Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

Thanks Maidenwolf. I don't have any problems shooting them if they are a threat. My fox attack may have been before you joined but the long and short is I went out one afternoon to find 14 dead birds. This was in the middle of the afternoon and I had been out to see them only a short time before and all was fine. DH and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening processing the birds so it didn't return that day. Next day around the same time, I heard a noise, went out there and found two more victims. Then I saw the fox, DH brought me my .22 LR and when I got a good sight on it, I shot it. I also agree with nothing going to waste and that fox became a "life cycle in a bucket". I put it in a 5-gallon with holes drilled in the bottom. The flies laid eggs, the eggs hatched into larva (maggots) who ate the fox flesh clean off the bones. Once full, they dropped through the holes in the bottom of the bucket to be eaten by the chickens. Great protein for them, disposal of the fox body for me. Once it was nothing but fur and bones, there was no smell, and those went in the trash. I know a lot of people prize a fox pelt but this thing was so covered in fleas and ticks, it didn't appeal to me to try to save the pelt.

DH is figuring a way for me to safely keep the .22 at the coop where I can access it easily but it won't be accessible to any neighborhood kids who might decide to visit uninvited. Hopefully I won't need to use it again.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

HEChicken - in regards to the fox/coyote. That critter is watching you, knows or is learning you routine and knows when the birds are out and you are not around. How many birds are you willing to risk to give it a chance to stay away?. I agree with maidenwolfx80, decide where the line of ok and not ok is, or other factors that apply to your situation, After an attack is a little late to decide.

That said, the fox activity is escuating here again also. I saw one the other day, have heard them early in the morning, etc. I know the area they live at and assume it is the family of the one that caused so much trouble here. With houses all around, it is not so easy to make a decision for me. They are so sneaky and hunt at all times of the day.

I have considered getting a donkey, but that is another animal to take care of and might not work anyway.

 

[checoukan]

I agree Hechicken, my yard is out of bounds for any "varment"..... Even if it is stray cat, in my yard out of bounds!!!! Goes for all flying things too!! I had a hawk come down and grab a duck, we scared it off, it didn't come back, but with colder temps up north and snow and stuff, lots of hawks migrate south. Thats where a lot of problem comes in, because those northern hawks are used to preying on ducks and other waterfowl up north. They are just doing what they know, any feathered bird on the ground is prey for them. They are passing thru, and will strike.
I don't care, kill in my yard, be prepared to be killed! Everything in my yard gets along. Dogs, cats, ducks, goats, cattle. No get along, no stay!!!

 

[JosieChick]

Wow! Josie! I can't believe you are getting rid of your cameos. I thought those were something you really wanted. Maybe if Trish pops on she might be interested. I would, if I had more pen space. I actually have too many for the pens I have now. If I had gotten a 48' building like I wanted instead of a 24' one I might have had the room. Is your gold laced polish bearded? Is she standard or bantam? I think I can get you $3 each for your roos if you don't mind them being eaten. I normally get $2 for roos but they are usually fairly small.
Yeah, I hate to get rid of them but it is either spend the money on a flight pen and not be able to divide the geese into proper breeding pens or sell them and really have fun with the geese. I don't even have the energy to build a pen for the peas and its already October so I think they need to go somewhere that is better set up for them. If you are interested in that flight cage after they are gone let me know. I think the polish is sold but I will let you know. She is a bantam and I believe bearded but will have to double check.


I have created the ultimate of monsters. I hadn't let the peachick or the pullet out of their bin for 2 days and I felt guilty so I let them out. I went outside to work and when I came back in couldn't locate them. When DH's alarm went off for him to get up and get ready for work, I looked in the bedroom. Those two birds were laying on my bed taking a nap with DH!!! I don't know if it was their idea or his. He is always short when he gets up and gets ready to work. I said, "You let the birds take a nap with you???" He said, "yes." and nothing more. I could tell by his tone he didn't have time to discuss it. Maybe in the morning I'll get more details.

This is funny!!! What a patient DH taking naps with the birds.

