Anybody in Indiana?

[blueheaven]

Quote:
hi neighbor!

what kind of chix do you have?

do you have a problem with predators? marek's disease?

 

[GRAM49]

Hi,
I have 16 total. 5 Buff O's, 3 barred rocks, 3 NH reds, 3 Black Australorps and 2 Buff Brahma banties. The banties have lived in the garage all winter so we need to get them into a house ASAP. No predators to speak of. No disease. They were flawless last fall and after a winter of being cooped up (no pun intended) they are molting or suffering from stress because they have bald spots. Hoping the good weather and some sunshine will improve their appearance. They lay good, but have dropped off a little the last 2 months. How about you?
Gram

 

[blueheaven]

i am actually new the chix business.

i have wanted chickens since i was in 3rd grade...now i am finally getting them (many, many years later).

i built a chicken tractor and i lay awake nights thinking if it will be ok for them. i think i am going to make the run bigger.

i ordered, back the first of march from my pet chicken - because the order quantity was low, chickens. 2 barred rock, 2 australorps, 2 RIR, 1 EE, 1 columbian wyandotte, 2 campine and i will get them in 4 weeks. i cannot wait!!!!

i just getting them for egg laying purposes...did all of yours lay through the winter? did you have to add light/heat?

any tips...feel free to send them my way.

have a great day!
christy

 

[Schultz]

We have two 3 week old mix chicks available on the SW side of Indy. They are free to BYC members! PM us if interested.

 

[GRAM49]

Christy,
My parents had a large (for here) egg operation when I was a child and I have just always wanted a few chickens. I just never knew how to go about it, didn't know about the websites and no way to contact others locally. Last April we walked into a garage sale and there were 6 6 week old chicks. We brought them home and quickly converted an old shed. The lady got them from Rural King, had to buy 25 and these were the ones she did not want. She thought they were Leghorns, but they turned out to be Buffs. They were excellent birds. I quickly got the itch for more and got the next 9 from My Pet Chicken. The all arrived healthy and still are. The Buffs began laying in August and the other nine sometime in late Nov./early Dec. In Oct. we went to a poultry show in Lebanon and got the two bantams.

Hubby made a chicken tractor, but it is very heavy. We moved it about once a week to keep them in good grass, but it was a challenge. They can destroy a patch of grass in no time and dig holes! We need a different tractor, one more moveable or something. We didn't want a permanent pen, but I don't know what we will do this year.

They all seem to be excellent layers. We will often get a dozen eggs a day (not counting banties). I hope you have good luck with your order, like I said I did. They were so much fun. As the weather warms up they are easier to keep too. I kind of wish I had more variety, but have enough now.
Good luck, Gram

 

[blueheaven]

Gram -
thanks for the info.
i can see this being very addicting...
i first wanted 3 then 7 - hmmm...i ordered 10. my tractor is not big enough for 10 - so i have a friend i will give a few to...if i can let them go!

i was planning on moving my tractor every other day or so - but it is very heavy, so i will move it with our tractor. my kids love to 'ride' on the tractor - so good excuse to move it often. just think it will be a pain in the winter...but might do something different when winter comes.

we are building a new house this summer, so i wanted to get my chix now and figure it all out so i could make a good decision about where to put them at our new home next summer.

do you have photos of your tractor? do all 16 stay in there? i am going to make my run larger...going to do that within the next couple of days/weeks.

good to know someone in IN - especially close!

 

[slwchickgrl]

yes

 

[Bard's Rock!]

 

[GRAM49]

Larry,
Yep it sure is heavy and we are looking at trying to make a lighter one. Hubby thinks one made from PVC pipe would be good, but hard to find scrap pipe and just can't afford all new. Good luck
Gram

 

[Bard's Rock!]