INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: They look like lovely birds, and I like the way the temperament sounds. (Love Greefire's website too

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I want to be on your list when you start to sell hatches or eggs! I have seen several auctions, I would rather pick up chicks/eggs when possible until I get a better incubator.
I have 2 more breeds I want before winter this year so they are mature by spring, blue marans, Ameraucana, and coronation sussex. OOPS thats 3

Here's Margaret Until Proven Otherwise, who is just so happy to be outside again!

I just love Margie's eyes.

Glam shot!

Her colors are getting prettier all the time!

 

[toodlesmom]

Hi. Yes, you are correct. They are blue egg layers. They get that and their crests from a chilean bird in their ancestry. The party line is that they can tend to flighty, are not broody, and are somewhat like leghorns. I also follow the thread on cream legbars on here. I've seen plenty of reports of friendly, active birds. And also quite a few reports on broodiness. And most people are quite happy with the egg size and amount of eggs they lay. The one's I took pics of are about 8 weeks old, and they are my oldest, so I can't speak from too much experience myself. They are a relatively new introduction to the US imported from the UK. Look on the Greenfire Farms site if you want to get some info on them. As far as color goes, they are cream colored, but there are also some barring and red genes floating around in there too, currently there are a lot of gold colored birds as well, but they don't meet the standard, and people are actively trying to breed that out of them. Ideally, they are cream, lay lots of large blue eggs and have a medium sized comb and crest. I really like their look and can't wait to start my breeding program with them.

Thanks for the information! I learn so much from all of the posters on this list!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Just itching to tell you about FLEA PRODUCTS
I was just reading older posts and noticed ones about Frontline. I just wanted to mention that as far as treating my cats, I used to use Frontline Plus and when the patent ended, I used its generic versions. I noticed more and more that it worked less and less. I treated my cat Lionel last week with my son's help to make sure we applied it close to his skin behind his neck. It did not work at all! I was so upset because Lionel was miserable with fleas and I couldn't imagine waiting a month before I could try something else. I gave him a bath in Dawn, which helped, but totally traumatized him.

Today, I took him to the vet who said, "Frontline/Frontline Plus does not work anymore. Fleas have become resistant." Just like viruses and bacteria, parasites quickly mutate to survive. He gave Lionel a pill of Comfortis, which could be given even though Lionel just had the Frontline treatment. Lionel feels a million times better tonight. I am not intentionally trying to lobby against Frontline nor am I endorsing any products. I'm mentioning this because I've heard from other friends who have wondered why the flea treatments they've always used have become ineffective, especially when it has been warned not to re-treat them for a month.

My veterinarian also said that cats are much more sensitive to pesticides than dogs are, so that's why there aren't as many treatments available for cats.

My son pulled a flea off of Lionel, put it under his microscope and took this photo (yes, we are a weird family!)

M2H excellent post, thanks for sharing! So, anyone, what product is working for you? I have used the adams spray on my pug, it kills the fleas but she eventually gets them again. I have used it for years for dogs that I brought in with fleas. (NOT on puppies) Capstar works that way also, its a pill they eat, fleas all die and drop off 30 minutes later. I am looking for a good preventative, frontline is not working here anymore either. I hate seeing even one flea on Sadie, she gets an allergic reaction from the bites and gets hotspots, poor baby. I have read of using the original ivermec pour-on on dogs. kind of nervous on it. She is a precious lil girl and don't want to risk harming her. Vet was not much help either, time to change vets.

Egg #2. Birth date 8/28/2013, slightly heavier. A little darker. Found it under the roost.

But I am suspicious. My neighbor is fascinated with my chickens and brings garden and table scraps almost every day.

I checked for eggs at about 6 PM; none. I noticed Mel out there at around 7. I found the egg at about 8. Hmmmmmm.

I suppose it wouldn't be possible for a friend to buy some brown eggs and "salt the mine"? Naaaaahhhhhhh. One guy would NEVER do that to another guy. I'm sure that would violate some "guy code" or something.

Never mind.

Two eggs. Works out to about $450 each.



John

Looks like you will be having that breakfast soon!

i wont even think about what my eggs cost! UGH

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by kabhyper1

I know how you feel! I can't keep up either. Sometimes it feels like a lottery when you post something too, because this thing moves so fast, half the time it doesn't get seen.

I read every post even if I am far behind like I am now. I'm just afraid I will miss something if I don't read them all-- and they are worth taking the time. The photos are an added bonus. We have a great group!

I've been trying to catch up after a long weekend bringing furniture to our daughter in Indy and also to our daughter at IU. Luckily we completed all the moving tasks because last night after I had watered a hillside flower bed, I slipped and twisted my right knee. Had it checked today and have torn cartilage. It's not that big of a deal, just annoying. My chickens were helping me weed when it happened, and they look stunned when I slipped and fell like, "Oh no, our leader has fallen!"