I had a very crazy day! DD and I jumped in the car headed for Arkansas at 5 a.m. to get the German New Hamps. So we're driving and driving and driving and we were on the west side of Tulsa when the phone rang. It was the seller. He had decided to go to Joplin after all! AAAaaackkkk!!!!! I had hoped we would meet in Joplin because it's closer but he had decided against it! Sigh. Anyway, it was 8 a.m. and he asked me if I had left yet. I explained that yes, we'd left sometime ago. Anyway, he was pretty set on going to Joplin and said it wasn't much further than going to his place from where I was, so he gave me directions and I changed course, just like that! Crazy thing, but no problem, I've never been to a swap before anyway, so I was good. We got there, got our birds and then breezed through the swap to see what was what. We found turkeys! They were a Bourbon Red/Royal Palm cross so I nabbed a boy (we all hope) for Tookie! We've named him Tom so now we have Tom and Tookie (AKA Turkey). She is bigger than him a bit so she immediately began bumping the new guy to let him know who's boss. But she was one happy Turkey making all kinds of happy turkey sounds and Tom started gobbling. What fun! Now Tookie isn't the only Turkey!

So tired, so I'm sorry I didn't catch up with everyone but I just had to tell you about my new turkey. Didn't even ruffle DH's feathers! He's a keeper!
Sounds like a crazy day!! So glad you got a turkey friend too!

Whoa!!! I definitely missed something!!! You are really downsizing but for a WONDERFUL reason! Congratulations! Congrats on the new job too!!! I would help, but don't have room or time to add more....
Yes we are! Sorry, I announced it at the party at Karens but forgot to post it on here so I will make an announcement at the bottom of the page so nobody is left out!

Josie - Congrats!! I'd totally missed that you were expecting as well! I feel silly or I would have said how "glowing" you looked when we saw you.

Thanks! I am green instead of glowing most of the time but I am finally starting to feel better!

I had my granddaughter over tonight. We had a great night. No tears at all!! She's now crawling and pulling herself up to stand. Thought I'd share a couple pics.




What a cutie pie! SO happy and big smiles!

Okay, here's a "what would you do?" for all of you. I went out to check on birds this morning and make sure they had water since the thermometer said it was 29 degrees (Oh, I am SO not ready for ice - its only the first week of October). Anyway, while filling a water bowl, I looked up to see I was being watched. It was only about 100' away but was standing in long grass so it was hard to see it clearly. It was either a coyote or a fox. After awhile it sat down and watched us, and a little while later, got up and trotted off into the hedgerow. I think fox because it was behaving just exactly like my previous visitor. A few minutes later I saw it far down our pasture - a much greater distance away. After seeing it the second time I went inside and got the binoculars but by the time I got back out there it was gone and I didn't see it again. My dilemma is: do I eliminate a potential threat just because its there, or do I wait until it is an actual threat before taking action? I don't want to just get out there and kill, kill, kill because at heart I am a live and let live kind of person. At the same time I don't want to go through another fox attack like the one in July ever again. And of course, just because I only saw one, doesn't mean there aren't a whole slew of them. The neighbors have told me that coyotes travel across all of our properties in the fall so its possible it was just a coyote passing through, and won't be a threat to us. I'm thinking about perhaps relocating a .22 to the coop so I'll have it in case I need it.
Shoot it. It will be back. I left a lone coyote alone once and it came back and almost killed one of my geese. It is getting cold and they are ramping up their hunts. The coyotes have been terrible here, I wouldn't mess with it because its hanging around because it smells dinner.

HEChicken - in regards to the fox/coyote. That critter is watching you, knows or is learning you routine and knows when the birds are out and you are not around. How many birds are you willing to risk to give it a chance to stay away?. I agree with maidenwolfx80, decide where the line of ok and not ok is, or other factors that apply to your situation, After an attack is a little late to decide. That said, the fox activity is escuating here again also. I saw one the other day, have heard them early in the morning, etc. I know the area they live at and assume it is the family of the one that caused so much trouble here. With houses all around, it is not so easy to make a decision for me. They are so sneaky and hunt at all times of the day. I have considered getting a donkey, but that is another animal to take care of and might not work anyway.
Ditto!

So sorry for not making an announcement on here but DH and I are having a baby! We are due the first of May and are super excited. I did tell everyone that was at Karen's and it slipped my mind not to let everyone else know so sorry about that! We are cutting back on birds so that I can easily care for everyone this winter and not be overwhelmed by all the mouths to feed and water. I will miss them dearly but so far many have found wonderful homes! Sorry to anyone on here that wanted birds and I missed you. Most of the hens/pullets were sold last night within minutes of putting up the ad.

Danz- I will let you know on roos. Normally I would just butcher them but the thought of processing birds makes me a little ill still so I might take you up on an offer to sell the left overs as meat birds.

