INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Hoping you find her.

I'm pooped! I spent the entire day dealing with water. Once the rain hit this morning I realized that one of our downspouts was draining towards a window well instead of towards the yard due to snow & ice blockage -- it was a 5 inch wide waterfall pouring in. After a couple of failed attempts trying various things I finally found a 20 foot long piece of black tubing to go over the downspout opening. Solved the window well problem, but then had to dig a trench about a foot deep and wide through the slush and snow waaaayyyy too far towards the pond so all the melted stuff & rain could drain. There was water flowing all day and evening long through there. We still have some spots with snow over a foot deep and the bottom half was all water. Thank goodness my boots were waterproof! After that was done I came in to dry off, since all that was done in the rain & lightening. A couple hours later I trenched some more then realized I had to tackle the barn. The drifted snow piled along the side of our barn with the sliding barn door also had water built up underneath the snow. I tried a number of different things & my son did too when he got home to trench it out, but no luck. Consequently I spent the entire afternoon and evening with help from the family using the shop vac to suck up all the water that came in under the sliding door. The northwest corner also had a bunch of water leaking in. I just have a small shop vac and almost couldn't keep up. We emptied that thing countless times. My husband came in from the barn around 11:30 and said it was letting up, but I'm wondering if he just said that because he was tired of dealing with it. We'll see if there's an ice skating rink in there in the morning. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was wanting all that water to freeze back up ASAP and the rain to change back to snow!

UGH Its been awful, and some of its solid ice under the slush yet. DH is running the tractor with the grader blade to scrape the slush so the ice melts down faster.
Driveway & our yard is a big puddle, just awful! Creek is over its banks too. Geese and ducks think they are in heaven tho

The chickens etc are flying to avoid the slush, and I keep getting piggy back riders while I am out doing chores

Glad I don't startle easy!
My favorite scovy hen, Huey has decided my shoulder is her perch, and she is not sharing!
One of my little lavender guinea hens usually sits on my other shoulder. Really LOUD when they all start screeching!
Will be putting wood chips down once the water level drops in all the pens.
Looks like another cold snap next week, at least we didn't get the rain like some did!

Quote: Its really varies. Winter is much less of an issue than summer. I have had 2 actually explode, but we were gone on a long weekend both times.

I smell the incubators, no kidding, every day. DD didn't notice the odor til they "blew" and it was a horrible clean up job!

I’m trying to catch up with the thread! I had to make a 24 hour trip to Indy on Tues./Wed. for a medical treatment. Not a big deal, but there’s only one doc in Indiana who does treatments. I was diagnosed 11 years ago with a neurological voice disorder called Spasmodic Dysphonia. Researchers don’t know the cause, but at least it doesn’t typically get worse or is fatal. My brain tells my vocal cords to close when I talk, which makes talking sound like I’m being strangled since I have to force air through. My voice started getting hoarse and I attributed it to allergies. Then it started getting shaky like I was nervous and it was getting more difficult to get certain words out like I was out of breath. Luckily, I went to an ENT doc who hadn’t been out of med school very long, and she knew exactly what it was. (I’ve read about many people who were told they had anxiety, etc. and weren’t diagnosed for years-- you know how that happens to people). Thankfully, there is a treatment. I go to IU Hospital every three months where an ENT and a neurologist inject botox through my neck into my larynx on both sides. Then I have a normal voice until the botox starts wearing off. I’ve had ups and downs over the years since treatments aren’t an exact science. It’s tough when you can’t communicate! At times when my voice hasn’t been treated, I’m constantly asked by anyone and everyone if I’m sick or nervous (people are so dumb). When I go to IU Hospital, it reminds me how much worse off I could be when I see all types of terribly ill patients. Anyway, it’s “rare” (meaning not enough interest to support research). A few famous people have SD, which helps publicize it. Robert Kennedy, Jr., Diane Rehm from NPR, and Dilbert creator Scott Adams.

Anyway, I felt bad about not offering my services for the Chicken Train, but I had to make a quick trip because of my chicks at home. DH did a great job, though. I was afraid I’d return to mayhem since I’ve sectioned off part of the bedroom so the chicks can have their dog kennel door open all of the time. Today after I cleaned their cage, I put some small, live crickets in to entertain them. I shut the kennel door so I could clean the floor, and after they caught the crickets, they were lined up at the door like they were in prison saying “Let us out!!” They are so spoiled! It’s my fault, I know.

I’ve been putting newspaper down on the wood floors and then putting paper towels on top so they won’t slip. It stays nice and clean for about a minute! I’m thinking of getting yoga mats or something like that to use that can be washed off. Does anyone use something rubbery like that? The paper gets scooted over and then they poop on the wood floors. CrazedChick, wooden floors aren’t easy clean-up. I had to use a putty knife in some places. When they move from that room, I’m going to have to clean dirt from ceiling to floor since I’ve let them take dirt baths in a plastic box. A fine coating of dust gets everywhere!