Meanwhile my Jubilee Orp, Adeline, and yet to be named Chocolate Bantam Orp (I've been referring to them as "the two brown ones") have been getting used to hanging out near the Five Mean Hens. Actually my Jersey Giant who is the flock leader is laid back, but the other four occasionally run the brown ones off. My EE is normally so sweet, but she's at the bottom of the pecking order out of the five, so she's been the meanest to the brown ones. I suppose she wants to let them know that she's not going to be "under them" as well. The bantam is so laid back that she just does what she wants without fear while big and fluffy Adeline is nervous around the other hens. Chicken behavior is so fascinating.

OH NO! hope your knee mends soon, don't overdo it! Did they give you an elastic brace to help it mend?
Adeline will find her place in the flock as she matures, she may surprise you.
Bantams do seem to be fearless! Your lil chocolate thinks she is their size.
Butters, my buff silkie roo has my BBW turkeys in fear of him, its totally amazing how they run from him if he gets mad! Talk about a bold lil roo!
He was the "rooster" for them when they were chicks, and still respect him. He would attack me if i picked one of his babies up.
He still finds them food, too. its pretty funny seeing a 2 pound chicken clucking and fussing to 25+ pound turkey.
Thank you for your extra side trip too

Will post pics when one of the DDs will take some for me.

Quote:
I love my heritage turkeys, Royal Palm and Bourbon Reds. Each one has a personality and are very friendly, social birds.
The poults I hatched this year are on my lap or shoulder every chance they get, they are getting too big for that!
I hung some hefty branches in the main coop and run. They roost right in with the chicken, guinea and sometimes the muscovy hens roost also.
Mine have no problem flying 10-12 feet or higher, I rarely see the RP tom even try. Probably too heavy.
The adult hen flies very well, and my oldest poults can get up on the barn roof no problem.
So if you don't clip a wing, cover with bird netting or better to keep them in the pen.
I do not clip wings, I won't reduce their chance of escaping a predator if they are free ranging.
Going forward, I will add mini-whites next year, add more BR poults and raise those 3 breeds. The RP and BR are excellent free rangers.
I raised BBW (like your commercial frozen turkeys) this year, and will not do it again.
They are well fed, and free ranged. 24% protein feed and tons of live mealworms! Still terribly food aggressive. Act just like a cornish cross meat chicken but MUCH bigger.
Mean, aggressive birds. If any other bird gets near their coop, except Butters, I swear they would eat them!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

When do you people sleep???!!!

Also, I know it's mainstream now but I have a problem with the "flee pills" !! I just can't get my mind around injesting a pesticide !! I wouldn't so I can't do it to my pets! Now that being said I know all too well how hard the fight is against flees. IMO

Haha never! I sleep a few hours and wake up. works out well taking care of my mom.
The pills really upset me too. I want to find a prevention rather than a quick fix that's really a pesticide.

Quote: so not gonna look at that video. I am too freaked out over what fleas can do! Tapeworm is probably the scariest. Undetected etc, Dad had a cousin with one over 100 ft long ewww

how could you not know it was there, just gross. They removed it with surgery. Thats just flat scary.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

kabhyper1- easter eggers dont have color varieties. like pipd said they are just mutts. They actually arent even a breed (most people assume they are). But they do lay some pretty eggs and have some great personaltites. Does yours lay a blue egg? Just wondereing as they can lay blue, green, pink, brown, and white. (i have never had one lay white but some peoploe on the EE braggers thread have. My newest EE that I got from brad. Lay a Brown eggs.I got 2 eggs in a row from her about a month ago and none since then (she is a new layer).


O and I guess I got my first blue egg (not first ever) a day or 2 ago. I must of missed it when I was gathering eggs. I found the eggshell in the pen, they ate it! I only have 3 pullets in the pen. One of which is the easter egger which lays brown (she is the one that fakes her egg song). And I have a blue araucana and a black ameraucana. Both of which will lay blue eggs. The ameraucanas comb is more red and the egg shell looked like iit would of been a large. (i think they egg might of been too big for the araucana to lay!

They will sort it out eventually. If you have an egg eater, fill a blown egg with mustard, or try to collect often. Fake eggs or golfballs will help to stop it too.

Update on Lola

She is still the same, but now her brother is starting to have difficulty walking. I remember reading a post on here about Cornish crosses and how they just sit there and eat and eat. That caught my attention because that's what Lola and her brother Curly did when they ate before they had the problems with there legs. Then I looked up pictures of Cornish rock crosses, and what do you know they look exactly like them. So I came to the conclusion that the guy I got them from lied to me when he said they were white rocks, but actually Cornish crosses. Im really sad now because now I think they can't recover and even if they did it would probably come back. As much as I don't want to say this, I will probably have to put them down.

Ugh that's so sad. I do have 2 Cornish cross, a hen that lays huge eggs, lilX and Tank that is a full blown rooster. they are over a year old now. Both part of my egg flock, and earn their keep. Every one of LilX's chicks don't seem to live past 6 weeks. Every one "flips" by then, feet up, on their back, just died. I have 2 in the brooder now and hoping they make it. They are meant for a "meat bird" so if you want to keep them, treat them as a regular chicken but with hold feed to at least 12 hours off.

For your viewing pleasure!

