INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hogster160]

Was going out t get my tree out of storage building. It's 20* here, I slipped n fell on ice on my concrete sidewalk, took me 20 minutes t get up then another 15 to get into th house...brrrr I'm freezing! I can't imagine how our birds handle this cold so well. I'm stowed up pretty bad rt now, taking pain pill and using ice then heat at 15min intervals. EGADS I feel clumsy! Think my pride is still out there on the sidewalk!

Ouch, I sure hope you are feeling better soon. Maybe its time to move to a warmer climate, falling scares me. My FIL fell one year in his drive way. Punctured a lung with his cracked ribs, cracked his tailbone and had to have surgery to remove his spleen as that got severely damaged. Yea, I think its time to move to a warmer climate. Man this cold and ice has to end soon!

[COLOR=A52A2A]Bonbon laid her First Egg! [/COLOR]e

[COLOR=8B4513](photo is from earlier this month--we still have snow) I didn’t notice Bonbon’s egg until they went in the coop at bedtime and it was in a nesting box. It’s actually only a quarter inch smaller than the ones that Nene RIR and Lacey SLW lay. The breeder was correct that Eng. Choc. Orps lay large eggs for bantams. I could tell it was a bantam egg even though I’ve never seen one in real life before. I’m not sure if Adeline has laid yet. I’ve found a couple of larger eggs in the other nesting box the past week, but I assumed they were Lacey’s although she and the others like to go to the box in the garage.[/COLOR]

Yay a new layer! I sure wish mine would lay. My new chicks are too young yet, probably spring. [COLOR=006400]Leahs Mom[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]and[/COLOR] [COLOR=000080]hogster[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Coconut oil is a great after-shower moisturizer for humans as well as chickens. I’ve put coconut oil on my hens’ combs, waddles, and legs/feet before when they've looked dry. It does absorb quickly, and the coconut smell goes away quickly, too. In cold temps, it would be good to moisturize with coconut oil followed a layer of Vaseline, which is thicker and lasts longer as a shield. Then the chickens should get a pedicure. Haha just joking. [/COLOR]

I was hoping the oil would not freeze, but it rubbed in nice and smooth. I didn't think to put vaseline on, will do that today, thank you!

...

WTG BONBON Oh my, congrats!!! Its like waiting to hear about a new baby lol, so exciting! Glad you posted about the vaseline, thats what my gram would do also. I am so sorry, are you sure u are ok? If you have severe pain or swelling, please see a Dr or go to ER to be checked, fractures hurt forever and take as long to heal. I am falling almost everyday at some point, its like a skating rink on the driveway. DH put sand on it tonight but now its snowed again, ugh! My waterfowl think its just wonderful and they still dunk in the water buckets. Goofballs, I had to move the water to the far back side of the waterfowl run. I had the buckets right by the gate and its now solid ice. more sand there too... Have so much padding on me with the overalls, long underwear, sweatshirts, flannels, layers upon layers (did I mention, i HATE COLD) it doesn't hurt. I am usually laughing my head off trying to get up, and so frustrated I just have to laugh it off. Tomorrow we are hoping. Wanted to wait for Dad to be home, he loves to be the switch-er on-er for the lights! Please be careful, padding or none, falling a lot will still hurt you in the long run. Be safe everyone with this nasty cold weather.

 

[hogster160]

I don't want to just guess, I think 25% would be great. But even 30% is not a lot of moisture. I like the open coop thought LM mentioned too. I think its going to depend on if you are in a hill, trees, flat land as far as drafts and winds too. We are in a valley due to the creek, and have some woods so winds "miss us" some. Everyone;s situation will be a bit different. Going to do some looking online its a very good question! Betcha M2H will be looking too, she always seems to find good info on issues like this

Oh my, I don't feel so bad now! I am already planning hatching pekin and all my goose breeds late january! And Really plan on more silkies from kab, and showgirls from you! My DD is just crazy over silkies and she needs to join the forum!

I need a camera SOOO BAD! They are so adorable, can't wait to post! DD fell asleep on me and I didn't get pics tonight

Have a safe trip, I know how traveling for the job is, yuk! I bet they are missing you too.

I would think that 25-40 would be a decent range. I am on a flat area of land, no hills in sight. The west wall is running with a pine tree line. Open area all around the rest of the coup. And all the winds come from the north west. The humidity in the air is just to dang high, I really can't lower the inside to be any lower than the outside without using heat or a dehumidifier.

I'm going to cover up half of the eve's vents today on the west side and some on the east. Where the snow is blowing in, ofc over the roost area. And leave the rest open. The weather is supposed to warm up in the next couple of days, hopefully the humidity goes away with the cold temps.

