INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Too Fast]

Yes awchicken, that's really bad news. Please let us know about the results from Purdue.








Now a couple non-chicken photos, unless you count the Firehawk as a chicken! Above is one of our team photos from the Dan Wheldon memorial Pro-Am Karting Challenget fundraiser for Alzheimer's association.
I am in the black leather jacket, no wimpy drivers jacket for me lol. Sebastian Servaadras was our pro, we each had a 25 minute stint on the track. I took the track last, seemed like most of the pros did that. I did spin
4 times, but when I didn't some of my lap times were within 2 seconds of them so I consider that a success. Below, is Dan's widow, Susie, with some other drivers, She's in the middle.

Below, I am leading the pack as they caught up after I spun about 8 laps prior


Claiming post 16411.

 

[hogster160]

I wanted to update everyone on my flock situation. I took blood and mucus samples the other week and took them over to the Purdue office by Patoka. I got the results back and my flock had been infected with infectious Coryza. NASTY STUFF. I'm guessing it was from one of the birds I had brought home from a swap at TSC. So everyone was either sick or now a carrier.

The Purdue people even offered to come out to my place and look at what was going on. I said that would be great. The next day a few people came up and looked around, checking my coup and where I had food/water. They took samples of droppings and a few eggs that I had saved.

My setup was fine; I was keeping things clean. By this time, even after getting meds in them, I had a few birds close to death. The one that had puss coming from an eye had passed and I had her in the fridge. The people took the dead one and asked if they could take one of the sicker ones. I had no problem with that.

Two days later I get a call from a friend, who actually works in that office. He had nothing but bad news. He told me they worked through things quickly so I could make a decision on what to do with the flock.

I of course only had to choices. Keep medicating the flock, never getting to use the eggs...not that I was getting a whole lot of eggs lately anyway...and I wouldn't be able to add any birds. Or, cull them all and start over after the winter.

With much regret and sadness, I decided to cull. Over the last few days my dad and I put down every chicken and turkey. (I had been wondering whether the turkeys would be okay, but they suggested that we put them down as well, just to be safe.) ***Okay, not every chicken, because my braniac EE, Einstein literally flew the coop and has been MIA since the first day. I knew that girl was smart!!
So we've been on the lookout for her, saw her briefly, but I think she knows better and may not come back. We'll see.

So all the birds are going to an ag department for research. My brother had a connection. At least they won't go to complete waste. My dad is pretty upset because he was planning on using one of the turkeys for Christmas. They were heavy things!!

Now the yard is horribly empty, except for when we let the puppies out. I am slowly getting things cleaned up and put away. I have my list made for when I decide to start again. I think I will probably use one of the hatcheries and then they're all coming from the same place.

This has been an awesome experience and I have learned a lot!! I think next time I will know better how to take care of things (I know you can't prevent everything from happening to farm animals...)

I will continue to read through the forum and throw and insight or two in once in awhile. I have to at least have some entertainment this winter, and you all provide that!

THANK YOU to everyone who gave suggestions and provided a little comfort for me! Carry on!

I am so sorry you had to go through this experience. Man this is rough. I do think you made the right decision though. I would still keep an eye out for the escapee. If she is a carrier, is she infecting other birds? If you don't find her, and she can survive the winter, will she keep the virus alive and infect your new birds in the spring?

I do wish you well, and hope the winter is cold enough to kill the virus so come spring you can start again.

Best Wishes!
Deb

amw - will you be able to start new birds this coming spring? And can they be in the same coop and yard w/no problem?

That is such a frustrating situation.

Your story makes me even more leery of poultry swaps/sales, etc. (if that's possible...was pretty leery already). I've been pretty determined to try to get a good base for breeding so that I could perpetuate my own flock as much as possible. My first 6 are hatchery chicks. The second group were a mix - 1 chick hatched from shipped eggs and 3 day-olds from babymakes6 to add to the brood (broody raised). Third round hatched from my own flock w/broody (currently 3 chicks).

I need to broaden the lines a bit by getting in either eggs or day-olds from some trusted breeders. But after I have enough diversity, I hope to just continue to hatch if possible.

I agree. I brought eggs in this summer for a broody to do just that. I figure next year I will order some chicks from a different hatchery from my first batch, hopefully that will be enough diversity.

