INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[atrueb00]

Had the chickens outside today and realized these two were in the run cuddling. White pullet is my smallest silkie and the black one is my large rooster. Such an odd couple

Here is my broody hen, I have been trying to encourage her off the invisible nest and getting her to eat and enjoy the outdoors. In the past week I have had 3 go broody and I only get a couple eggs a day! Think I might just need to let them hatch some out to get over it!

 

[atrueb00]

DH spotted a hawk nest across the street from us. We hear the screech of the hawk but don't see them too much. Any ideas to help keep the chickens safe? I am thinking I will have to make some kind of baby gate with netting on top if I want them to be able to safely free range.

 

[BackyardBitten]

OUR INDIANA BYC'ERS CHICKEN FEST 2014.. IMPORTANT!
PLEASE, seriously, take a second and think about what works for you!
I have been looking at ideas for a while now. What I can offer is what I can access with little cost.
The private campground we have a lot at opens next weekend, hoping to catch the owner and discuss a possible chicken fest there!
The tentative location is Liberty, IN (east central Indiana)
Now that the owner's grandson is selling brown eggs at camp, I betcha he might just go for it! On that note....
I am thinking of 2 topics if there is enough interest. Nothing is set in stone, and depends on the campground owner's reply.
Possibly a chicken train, or swap day also!
(I plan to possibly bribe Dave, the owner with Quail eggs too lol. A Lil birdie told me he loves them pickled

)
My ideas:
1. Processing Quail, different methods etc. and/or Quail egg taste test! The "city life" answer to fresh eggs daily!
2. Fermenting feed, if anyone hasn't tried it, why its so beneficial. Different methods and ideas!
3. Poultry swap/trade/etc! Prearranged only between members, owners will be responsible for their birds and their care.
Please, shout out your thoughts or PM me! We will probably be able to reserve the barn for a good part of the morning and afternoon.
Whats everyone's thoughts, ideas, really want to learn something hands on? Or do we just want to chat, laugh and get to know each other?
What month is better for everyone to avoid conflicting kid's sport events, racing (like Indy 500, brickyard) Colts events, more...
I like a pitch in idea, bring own drinks and a dish (no alcoholic beverages please, out of respect for the children)
There is a playground next to the barn also. I want children to feel welcome, and have a family event so everyone has a good time.
There are a few family friendly state park campgrounds very close by, and they rate from primitive tent camping to grade A septic and water on site.
Its a very rewarding experience to camp, hike, fish or just enjoy the quiet with your family. I have camped with just a sleeping bag up to a big motor home. its just awesome watching the critters at night, and Bald Eagles flying over the lake during the day.
DH and I visited the state parks there often when the kids were young. Fishing is fantastic, and really fun for the kids, lots of bluegills. The smile on the faces when they "got one!" makes it worth the effort.

you know already i am loving this option! Maybe if Dave has two people trying to persuade him, he'll let us do it!! i always remembered he was a very nice guy!!

Nothing better than chickens and honeybees! We do both at our house. Lot of ppl in Indiana have honeybees so it easy to get a nuclear hive to start out with. We started 2 years ago and have 2 hives now, gave some queens away last year and got over 50 lbs of honey.
I am sorry for your loss.

but do appreciate the mass dust bathing pics! They really put on a show for u!
Love the red and white trim! Very nice combo!!

WOW 50 lbs!!!!!

thats awesome. I would love to do it....just got to read up on what all is involved and that sort of thing and figure out where to put something like that in our back yard. There was a very nice older gentleman at the Flower & Patio Show who was volunteering at a booth for the White Lick Bee Keepers and he gave us some very good information. Thinking i might attend some of their meetings to get a feel for what's involved.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Awww, bet she is super excited!

Quote:
So glad its been helpful to you

Ok, so here's the intended coop. Hubby "gave" me the shed and then took it back when he realized it was hard wired with electric and I want to move it to the other side of the yard...lol. We just bought this house and he's got the garage and what was formerly a one car garage, converted to a "man cave". Anyway....this is my coop. I am getting 3 juvie silkies from bradselig and I have the 6 buff orpingtons at my FIL's, plus I see life in 2 of my silkie eggs (I thought I was down to just one). This shed is 10 by 12. It has not been converted to a real coop, just yet. I need ideas as to how to make a screen/wire door for it. The babies will be housed in it until hubby moves the shed and builds the two runs he's insisting on me having. I don't want to hole them up in a dark shed in the mean time. I thought if I could get the wire doors on it and put deep litter down, it would be ok for a little while. Sorry if I'm rambling, I'm just really excited.

