations.

Thank you I'm excited to finally get started. I've been wanting do this for awhile.

Good lookin' page! I liked to help spread the word.

Thanks, Rob! Sent you a PM on here. Let me know!

Well, the ducks in the Andover park have indeed been abandoned. My friend called animal control yesterday and they referred her back to the parks department who acknowledged that the birds were abandoned but that they seem to be doing fine out there.

So my friend kindly explained that flightless domestic ducks need food and shelter during the winter and that when the pond freezes over they will most likely perish to predators and the cold. So the guy told us we could move them once it gets cold because people enjoy seeing them which I guess is a start. It is aggravating though to have to wait so my friend is going to call him again in a couple weeks to see if we can come sooner so we don't have to be rounding up ducks in the cold or worrying about freezing weather. I don't understand people, it someone tied a dog up in the park and left it they wouldn't just leave it out there and say well its having fun and people like stopping and petting it!?!

No doubt! Poor ducks. Glad you are going to rescue them!

As stated above, processing is my least-favorite bird-related task. The first time I was very emotional and it was hard for me to see the life going out of the bird's eyes, knowing I did that to him. The way I get through it is this:

Chickens are killed by the millions every year around the world, so that people can eat them. That is just a fact. What is also a fact is that 99.9% of those chickens live horrible lives. They are bred specifically to be raised for meat and live in large warehouses, where they sit around and do nothing but eat for 6-8 weeks at which time they are killed without humanity.

Another fact: while 50% of chicks hatched are male, only a fraction of them ever have a purpose in life. For fertility you only need about 1 rooster for every 10 hens but many people either choose not to or unable to have roosters so that means even less available homes for roosters.

So....having excess males is part and parcel of this hobby/business. When I have them, they are raised in humane conditions. They not only have free access to good food and fresh water but to grass and bugs and sunshine. They can stretch their wings and fly (as well as their heavy little bodies will let them), and dust-bathe and enjoy the companionship of their flock-mates and their people. When the time comes that processing is inevitable, I do it quickly, humanely and with respect. They are treated kindly and gently right up to the last minute.

The method I use doesn't involve tying them up by their feet or putting them in a killing cone. Instead, I wrap them in an old towel to contain the wings from flapping, and tuck them under my arm. I sit in a lawnchair and hold them for a few minutes, talking to them until I feel them relax. While I am doing that, I stroke the neck area and tap gently over the artery in the neck. This gets them used to the sensation and also helps me to feel for it. My pre-sharpened knife is then used to slice very quickly and cleanly through the artery. You know when you're cutting vegies and you slice your finger and you see blood but don't feel any pain yet? Well, it does take a few seconds for the message that there is pain to be felt, to be sent to the brain. During those seconds, the life is draining out of the bird. About the time the message is sent back "Ouch, that hurt", they are already losing consciousness.

The freakiest part comes up to a minute later, when it will feel like they are struggling for their lives. Despite the towel holding their wings in, the death throes can be so violent that it can be hard to hold onto them so it is good to know it is coming and be ready to hold them tight. At this point, despite how it feels, they are gone and oblivious so don't let the thrashing around make you feel bad that they are still aware of what is going on, because they are not.

If you haven't already, I would really recommend looking on YouTube for some videos. Before I had to do the first, I looked at a bunch of videos and made my own cone out of an old plastic bottle. That worked fine. But then I came across this:

and I really liked her method, so adopted it. Every bird I've done since then has been done using this method. I have never processed a duck or goose but I would guess the anatomy is similar enough that the same process would work (although a goose might be too large to hold under one arm?) The only other hint I can give is to make sure the knife is super, super sharp. The only thing that makes a distasteful job worse is to try to do it with a dull knife and feel like you are hacking away at them causing them to suffer. Good luck and please, let us know how you get on?

Good point of view

Processing birds is easy. But for me it requires too much bending. I decided I would rather sell my birds to someone else or in the case of meaties pay to have them butchered. I never got that far this year. All of my meaties killed over our first really hot day. Having help makes a huge difference. My one rule of thumb is I don't butcher and eat the same meat on the same day. Something about that smell kind of gets in your nose and ruins it for me.

