INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Too Fast]

The story of Charlie's name (she is one of my only named chickens...)
She was one of the original 6 chickens I ever owned. As they were growing, I noticed that when I would take meat out for them, she would go away from the rest of the flock and be eating grass. GRASS! When there was meat out there!!! So I drew a conclusion (that was wrong) that she preferred greens to meat.

Now here's the name part. My husband (Chuck) tends to prefer to eat the veggies and not as much meat (I'm a REAL meat eater ) so when I thought this ee girl preferred the vegetation to the meat, I called her "Charlie" [for my husband....

].

Turns out that she was just bottom of pecking order and didn't want to get pecked when she was competing for the meat. Once I figured that out [I was new at chicken keeping so I was learning...] I made sure that I got some meat to her that she didn't have to compete for. She ate it like a pro and now competes with all the rest quite actively.

However, the name stuck. And the other ee gets called "Charlie's Sister".

So, there you have it.
****************************************************************

And yay for your 7-8 eggs. If they are young girls, they usually lay right through the winter their first year.



PS: When I was growing up we had a female collie that my little brother named "Charlie".

 

[strssdmom]

QUARANTINE QUESTIONS:

I am picking up a rooster this weekend...

How long do I need to quarantine him?

How far away from my flock does he need to be? Opposite sides of the same barn? Or different building all together?

What am I looking for in the quarantine time, just lice/mites?

INTRODUCTION QUESTION:

Is introducing a rooster to the flock any different than introducing a new batch of hens to a flock?

I first put the new hens in a safe cage out in the flock. Then a side by side yard with a shared fence. Then supervised visits. Then when I deemed it was safe let them range together.

Is it any different for introducing a rooster?

Thank you in advance for the sharing of your experience!

 

[hogster160]

...

[COLOR=006400]hogster/Deb[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Glad that you checked in with us! Hope you’re taking care of yourself as well as your mom! I guess as far as your fall, you’re lucky that you didn’t crack your head on some ice. [/COLOR]

Very true, it could have been a lot worse! [COLOR=8B4513]I remember the days not too long ago when I was regularly at the doctor’s office with a parent or in-law. It’s so difficult to experience a parent aging, and there are so many aging-related things to take care of besides the parent. You and jchny/Janet are both dealing with a lot especially at this time of year-- between the holidays and the terribly cold weather, it must be difficult. [/COLOR]

It is hard. But I'm sure her parenting us 5 kids wasn't easy either. Now the rolls have reversed and it is an honor that she wants me to do this for her. One I will cherish. [COLOR=8B4513]Btw, what breed are “meaties”? I had to chuckle (since I’m a chicken-pet person) when you said you couldn’t wait to taste one of your chickens! It was a little startling at first. Haha! I also loved the description of your Tom Turkey retreating to the coop!-- as though he's thinking, "Wake me when it's spring."[/COLOR] Dh says he's done this each morning, so you may be on to something lol [COLOR=8B4513]Thank you CCCH-- that's what I figured except I thought I remembered people saying that all they did was eat and poop since they were bred for size, and that as a result, they weren't too much fun. But, with all breeds, some are more personable than others, and hogster was lucky to get some nice ones. [/COLOR] They are Cornish cross. But I fed them ff and I let them free range from about 10 days old. I would put them by my layers so they could learn how to forage. And forage they did! Every day they ran around my 2 acres and into they field behind mine. They would come running if they saw you. My daughter took a video on her phone, wonder how I get it posted here from her phone? I suppose if you let them be what they are, chickens, they won't just sit there waiting to eat. They each had their own personalities. Funny funny birds. They grew slower but stronger. Stronger hearts and legs. None died from flipping, basically heart just stopping. And none had leg issues. Just big happy healthy birds. So yes, I am very excited to try them. I wanted them to have a better life than the ones I used to buy in a store have. And they did, I'm going to miss them. I'm sure it did sound funny especially if you knew me lol. Dh said he expected me to cry when I dropped them off. I just told him that I'm glad I can still surprise him after 30 years of marriage!