 

[michelleml]

Howdy everyone! I am doing one last final sweeping clean out of birds. I hate to do it but I don't want to be huge and prego and out there trying to fill waterers this winter.

I have decided to concentrate on my banty cochins, geese and couple large fowl projects. DH can deliver to Andover on Mondays too if that helps anyone down that direction.
I though I would post the list here in case anyone is interested in anything just let me know. This is the list I am putting on craigslist so obviously prices are highly negotiable to fellow consolidated kansas byc friends.

I am thinking anything that is still here the end of the month I will take to the auction down in Garnett. I have never done that before but am thinking it may be a good option.


4 Royal Palm Turkeys 4 months old 2 males 2 females $30 for a pair or $50 for all 4, purchase of turkeys and get four free guineas, raised with the turkeys and protect them while free ranging
2 Ancona pullets 4 months old $6 each
2 Dominique pullets 4 months old $6 each
2 Large fowl blue cochin hens in molt 2 years old $12 for both
1 Gold laced wyandontte hen in molt 2 years old $6
1 pair breeding quality blue silkies, 4 months old $20 pair
1 pet quality black mottled bantam cochin cockerel 5 months old Free
2 Mille fleur cochin cockerels 5 months old $5 each
1 pair hatchery quality bantam salmon faverolles $10 pair
1 breeding quality blue silkie cockerel 8 months old Free
3 silkie/cochin hens 1 yr old 1 blue/2 splash, great broodies $15 all three
3 splash french maran roosters 8 months old Free
3 silver and white crested ducks 1 male, 2 female Free PET HOME ONLY!
1 black crested gold laced polish pullet $8
3 Cameo peachicks 4 months old $50 each
3 lavender orp cockerels 4 months old $5 each

If you weren't so far away i would be interested in the Dominique and gold laced wyandontte. Congrats of the new little one

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Thanks Maidenwolf. I don't have any problems shooting them if they are a threat. My fox attack may have been before you joined but the long and short is I went out one afternoon to find 14 dead birds. This was in the middle of the afternoon and I had been out to see them only a short time before and all was fine. DH and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening processing the birds so it didn't return that day. Next day around the same time, I heard a noise, went out there and found two more victims. Then I saw the fox, DH brought me my .22 LR and when I got a good sight on it, I shot it. I also agree with nothing going to waste and that fox became a "life cycle in a bucket". I put it in a 5-gallon with holes drilled in the bottom. The flies laid eggs, the eggs hatched into larva (maggots) who ate the fox flesh clean off the bones. Once full, they dropped through the holes in the bottom of the bucket to be eaten by the chickens. Great protein for them, disposal of the fox body for me. Once it was nothing but fur and bones, there was no smell, and those went in the trash. I know a lot of people prize a fox pelt but this thing was so covered in fleas and ticks, it didn't appeal to me to try to save the pelt.

DH is figuring a way for me to safely keep the .22 at the coop where I can access it easily but it won't be accessible to any neighborhood kids who might decide to visit uninvited. Hopefully I won't need to use it again.

That is a great use of the body. I am so sorry you are having such problems with predators. I am trying to fix somethiing up to safely store my shotgun out there in the barn so I can get to it quickly but noone else will mess with it. My kids know gun safety and how to handle guns and that they are not toys but who knows what one of their friends might not and if my kid cant get to them to retrieve the gun in time.... I guess that is all a mom thing huh?

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Question--- When the little chicks get poo on their little fuzzy down just below the vent but not interfering with the vent do you leave it be or clean it off?

 

[cherwill]

Last year was frustrating because it was so hot that my tomato plants wouldn't set fruit. Finally when the weather cooled off a little in September, the plants started to set fruit by the hundreds and then we had that early frost in October, before they had had a chance to ripen. I didn't want all the effort I had put into them throughout the season to go to waste so I picked all the green fruit and made Green Tomato Salsa, and I have to say, it was about the best salsa I've ever had. It was super easy too. If I recall correctly, I diced up the tomatoes, put them in a big stock pot with a diced onion and some peppers. I used hot peppers because that's what we grew and had a ton of and we like hot stuff. Then I added a cup of ACV, and simmered the pot for a couple of hours. Cooled it a little, ran batches through the food processor until it was broken down a little and looked like salsa, and put it in my canning jars.
I hate painting too. And, I have a little I need to do this weekend as well

Cyrus jumped me again this morning. Sigh. I knew he was working up to it, so I walked up to him a few times to make him walk away and submit. He did the first few times, but I guess it just got to be too much for him and he had to have another try at me. If only he weren't such a good rooster in every other respect. He is so constantly vigilant - always with the flock and nothing ever escapes his attention.

