Washingtonians

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Not that I'm an old timer or know everything about this, but it is my understanding that they won't molt if you're using supplemental lighting. Recently my 2 16.5 week olds went through a mini molt; they suddenly dropped all their gorgeous tail feathers and the yard looked like they'd been attacked! Those feathers grew back very quickly (I attribute that to always keeping them on a high protein feed) and they're starting to look ready to lay soon. My big girls went through a mini molt around that age too, I think they were somewhere around 12-14 weeks when they molted.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search/label/molting and effect on egg production

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I had a couple of dehydrators several years ago. One was one of those round plastic stackable tray ones like in your link. Not the exact same. I did not like it. If I used more than 2 trays or larger pieces of fruit, it would mold. I could get it to work if I dried the fruit out in the oven for several hours on very low heat, with the door open. Just wasn't worth it. I ended up giving it away.

It looked like this

Russ

The one I liked is more like this one, but the front doesn't come off, there are 4 shelves/drawers.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Well, I think I have it worked out for the geese...my sister & her fiance are going to pick them up for me and then my sister & mom are coming up to visit very soon!

Oh and I think we've got enough interest for an Eastern WA poultry swap/sale...we're still working on the details but it will more than likely be in Wenatchee, in a few weeks...at a park...

 

[Greg Richardson]

Itsren
Quote:
Very true! Good advice.

Jess. Paying 40% isn't a whole lot when you consider the total cost. I don't understand the doing it twice thing?
From my experience they drain it which gives you pain relief then take antibiotics to kill anything else before the procedure is done.

It is amazing for those that don't have insurance shop around when you need a root canal because there is definitly a huge price range.

 

[FirewifeJess]

OK so the weird thing about Willow, my non-laying, recently re-homed EE is that she visits the nest boxes daily. I think she wants to lay...but can't? Is it a mental thing with chickens? I want to lay but my body won't do it, type of thing? She's currently sitting in one of the smallest nest boxes on 3 dummy eggs. Nobody has ever gone in that nest box before, they only use the 2 middle boxes. Perhaps she was in dire need of a space and the others were full and she won't fight over them since she's new? IDK. I just hope this little girl lays again soon!

Does the info on this site about the high protein make sense to y'all? I have my flock on flock raiser (20% protein) and now I'm second guessing myself. The little girls are big enough to switch to layer feed now.Toward the bottom of her article she talks about how high protein feeds can cause chickens to convert the extra protein to urates which is passed as excess liquid, making bedding more wet (like I need that here on the wet side!) and I assume it would also cause more condensation inside a coop.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search/label/molting and effect on egg production

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Quote:
Stress can cause a hen not to lay for a bit, so it's possible she won't be as productive while recovering. Glad she's doing better though!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Itsren
Quote:

Very true! Good advice.

Jess. Paying 40% isn't a whole lot when you consider the total cost. I don't understand the doing it twice thing?
From my experience they drain it which gives you pain relief then take antibiotics to kill anything else before the procedure is done.

It is amazing for those that don't have insurance shop around when you need a root canal because there is definitly a huge price range.

I don't quite understand it either and DH is in no shape to be questioned about it all; he's grumpy

Something to do with they could have done the drilling yesterday, but the specialist was needed (Tuesday) for Isaac's case because it was so deep/bad. So they could have done half of it now to relieve the pain, but we would have had to pay more for the numbing twice, seeing 2 different people, etc. Bummer.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:
Thanks guys! He's now taking 1000mg Vicodin and it's helping. What the deal was, is that the Fire Department DOES have excellent medical insurance; the most we've ever paid for anything, including William's eye surgery, was a $15 copay.

But the dental insurance isn't great. It covers exams, cleanings, x-rays 100%, but ANYTHING more like drilling a cavity or root canals or anything, we pay 40%. I think this is going to end up costing us several hundred dollars, but the alternative (no insurance) would be far more! Anyway, they *could* have started the procedure yesterday but wouldn't have been able to finish until Tuesday; we would have had to pay for several things twice, like anaesthesia/numbing, drilling, etc. So it's half our fault he's still in so much pain, but saving that much money was important to us.

They would have charged you twice? That is insane and not right! I have worked in the dental field for 20+ years and it is standard procedure most of the thime to do a root canal in two phases. Especially one that is infected, and patients are not charged for anything extra. I am shocked. Did they actually say they would charge you extra? I would be looking for another dentist. That's nickeling and diming to me. Sorry, I just get a little worked up when offices do that to patients. We I know many Endodontists that do them in two steps and only charge once.

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Just want to share a couple pics. I was out trying to get a pic of the silkie boy and he was ignoring me like usual. He takes his duty to his little flock seriously.

Those are great shots, Hinotori!

 

[Rainwolf]

Just for something to read, while relaxing in my porch chair last eve, I picked up my Excaliber Dehydrator how-to booklet.

A few weeks ago I was looking at Dehydrators on Amazon.  Wasn't sure what to get - and wasn't sure if it was worth the expense, so I never ordered one.  I'm still up in the air over whether it would be good to have or not.

I was considering this one because it looks like it could make fruit leather...




I had  a couple of dehydrators several years ago. One was one of those round plastic stackable tray ones like in your link. Not the exact same. I did not like it. If I used more than 2 trays or larger pieces of fruit, it would mold. I could get it to work if I dried the fruit out in the oven for several hours on very low heat, with the door open. Just wasn't worth it. I ended up giving it away.

It looked like this


Russ

The one I liked is more like this one, but the front doesn't come off, there are 4 shelves/drawers.

I have one of the ronco's (the round one in the photo) and it works great as long as you do not overload it.
I also have had a couple of the square ones and they work very well
It is all in how you will use it. but know this.... cheap dehydrator while a good starter will never be good for food storage etc... it will be a once i awhile thing. if you want to use it for food storage etc spend a little more $ and get a quality one that works for you.