Here's photo of my hens who all had to lay at the same time in the same box in the garage when they have two nesting boxes in their coop!
RIR my infamous floppy-combed Nene, BR Tweedy (wearing tweed) and SLW Lacey's in the front.

Are the treatments a "forever" situation? Hope they find better options if it is. I have heard that is a painful injection.
If you go with a mat type covering, be sure its non slip. I have seen large mats used for horses, they are for leg fatigue.
Think its sold by the foot at RK in one of the big rollers like what you see carpet or linoleum on.

Loved the girls all piled in the box!

Is there a way to stop filling up my email with BYC notifications? It fills up fast lol

I get tons too, but appreciate getting them. Some days I don't get to my pc til really late, like tonight!
If its an email thats important I can run in quick to check it out.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

good morning everyone how is everybody on this coldish windy day

Hi AL

M2H ~ about the yoga mats, I'm thinking a chicken would scratch holes in them, maybe not new chicks but any chick old enough to try a dust bath.
If it was me and if I wanted to keep chickens in an entire room:
I would try to save money and use a tipple layer of flattened thick cardboard boxes the ones people might choose to use for a brooder box for a week. Duck tape those together at the seams once you have them laid on the floor and up the walls about a foot or so. Then you could treat the entire room like a giant brooder box. Personally I would line the top of the cardboard with plastic then wood chips or sand of some sort. The plastic should not touch the hardwood floors though because it would trap moisture there, plastic is only about 99% water proof, and there is moisture in the air that could get trapped between the floor and liner as you put the liner down.

Our house addition/wing is on a slab, and if we have a sudden temp swing, some places will actually "sweat". We put hardwood flooring in the bedroom, but used several layers of poly before the other parts were laid on the floor. I use my porch/breezeway area as a "giant brooder" so to speak. They stay in cages, but when they get to exercise or out in the dog run there's always little gifts everywhere! I do a weekly bleach out and clean when I have birds in it. The floor is concrete in there also so its easy to squeegee out.
I have heard of an oxine (?) product mentioned that's safer for cleanup, want to learn more about it. When I operated the animal shelter, we used bleach in a garden sprayer.

Quote: Me too! I try to mark the eggs according to breed, unless its a single breed of bird and obvious.. I can usually tell you who laid what egg.
If I hand turn, like my goose eggs, I would mark X and O exactly opposite sides, and egg # on top and bottom. I won't have to hand turn any this year, yipppe!

Quote: Please, keep asking! No one on this thread minds, that's how we all learn!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Reposting from the NCK thread in case anyone is interested!


Quote: lynnEBC https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/28660#post_12873809

Thanks! I love how they look.

I bought dumor show poultry feed at tsc tonight for my silkies. It is medicated, i thought it might help for when they go outside when it warms up. Have any of you used this? My chickens are 4 weeks to 1 year old. It is 22 protein.

I haven't, the protein will be a nice boost for them, help them stay warm during the transition.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Today was a much better day around here. While uninterrupted sleep is still too much to hope for, the day was much improved. All three kids were back to school finally, the dog is healing, cat finished her medicine and weird rash is healed, AND, my chickens all went outside for the first time since snow came. It geeks like it's been forever! I only have 9 now but 8 at once were out getting muddy. Even though they were a bit messy, it was a joy to watch. I took pics of them doing nothing exciting and had a great time! I wish my cold would go away but that would just be greedy after all this wonderful sunshine and no tornados. Here is a pic from today:


Just ignore any of the mess that was covered in snow all winter. I'll pick it up as soon as it drys out out there. Also, we have to get a new riding lawn mower. We used to have a troybuilt but it just wasn't sturdy enough for our terrain. I had it at the shop all the time for one thing or another. Do you guys have any suggestions?

I don't know how much land you have, but we bought a new john deere 790 in 2007. Its classified as a "compact tractor". It has a side discharge mower, and live PTO. We have about 3 acres of field we mow with our bush hog attachment too, feed that to the goats, cow and pigs. We have several attachments, including a front end loader. I have had no issues with it, none..(knock on wood, hehe) Its been priceless. It was a big investment but there is few projects we need heavy equipment for now. We still plan for the backhoe, feed grinder and tiller attachments. No more worries over moving heavy objects, plowing snow and we even fill the kiddie pools out in the yard for the waterfowl with the bucket on the front, LOL. I hate dragging garden hoses everywhere!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My peafowl escaped on me when I was cleaning the growout pen and took a while to coax them in. I know I have to let them free range eventually.
Smaller ones went right in but of course, the big guy wasn't having it. The biggest is almost a wild bird, and has just never accepted handling at all.
I had to actually sneak up and net him to finally get him back in, it was almost dark!
He has become a biter when touched or handled, so I am getting concerned.
DH thinks I need to let him be and allow the free range. He does need more room than he has right now

He was raised with the chickens, turkeys and guinea so I know he won't be a problem.
Anyone that has peas, do yours free range?