Since I shared my cows the other day I realized I haven't shared my chickies!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Lovely flock and precious lil girl

One more note, last night I was explaining the issue of my little blue Ameraucana to my kids and my daughter says "well can't we just get her a friend?" I'm thinking yes, but shushhhhh. My DH says from the other side of the house "NO MORE CHICKENS." Ugh. All my kids heard him say it. Since we've been working on them not being sneaky a lot lately, I'm going to have to stay above board on this and wait until I can convince him its in his best interest to let me have one more.

Ugh. Been there, I just use the common sense approach on why "i need this new bird", One isn't gonna break the bank, but I am fully chicken math engulfed

The biggest reason there is the lonely one may pine itself to the point of being ill. It is very important that the kids see you discuss a decision of what happens.
My kids are all grown but I sure have been there.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well I need to vent!! Had one of my horses pass away this morning. She went down with colic yesterday , actually the night before. I could see spots where she had rolled in the night. Emergency vet visit!!$$$$ he tried some things and I walked her from 1:30-4 ( in this heat) then my DH walked her and we took turns till dark. She was still up this morning but not good and passed sometime between 8-9. It's just soo awful being so helpless in these situations. Now my other horse won't leave her and she died where we will never be able to get her out for the fertilizer company to get her!!!

Oh my, just awful. I am so sorry. I don't have horses but hope someone can give advice

I know people who raise cornish crosses. They will eat themselves to death. You can only give them food 12 hours a day. They said they will get so big there legs will break out from underneath them and stuff like that. I do know one person who was able to keep one for a year as a pet. It died from heart problems. this is the longest I have ever heard of someone being able to keep one alive.They arent chickens you keep as pets. That is terrible that he lied to you, Sorry about your situation darthlayer.

They are not meant for eggs, or pets, strictly a meat bird. They rarely make it past 12 weeks. The seller should make this right for you.

Good morning. I've not yet raised Cornish Cross, but I did go Monday and help a friend process hers. Hers were 12wk. old and still running around. None of them had leg or foot issues. They were big, too. One of them dressed out was 6 1/2 lbs. Anyway, I've definitely read to pasture them as much as possible and limit commercial feed and it will help. My friend's foraged right along everyone else. If they can't free range, I've heard giving food for 12hrs. on, 12hrs. off. Hope they can improve for you.

exactly.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

In other news, I went out to see if Margaret was in her carrier for the night and found a little white egg in there! At first I was excited--oh my gosh, Margaret laid an egg!--but then I was looking at her and, well, she doesn't exactly look like a laying-aged hen, does she?



And then I compared the egg to my other bantam eggs and it looks almost exactly like my Sebright bantams' eggs...

So apparently someone jumped the fence. Silly birds!

Meanwhile, my little lady, Roha, performed the first squat of the pullets this year!

I was petting her and she just went into position!




I was expecting Whiri to be the first one to squat, what with the comb and all!

Oh i love when they squat, little dolls!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

3 of the 4 Black Australorps are males. 1, the oldest, was given to me along with two Americauna males. When purchasing 15 brown egg layers from a well-known hatchery I had them add the 2 other males as I didn't know of the two Americaunas boys. Now that I know what I have I'm seriously considering repurposing the two Americauna boys and 1 of the BA's. Also, I'd like to offer the Phoenix for sale. He (I think) seems like a good bird but doesn't do much for me.

I have a couple youtube videos I've made but am to new here to know if I can post the links in these messages without getting in trouble.

and our thread

I only ask you keep it "family friendly" within BYC guidelines. We talk about anything here, vent, cry laugh and have fun! Post whatever you like within those rules.

I've been bawling my eyes out for the last 2 hours. Came home from class and ran over my beautiful pair of gray silkies. They are cooped in the car port but evidently found the pavement on the drive cooler; I hadn't shut them in before I left as it was about 4:30, and had just got dark when I drove in, so didn't see them. I've lost birds that I was attached to before but never so blatantly my fault.

I am so sorry.

I treated my birds with poultry guard just like I said I wouldn't do lol Funny I didn't see any bugs this time. No mites for sure but last night I know I saw some unidentified black bugs. Oh well. I'll check and treat again in a week. My bigger problem is the BUMBLEFOOT I found on my 3 year old SLW. I know what needs to be done but I am not looking forward to it. There is no way around the surgery is there? I can't afford to take her to an avian vet right now but I don't let it get worse. I'm going to call doc Brester to see if there is any chance he will do it (i don't think he will). If not I'm going all dr house on that chicken

. Poor petal.

ugh, so sorry. Its not pleasant to do but sure helps them feel better.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Both are just lovely

Got my 3rd egg today. Named it Sheldon Friedrich Cackleberry. Weights so far are 42.01g, 42.24g, 48.59g.

John

breakfast looms in your future

Quote: hehe, john so true

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thank you for all the wonderful chicken-wrangling information shared through BYC. I live in Indianapolis and love the Indiana thread.

Welcome to our thread!

If I didn't say it already! We are sure a chatty group, don't hesitate to ask anything as long as it falls into BYC guidelines (children friendly).

M2H I love Lionel, he looks like my Rusty (RIP at 19) I loved so much.