INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

Last weekend I went to TSC in Boonville since they had a farm animal swap day. I got two Mille Fleur bantam pullets (one of which is in a tree in Evansville ((can they ever fly)) and my sister is desperately trying to catch it) and the other will be moving out with the rest of them in a couple weeks.

I also got two Black Copper Marans from a different from a different person and when I got them home I found this on there heads:


It looks like dandruff holding onto the feathers or non-moving lice. Any help would be appreciated.

Since it's holding onto the feathers, if you determine that it isn't a food source like some of the others noted I'd guess nits of lice. From what I understand the nits are usually found around the head unfortunately.

Another food source that can cause that is yogurt and/or milk. They take a bite/drink, then shake their heads to clean off the beak. It will go all over them, the walls, ground, floor, etc. But it usually will come right off.

If it does turn out to be parasites, the information in this article may be of use.

why are the lice so far from the vent? is it that there are so many? I thought it looked like lice eggs too but the location threw me.

I think the bugs themselves like to hang out around the vent. If it is nits, they can be up there.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Originally Posted by jchny2000 View Post
We don't have plans to sell meat but if you want to learn how, we will show you on our next processing day. You can bring your own rooster if you want to get a hands on lesson. Right now we are thinking Nov 9th give or take 2 weeks


We don't and won't have birds for processing. My husband, who has been wonderfully supportive about having a flock, says six hens will be enough and no roosters!

I understand his view. I have a thing about liability and risks involved. I'm overly cautious. I tend to stress over things including selling meat. I had to give egg selling a lot of thought before starting to sell eggs. Even now I only sell eggs to people I know.

morning everyone, chick question, my little babies turned out to be EEs, about a week old they are on day three at home all alive and well eating drinking etc, am I out of the woods as far as one of them not making it? I was in fear of that, that's the main reason I got four, but it looks like they are all keepers I hope! When can u stop worrying?!?

Out of the woods is such a broad term. Worrying about the chicks changes as they grow. Right now at this early chick age I tend to watch for signs of weakness or sickness and eating / drinking. Then I start to think ok they are over a week old how active are they, how much noise are they making, is it a why won't you take better care of me noise or a I'm playing with my buds noise. Most of my chicks that I have raised are single comb. Around 4-6 weeks I start counting combs that are too tall and hope for short or barely visible combs, About this time they are outside if not sooner. Once outside I tend to think is it warm enough / cool enough, will an animal come and try to get them, will they huddle and suffocate each other. With only 4 you should not give the suffocation thing much thought. Next comes the 8-10 weeks when I start decreasing their food and making sure they forage properly. Then there is a lull in the thinking, worrying, stressing for a few weeks until I wonder are the nesting boxes ready and clean. Are they big enough to totally free range, will a hawk get them, did they go in at night, is that an owl trying to break into the chicken area. To me if I try hard enough there is something out there after my chickens at all times. Eventually one copes and the stress worry goes away.
You will be a fine chicken owner.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Brad, did you see trey's listing. it is a short one and ends in about 6 hrs. so far no bidders.

Old Salt do you have incubator eggs yet? if not today might be a good day to get them.

I'm not going to post a link here though as a lurker might up the bid.

 

[bradselig]

Shhh....don't tell anyone! . Jk. I'm watching and waiting. I'm one of those jerks who wait last minute to bid.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Here is my phone call with a worker from rural king W=worker M=me

W-hi, how many I help you today?

M=Hi, I was just wondering if you had any chicks still.

W=yes we do

M= do you happen to know what breed they are?

W=(asks someone) layers, pullets, strait run, and i'm not sure about the other 3 kinds.

M=ok, thanks that is all i needed.

I get of the fun,WOW. they obviously know nothing. they gave me a catergory and sex. That anwsered my question. Looks like I just might have to go over there today out of curiosity.

They should hire someone that knows what they are talking about.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Here is my phone call with a worker from rural king W=worker M=me

W-hi, how many I help you today?

M=Hi, I was just wondering if you had any chicks still.

W=yes we do

M= do you happen to know what breed they are?

W=(asks someone) layers, pullets, strait run, and i'm not sure about the other 3 kinds.

M=ok, thanks that is all i needed.

I get of the fun,WOW. they obviously know nothing. they gave me a catergory and sex. That anwsered my question. Looks like I just might have to go over there today out of curiosity.

They should hire someone that knows what they are talking about.

Ha, how long of a drive would that be for you?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Ha, how long of a drive would that be for you?

20-30 mins depending on wether speeding or not lol. I might go over today. And I just realized i had a typo, got of the phone, not fun lol. The closest one to me is in decatur

 

[MrTattoohead]

Here's our Barred Rock, Bang Bang. Just hanging out with us...

She's looking pretty good so far...

 

[Too Fast]

So hows every ones egg counts? I'm normally 10-12 a day with 14 layers, 1 broody and I'm down to 5 eggs a day. EE and the white chickens are laying regular, nothing from my 3 BA or 2 BLRW. I may get 3 brown eggs a week. New normal is now green and white. Is it the weather, should I be concerned for my birds? I did see one white chicken (really don't know what kind she is lmao) that has some raised scales in the bend of her foot. Shes laying great. Everyday. Everyone else looks normal. I don't see any other signs of mites or lice.

Egg count still normal for us. We get 35 eggs/week, and have 7 hens. I am not convinced everybody is laying tho, but we have had 30-35 eggs/week since mid-July.

Any of you have experience with solar powered motion lights? I've got a couple places I'd like to put them around the coop for help with night security and I don't have access to electic.

http://www.harborfreight.com/60-led-solar-security-light-69643.html

I'm thinking about something like this, not necessarily that exact one (I've not had great luck with HF stuff) but something along these lines.

We have a solar motion light from Harbor Freight, got it for about half the price in your link. But it is a bit smaller then the one you showed with your link. Been very happy with it, we've had it since last June. Stays on dim until the motion, then BAM it's bright for 30 seconds.

I'm looking for other areas to get more of them. Or maybe just to have a dim light on, and not let the motion part work.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: Bloomington had a wide selection. The straight run was the white broilers, the layers are their isa browns, pullets included, barred rock, dominiques, a white chick pen marked pullets but no breed, and then the tiny tiny easter eggers. Those chicks looked almost banty in size to me. For fun I asked the lady if I could sit one of the EE next to a broiler I was buying. She let me. It was hysterical. They were the same age but my broiler was about the size of 4 EE chicks.