INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[browncow15]

You all make me wish I was living in Indiana!! I would sooo love to be involved in the work co-op. Helping and feeling needed is such a privilege! I could even help with some supplies... Lol lots of old barn wood around here, a little paint and you'd never know it's 20 yrs old. That's one thing I still haven't gotten used to around here - When old folks pass the majority of the time their homes are left sitting mt until they rot and fall down. Its so sad! All those memories and the history all falling down and going to pieces, seems like it means nothing to the younger generations.
Oh well off my rant now. Since I can't come help build and fix, I'll just go sew up some Aprons for our babies! I'll post pics later... Let me know if you are interested in buying one or a dozen... Lol. Later Gators!

Isn't it sad! I so wish one of our families had a house or barn to pass down

 

[racinchickins]

Iit was a 1/2" plywood door, new one is going to be 6"... but it is going to be allot stronger when DH gets back to being able to do things again. right now I forced a sheet metal square in the tracks. CHEW ON THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry still mad!!!!!

Glad to hear your dogie is doing better and is home, it's a mud bog around here too but will take that over SNOW any day, course still got some snow too cant wait till it all melts away and DON'T COME BACK!!!!

It's good you put the sheep metal there. Because if they found food there once, they WILL be back.

Brad your babies are always adorable! I wonder what my hatchlings will look like... 7 more days...WOOHOO!

My first batch goes in lockdown this Sunday. Cant wait!

thank you, I sure hope so! Everyone is recovering well, so its just my parents upcoming surgeries now.
I am sure ready to focus on babies, hatching and everyone's health to be stable!
I wish we could all get together on a coop fixit-upper idea. Its really hard to tackle a project alone. Everything I have put up here for the livestock/poultry was 90% me and some help from the DDs/Their SOs/DH. I am the only one that's retired, so I just work it all in as I can. Having support to make a project happen is always more fun!
If we had a group that helped each other, it would be so amazing and easy! My biggest challenge is extra hands to hold up, lifting in place, brainstorming...
When we raised the barn here, we had several friends, neighbors and family over. We had just moved here a few months prior, and it was so much fun meeting everyone. We offered all the food. Steaks, fish fry, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and lots of other goodies.. It was SOO much fun, and we have helped others locally since then.
I met some of the local people and made a lot of great friends that weekend too. I would certainly volunteer for a work co-op, I love helping out.

A group effort would be great! I am so with you on the challenge when you are by yourself! My DSO helps when i ask, but I hate to keep running to the house to say 'can you hold this in place?' all the time.

I agree about the bio security. That would be really important. I'm currently trying to learn what I can about the virucide called Virkon S because it specifically covers Mareks. If I end up buying it for sanitizing my stuff, I will have a lot left over in case anyone else wants to use it.

Another vote on bio security. When I had chickenfest at my place, I was soooo naive. I had chicken owners in my pens, holding my chickens, all over the place. I have now realized how lucky I was that there were no adverse consequences. I think a lot of us have kind of grown up as a group on here as far as understanding what could (and in some cases, did

) happen. But we need to find a process that will work for us getting together. It was SOOOO cool to be able to just sit and talk about our birds with everyone. And a work co-op would take that to the next level!!!

 

[chick rookie]

I'd go for a coop building party

DHs in construction and can build anything but I've given up asking for help because he wants to argue about the way I want things!!

Chick rookie- I'm so sorry about the coon attack! That burns me that your neighbors were feeding them!! It's as bad as the morons that feed bears and then don't understand why they attack people! Ugh!

yep that's City Slickers for ya. BTW I call City Slickers ... people that live in town ( of course ) that don't take the time to learn about country life or the animals they want to keep in town, or the wild life they want to feed. Just wanted to put that in there before some one takes offence, I know some people keep chickens and other Sm farm animals in town it they are allowed and I don't want to offend them.

Brad- I really like the splash and single black chickies as well as the moderns. They sure are cute right now!

Chick rookie- I'm so happy you posted what happened to your coop. It made me go out and check all around my coop again for vulnerabilities. I have two things I can work on that I didn't notice before, so thank you.

