Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

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'd clean it off. It is highly likely that it will become pasty butt if it stays. I just pull mine. It removes some fluff but doesn't hurt them and then there is less for the poo to stick to.

 

[ChicknBaron]

well I went to check on the chickens after church today and lo and behold I found the missing chicken! he must have hiding when we searched pretty good because we could NOT find him! I went up to the coop (all the others were still in) and she must have heard them and tried to get in with them, because i noticed Fresh poo right next to the coop so i thought "she must still be alive!" so i quick ran over to where i thought she would be and she was! so happy! they are now all safely in the coop until we can get a tractor built...

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, I don't think I could get past the black either. They just look weird all dressed out. That's funny. I think I'll just enjoy looking at your silkies from a distance, I don't think they're sturdy enough for our lifestyle. I would have to bring them to bed with us or something and I don't think my dh would appreciate that.

Well, I hate to say it, but my silkies have been in bed with me. Of course, I use a towel, but they are so snuggly! They don't mind being wrapped up and carried around like a baby and pet and made over! LOL

I broke down today. I think it may be a good thing in some way. I just have a small flock and try to let a hen hatch some chicks every year. In any case age and the fox have taken its toll. So buying feed at the feed store yesterday I see the chick guy is comming today. I told myself no more chicks in the house. The dust the smell and this time of year; Oh My god! the time to get them into the chicken house. Problem is I have 16 hens and I am getting 4 eggs a day. My girls are so old they lay soft eggs or are not laying any more. Well I have a box in the basement that will work in the kitchen, A light and chick starter. Duh! I am such a sucker. Went to buy 6, came home with 14. The way Allen was throwing extra chicks in my box I could tell this was his last stop and last sale of the year. I think someone could have offered some cheap bucks for what he had left over. Raise them and sell them. Money made. No real money in my view otherwise. still glad I got some chicks; my white rock hen who has been a good sitter in the past got off of 14 day incubation of welsummer eggs and let them get cold today. Bad word Bad word Bad word. I currently cant produce enough eggs for the people I work with. So 5 black sex links, 4 red sexlinks and 5 welsummers I am sure 4 are girls the freebe is a roo. For me here its just pets with perks. Just trying to keep a flock going in the back yard without having to buy out. Today is proof that at least some of my phlosophies sp? are subject to change. Back to load th wood stove and cook dinner. Live long a prosper Spock!

LOL So funny! Chicken math at it's best-- even with the best of intentions of leaving with a set amount of birds, you gave in. Well, at least you should be back in the eggs in no time! Could you sell off your older girls for meat birds, or are you pretty attached to them? I'm not sure what I'll do with mine. I'm not really all that attached to my layers. Sorry about the eggs going cold.

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

Oh no!! So sorry about the hawk attack!!

Well I worked on my netting until I gave myself a migraine. Had to come in and drug up and then I was out of time. I finished feeding and watering and put four bales of straw in various pens for the birds hoping to keep them warmer tonight. I have two coops to clean out before I put straw in them. Then I have to put some in the new pens when I get them finished.

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.

Whew, you were busy, busy!! As always! SO FUNNY about your DH sleeping with the pea and chick. Oh my! hehehe!

Well i'm at a HUGE crisis point and am very discouraged from all these things happening in such a short time, it's all to much for a 15 year old to take in at once

with the city telling us to get rid of them all together and now we have to go to the meeting tomorrow to try to convince them otherwise and trying to keep up with the chicks and homework and sports and trying to maintain a flock that is under fire from above and GAAAAHHHH!!! the list goes on! I can't think of what to do with all of it because after tomorrow if the city doesn't overturn the ordinance then we only have one day to find a new home and remove the coop until they start fining us! and we are just

that they will because we can't afford to the time or money to move them with business lately... and then even if we do get them to overturn it, it will probably take forever for them to implement the new ordinance thus making us move our chickens somewhere and then having to bring it all back! AND THEN even if that all straightens itself out... we STILL have a hawk problem!

These hens are used to free ranging everyday and do not like being cooped up literally all day! due to the fact that we've always free ranged them we don't have a run that we could use to protect them and still let them out during the day... SO we have to find something quickly to implement into our coop and we were thinking maybe constructing a chicken tractor but we have to do it fast because they have nothing to do but stay in the coop because I am NOT letting them out to free range with that hawk constantly hovering above! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY OVERWHELMED!!!!!!!!! I just don't no what else to say...