I learned that the hard way. They certainly do have a different smell when you are processing them. Made it hard to eat him later, lol.

HEChicken, see now you have to start a dictionary of Danz terms, lol!

I'm kind of frustrated with the lady I was supposed to get the yearling peacock from, she hasn't been able to catch him. I kind of wish she had caught him before she put the ad on. I worked really hard to get that pen done so I could go pick him up & now I have to wait for her to let me know he's caught. If I knew for sure the other one is a male I would just tell her I changed my mind, but the other lady isn't 100% sure. I may ask for better pics from her & maybe I could tell. I was able to sex mine with pics online. She said she hatched this one from an egg someone gave her. Who knows maybe I'll find something I like better up in KC. Danz, what do you feed your peacocks? Mine seem kind of picky about what they will eat. I know they love sunflower seeds, but they can't just eat those, I give them those for a bedtime snack like I do the chickens.

Danz, yeah I built all of that hoop coop/pen except for the door, we built that together, I had him help me so I could get it done fast. He cut the wood for it & screwed it together & we both put the hardware cloth on it & then hung it together. Here are some pics of the progress on the breeder coop, finally it's taking shape! I just had him do the slant style roof to make it simpler. I was afraid it would take him too long to figure out how to build the peaked roof. It's taken him all summer just to get to this point, but after he was able to draw up the plans & get his dimensions & all he started feeling better about building it.



Front of coop - you can see where the windows are, I have 4 on the front & one on each end - I'm using old recycled windows that will be hinged & hardware cloth behind them.



Back of coop - there are 4 people doors, one for each section

I keep sweeping the leaves out of there & before long they're all back.

Oh & KarenS, I don't know if two people could move that hoop coop or not, it's heavier than you think with all of those livestock panels hooked on. There are 4 complete panels on there. I really would like to sit it all up on bricks to keep the wood frame off the ground, but haven't found enough cheap or free bricks to go all the way around it.

HEChicken, I don't think the chicken wire would be heavy enough for dividers because I will need to have a gate on each section so I have access to each pen. I wish I could build some pens like that Birdman has. Weren't those nice pens he had! I wonder if I could recruit him to build me some, lol! I would like to have those rabbit hutches he has down there, but with buying peacocks right now I don't have the money. Maybe they will be there still later on. I don't really think he's looking to get rid of them right now.

Nice coop!

 

[chicken danz]

Good to see you again Sapphire.
Trish your coop looks great. What kind of siding are you using on it? I think your DH is a lot like mine. He does excellent precise work but it just takes a long time to get the ball rolling. I always kid him about how it takes 5 weeks of planning to do a 5 minute job. And then the 5 minute job takes 5 hours!
I worked too hard yesterday and I sure feel it today. I have tons to do too. I've got to get eggs ready to go to town, and maybe haul a duck down south. Waiting to hear on that one for sure.
Just too many things I need to do.
I'm so glad I don't still have kids in school like so many of you do.
I also just realized a conflict in schedules. Next weekend is the Gardner auction. I am meeting several friends there and have a couple business deals to make there. I look forward to this for 6 months at a time. Some of my friends from out of state will be there as well. It just occurred to me it is the same day my youngest granddaughter's 2nd birthday party is scheduled. I'm trying to figure out how on earth I can be two places at once. I'm waiting to hear back on a time schedule so I can figure out how to swing things. DH won't want to go to Gardner and spend the day with me so he will have to drive up to Olathe separately. That alone is worrisome cause he will be late. He always is.
Karen, I haven't seen a buff sussex in person before. I wonder if they are as sweet as the other sussex. I do have once again these are the sweetest birds ever. Are you using those in your Aloha program or just for eye candy?
Speaking of danz-sizing I am getting more eggs from Eileen's Mom tomorrow and also thinking of ordering some fancy colored brahmas and some breda fowl eggs.It's a package deal so I don't know what I would end up with in colors on the brahmas. They have Buff Laced, Gold Laced, Silver Laced, Black Laced Red, Blue Laced Red, Blue Laced Gold. The breda fowl are just something I think would be pretty unique to have. I do wish I could choose my colors. That would be best.