INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[bradselig]

If you get any extra of the BR I would be interested in getting some.The chicks I got from you are doing great and getting so big. I think that the 2 Marans may both be pullets but don't know for sure. I'll have to get pictures soon.

That's great to hear! Out of the first 2 dozen eggs, none of them even developed. I reordered from one of the two sellers another dozen eggs, only 5-6 developed and 1-2 were early quitters. So out of 36 eggs, I only received about half a dozen fertile eggs. Not sure if it was infertile from sellers or PO did something to them during transit.

I am thinking of ordering some chicks though and will let you know if i do.

 

[ellymayRans]

Hi all,

I'm a new member of the site, but I've been browsing it since at least June. My husband and I live just outside of Muncie and we just started keeping chickens in June. I adore our flock!

We have 4 Brahma hens, 1 Brahma Roo, and 1 Cuckoo Maran hen. We're hoping to add a couple of Cochin hens to the flock.

Does anyone here know anyone in Indiana who is selling Cochins?

Thanks!

Welcome China Bird! We have a wonderful support group here and a members list that I'm certain someone has already provided as I'm still working to read 10 more pages to catch up! LOL We are a chatty bunch but I wouldn't have it any other way! ;0) If not remind us and we'll get that to you! There are plenty of us that hatch and sell, I'm sure someone has them! I only have the bantam size Cochins.

 

[ellymayRans]

Bryan - I didn't realize you were in Dunlap. We're neighbors! I'm between South Bend and Elkhart.

Kristy - If you keep your birds locked in the coop at night you probably won't have to worry about wolves or coyotes. But the coyotes can get very bold and do some pre-dusk hunting if they're breeding with no predators.

I do have the portable electro-net where mine range as I'm more concerned with stray dogs getting them during the day than anything else. My future plans are to have some boer goats just seasonally to help clear more of the wooded area on the property and just let the birds range that whole area afterwards as an expansion. Once they have the whole area I may do some perimeter wire just outside the regular perimeter fence but mostly to deter the stray dogs. Bonus to keep coyote out at night too I hope.

Kristy - Another reminder for the area are Foxes. Granted I am a bit further south than where you'll be but I have had them in my yard during the day(usually morning hours) they are very sneaky so you may or may not ever know they're there! As for hawks I have them year round! No joke... I have seen so many ref spring and fall but they are always here where I am. Bald Eagles are another we have in IN. Can't say if they are that far North nor have I ever feared them hunting the flock but I feel that it's always a possibility! Welcome to our thread!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yep. Foxes here. And hawks year-round with more in migration times spring and fall.

 

[barb s]

That's great to hear! Out of the first 2 dozen eggs, none of them even developed. I reordered from one of the two sellers another dozen eggs, only 5-6 developed and 1-2 were early quitters. So out of 36 eggs, I only received about half a dozen fertile eggs. Not sure if it was infertile from sellers or PO did something to them during transit.

I am thinking of ordering some chicks though and will let you know if i do.

That would be awesome. I have several (actually a few more than several) chicks coming in the spring but was not able to find any BR.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Thanks Goodb,
I like the compost area. Actually the space recommendation is for a "shed" to keep all my chicken stuff--feed, tools, etc. Also what tools do I need to have.
Dex

I'm not sure that you need a shed just for chicken stuff. Most of the things I use with the chickens I had before the chickens.
Litter control ~ we use the deep litter method. Now this won't work with a tray styled coop. For us we fill the floor 3 inches high with tree trimmings and shavings and a scoop or two of dirt. We somewhat spread it all out using a shovel. We add more every so often and about once every 3-6 months we shovel it all out to the run area. Needed items: SHOVEL and Wheelbarrow
feeding and watering ~ we use our feeders year round same for the waterers. Both are outside most of the year but for 2-2.5 months of the coldest weather I put them in our coop. They make a mess in the coop but I'll move them in there on the days the chickens refuse to come out. Once in the coop they will stay until the weather warms up.
Feed storage~ I store one bag of feed in a metal can with a lid. I keep this in my garage. This was new when we got the chickens. Some people just buy feeders that are large enough to hold the entire bag. But that makes feeding ff or wet feed harder.

Other stuff like hammers, screws, tools, a scraper to clean the nesting boxes, well we had all of that in our garage so it just stayed where it was. You may want a couple of long lightweight pvc pipes or broomsticks to herd the chickens I think they would fit in a corner in a garage fine too.