I have never been to a swap nor will I. These chicks may not cost much to buy as day olds. But they are still an investment. I'd hate like hades to have to start all over again. And some things you can bring into your area don't go away.

 

[iamfivewire]

Amw - so sorry to hear about having to put your chickens down. :-(

CRS - nice OBX pictures - we love to vacation there & always difficult to want to leave

 

[amwchickin]

Leah's Mom - I was told that after the winter, when things have frosted over and things have died, I should be okay to start fresh. Everything the chickens use as far as water, food, coop, etc will be bleached/cleaned several times.

I definitely will stay away from places like a TSC swap. I may check with the couple places where I went and bought birds before. I actually saw their set-up and conditions the birds were in.

It definitely has been frustrating. I don't even want to think about how much money I had put into them.

I cried. I tried not to, but picking up each bird was tough. I think even my dad had a tear or two, even though he wasn't particularly fond of so many chickens and turkeys. We're a hunting family and are grateful for the animals we kill for food. It hurt that there was nothing we could actually use them for after this sickness started.

But, I do have something to look forward to! I have already been on the hatchery websites, comparing costs/shipping, and who has what. I have at least 20 breeds on my "list." That's not too many, is it??

 

[amwchickin]

hogster160 - Thanks Deb, it was rough. I'll get past it eventually. My parents are watching for the escapee when I'm not up at the farm. Thankfully everyone else's chickens in the area are in enclosed spaces and she can't actually get in with them. I have notified the neighbors that do have chickens. She is a carrier, but never showed symptoms. Actually, she was the healthiest one in the whole flock! I think the virus stays with them no matter what. I will probably have some of the soil tested in the spring, just to make sure it's clean.

 

[toodlesmom]

AMWChickin - So, so very sorry for your losses. It is hard when you are helpless and without good choices. I think you made the best decision. You will be able to have a strong, healthy flock you can enjoy in the future, and your former flock is going to help advance the science on this dreadful disease.

 

[toodlesmom]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Don't you just love this time of year? It makes me think of orange and black construction paper, white paste (and kids who ate it), costumes, trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns, and excitement! I just adore Halloween! Usually I have the house decorated, but it is all torn up with construction work, and piles of things out of place, and all the stuff we brought home when mom moved from her 3-bedroom house to a 1-bedroom care apartment. Next year I hope to have everything straightened out, decorations up, and chickens running in our backyard.

The rain is really bucketing down! Kids in Indianapolis are supposed to trick-or-treat on Friday because of the weather. Wouldn't Ironman fear rust in all this rain?

 

[kabhyper1]

thats a cute wookie Kab

it didnt een tain here. Kabbeveryone looks so cute.

Thanks guys!

kabhyper~ Thanks for the well wishes about the upcoming storms. I feel sorry for all the trick-or-treaters since we're supposed to have severe storms tomorrow afternoon and evening.
I have caught up on posts and enjoyed kabhyper's photos of Mama Lavender and her large (!) chicks as well as the photos of the Silkie chicks. So, as I remember, the Silkie-hatcher mama abruptly decided she had completed her duties as a mom? Haha. This is my favorite photo-- love the looks on their obedient little faces!

kabhyper~ Does Gus know your plans of selling his children?? I think I had better take custody of that dashing fellow. He probably has not been receiving the attention he deserves because of all the hatching going on at your place!

Yes she decided she was done. It was her first time, so I will give her a bit of room to mature before we do it again. As far as Gus goes, I don't think he cares, but you know that if I ever have to rehome him, I will figure out some way to get him to you.

 

[kabhyper1]

kabhyper1: Your chicks & wookie are very cute! Althought bathing 5 wookies sounds like a very BIG job. You're killing me with the videos of your silkies. Stories of them roosting on the floor, and their personalities--I'm trying to ignore the feeling that I'm missing out by not having any in my flock!

As fall arrives, we're getting about 4 eggs a day from 6 pullets. Down from usual, but still a decent amount.

Mom and babies are doing great and she's been taking them out every day. Yesterday, Mom showed the babies that one should run to the fence when a human approaches. The big girls run to meet us to see what we're bringing them, but it was so funny to see the chicks running and peeping, even though they are clueless why they're running.