 

[Mother2Hens]

I was going to go directly to Lilmizcareall's home then to Pick up th chicks n eggs then to SallyinIndiana's to pick up the ducklings. We hadn't really planned to meet as a group. So unless they say differently I guess that would be the plan.

minmin ~ When are you coming to Indiana? I thought you had talked about coming to Indiana to get silkies from bradselig. Anyway, it would be fun to meet you just to say hi. CRSelvey and I recently met at a gas station while waiting for bradselig to bring silkies to me after his stop at Little Ameraucana Mom's.

Hey ya'll! I am loving this warmth. The mud, not so much.

My EE, Einstein has a boyfriend! He has been coming over from the property next door, crossing the creek to come visit her. I believe he is a Marans. He is huge and has seen a few winters because I noticed his comb is not just one big nub.

He kind of growls at me when I come to close to either of them. I had a talk with him. Told him he'd have to be nice otherwise he's getting the boot!

At least E has company until the chicks get bigger!

amwchicken ~ One of these days, I'll write and illustrate the story of Einstein. She is an intriguing chicken! Try to take some pictures when her beau comes a calling. haha

 

[chick rookie]

Hi AL

Our house addition/wing is on a slab, and if we have a sudden temp swing, some places will actually "sweat". We put hardwood flooring in the bedroom, but used several layers of poly before the other parts were laid on the floor. I use my porch/breezeway area as a "giant brooder" so to speak. They stay in cages, but when they get to exercise or out in the dog run there's always little gifts everywhere! I do a weekly bleach out and clean when I have birds in it. The floor is concrete in there also so its easy to squeegee out.
I have heard of an oxine (?) product mentioned that's safer for cleanup, want to learn more about it. When I operated the animal shelter, we used bleach in a garden sprayer.
Me too! I try to mark the eggs according to breed, unless its a single breed of bird and obvious.. I can usually tell you who laid what egg.
If I hand turn, like my goose eggs, I would mark X and O exactly opposite sides, and egg # on top and bottom. I won't have to hand turn any this year, yipppe!

Please, keep asking! No one on this thread minds, that's how we all learn!

o don't worry I will ask... I'm always wanting to know whats whats, just some of the questions I ask make even me laugh at myself... lol

 

[raisinemright]

Ok so I got a bit of a probablem. I have a batch of 9 Maran eggs from Brad incubating. They are do to hatch on the 28'th. so far Candling has went great I see good growth in all the eggs. My only problem is I just received a new set of 14 half and half BPR & RIR eggs from Fred's hens. I was wanting to set them tonight "I got them Thursday" I use a automatic turner and I know the Marans need to be taken out of the turner to rest on day 18. And the humidity needs to increase to 60-70 percent. I only have one bator. So should I wait another week before setting the 14 new eggs? Or should I take enough trays out of the turner to make room for the Marans to rest on the floor? And would the high humidity hurt the new eggs in the first week? This is my first hatching and I do realize I didn't plan it to well!! Any advice would be appreciated very much! Yes I know Nubie mistake!! HELP

 

[racinchickins]

ok if you remember I got some chicks from RK ( couldn't help myself ) but I got 4 " Welsummers " but I was just on another thread and this person was showing pic's of her Welsummers... they didn't look like mine so I would like ya'll to check these out and tell me if I have Welsummers or if I have been told wrong???

look like wellies to me. Things to look for are single comb, yellow legs, chipmunk striping. Lots of other breeds look like that too, but you can at least know if they are wrong. Otherwise, only time will tell.

Reposting from the NCK thread in case anyone is interested!

We have an egg skelter also and we think it is cool. It is a good way to keep your eating eggs in order so you are using the oldest as well as a neat way to display all the different eggs you get.

Ok so I got a bit of a probablem. I have a batch of 9 Maran eggs from Brad incubating. They are do to hatch on the 28'th. so far Candling has went great I see good growth in all the eggs. My only problem is I just received a new set of 14 half and half BPR & RIR eggs from Fred's hens. I was wanting to set them tonight "I got them Thursday" I use a automatic turner and I know the Marans need to be taken out of the turner to rest on day 18. And the humidity needs to increase to 60-70 percent. I only have one bator. So should I wait another week before setting the 14 new eggs? Or should I take enough trays out of the turner to make room for the Marans to rest on the floor? And would the high humidity hurt the new eggs in the first week? This is my first hatching and I do realize I didn't plan it to well!! Any advice would be appreciated very much! Yes I know Nubie mistake!! HELP

The longer you delay setting the eggs, the worse the viability for hatch. And with shipped eggs, you are starting at a low potential hatch rate already. Since you only have a single incubator, I would take out the trays and get the lockdown eggs set and then add the new eggs. I think the increased humidity has the least chance of affecting the new eggs during their first week, so it seems like your best option.

That being said, I am NOT the incubation expert on this thread, so anyone else who wants to chime in, go for it. If this is bad advice, I'd like to know it as it is what I'd do if I were in this position.

 

[chick rookie]

don't know whats up with this??? but I thought it was cute. I think someone farted...

everyone has been out enjoying the weather the past few days

you can see we still have a tiny bit of snow left. and to think we have more on the way

sorry so many pic's but I love showing my kids off....