INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Update on all my critter stuff....
Rooster count in the egg coop is down to 9. There are 6 more that will go in february.
Ribeye AKA Baby Mooo is officially weaned!
We took away the bottle last week. I still go out and love on him 3x a day, just no bottles now!
He is still nudging a little but Is on full hay and feed, getting so big.
I am really enjoying having him, like an oversized goat, so playful.
He loves neck and ear scratches, then he will go bouncing around like a lil goat, so happy he is strong and healthy now.
I have to get steel toed shoes SOON, he is getting too heavy on my feet! Too old to be "moonwalking"

Really have to watch where I stand around him, he is almost my height. I have seen him kick at a rooster already.
He does not like anything behind him and will kick.

My goats are looking great, have decided to go ahead and breed Sugar now, and either wait for Sophie or breed her in the fall.
I don't want to rush Sophie, born late July and really don't want to have kidding in the winter.. decisions..
Sugar is really pining over Bo, so its time. June birthing will be fantastic if it takes.

Geese are grouping and nesting... hens are very indignant when I add hay to the coop, and think it is personally theirs!
Had a few goose squabbles over nests today. My oldest girls will not share with the noobies! The 2 chinese hens nest together.
The young chinese hen is curious..My African and Embden are not nesting yet.

Am anxiously waiting for signs that my BR turkeys will start to be active. None of my hens are laying yet, but this is their 1st year here.
My oldest hen will be 2 this year, and came with my tom, who is the same age. He is strutting a lot, she just pecks him

Ah well, soon I hope. Tom is very attentive to her, and I haven't introduced the other girls yet.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi we're in Wilkinson We started raising poultry last year when my granddaughter started showing in 4H. We have Yard Birds, mixed breed we raise for eggs are raising D'Anvers for show. We have Self Blue, Quail and Splash. Just started breeding this weekend.

and so glad you have found our thread

I have a few yard birds.. several.. and concentrate on my lavender orps and australorps.
You are not too far from me, good to meet a neighbor.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Hi we're in Wilkinson We started raising poultry last year when my granddaughter started showing in 4H. We have Yard Birds, mixed breed we raise for eggs are raising D'Anvers for show. We have Self Blue, Quail and Splash. Just started breeding this weekend.

cklewis ~ Welcome to the Indiana Thread! Please look on page 1895 post 18943 about Indiana Thread information.
That's great that you're supporting your granddaughter's interest! If you just started with chickens last year, you sound quite accomplished already.

kabhyper ~ What's the news on your hatch? I think your silkies must be part-fluffy bunnies considering how they multiply.

jchny ~ You always have fun things to look forward to at your place with all of your animals and poultry!

Plans for a baby goat for spring ~ new hatches ~ new plans. How's your lone baby chick with a rubber ducky mother?

Bird Communication
Today I was out in the back with my six hens. I thought I saw a couple of snowflakes. Then then hens all stood at attention and made that trilling sound that they do to "Beware." I looked to see if a hawk flew by and looked around for any animals. Didn't see anything, Then, a bird that was very high in a tree (I wish I could tell what kind it was) made a two syllable call --and then hens trilled in unison. The bird called again, and the hens made the same trilling sounds. The bird and the hens repeated the chant around 5-6 times! Their calls were perfectly timed and seemed very purposeful. The hens ran up the hill since snow was falling by then and they detest snow. All I could figure was that the bird announced that snow was starting to fall and the hens helped spread the word. Does anyone know? I wish I knew more about their calls and communication.

 

[pginsber]

Update on all my critter stuff....
Rooster count in the egg coop is down to 9. There are 6 more that will go in february.
Ribeye AKA Baby Mooo is officially weaned!
We took away the bottle last week. I still go out and love on him 3x a day, just no bottles now!
He is still nudging a little but Is on full hay and feed, getting so big.
I am really enjoying having him, like an oversized goat, so playful.
He loves neck and ear scratches, then he will go bouncing around like a lil goat, so happy he is strong and healthy now.
I have to get steel toed shoes SOON, he is getting too heavy on my feet! Too old to be "moonwalking"
Really have to watch where I stand around him, he is almost my height. I have seen him kick at a rooster already.
He does not like anything behind him and will kick.

My goats are looking great, have decided to go ahead and breed Sugar now, and either wait for Sophie or breed her in the fall.
I don't want to rush Sophie, born late July and really don't want to have kidding in the winter.. decisions..
Sugar is really pining over Bo, so its time. June birthing will be fantastic if it takes.

Geese are grouping and nesting... hens are very indignant when I add hay to the coop, and think it is personally theirs!
Had a few goose squabbles over nests today. My oldest girls will not share with the noobies! The 2 chinese hens nest together.
The young chinese hen is curious..My African and Embden are not nesting yet.

Am anxiously waiting for signs that my BR turkeys will start to be active. None of my hens are laying yet, but this is their 1st year here.
My oldest hen will be 2 this year, and came with my tom, who is the same age. He is strutting a lot, she just pecks him
Ah well, soon I hope. Tom is very attentive to her, and I haven't introduced the other girls yet.

Jcny2000 Great updates! How big is your property? I'm guessing not 3/4 of an acre in the burbs?
All your critter updates put me in the spring mindset. When I'm shoveling the snow in the driveway today, I'll be thinking of the seeds I want to start in February!
Ribeye sounds like he's becoming a proper teenager. Updated pics?