Janet- I'd love to help if I can coordinate with my family. I love building and I don't get a lot of opportunity to do it at home, My DH goes a little crazy watching me do hard/heavy work, so he does most of it for me. I was raised by a single mom that encouraged me to learn how to do everything for myself and it made me super independent. At first, I just thought he was being sexist thinking I couldn't do it well on my own, but over the years, I've really learned that its just him trying to be sweet

. Most of the time I have to sneak work in when he's not looking or out of town, lol. But, I'm really hoping that instinct kicks in when its time to till the gardens this year, because my tiller and all of our clay seriously kicked my butt last year

.

If it helps keep your critters from harm I'm glad my bad luck helped, just wish it had not have happened at all. but we all learn from our mistakes, and I seem to have made a bunch.

Its horrible to find that, I have fox prints circling my growout coop. I set snares and traps. The bottom of the doors are chewed! I beefed the doors up today, and my littles out there are shaken up. I also saw coon and CAT prints and am livid over it!

I hope things improve for you soon, you sure have had some hard knocks.

Yikes! Gas was $3.29 here last I went out. Will be taking mom to her dialysis tomorrow and I bet its went up here too.
I have the first external pip! hatching vibes for us both

Everything's moved into the sportsman, humidity is holding steady at 71%

thank you, I sure hope so! Everyone is recovering well, so its just my parents upcoming surgeries now.
I am sure ready to focus on babies, hatching and everyone's health to be stable!
I wish we could all get together on a coop fixit-upper idea. Its really hard to tackle a project alone. Everything I have put up here for the livestock/poultry was 90% me and some help from the DDs/Their SOs/DH. I am the only one that's retired, so I just work it all in as I can. Having support to make a project happen is always more fun!
If we had a group that helped each other, it would be so amazing and easy! My biggest challenge is extra hands to hold up, lifting in place, brainstorming...
When we raised the barn here, we had several friends, neighbors and family over. We had just moved here a few months prior, and it was so much fun meeting everyone. We offered all the food. Steaks, fish fry, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and lots of other goodies.. It was SOO much fun, and we have helped others locally since then.
I met some of the local people and made a lot of great friends that weekend too. I would certainly volunteer for a work co-op, I love helping out.

the games are so glossy and gorgeous! Love all your babies tho, they always look so alert!

I remember the times neighbors used to help each other out. even when I was a kid I can remember my grandfather and grandmother ( they raised me ) going to a neighbor's house at different times for different reasons and grandpa would help outside and grandma would help inside, I even got to help sometimes. and as an adult I have helped people with different things as well ( probably grandparents influence ) most people now days are afraid of being sued or accused of this that or the other to do anything for anyone. If the world believed in " The neighborly thing to do " the world would be better for it.

I love your birds Brad. they are so cute!!!!

I hope your parents upcoming surgeries go well and they have a speedy recovery.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: If it makes you feel better, my family all wore clothes and shoes that had not been in our chicken area since they were laundered . We brought 2 of our chickens but other than those, we took what I think is reasonable bio measures.

 

[racinchickins]

If it makes you feel better, my family all wore clothes and shoes that had not been in our chicken area since they were laundered . We brought 2 of our chickens but other than those, we took what I think is reasonable bio measures.

That is great to hear. Though I'm sure others were not as diligent and definitely not as knowledgeable. I now have a set of shoes and clothes I wear to others places and make sure they are laundered in between trips. It's kind of heartbreaking that the people we would most like to meet up with can be the most dangerous to our birds.

 

[chick rookie]

Well I went out and put a tarp over my coop roof and made sure it stuck out in the back and front and on both sides just enough to let the water drain off and not in!!! I know that don't help the mold problem,but best I can do till I get more lumber, then I will try and replace the bad wood, I don't think it will be too hard, at least I hope not anyway. As far as fixing the roof so it don't happen again... will have to wait on DH to get well before that happens. Will just keep the tarp up till then.
Dh is feeling helpless and I told him that it will all be there for him to fix ( plus my mess ups lol ) when he gets back on his feet again. don't think that helped, Think he is slipping into a depression, He believes I shouldn't HAVE to do all the stuff I have been doing, that it is his JOB and he has let me down. Hope he heals fast.

