INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kabhyper1]

If your chickens end up being like ours you won't need to build a roost. Ours ignore the roost and perch on the top of all the stall walls instead!

We have mostly metal dividers though, so I think it would be cold lol. Are you going to use supplemental heat for them in there next week? Or do you think they will be warm enough in the negative temps in there?

 

[FarkerFarms]

Farker Farms ~ LOVE your Cochins! As far as keeping your flock warm, how far is your coop from an outlet? I looked at your coop on your profile and it looks like a nice building with windows! You said you didn't think it has enough ventilation-- do you crack a window for ventilation or do you have vents? Could insulation be added to keep it warmer? As far as a heated water bowl, have you just been replacing their water when it freezes?

Thanks! I am really smitten with the Cochins and have only had them a couple of months. I guess I am glad I am out of room or I would be searching for a splash or a lemon blue Cochin to add to the flock (or both!). As far as my coop, It is a nice building and huge, so my hope was that there was plenty of space for the moisture to rise up. I added a couple of vents but they are only very slightly above chicken roost level. I was doing it by myself so I couldn't get very high. I have not cracked a window, do you think it would help? The windows are also at chicken roost level, but they roost in the back where there are no windows so drafts wouldn't touch them. I have had a heated dog bowl outside, but they won't exit the coop in this weather so I have been bringing water buckets into the coop for them and breaking the ice a couple times a day. I have a cord running into the run for the dog bowl and can bring that into the coop - I just hate to add any more moisture. With such a severe drop in temp I feel like I should, though. If they won't leave the coop on severe days I'm sure they won't for that 3 day below zero streak we have coming. I guess it is a darned if you do, darned if you don't situation. No matter what you do there are draw backs! I would also hate to bring them in or add severe heat because then it will be a shock when it gets taken away.

 

[minmin1258]

[COLOR=800080]pipd ~[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Good to[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]see[/COLOR][COLOR=333333] [/COLOR][COLOR=8B4513]you back![/COLOR][COLOR=333333] [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513] LOL  Seriously, it is, but where's the photos of Rangi et al?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]pipd posted:  M2H seems to have learned from me in regards to extension cord safety.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=800080]pipd ~[/COLOR][COLOR=8B4513]I'm not sure how to say this, and I sincerely mean no disrespect, but I learned about extension cord safety years ago before you were born.   My point was that any electrical device has the potential to cause a fire, so proper precautions should be used. That's why manufacturers put tags and warning stickers on devices and provide a manual. There is no "one size fits all" approach to raising poultry; avian veterinarians and other professional experts disagree on many issues. Regarding taking care of chickens during the cold weather, it's good to have your input and we welcome posts from others as well. Different opinions are interesting and thought-provoking.  [/COLOR]
[rule]Originally Posted by jchny2000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

M2H are you thinking bantam, or large frame cochin?
I am back and forth myself. DH wants LF and I love the bantams. Egg size is about the same!
He saw jsummers blue roo last summer and hounds me nonstop about that rooster!
I told him go talk to Jess! So I promised they are the next breed to add.

[COLOR=800000]jchny~[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Either one. If bantams lay close to the same size then I'd rather have bantams. I've always like large animals-- large cats, dogs, -- and my Jersey Giant! But, we fell in love with our little bantam Bonbon. And, like I mentioned before, bantams have little poop! lol  I like blue-gray, lavender-gray, blue-black splash colors. So is jsummers breeding them? I put in an order with bradselig at one time for two guaranteed female chicks in those colors with one frizzle[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513], but he ignored me. I guess he's into the modern birds now.  [/COLOR] 

I have your order down! But now you're going wishy washy on me! Lol jk. I do plan to purchase quite so few eggs here soon, both in LF and bantam. I'm trying not to have any eggs shipped right now (although hard yo do as I already hit Sally up for some eggs!). But are you sticking with Cochins? Or are you going to change your mind again

Brad...do you still have my order down for a pair of Silkies (1cockerel and 1 pullet)? I've thinned out my flock this week. So I will have room for the babies. I plan in enlarging my coop in the spring also. The birds don't need to b show quality I plan on just having them as pets and for eggs. Thank you Cindy

 

[minmin1258]

[COLOR=800080]minmin[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ I've been meaning to check back in with you to see if your phone is working with byc.com. Having to use desktop mode instead of mobile mode on a mobile phone is a mess![/COLOR]

M2H I can't seem to get back to the mobile mode. It isn't am option on anything I've checked this far. On the main screen, the page stops after the sponsor block there is nothing further down. So I am stuck again and can't get back into my comfort zone. Lol guess I'm going t have t get my laptop repaired so I can get on line with it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SallyinIndiana
For my purposes in finding a sitter willing to come to my house:
Ina May would be a familiar name and not in a bad light.
Homesteading and farming would not be things of the past but normal healthy choices.
Animals including chickens and chicks would not be only thought of as stink makers needing to be cleared off of the property.
A running chicken would not be a cause to take cover as in an alien attack.
Clutter would not be a reason to freak out and start trying to get the house in perfect selling order.