 

[pginsber]

[COLOR=6699CC]Bird Communication[/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Today I was out in the back with my six hens. I thought I saw a couple of snowflakes. Then then hens all stood at attention and made that trilling sound that they do to "Beware." I looked to see if a hawk flew by and looked around for any animals. Didn't see anything, Then, a bird that was very high in a tree (I wish I could tell what kind it was) made a two syllable call --and then hens trilled in unison. The bird called again, and the hens made the same trilling sounds. The bird and the hens repeated the chant around 5-6 times! Their calls were perfectly timed and seemed very purposeful. The hens ran up the hill since snow was falling by then and they detest snow. All I could figure was that the bird announced that snow was starting to fall and the hens helped spread the word.[/COLOR] [COLOR=6699CC]Does anyone know?[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I wish I knew more about their calls and communication.[/COLOR]

M2H I find bird communication interesting, too. That's a cool observation you had about the chicken trilling and looking into the sky. Thanks for your description, it was just like being there!
The Blue Jays high in our trees announce (or warn off) hawks. The Robin also makes a terrible shrill warning call for hawks. When I hear these calls, I always know there's trouble afoot--even if it's beyond my lousy human eyes to see.

 

[kabhyper1]

Update on all my critter stuff....
Rooster count in the egg coop is down to 9. There are 6 more that will go in february.
Ribeye AKA Baby Mooo is officially weaned!
We took away the bottle last week. I still go out and love on him 3x a day, just no bottles now!
He is still nudging a little but Is on full hay and feed, getting so big.
I am really enjoying having him, like an oversized goat, so playful.
He loves neck and ear scratches, then he will go bouncing around like a lil goat, so happy he is strong and healthy now.
I have to get steel toed shoes SOON, he is getting too heavy on my feet! Too old to be "moonwalking"

Really have to watch where I stand around him, he is almost my height. I have seen him kick at a rooster already.
He does not like anything behind him and will kick.

My goats are looking great, have decided to go ahead and breed Sugar now, and either wait for Sophie or breed her in the fall.
I don't want to rush Sophie, born late July and really don't want to have kidding in the winter.. decisions..
Sugar is really pining over Bo, so its time. June birthing will be fantastic if it takes.

Geese are grouping and nesting... hens are very indignant when I add hay to the coop, and think it is personally theirs!
Had a few goose squabbles over nests today. My oldest girls will not share with the noobies! The 2 chinese hens nest together.
The young chinese hen is curious..My African and Embden are not nesting yet.

Am anxiously waiting for signs that my BR turkeys will start to be active. None of my hens are laying yet, but this is their 1st year here.
My oldest hen will be 2 this year, and came with my tom, who is the same age. He is strutting a lot, she just pecks him

Ah well, soon I hope. Tom is very attentive to her, and I haven't introduced the other girls yet.

Sounds busy over there! How are the silkie and showgirl chicks doing?

 

[kabhyper1]

Morning update from the nursery....
We still just have the 4 babies. There are two more eggs to go yet. The babies are all yellow with some brown, so I am guessing they will be white. Blue dad white moms, all white babies. Go figure. Two of them don't have their land legs yet and look like little bumble bees flapping around. Hopefully they will get the idea today or tomorrow.
Will update later in the day.

On another note, Blueberry the big cochin roo (or Burble Butt as I like to call him) is trying to figure out the ways of the rooster finally I think. He challenged Gus this morning when Gus mounted BB's favorite EE hen. No fight, since he reconsidered his actions pretty quickly. HInd sight 20/20 and all. He ran away as quickly as he jumped on Gus. Here is hoping he will start making blue cochin babies for us soon! Just have to get Lavender to cut the cord on her giant babies. Cricket is as big as his dad (Gus) at just under 4 months. He is going to be huge. At least the kids aren't trying to get under Lavender anymore. That would be funny to see though.

 

[Indiana Chicka]

I forgot some of my chickens in my post. We have a trio of golden polish pullets and a pair of amerucana hens.

 

[Indiana Chicka]

Will you please add us to the me member site.
We are in Hancock County

 

[CRSelvey]

[COLOR=008000]CRSelvey[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ I am impressed! I clicked on the photo to see that your set up looks perfect. When I had read about slings when I thought about using one for Violet, the examples looked like this one: (not my chicken). I was afraid of doing more harm than good. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I just ran across this photo below. I'll probably be walking around like that all the time, just for fun! lol [/COLOR]

I wish I hadn't seen that photo. My baby sling is still around the house. Now I might need to carry her around!!

ya that would be me too. But hard telling what may be in the sling for the day

Since it's going to be so cold that the chickens won't go outside, guess they'll get their fodder inside the coop next week. Our staggered crop is coming in well this winter.

This pic was inspiring. I spent some time this morning doing some research on this site and found a guy doing this in his washroom sink using stackable bins. His system looked pretty easy. Can't wait for spring so I can start outside.

http://greenfirefarms.com/store/category/chickens/barnevelders/ OH...my Never looked at them close until now~

Oh man, why did you have to post this? I'm just kidding. The pics are lovely but did you see the prices??? Wow. It makes me wonder how amazing their birds must be. I did read on their site that many of the Appenzeller Spitzhauben birds in the US have a suppressed immune system due to lack of new blood so they are working on that. I'm not sure about mine but it might explain what's wrong with my roo. It's really unfortunate either way because they are beautiful and sweet. (