 

[minmin1258]

Than you all for th well wishes. I think I'm ok just steed up some! I only have one problem...when I fell I damaged my pride, since it was so icy outside it stuck t th sidewalk...I can't find it this morning under all this snow. The only thing I did find this morning was Bear prints!!!! I hope he didn't eat my pride along with the dogs food and garbage! Grrrrrrr!

 

[minmin1258]

I hate auto correct!!! Thank not than, stowed not steed. Lol

 

[chisNchickens]

I have not seen any mice in my hen shed so far. But I have seen some mouse prints around the outside of the run. I may never have a problem but I know that some folks do in the winter.

I posted this over on the natural chicken keeping thread but wanted to post here too.

​

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Has anyone used these in or around the hen houses/runs?

There are a whole group of videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/earthkind2010/videos

http://www.earth-kind.com/faq/

You can get it at Menards and local hardware stores too.
http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Cab-Rodent-Repellent-Pouch/dp/B0021LWPPY



I got some and put it where I store my feed but haven't put any in the hen house as of yet. I have seen one distributor that markets if for, and uses it in, her hen house. I just want to take some time to check it out better to be very sure it isn't harmful to the birds should they decide to take a taste.

I have a hard time believing when the first image they show of a "mouse" is actually a "fancy" or domesticated black hooded rat!!! lol

 

[chisNchickens]

So having my incubator turned off only lasted about a week! Well my cabinet is still turned off, I just loaded up the little giant, with about 40 eggs. I have no will power lol.

I feel ya man, I feel ya. Mine is never off

 

[bradselig]

I don't go t worm till later this morning so thought I'd go out and get pictures of the new flock. I got a few of the Cochins, and then my batteries died in the camera! Such a pain lol and of course I can't find any new batteries.

So for now, here are some of the Cochin pair.

 

[chisNchickens]

So, not sleeping, went to bed early and woke up at 2, ugh! Guess where I wound up

Jsummers and I are brainstorming a swap that will fit both of our needs, really excited to work out plans.
She has a few ducks to rehome if anyone is interested, 3 drakes. khaki campbell, cayuga and a hybrid 300.
3 Chinese geese (these are hatched from my flock, they are very sweet friendly geese) and does still have millies available of different ages.
She is working a LOT of hours and hasn't made the forum much recently, downsizing her flock so she can manage them with her free time.
My new pekin drake has really adjusted well, and my oldest duck has attached herself to him like glue, what a flirt!
They are closer in age, he is about a year old, she is just over a year. My pekin are still laying so will be setting eggs next month.
Here is my plan for 2014 as promised:
BCM
LO
BA
OEGB
MILLIES
SLP/GLP/TP( POLISH)
SILKIES/SHOWGIRLS (DD'S PROJECT)
PEAFOWL
GUINEA
BOURBON RED TURKEYS
JC (QUAIL)
EMBEN, CHINESE, AFRICAN GEESE
PEKIN AND MUSCOVY DUCKS
YORKSHIRE PIGS
OBERHASLI MILK GOATS
JERSEY COWS
What did I learn for 2013?
I am sure I missed a lot, here is the major stuff.
I like birds, waterfowl, hooked on BYC.
I learned to incubate and hatch most of the birds I have.
Fermented Food makes a healthier happy bird and other livestock.
Fodder helps keep my livestock healthy and my birds love it too!
Guinea fowl have to be raised with the flock or will attack them, mostly the cocks.
Turkey is the same as guinea, hens will even be aggressive to other poultry.
Lighting, seasons and stress effect egg laying.
So much more. Grateful to have this forum, and our thread!

Jchny do you have BCM now? I have a small flock and also one nice splash girl so I expect both BCM and Blue this spring. And of course I have the silkies. You don't look too far from me.
Also, anyone interested in some porcelain d'uccles? I have six hens and a cock, all about a year old now. They are hatchery birds but still adorable. I just have too many pens right now.

 

[hogster160]

I don't go t worm till later this morning so thought I'd go out and get pictures of the new flock. I got a few of the Cochins, and then my batteries died in the camera! Such a pain lol and of course I can't find any new batteries.

So for now, here are some of the Cochin pair.

Man I would have had a very hard time turning those birds down, they are beautiful! I might just want to add some of those to my flock. If you decide to sell some eggs from them please let me know. Or chicks, I might be willing to drive and come get them lol. hmm I don't seem to be putting up much of a fight atm. And I don't even know if you will be hatching their eggs. But...this is you, and you hatch almost year round! Please let me know lol I am very interested!

 

[minmin1258]

Brad: referred a person from the WV feed to you. They trying to get into raising Silkies, bought a straight run (from what i understand) and ended up with all but 1 being Roos! If you get a weird msg from someone you've never heard of...it's my fault. Lol.