INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[racinchickins]

racinchickins ~ I would freak out if a hawk swooped down like that! What kind was it? I've read that red-tailed hawks mate for life and stay in the same territory. Your white chicken needs a camouflage apron.

It all happened so quickly, I didn't have a chance to react. It was also just getting dark enough that I couldn't get a good look a the hawk. It wasn't huge, so I don't think it was the big red tail that has been hanging around. He's very impressive. This one was small enough that getting ahold of a full size American Bresse Rooster might have been more than he bargained for. But I think they are starting to get more aggressive because prey is less available now.

I took a hint from Too Fast's playbook. Build Fort Knox. The new pens are welded wire fence all the way around and overhead also. Once they are all fenced in (last one will be done tomorrow!) I'll work on covering the bottom sections with hardware cloth to keep out the coons and weasels. I'm also burying some fencing to keep out the diggers also. I'll have 5 separate pens. Turkeys, Bresse, Legbars, Polish/cornish and Laying flock for now. I decided to separate the polish and cornish from the others at the last minute because they are picked on so much. My polish too, Penelope (looong story) will be so happy. He won't have Osiris, my Fayoumi roo, ambushing him every time he turns around. I'll also have Merlin and his girls (the Crested Creme Legbars) all separated in their own breeding group. Can't wait to start collecting eggs from there!

 

[kabhyper1]

kabhyper ~ To Review~ Are the two broody silkies part of the original silkies that you had? How many did you originally have? Are all of your other young silkies ones that Lavender hatched?
Are the two broodies going to hatch 2 silkie eggs each or something else? Don't mean to be nosey-- I'm just curious.

Yes Ashes and Snow are two of my adult girls I have had since summer. I have 5 adult girls and Booker in the coop. Snow hatched 9 of the 11 chicks that hatched in October. Lavender hatched two of them. Snow has 3 eggs and Ashes has 2. One of the ones under snow was from today, the other ones under her and ashes came from the fridge from the last few days. I don't think they will hatch, but its a test to see if Ashes will stay broody or not. I will add eggs that I find tomorrow under them just to make sure they each hatch at least 2 chicks. I don't mind telling the details.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Yes, they will be English Orps, but it won't be from a controlled breeding. So it would be a genetic grab bag. Not the best if you wanted to breed, but just fine for layers/ pets. Also, I was being nice on the price because I know you would take care of them.

They will be lovely fluffy butts. She is setting 10 eggs right now. If you wanted chicks that are several weeks old then it would be more expensive.

I ask more for older chicks too. After all they have eaten more food and used more pine chips. We use the RK or TSC pine chips for little chicks. Our free tree trimming pine chips are only for chicks close to 8 weeks or older.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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Oh my, I don't know how many! I have birds coming and going all the time.Rough estimate on the chickens only, around 75. LF and some bantam. Winter months the feed bill will go up, no free ranging food, or very little. They need more protein to keep warm. I do still ferment, and offer scratch as a late evening snack right before dark. My total feed bill here for all the animals? I am guessing $60 a week but it varies. Thats pigs, cow, goats and all the birds. It will drop a bit in 2 weeks when the quail (50) are old enough to leave for freezer camp! Lil buggers can EAT! Keeping 10 as breeding stock.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

First Installment of Poultry Playing Piano!!!!!!!!

(My screen name on youtube is jexpound -- j for julie and the word expound)
My daughter Lauren had a good idea-- she sprinkled freeze dried mealworms in the piano keys. However, she turned her phone while filming, so you have to twist your head to watch half of it.

Next, we'll have to work on a tune.

(In the background is the converted rabbit cage that I bought on CL last summer as a quarantine cage).
House Kat ~ Thank you for the compliment re Adeline (as though I had anything to do with her looks--haha).
What happened to the sunny day we're supposed to have today?!

looks like you need a few more pianos!!!!!! LOVED IT

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yours always looks soo good!
I did get 1 good one will post shortly

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Yes, they will be English Orps, but it won't be from a controlled breeding. So it would be a genetic grab bag. Not the best if you wanted to breed, but just fine for layers/ pets. Also, I was being nice on the price because I know you would take care of them.

They will be lovely fluffy butts. She is setting 10 eggs right now. If you wanted chicks that are several weeks old then it would be more expensive.

Exciting! Sending good broody vibes!!

Well the hawks are certainly still around. In the last couple of days we've had a few close flyovers of the laying flock out in the field. Then just a few minutes ago at dusk, I had one try to come and take one of my White American Bresse. I was standing right by the run. At the last second it either saw me or realized the Bresse was in a fenced in enclosure and aborted the attack.

I'm glad I'll have the final two pens in the barn done tomorrow and get the laying flock in there. I just need to finish the fencing, and everyone will be in a pen in the barn with a totally enclosed run going outside. Looks like no free ranging for the chickens for a while. I think I can still let the turkeys wander when I'm home. I haven't seen a hawk big enough to take one of them on. And haven't seen the eagle around this year either.

Only thing that's touched my turkeys is a raccoon. And its when they were younger (BBW) poults, one escaped and took off to the trees..
Sadly found it the next morning, obvious signs of raccoon attack. I am guessing coyote would given the chance also.

I have seen bald eagles at Broookville lake during the summer, breathtaking, beautiful birds!
I couldn't stop watching, and even lost a few fish, just set my pole down lol.

The piano is cute!

Well, I couldn't break them. They are stubborn little fuzz butts. So they each got a couple of eggs. I'm a push over. I moved the nesting boxes closer to where the others pile up so they wouldn't get too cold. The built in boxes are on the other end of the coop.

what good girls!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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Exciting! I hope we can start breeding pens soon too. Some breeds are less aggressive for sure. My polish are just sweethearts, same for the silkies.
Come on spring!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

group shot of my babies...

first halfway good pic!
the biggest in the middle is from brad, the black left, splash right and partridge upper right is from kab.
growing way too fast! they are just precious, and the black chick is fearless.
Same goes for the partridge from brad, hops right into your hands, climbs up, just so sweet.
Have a lot to learn yet, the towel is a faded mint green color.

 

[bradselig]

group shot of my babies... first halfway good pic! the biggest in the middle is from brad, the black left, splash right and partridge upper right is from kab. growing way too fast! they are just precious, and the black chick is fearless. Same goes for the partridge from brad, hops right into your hands, climbs up, just so sweet. Have a lot to learn yet, the towel is a faded mint green color.

Oh my! Great picture. I'm loving that partridge from kabhyper! I think I may have to buy some eggs from her now!

 

[kabhyper1]

group shot of my babies...

first halfway good pic!
the biggest in the middle is from brad, the black left, splash right and partridge upper right is from kab.
growing way too fast! they are just precious, and the black chick is fearless.
Same goes for the partridge from brad, hops right into your hands, climbs up, just so sweet.
Have a lot to learn yet, the towel is a faded mint green color.

Aww they are getting big! Their mommas are at it again lol!

Oh my! Great picture. I'm loving that partridge from kabhyper! I think I may have to buy some eggs from her now!

Anytime Brad, well when they pick back up laying again, I can' guarantee partridge until I have breeding pens, but I can offer a box of chocolates..