We'll have to keep the flashlight close tonight. We live near White River with lots of tall trees that blow against the power lines in high winds. Very likely we'll lose power.

I didnt get them bathed, maybe tomorrow lol. You need a couple silkies! Thats so cute about your babies. Mine are still gradually getting used to the coop and flock. Today however, they are all closed up in their comfy spots because of the weather.

I wanted to update everyone on my flock situation. I took blood and mucus samples the other week and took them over to the Purdue office by Patoka. I got the results back and my flock had been infected with infectious Coryza. NASTY STUFF. I'm guessing it was from one of the birds I had brought home from a swap at TSC. So everyone was either sick or now a carrier.

The Purdue people even offered to come out to my place and look at what was going on. I said that would be great. The next day a few people came up and looked around, checking my coup and where I had food/water. They took samples of droppings and a few eggs that I had saved.

My setup was fine; I was keeping things clean. By this time, even after getting meds in them, I had a few birds close to death. The one that had puss coming from an eye had passed and I had her in the fridge. The people took the dead one and asked if they could take one of the sicker ones. I had no problem with that.

Two days later I get a call from a friend, who actually works in that office. He had nothing but bad news. He told me they worked through things quickly so I could make a decision on what to do with the flock.

I of course only had to choices. Keep medicating the flock, never getting to use the eggs...not that I was getting a whole lot of eggs lately anyway...and I wouldn't be able to add any birds. Or, cull them all and start over after the winter.

With much regret and sadness, I decided to cull. Over the last few days my dad and I put down every chicken and turkey. (I had been wondering whether the turkeys would be okay, but they suggested that we put them down as well, just to be safe.) ***Okay, not every chicken, because my braniac EE, Einstein literally flew the coop and has been MIA since the first day. I knew that girl was smart!!
So we've been on the lookout for her, saw her briefly, but I think she knows better and may not come back. We'll see.

So all the birds are going to an ag department for research. My brother had a connection. At least they won't go to complete waste. My dad is pretty upset because he was planning on using one of the turkeys for Christmas. They were heavy things!!

Now the yard is horribly empty, except for when we let the puppies out. I am slowly getting things cleaned up and put away. I have my list made for when I decide to start again. I think I will probably use one of the hatcheries and then they're all coming from the same place.

This has been an awesome experience and I have learned a lot!! I think next time I will know better how to take care of things (I know you can't prevent everything from happening to farm animals...)

I will continue to read through the forum and throw and insight or two in once in awhile. I have to at least have some entertainment this winter, and you all provide that!

THANK YOU to everyone who gave suggestions and provided a little comfort for me! Carry on!

I'm so sorry for you. That is my worst nightmare. I don't even let people into my pasture. I'm paranoid. I hope you have better luck next year.

So how does the fishing line work with bats around? There are a lot in my yard at night.

I don't want to annoy the local bat population and have them start looking for insects in my house.

I haven't seen any issues with the bats. We don't have a ton of fishing line out there. Plus bats can see, they would be able to avoid it just like a tree branch I would think.

 

[ellymayRans]

Ok...so I had a fun experience yesterday!! I often scan CL just for enjoyment and occasionally contemplate the idea of hmmm...do I want that?! LOL So...I saw where someone was wanting to find homes for a list of all diff breeds of chickens. Advertising 2 "trios sets" of pullets. Needless to say I jumped on it. Why not! Ha! So I make the leap...drive 30 mins to meet/buy them..early in the morning I might add. Well Every one of them were cockerels! Go figure! LOL Pretty frustrating to say the least! When I pointed it out I was told they'd never crowed...yet 3 of the 6 crowed while we were talking. I can't help but feel like some other poor novice may not know the difference and get taken. Granted the person said they were sorry...but..I'm sorry, you have 30 chickens .. of both sexes and all diff breeds...you know what's a rooster and what's not...You have to!.. Right!?!? These looked to be around 5+ mos old and they were NOT silkies...Sooo...tell me how do you not know!?!?!?

Alright...had to vent...I'm done!

BTW my pretty little lady (Black Am) laid a pretty little egg today...under the coop of course...so I had to crawl in the mud and muck to get to it. But ... hmmm...it was more of a green color than the Blue I was expecting. I thought if true AM it would lay a Blue egg?