INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

I knew that skimming would catch up to me sometime. I'm not blaming Brad at all. I actually thought the stores put them on clearance at different times, perhaps at the store manager's discretion.

 

[danand]

Crafty- I was going to PM you earlier to see if you'd gotten your chicks!! Sooo cute!!

 

[bradselig]

I knew that skimming would catch up to me sometime.  I'm not blaming Brad at all.  I actually thought the stores put them on clearance at different times, perhaps at the store manager's discretion.

you are correct, they do on clearance at different times. just depends on when that store is scheduled for the rest or if they simply are no longer going to carry that item. so its getting to were one store will carry an item that may sell for them, but a store 10 mins away might be clearancing the item out due to poor sales. typically all pricing and inventory are controlled by "Big Brother" (corporate office). Heck even the heating and cooling is controlled by corporate office in North Carolina. I wish more customers would complain to corporate about how hot it is in the store. Here lately instead of turning the AC colder, they have been turning off half the lights to keep store cooler. Im getting tired of people asking if we forgot to pay the electric bill!

 

[Mother2Hens]

icukeisha~ Welcome to the Indiana Thread! You do have a handsome rooster. Hope you can find a good home for him.

HappyHappyHappy~ Welcome to the Indiana Thread!
Hope you find a quality BR rooster. Maybe icukeisha's rooster would make an interesting combination.

Hogster~ I love your new baby chicks and their sweet mother. What is the breed of the mom and the babies?
Thanks for your info on Marek's.

MRTATTOOHEAD:
My sympathies for you on the loss of Sesame. I was very much holding out hope for a treatable illness. I'm very sorry your family had to make the tough call for Sesame.

In my research, I spoke with Purdue and the Indiana State Poultry Association (ISPA), and they indicated there's not a blood test for Marek's. I had thought for sure there would be.
The guy at the ISPA laughed out loud at me when I asked about bloodwork for a chicken.
My dog/cat vet called around to the research labs and came up with the same lack of wellness bloodwork for chickens.

The whole process of finding veterinary treatment for my sick pet chicken has left me disillusioned. Yes, they are $3, but to me, they're my pet. (Besides, this one cost $50, but it's just the principle of the thing)

We have an appt on tomorrow at the exotic animal vet in Indy. I'm preparing myself that the vet will have no answers, then theorize that it's Marek's, and recommend we put her down. $55 please.

I'm going to discuss an intramuscular Vit B shot with the vet as an option. It probably won't do a thing, and I'll be back a week later to put JLo down.
I'm already saddened.

pginsber~
Chicken, parakeet, dog, or cat~ when it's a pet, the breed doesn't matter. That guy at the ISPA who laughed needs reported and educated. That's just rude.

Good luck with your vet appointment tomorrow. I'm glad you are taking Jlo in. I was glad I took my pullet Violet to the vet because I wanted advice from a professional. Just like any human, they don't always have the answer.

This next paragraph is not directed at you-- it's just my thoughts about the quandary of vet care.
It is shocking that vet appointments are so expensive when many of us are lucky to have family health insurance co-pays, which make vet bills seem astronomical. Veterinarians have to know diverse information on many species compared to a human doctor. I've heard that animal insurance plans in general aren't worth it, but I wish there would be some alternative because most people can't afford to take pets in very often. In turn, vets often aren't able to help animals as they would like to. I don't know what the answer is.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Originally Posted by SallyinIndiana
I knew that skimming would catch up to me sometime. I'm not blaming Brad at all. I actually thought the stores put them on clearance at different times, perhaps at the store manager's discretion.
Originally Posted by bradselig
you are correct, they do on clearance at different times. just depends on when that store is scheduled for the rest or if they simply are no longer going to carry that item. so its getting to were one store will carry an item that may sell for them, but a store 10 mins away might be clearancing the item out due to poor sales. typically all pricing and inventory are controlled by "Big Brother" (corporate office). Heck even the heating and cooling is controlled by corporate office in North Carolina.

BRAD-- That's good to know The Inside Story. I figured that Big Brother would institute the same clearance sales throughout all stores, but that makes sense for stores to have some individual control over clearance depending on inventory, etc.
SALLY-- You will need to research towns where Lowe's are located and find out which towns have a low percentage of dogs. Those stores will have a surplus of dog houses and they'll be on clearance. You can then drive to the town, like Grand Forks, North Dakota, for example-- and you can some great deals on dog houses. Or you can go to Lowe's online and order a coop for chickens since that's actually what you have. They have coops that look similar to the one HOUSEKAT posted a video of some guy in England building (probably VICKICHICKI's Dad).

I'm using my iPad,so I can't use Bold or Colors or Emoticons. : - (

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I am looking too, but I may wait for Brads! My awesome lil quail I hatched from his test are thriving and so friendly I just love them!
That tells me Its in how they are raised and the parent stock were chosen.
I go to change the water or food and they are just tumbling all over my hands

Not pecking, just wanting to be friendly.
Its super easy cleaning the brooder, i just put my hand in and lift

i have 5 or 6 collected already!
My eBay jumbos are flighty and several of the lil roos are mean. When I refill water & feeders in they attack my hands pecking!
Glad when they are old enough to be gone, not keeping them. What a difference.

Quote: Thats awesome! I really love the crossbreed/hybrids. Huge roosters and productive hens.

Sorry about your loss MrTattoohead. Love the picture of her. So sad.

I have a question for the free rangers out there. We had a privacy fence put up last week to hide our birds.