Definitely some stress there for sure. Sorry about all of that. Did you already have your meeting with the city? Did you do what I suggested and get all the info about all the other larger cities letting people have chickens-- like New York, New York and then of course closer to home, Wichita and up north--other towns near KC? Even California allows chickens within city limits in some of the most forward thinking places-- like San Francisco, Berkely, Okland, etc! Then Mother Earth is a publication that also has a website that publishes articles on the benifits of chickens.

Also, my wobbly chick who couldn't stand at all at this time last week, is walking around today like it never happened! Just yesterday she would appear to lose her balance a bit, but today- No signs of trouble at all Now if she will just be a pullet! I do think the Splash Rock is a roo, though. But hoping that it just has a pinker comb because it is cold. LOL.

So glad to hear your chick is doing better! I wonder if it had cocci?? You're lucky it survived! Good job on nursing it along!

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.

OMGosh!! So, so, so adorable!!! Beautiful! She could be the next Gerber baby!

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.

Yikes! Definitely keep that gun handy! I would be carrying it around. Or at least put it in a place for easy access. It sounds like it's out there stalking your birds and figuring you all out before it strikes.

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.

I'm just sooooo happy for you! Very smart of you to cut back for now and see what you can handle. And anyway, it's best to just work with what makes you the happiest.

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?

I'm wanting my kids to do Shooting Sports in 4-H. They have already shot guns, but I wouldn't trust them to not be pressured into something stupid by the neighbor kids with a gun. Mine are on the young side though. And my neighbor kids often make some really dumb decisions-- then again, so do my kids!

Definitely a good idea to lock it up. That is our problem, we have everything locked up and not handy. We've done some things to fix that, though and still be safe.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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 wait for it to dry and then "pluck" it off. It takes off some fuzz, but that is kind of the point so it won't stick again.

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 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.


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.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Cherwill!!! Oh wow, that is hilarious about the blue chicken and the colorful landmines! hehehe! Yikes, see?? If just plain 'ole food dye can turn you off chicken, just think what naturally black chicken would do.. ick! OH and yeah, strep does have a lot of false negatives. I'm not really sure why that is. When they suspect that you have it anyway, then they go ahead with treatment like they did with my DD. I think they figured if it wasn't that, it was something.

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.

I feel bad about you seeing your car go. Although, I'm sure it will be nice not to have to worry about it anymore. That is so funny about the birds sleeping with your DH. Definitely a good man there to not mind, either. I hope you don't come down sick!

well I went to check on the chickens after church today and lo and behold I found the missing chicken! he must have hiding when we searched pretty good because we could NOT find him! I went up to the coop (all the others were still in) and she must have heard them and tried to get in with them, because i noticed Fresh poo right next to the coop so i thought "she must still be alive!" so i quick ran over to where i thought she would be and she was! so happy! they are now all safely in the coop until we can get a tractor built...

SO GLAD that you found your missing chicken! YAY!!

 

[JosieChick]

Karen that is awesome. I might have to get some eggs from you next spring. Not that I need any more breeds! I just think those reds are gorgeous.
Maidenwolf, glad you posted. It reminded me I haven't shut the birds up yet.

This is Danz's favorite line: "I might have to get some eggs from you next spring."

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?

Clean it off. It will only cause you trouble.

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

I'm just sooooo happy for you! Very smart of you to cut back for now and see what you can handle. And anyway, it's best to just work with what makes you the happiest.
Thanks! I am so excited. I feel like a little kid at Christmas time. I am glad to be getting down to my near and dears.
I'm wanting my kids to do Shooting Sports in 4-H. They have already shot guns, but I wouldn't trust them to not be pressured into something stupid by the neighbor kids with a gun. Mine are on the young side though. And my neighbor kids often make some really dumb decisions-- then again, so do my kids!

Definitely a good idea to lock it up. That is our problem, we have everything locked up and not handy. We've done some things to fix that, though and still be safe.
Such a responsible mom. I think it is great to start them early and teach them how to be safe and responsible.