 

[ellymayRans]

Hello all Hoosiers! Though I am now living in the Bluegrass state I consider myself almost a Hoosier. I was born and raised in Anderson, In and retired from Delco-Remy. I still have family living in Anderson. I am a retired farmer now and started raising chickens and turkeys. Though this is my last year for the turkeys! Too much trouble babysitting them. They like to wonder too much! This is my 3rd day on this web site and must say I do like it. Well will get off and will be checking on you all often.

Welcome odbo9!! I've often wondered about turkeys as I've thought of them for the resistance/exposure for the chicks immunity for mareks but wasn't sure how they are free-range..
I won't be biased being in KY as long as you promise to not root for KY ... as I am a Hoosier fan!! ;0) LOL

 

[ellymayRans]

OMy....Finally all caught up! I really need to do a better job of jumping on every day! Get too far behind and then I hate to skip posts ...then I get harassed by DH that "I'm reading about chickens again!!" HAHAHA! BCuz you know that's all I do! Just ask them! Haaa!

So...got .. mmm 40 eggs in the bator due to hatch the 21st! Just realized what I did to myself! Hello...right before Thanksgiving! Goodness...sometimes I don't think! I've candled a couple handful and I hate candling. I'm so paranoid I've just killed them by opening it and taking them out...moving them around...and did I put them in the same position as they were when I took them out! LOL Anyway...it really didn't look too promising but that was at day 6. I should do them again today at day 14 but not sure if I'm up for it. I'm not removing any though, the last time I did thinking they were duds I had about 8 of them that weren't. So I keep'em in til about 5 days after HD to be sure. I had a couple hatch 3 days after HD last time. About 20 of these are from my NN's. I am interested to see how many hatch if any...I don't have a NN roo so my odds of what come out NN may be slim to none.. we'll see! The thing I like about it though is if they are I know it right away! No waiting on that!! LOL! I set some of my silkie eggs too; the one that went missing and has not been found; Really keeping my fingers crossed on those!

Well Happy Day fellow chicken lovers! Enjoying the sunshine!

 

[bradselig]

OMy....Finally all caught up!  I really need to do a better job of jumping on every day!  Get too far behind and then I hate to skip posts ...then I get harassed by DH that "I'm reading about chickens again!!"  HAHAHA!  BCuz you know that's all I do!  Just ask them!  Haaa!  

So...got .. mmm 40 eggs in the bator due to hatch the 21st!  Just realized what I did to myself!  Hello...right before Thanksgiving!  Goodness...sometimes I don't think!  I've candled a couple handful and I hate candling.  I'm so paranoid I've just killed them by opening it and taking them out...moving them around...and did I put them in the same position as they were when I took them out!  LOL  Anyway...it really didn't look too promising but that was at day 6.  I should do them again today at day 14 but not sure if I'm up for it.  I'm not removing any though, the last time I did thinking they were duds I had about 8 of them that weren't.  So I keep'em in til about 5 days after HD to be sure.  I had a couple hatch 3 days after HD last time.  About 20 of these are from my NN's.  I am interested to see how many hatch if any...I don't have a NN roo so my odds of what come out NN may be slim to none..  we'll see!  The thing I like about it though is if they are I know it right away!  No waiting on that!! LOL!  I set some of my silkie eggs too; the one that went missing and has not been found; Really keeping my fingers crossed on those!  

Well Happy Day fellow chicken lovers!  Enjoying the sunshine!

If your NN do not have the bow tie, then all chicks will hatch NN with a bow tie if the roo is not a NN. If your hens do have a bow tie then half should hatch NN with a bow tie. If you're needing a NN roo, I have a young one

 

[Dex Holla]

I planned on getting chicks in March mainly because I have a coop to build. Well, I found a used coop I think I'll buy. SO all I need now are the chicks!

Since I am in education, I have three weeks to be at home over Christmas and that would be a GREAT time to hang out with the cuties. We could enjoy, hold etc.

I have been reading about the stages of growth but what I need to know is the practical info about housing--as in where in my house do I want them.... 1st four week, cute and in the living room? the next four weeks feathers and dust? Not sure when they would be old enough to be in the garage or in their new home AND at what point I will want them out of the house. (about how many weeks is that?)

THANKS! The coop is cute and mobile and could even be in the garage for the winter It could definately be up against the house outside and certainly close enough to the house to have electric.

Dex