Of course I would have other requirements too, like good with toddlers, not scared of cotton diapers, ....

But my three biggest issues right now with finding someone willing to come here is the chicks downstairs/ the chickens outside, chicken related clutter, and the cotton diapers.

Okay. I have one more question. Are they required to like and/or wear patchouli?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Leah's Mom ~ Those Woody Woodpecker coiffures are so cute on your young Swedish Flower Hen/Black Australorp mixes, but how did they end up with them if neither SFHs nor BAs normally have little crests? Or do they "grow out of that stage" as they mature?



SFH come in both crested and non-crested. The papa is crested so the little mixes got the gene from papa.

These next 2 photos are the bio mom and bio dad. Both crested.


Took this head shot to show the beginning of frostbite. (Not on subject, but my approach to frostbite is hands-off.) You can see his crest clearly in this photo.




It's not great to have a crest to crest mating as they produce larger crests and the possibility of vaulted skull. I actually thought I was getting an egg from one of the non-crested girls but, surprise! It was Miss Gray's egg instead!

Anyhow...the gray SFH kiddo has a larger crest than her mamma but not a vaulted skull.

I actually prefer non-crested but there are plenty of people that like the crests.

 

[Ardizzone7]

[COLOR=8B4513]Our chickens go under our deck a lot, so I can relate to that scenario. Is there anyone to help you if you used a broomstick or something to direct him out and then someone could grab him? Not sure how far your deck goes back. Is there anything like warm scrambled eggs that could lure him out? If there's no way, I'd just make sure there's straw or bedding and food. If you don't have a heated bowl that will work there, you'll have to put a bucket of water out and check it from time to time as it freezes.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]We had a little snow last night, but the wind is blowing here, too. I noticed my orps by the sliding glass door and I figured they were out since they have such thick feathers. Then I noticed my chocolate bantam burying her face into my Jubilee's chest. It then occurred to me that they were probably kicked out of the coop by my EE who wants to protect herself from falling to the bottom of the pecking order as she had been before I got the orps. So I scooped them up and put them in the coop with the others and put several plates of chopped up spinach/lettuces, grapes, hard-boiled eggs, and sunflower kernels. I normally keep the door propped open with a large geode, but considering the howling wind, I shut the coop door. I'll check on them occasionally to see if anyone has cabin fever and needs to get out.[/COLOR]

I was just finally able to get him in. He was finally under the steps. I don't know if he is near death or if he is in sleep mode but he is inside now warming up. Thank goodness!

 

[Ardizzone7]

[COLOR=8B4513]I didn't post the info below last night during the frostbite discussion because I was using a different computer since my Time Machine was doing a total back-up of my iMac-- 98,445 items -- 156 gigabytes! (mostly chicken photos -lol) Note to pipd~ Hope Santa brought you an external hard drive. [/COLOR] [COLOR=800000]Ardizzone and Farker Farms,[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Here is info I posted recently about[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Frostbite, which mentions not massaging ointment into combs, waddles, but applying it as a barrier.[/COLOR] Recipe for Aspirin Solution mentioned above: [COLOR=8B4513]Farker Farms ~ LOVE your Cochins! As far as keeping your flock warm, how far is your coop from an outlet? I looked at your coop on your profile and it looks like a nice building with windows! You said you didn't think it has enough ventilation-- do you crack a window for ventilation or do you have vents? Could insulation be added to keep it warmer? As far as a heated water bowl, have you just been replacing their water when it freezes? [/COLOR]

Thanks!!!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sooooo.... I have my broody hen out in the barn. She is by herself and it is supposed to drop down wicked cold over the next few days. Her chicks are due to hatch next weekend. Should I bring her in the house? My chickens have done fine thus far with the cold weather.Any of you had a broody in this kind of weather before?

My broody hatched on New Year's eve weekend last year. In the unheated coop. Raised the kiddos in the unheated coop. They all did well.

Mamma just would let them get under her more often as needed and they let her know. Even if they were out for some food, they'd start to let her know and she'd just drop where they were and let them warm up.

The wknd they hatched it was in the teens.

Now if mamma abandons them and doesn't take care of them that's another issue. You'll want to watch them the first few days to be sure she's taking care of them. But if she's doing her job, they'll be fine.

 

[kabhyper1]

Its horrible outside, but the silkies are nice and warm inside with us. Only four left outside to come in when it gets really cold out.
Getting big!

Hi!

Miss Bell (she has leakage, but she is still pretty to me.)

Gracie, now Grayson I think

Photo bombing Lumi

Gray(son,cie)

Henley

Henley
Momas on broody break eating dinner and dropping terrible broody bombs