RK chicks I got the other day that were injured: Lost one and one is not healing and I caught the 2 that have healed picking at the one that hasn't. So I come up with a way to keep her away from the others until she heals, I don't like it but have no ideal how else to do it.

she don't have a whole lot of room but she has water feed and heat and DH put some pep holes so she can see the other chicks. and you cant tell from the pick but it is a 1x2 area in the big cage brooder.

and I had to make a feeder and a water cause I now have 3 brooders going. They are made out of coffee cans, you just have to make sure they are shaved down smooth so you don't have any injuries.


top one is water the 2nd is feed. they work great, keeping the shavings out while letting the chicks in...

I know this is long but just have to show ya what silly thing they did this morning... lol


trying to dust in her grit ... lol


dusting in the pine... lol

got a question I have some climbing wood for snakes, it has never been used, would it be ok to put in with the youngest for them to play on? They climb on everything they can find and jump around like jumping beans...lol

 

[CRSelvey]

ChickRookie, I love the coffee can idea! That's making good use of what you have. My first instinct is to go buy something and I'm really trying to work on that. The other day my friend gave me some essential oil that is wonderful. I asked her if she was using an atomizer for it in her car and she says "um, sort of, its just a cotton ball in my heater vent." I have a lot to unlearn.

I really appreciate all of you guys. The misfortunes have been awful, but the successes are increased by us sharing and doing better next time. I've learned so much from reading your stories. So, thank you all for that.

 

[chick rookie]

Mr. Miyagi was the teacher in the original Karate Kid. He'd clap his hands, rub them together, and put them on the injury to heal it. If you get interested in a clip, you tube has one called Daniel wants balance. It sounds like you helping your chickens legs feel better. It was smart thinking.
I completely understand. I'd be mad too. Is your pop door inside a locked run? From your previous pics it seemed like it would take work to get to the door.

I don't know how I missed this sorry.
yes my coop is inside a locked run with a 7 ft high fence all around it, but no top... one of the things we want to change this year. but the run is 50ft long x 12ft wide. LOT OF COVERAGE = LOT OF MONEY !!!

 

[ChickCrazed]

I don't know how I missed this sorry.
yes my coop is inside a locked run with a 7 ft high fence all around it, but no top... one of the things we want to change this year. but the run is 50ft long x 12ft wide. LOT OF COVERAGE = LOT OF MONEY !!!

You don't have to cover it all though, you can create a smaller secure run and open the door to a larger uncovered run when you are home. That is what I do. I have them secure when I can't be there to watch them or when I am on vacation. I'm sure something really tenacious could get into the run, but then there is the steel pop door to get through and I can't see anything getting through both in one night. I also splurged and got an automatic door for the coop - best money spent EVER! I've only ever had a chicken get closed out once, one of the fool cochin boys randomly got locked out once, but I heard him out there when I went out to feed the horses. It hadn't happened before and hasn't happened since. They are usually "in bed" about 45 minutes before the door senses dark and closes.

 

[CRSelvey]

You don't have to cover it all though, you can create a smaller secure run and open the door to a larger uncovered run when you are home. That is what I do. I have them secure when I can't be there to watch them or when I am on vacation. I'm sure something really tenacious could get into the run, but then there is the steel pop door to get through and I can't see anything getting through both in one night. I also splurged and got an automatic door for the coop - best money spent EVER! I've only ever had a chicken get closed out once, one of the fool cochin boys randomly got locked out once, but I heard him out there when I went out to feed the horses. It hadn't happened before and hasn't happened since. They are usually "in bed" about 45 minutes before the door senses dark and closes.

That's pretty much what we have too, but I wish we had the steel door. I'll have to look into that. LOVE the automatic door. It would save so many "did you close the chicken door" moments or trying to get them back in if we won't be home in time. Do you know what brand you have? Is it solar powered or electric?