Thanks for the recipe; it sounds delicious. We like salsa of all kinds. We ended up picking anything that looked like it was beginning to turn; I'll line the windowsills with them and see if they get ripe. It's always amazing to me how many of them will. I did pick a few green tomatoes as well. We put a giant tarp over the tomatilloes and it covered most of the romas as well, and we had a smaller tarp to put over the peppers. We had four "Husky Red" tomato plants and no more tarps, so DH pulled up the eggplants and used them to cover the tomatoes! Seems like it may have worked. A few of the hardier herbs like rosemary look good, but the basil is definitely done. I have plenty of it frozen, but I was hoping I'd get around to making some pesto for the freezer.

My usual salsa is to take a cast iron griddle I use just for roasting stuff, and use it to blacken a few tomatoes or tomatilleoes, half an onion (skin on, white onion if I have it), a clove of garlic (skin on) and whatever chile suits me that day. Then I take the skins off the garlic and onion and blend it in the food processor. Add a little salt and squeeze of lime and it's the salsa of the day. I usually have jalapenos, serranos and habaneros in the freezer, and sometimes other chiles. We looooove chiles.

Are you painting today? I hope it goes quicker for you than it has for us!

I'm sorry about Cyrus. It's hard when your roo is a great roo to his girls but horrible with people.

When you have RA cold is your worst nightmare...

Yes it is, and it hit me with a vengeance. Friday was my birthday and I spent it grocery shopping, painting in the cold, and then sitting in the cold for a couple of hours at a nephew's football game. I could hardly move yesterday. Today's a little better, but I'm still very stiff. DH went over to paint window trim this afternoon after was above 50 and he told me to just stay in. Tomorrow will be warmer and I should be able to move better. Fall is my favorite season, but I'm not very fond of winter.

I ended up with one from Orcheln's that has those stripes on it's back and it has puffy cheeks, I really need to go get a pic.

Sounds like of couple of the EEs we got this spring. I love their puffy cheeks.

this is the chick that hatched out of the "australorp" egg

It's really cute, whatever it is.

Well the interview went well. I was tuckered right out after it. I had to groom both the owners dogs for him as test dogs. They were good dogs but I am a bit out of practice so they took me a bit longer than usual. I think if everything checks out ok I will start next Wednesday. Its only a couple days a week to start because they are still drumming up grooming business but at least its something. The facility is beautiful too, everything is new and the grooming area is enormous!

I'm glad the interview went well. And congratulations on the upcoming baby!

Today was a crazy day. My youngest is sick and probably has strep, but it came back negative, but her throat hurts, her lungs are all yucky and she can't talk and she is coughing. The Dr gave her an antibiotic and steroids for her lungs. Then my middle child had a dentist appt this morning. My DH and I had to split up and he took our DD early this morning while I took our DS leaving the house around the same time. I ALSO found an x-pen on CraigsList a couple days ago and I hooked up with the girl today and bought it from her! So now I can separate my boys and girls in the outside pen. Whew! And I'm sure it will come in handy next year when I have chicks. It looks like brass! Isn't that crazy? It's really pretty, and it's nearly too tall for me to walk over. I'm guessing it's about 36 inches in height. Since my birds can't fly, it's really overkill. But I can kind of hitch myself over it, so it's working. I did have to buy another water fount to put on the boys side. I already had an extra feeder. I'm still looking for an easy plastic dog crate so I can carry my birds easier in the car without pine shavings going everywhere and so I can tote the cage easily without needing a wagon!

I hope it's not strep, but it sure sounds like it. Isn't there a pretty high false negative rate on strep cultures? Whatever it is, I hope she recovers quickly; it sounds like she's pretty miserable.

Quote:

MommaHen -- just for humor, this is what Silkies look like dressed out! Although-- I'm guessing these are the European silkies that are twice as big as our silkies here. Our silkies here in the USA would NOT be this large! LOL These are HUGE!

pretty scary compared to how cute and adorable they look with all of their feathers!