DW has been wanting one for years anyway. I liked being able to see further than our yard but I gave in. Who knows, maybe we can get a dog now. My question is, do you think I can let the chickens out now? It is a 6 foot fence but it is about 5.5 foot at the poles because we opted for the rolling top. Do you think the girls can, or would fly over? I have read that this should be high enough to deter them but I want your opinions. I am thinking about letting them loose this weekend while I am home to see what happens but I don't want to be known as the old man on the block that chases chickens down the street. Here's some pictures to give you a better idea of my setup. I would put them back in the coop/run when I'm not around. Hopefully they will go back on their own.





While I'm uploading, here is a raised bed garden that I built out of a couple of extra fence panels and posts. I told SallyInIndiana about this so I might as well upload it now so she knows what I am talking about. I decided not to go as far back in the yard as originally planned because the fence would be about 2 foot lower. There is a drainage ditch behind the fence. The builder said they would leave the extra and I had a good idea what to do with the leftover cedar. DW has been asking for a garden all summer.



Just need to add dirt.

My first question to you, how long have they been in the coop? If 2 weeks or more they will be fine. Very nice and I just LOVE the color of your fence! Love the fence styling , and the raised garden idea! The height may contain them, if not, clipping a wing will. Its no different than a haircut. I hate doing it. It doesn't harm them, but it does limit their ability of flight/escape. I clipped one of my turkeys, he (snoodles) is a true escape artist, and I fear he will not get away from a critter some day. Only clip one wing if you choose to do it. My BA hens easily fly up on the 6 ft chain link, as well as the wyandottes. I have the top covered in chain link also to protect them, and confine them when I am not outside. My land is not fenced except the pastures for the pigs and goats. We are repairing the cattle fence for cows, but wow its been a slow process with the overgrowth of mulberry trees and blackberry bushes. I am leaving some since the birds enjoy them, but so tired of getting scratched up on the briars.
Your fencing is awesome, they should do well. Add a patio set or other shelter for extra hiding spots. Very nice work!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have an owl that keeps coming to visit my chicken area tonight. it is walking around our "hoop" / cube coop. There is either netting, tarp, or netting and chicken wire over the entire thing. I'm thinking owls don't dig so it can't get in unless it can get by the poultry netting. Still he is freaking out my chickens and they are squawking causing me to check on them and send DH out to chase away the owl. I would go but I read that the GH owl has attacked humans before so here I sit, typing asking for advice. We tried lighting up the back yard with flood lights and I turned on a light in the coop, still the owl came back after less than an hour. I was thinking since owls are night hunters the light would keep it away. But maybe the light is making it easier for the owl. It is easier for me to check on the birds if the light is on.

We just moved our small pens and large coop tonight so the owl could care less about routine placement.
We also have those blinking red lights, the owl could care less.

Secure coops is all you can do. I have several great horned owl here. I have seen them often so they aren't very shy either. Lights do seem to help, I have 2 on the main coop, and 2 on the grow out pen. I go out a few times a night and make noise when i do since I don't sleep much. I hear them before dark, pretty bold!

My hens BETTER be glad my nieces named them last week! I'm getting those invisible, are through eggs..announced cholesterol, they never spoil...anyone wanna trade? Just kidding! I start in on the butcher talk the minute I walk in the coop and get the "but Momma!" Look with those heads cocked to the side. I do have 2 black a'lorps roos that are being especially aggressive towards me...they may not live as long as the other meat roosters.


I'm so sorry for the losses recently. I joke about my hens but I understand the connection felt with them. It's devastating to lose one :-(

On the chick note, I'm done until spring...unlike itsjustme who SAID she was done but she admitted on Facebook that she has a broody hatching out! Haha! I can't wait to have a broody! Too awesome!

Mine are slacking too, seems everyone's is! Has to be the weird temp changes. Even my daily girls are slow.

Quote:

hatching vibes!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: It will. I am so sorry, Its just heartbreaking, I get so angry with the attitude of "its just a chicken" Each and every one of them deserve a good life. Not in a cage, and respected as a living being.
I do process birds, and its part of my family's way of living. I treat every bird I own as a pet, and respect them. Thank them for feeding my family if their day comes. Every one of them are respected and loved. Some more so, I guess because we find that little something special, like you did.Your precious lil girl had a good life while she was with you. Know you did much more for her than others would have. She was loved and knew it. Please know you did everything you could to help her.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Can someone please tell me where i should post, that i am looking for a good quality Barred Rock Rooster? I am From Clinton County Indiana (Central) Indiana. I have 30 hens mostly Barred Rocks and no rooster.. and I am new to Chickens this is my first year.. All is going well I just would like to have a Good Rooster to breed with my hens so that my son has Better than Rural King chickens to show at the fair for his first time next year.. My apologies if this is in the wrong spot, I am lost. Thank you for your help, Jeremy

Welcome to the thread! You can post most anything here, we aren't picky

I am searching for BRs too, so I will gladly share when I find them!

hoping we find some for your son soon!

 

[Too Fast]

When I found out about animals eating the after birth, I kind of thought it was strange. Then I found out some of the really down to earth natural humans do it. That took my breath away. They have their reasons and their research, but I sure haven't tried it.

it sure is a lot easier to say sorry but you told me I could pick my gift out than to ask and be told no. It would not just be the puppies, but the new kitchen stuff I might choose instead or a new rug. I'm almost positive he would say I don't care just pick something or no.

I'll take the leftover one or however many you don't want. I'll pay you a time and effort charge (profit) too. You can laugh when you read my greedy message to you asking for just about every clearenced dog house in your store. But at those prices, it is better than making my own.

Now I'm off to watch the video of how to make a coop / dog house.

I was watching one of John's favorite survival shows, where the guy and his family are building a castle. One of the things they were talking about was eating the placenta. Said some people do that, you should've seen the horrified look on the girls there. I was thinking there are a lot easier things to eat also. I don't care how protien rich it is.