Well I am moving birds like crazy. I am amazed that they all moved so fast this weekend. Must be a good weekend for bird buying!

 

[JosieChick]

Geez! I just got off the phone with a lady that called a week and a half ago and wanted to buy all four royal palm turkeys. I told her I would hold them if she picked them up this weekend. Well I called her Friday evening and left her a message because she was supposed to call me to set up a pick up time for this weekend. I hadn't heard from her so I assumed they weren't going to take the turkeys so I listed them for sale and a gal picked them up today. Well she just called and was all upset. She lives clear up by Topeka. I mean, was she really wanting me to meet at 8:30 on a Sunday night to pick up turkeys???!!!??? Am I crazy to think that is unreasonable?

 

[chicken danz]

This is Danz's favorite line: "I might have to get some eggs from you next spring."

Clean it off. It will only cause you trouble.

Well I am moving birds like crazy. I am amazed that they all moved so fast this weekend. Must be a good weekend for bird buying!

I can't help it!!! I swear! Do you think I should go get counseling for a bird obsession?

I just got in the house. I didn't take a nap after all. Just took some more decongestant and went back out to work. I got my netting up but I am not happy with the way it looks. It is so much harder to hook netting to previous existing netting than to just run new netting. It doesn't look as nice as it did but it will have to do. So now the second gate is ready other than stapling the wire on and hanging it. Surely I'll get that done tomorrow and be able to move some birds to their new quarters.
I wonder why I can never get 1/10th done what I believe I can?? I always have a much greater opinion about how much I will get done than I ever complete. I would have worked another hour or so but had to come in and get DH's dinner packed for tonight. I was cold anyway.
I am so glad i picked stuff from the garden yesterday. It looks like a total loss. Every thing really froze bad last night. I may leave a few things like the green pumpkins just in case they go ahead and ripen but that's doubtful. I need to spend an entire day getting things in the freezer.

 

[JosieChick]

Arrgghhhhh! I just realized my favorite calico cochin roo is gone.

I am so sad, I loved him. His name was Aslan and he was a gorgeous and wonderful leader of his harem. I hate hawks! I used to appreciate that they have their place in the eco system but they are really starting to piss me off taking my birds like snacks. I guess nobody is going out to free range for a while and I will keep them all locked up for the next couple days so they are out of sight.

 

[checoukan]

Danz--I wish you were not so far away, I would come help you do things like that, but wow, gas and time.

josiechick sorry about the roo The hawks are going to be bad for a while. everybody keep your birds in for a while until the northern hawks move on south.

Well I had a far swap meet yesterday. People looked a lot, and I sold all my brown/red oe's and bb/red oe's that I wanted to sell. Sold one lavendar ameraucana cockerel that ivy had brought me in hopes I would get some pullets, but, alas, All were cockerels.

Ivy went back home today, Ate supper at my house friday night, Saturday nite we ate over there. So get some time together. Helped her DH put the roll top of her desk up in the loft. OH, MY GOD! Just about done her DH, and my DH in. Had to carry that thing in from the pickup up the back walk, in the house thru the house, then up into the loft with a turn to go up the loft and a turn half way up.

Ivys DH said that thing will stay if they ever moved again. its heavy enough to hurt someone.

hawkeye-- wish you where here, I would let you sex my silky's I need to try, but I think they are too young yet.

I will be selling two pair of my yearling rosecombs. These are out of my show stock. If you are interested in starting some rosecombs very good birds too start with. They have been in breeder pens so they are not in show condition, but if someone wanted to show them they would by next spring, if they were put in separte coops and conditioned for show. pm me if you are interested.

 

[Hawkeye95]

This is Danz's favorite line: "I might have to get some eggs from you next spring."

Clean it off. It will only cause you trouble.

Well I am moving birds like crazy. I am amazed that they all moved so fast this weekend. Must be a good weekend for bird buying!

Geez! I just got off the phone with a lady that called a week and a half ago and wanted to buy all four royal palm turkeys. I told her I would hold them if she picked them up this weekend. Well I called her Friday evening and left her a message because she was supposed to call me to set up a pick up time for this weekend. I hadn't heard from her so I assumed they weren't going to take the turkeys so I listed them for sale and a gal picked them up today. Well she just called and was all upset. She lives clear up by Topeka. I mean, was she really wanting me to meet at 8:30 on a Sunday night to pick up turkeys???!!!??? Am I crazy to think that is unreasonable?