 

[hogster160]

Day 1 is done for Dads tests. Cath went well, slight blockage in one bypass but the main one is CLEAR and all are still strong.
His bypasses were done in 1986, Dr was impressed. We have a new problem, however. Bloodwork is showing issues in kidney function.
Dr stated "he isn't a candidate for dialysis quite yet, but.. we will be monitoring closely going forward."
Spoke with his nurse more at length, he was dehydrated when he was admitted this morning.
More tests tomorrow, now they are keeping him til friday, at least. Will be calling VA caseworker regarding dialysis next week.
Hope when the time comes, It can be same days/times for both of them.
I will be watching him a lot closer from now on too.

Sending healing prayers for your mom and dad, also adding some for you. I know you just got over being sick too, so please take some extra care for yourself too, so prayers of continued healing and strength for you too!

Deb

 

[chisNchickens]

Jump in anytime you like!! Of course you belong, you are a hoosier, and you have chickens!

Thanks Jchny2000....I have chickens right now as long as they survive this wretched weather!! Grrrrrr! We moved just before the cold hit so my setup is not perfect. My day consists of switching out water bowls and water bottles all day long. This weather is infuriating! And last night one of my favorite girls was wry...she lays on top of her head She is eating/drinking from a syringe and coos and talks to me but it doesn't look good. At least she's inside and being babied, whether she makes it or not. Sucks.

 

[kabhyper1]

Jump in anytime you like!! Of course you belong, you are a hoosier, and you have chickens!

Thanks Jchny2000....I have chickens right now as long as they survive this wretched weather!! Grrrrrr! We moved just before the cold hit so my setup is not perfect. My day consists of switching out water bowls and water bottles all day long. This weather is infuriating! And last night one of my favorite girls was wry...she lays on top of her head She is eating/drinking from a syringe and coos and talks to me but it doesn't look good. At least she's inside and being babied, whether she makes it or not. Sucks.

she sounds vitamin deficient. Poly-vi-sol w/out iron and vitamin E. There are a lot of articles and threads on here about fixing wry neck. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/793970/help-with-wry-neck

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Love the story about the name.


Very cold this morning, almost 0.

Cock-a-doodle-doo, everybody.

Very cold here too. We're almost at zero....isn't -2 close?? Actually, now that the sun is up we may have risen to 0 now!! The well guys are here and had to get into the well outside. They're replacing the wiring to the well pump. Hopefully that solves the problem.

We haven't been able to get our barn chores done yet & I know everything's frozen out there.

 

[DarthLayer]

[COLOR=8B4513]You should live here in Evansville-- schools were out Fri., Sat., Mon., and they had a 2 hour delay today. The big problem has been all of the ice that we still have under the snow. I tried to chip away at several inches of ice on the sidewalk outside the coop and it's like concrete. We're supposed to have more ice on Friday night. Although it's still cold, not as bad as where you live, my chickens were out a lot today since it was sunny. Plus, I think they're realizing that the snow is going to be here for a while. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]I love your black dog, Darth! It it new? A Lab?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Thank you CCCH-- that's what I figured except I thought I remembered people saying that all they did was eat and poop since they were bred for size, and that as a result, they weren't too much fun. But, with all breeds, some are more personable than others, and hogster was lucky to get some nice ones. [/COLOR]
[rule]

Hope you are all safe with the ice! We actually got a decent amount of snow yesterday. It was quite funny when I went to let them out yesterday morning. They all couldn't wait to go out, but were oblivious to the snow outside. I opened the door and my young roo stopped right in his tracks when he saw it, but the ducks wanted out and pushed right passed and he stumbled onto the snow. He didn't know how to react and just stood there for awhile. That'll be a good memory for his first snow.
Thanks! Our dog is lab/husky though she has mostly lab characteristics. Her name is River and we got her from someone when she was seven months old. Ironically, in a way, she's seven years old now and as you can see, has a white "mustache". Great dog, but prefers to listen to my dad is her only downfall.

 

[chisNchickens]

she sounds vitamin deficient. Poly-vi-sol w/out iron and vitamin E. There are a lot of articles and threads on here about fixing wry neck. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/793970/help-with-wry-neck

Yes thanks, I'm familiar with the issue. But unless she has a health issue preventing her body from utilizing various nutrients, she is definitely not deficient. Silkies have this issue more than other breeds and in many cases it is a head injury due to their vaulted skulls.

 

[pginsber]

All the girls and the 9-week old baby made it through the night. Hooray!

The furry children in the house are another story. This is the look they gave me when I suggested they go outside to potty...

As if they are saying "No, thanks--we prefer to stare OUT at the cold."