Ack! It reminds of the story my nephew told me when he was staying with us. His girlfriend had a chicken in a pot on the stove and somehow a bottle of blue food coloring fell out of the cabinet above it. They couldn't eat blue chicken even though they knew there was nothing wrong with it. They ended up giving the chicken to the dog and found some interesting land mines in the yard for a couple of days.

bad day at the chickens two hens are gone: one we found dead with the hawk still eating and the other is MIA... bad day... stupid hawk wouldn't even fly off when until i got really close... i post more later but i'm short on time

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time with the birds and the city and everything else.

So tired, so I'm sorry I didn't catch up with everyone but I just had to tell you about my new turkey. Didn't even ruffle DH's feathers! He's a keeper!

Yep, he is a keeper. So's mine. He grumbles, loudly and a lot sometimes, but he's pretty tolerant of my craziness.

I had my granddaughter over tonight. We had a great night. No tears at all!! She's now crawling and pulling herself up to stand. Thought I'd share a couple pics.

She's adorable and looks like a very happy baby.

 

[cherwill]

Question--- When the little chicks get poo on their little fuzzy down just below the vent but not interfering with the vent do you leave it be or clean it off?

I clean it off when I have a chance because I'm always afraid it will just build up there over time until it is interfering with the vent.

 

[chicken danz]

ChicknBaron, so sorry for your losses. Unfortunately this is something we all have to deal with now and then, and it never gets any easier. I hope for the best for you. It seems like the world is coming to an end but my favorite saying is, When you get to the bottom; the only way is up! That alone has helped me since I was very young to get through what seemed like the very worst of times.

Tweety, What an absolute cutie. All smiles too!
Speaking of babies since I'm closer than the actual Grandmas, I have claimed the spot as back up Grandma for Josie and her DH!!!

Okay, here's a "what would you do?" for all of you. I went out to check on birds this morning and make sure they had water since the thermometer said it was 29 degrees (Oh, I am SO not ready for ice - its only the first week of October). Anyway, while filling a water bowl, I looked up to see I was being watched. It was only about 100' away but was standing in long grass so it was hard to see it clearly. It was either a coyote or a fox. After awhile it sat down and watched us, and a little while later, got up and trotted off into the hedgerow. I think fox because it was behaving just exactly like my previous visitor. A few minutes later I saw it far down our pasture - a much greater distance away. After seeing it the second time I went inside and got the binoculars but by the time I got back out there it was gone and I didn't see it again. My dilemma is: do I eliminate a potential threat just because its there, or do I wait until it is an actual threat before taking action? I don't want to just get out there and kill, kill, kill because at heart I am a live and let live kind of person. At the same time I don't want to go through another fox attack like the one in July ever again. And of course, just because I only saw one, doesn't mean there aren't a whole slew of them. The neighbors have told me that coyotes travel across all of our properties in the fall so its possible it was just a coyote passing through, and won't be a threat to us. I'm thinking about perhaps relocating a .22 to the coop so I'll have it in case I need it.

Yeah I'd kill that sucker! He can feed the vultures!

I just got home while ago. Just in time to see my car pull out of the driveway. It reminded me what an awesome vehicle it is.

I guess I should make a note to call the insurance office tomorrow and cancel insurance. I might even get a $1 or two back.
Here's the birds in bed story as told by DH this morning: He claims to have fallen asleep as soon as he laid down yesterday afternoon. He always leaves the door cracked about a foot when he closes it. He said he woke up and there the birds were sitting on the chest at the end of the bed. Then he went back to sleep and they moved on up next to him. Sounds kind of iffy to me.

Wish I had taken a picture. They did quite well and I only had one spot at the foot of the bed to clean up. I certainly don't want that habit to go on. I'm thinking about tomorrow they will be moved outside.
I would say I'd get them out today, but I am having a bad day with allergies and running a fever. I always run a low grade fever prior to having asthma attacks, so I imagine that will come about later. I think I am going to lay down for a while and see if I can get to feeling better. I have way too much to do. I just know if I don't feel good I will just walk around in circles.
I really need to go back outside and get to work but I sure don't feel like it.
Medawinks I am so glad your chick pulled through. Isn't VitaminE wonderful? I just added that on my shopping list cause I am about out.
Surely if you end up with boys I can hatch you some chicks later. I am supposed to get more marans eggs tomorrow night. I have d'uccles hatching right now.
BTW Feather is laying again. I put an egg in the incubator yesterday. Haven't seen the boys courting but I will try regardless. I believe after looking at her that she is actually more Columbian rather than a Mille Fleur. But we can breed for spotty kids just the same.