Uhhhh.... sounds like she just missed out. I mean, geez, what did she think? If she REALLY wanted them, she'd have been all over it! I am shipping in a bird, and I have been in constant contact with my breeder and I sent her money PayPal the SAME day we made the deal. I have dealt with all kinds on CraigsList. If they are serious, (no matter the distance) they will stay in contact and keep in touch and let you know what's going on. I bought that X-pen last Friday, and I actually couldn't meet her until two days later, but I emailed her to let her know I was still coming and interested. If someone tells me they are coming out to buy something-- and then they don't show and they don't call, then I keep it listed. (this happens to me half the time) Basically first come, first serve.

I can't help it!!! I swear! Do you think I should go get counseling for a bird obsession?

I just got in the house. I didn't take a nap after all. Just took some more decongestant and went back out to work. I got my netting up but I am not happy with the way it looks. It is so much harder to hook netting to previous existing netting than to just run new netting. It doesn't look as nice as it did but it will have to do. So now the second gate is ready other than stapling the wire on and hanging it. Surely I'll get that done tomorrow and be able to move some birds to their new quarters.
I wonder why I can never get 1/10th done what I believe I can?? I always have a much greater opinion about how much I will get done than I ever complete. I would have worked another hour or so but had to come in and get DH's dinner packed for tonight. I was cold anyway.
I am so glad i picked stuff from the garden yesterday. It looks like a total loss. Every thing really froze bad last night. I may leave a few things like the green pumpkins just in case they go ahead and ripen but that's doubtful. I need to spend an entire day getting things in the freezer.

Hhhmmm... i have that SAME problem. I always think I can get more done than I really can. I am a pro at over estimating what I can get accomplished. But glad you did get some things done!

Arrgghhhhh! I just realized my favorite calico cochin roo is gone.

I am so sad, I loved him. His name was Aslan and he was a gorgeous and wonderful leader of his harem. I hate hawks! I used to appreciate that they have their place in the eco system but they are really starting to piss me off taking my birds like snacks. I guess nobody is going out to free range for a while and I will keep them all locked up for the next couple days so they are out of sight.

Oh no!!! So sorry!!! Darned hawks! I bet in a couple of weeks, they might have moved further on south. I hope they don't stop here! I did have a hawk sitting on the fence of my layer pen. But so far, I haven't missed anyone.

Ivy went back home today, Ate supper at my house friday night, Saturday nite we ate over there. So get some time together. Helped her DH put the roll top of her desk up in the loft. OH, MY GOD! Just about done her DH, and my DH in. Had to carry that thing in from the pickup up the back walk, in the house thru the house, then up into the loft with a turn to go up the loft and a turn half way up.

Ivys DH said that thing will stay if they ever moved again. its heavy enough to hurt someone.

hawkeye-- wish you where here, I would let you sex my silky's I need to try, but I think they are too young yet.

I will be selling two pair of my yearling rosecombs. These are out of my show stock. If you are interested in starting some rosecombs very good birds too start with. They have been in breeder pens so they are not in show condition, but if someone wanted to show them they would by next spring, if they were put in separte coops and conditioned for show. pm me if you are interested.

So neat that you girls are close now. I wish I was closer to my brother. I can give you a tip on the silkies. If they are about 3 months, old you should start to have a better idea. Their comb path will be wider and start to bump out right about 3 months-- IF they are boys. If they are girls, their comb path will stay narrow and there will be no comb growth. At least, that has been the case with the birds I've been working with. Right now, I have a couple of birds that I can not tell if they are boy or girl-- because their combs have not grown at all. Which is interesting as they are just 4 months old. But they have streamers coming in off their crests and their hackles are growing longer. So my guess is boy(s). They are also my micro silkies I have. So their small size may have something to do with their crazy lack of combs. I wish I had space for your rosecombs! I am wanting to convert the front part of my barn next year into big breeding/grow out and bachelor pens. Sigh. Eventually. For now, I'm using the x-pen as a fence to keep boys from girls.