Go right ahead and ramble! Its very exciting to get started on a new coop. I am adding 2 more this week, weather permitting.

Ok so most recent addition for Martinsville RK now has Black Jersey Giant's and this is their upcoming stock. Said they will be getting 1500 more chicks!

Fantastic, thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Forgot to mention that RK also inquired about if I knew any rabbit breeders because they are desperately seeking some. So any rabbit breeders out there Martinsville RK is wanting to buy.

I keep thinking about it then change my mind, lol. I even got a doe, but too much going to add more species right now.

here are the pic's of the TSC Batmans I got last night, pasty butts and one eye don't open.

this one wont open her left eye, and just lays around. will get up to eat and drink but then right back to sleep. 1 of DH's pick.

Cochin Batman maybe??? no problems.

have no ideal what this one is either as with DH's other pick, has pasty butt and chirps all the time.

the sign said Red Pullets, have no ideal but had to make 6.
Have another one I believe is a Cochin Batman but couldn't catch it right off and didn't want to stress the little thing out any more it too has pasty butt, figure I stress it out enough catching it to clean it up.

If anyone has any ideals on what I have here or what I can do for the one that wont open her eye I would love to hear it.

Going to pick up the goats in a little bit. will be resealing a couple, too many for my place but couldn't pass on the deal cause it was an all or nothing kind of thing so if anyone is interested pm me and let me know. they all are registered. Will get pic's when I get them home. Will have a buck for sale for sure and probably 2 or 3 does. O they are Togg's.

They are attractive goats, very cool!

Quote:
Originally Posted by jchny2000

Hehehehe I love free stuff! Got 1 of the 2 "new" sheds home. Hoping to get it set in place tomorrow!

I'm way behind and you might have already said so this is my "pre-apology if I missed it... When you moved the sheds, what did you use to move them? I mean...did you have a trailer to put them on? And..where did you get them?

Tar paper on, and ready for shingles!

Oh my boy doesn't he look thrilled to be roofing on a Sunday?? Lol and he still has his phone going non stop!


Roof is now done!! What a good Sunday afternoon. Now I NEED to finish the siding!!!



The first pic is of one side shingles lol my bad, not a very good editer!

Looks fantastic!

Well I don't have any baby chick pics yet, but we do have two new members of the family. I picked them up this afternoon. Mom is black lab, dad is blue heeler/border collie mix, both are female and they will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. We haven't decided on names yet, but I think that I am going to name one of them gypsy. May wait a day or two and see what their personalities are.
On a different note great pics everyone. I hope everyone had a good day today. I am hoping that my BF does not have to work 12hrs/7days this week and the weather stays decent so that we can get some work done on house, yard and start getting ready for our chicks that will be here in 3 - 4 weeks.

And one last picture of a not so happy feline.

Adorable puppies! Kitty looks content to me

I hear ya on workload, DH is getting a lot of hours, but its rough for him to work weekends too.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Done painting the coop, I think, except for a spot DH missed. Thinking about putting the window planter under the window (duh), not sure if I should because of the shade it will be in.

Almost done painting the boards for my run. Too tired today to do more than that!

Its going fast! And I just love the color.

Quote: Thats too cute! Love it.

What a weekend. MIL's oegb chick and one polish chick died. Tsc is not getting the healthiest bantams. Just a heads up.
We got another EE and another oegb to replace the two that died. We got our little coop moved to their place for her flock, since it is growing. That took all day yesterday.
Today was filling in our Koi pond. For some reason my silkie roo Booker is cranky and has been pummeling my legs this weekend. He is getting corrected when he does it, so Im hoping that helps and that it is just a springtime attitude thing. My birds are all over the place right now. They don't know heads from tails. I hope they figure out an order once the EE girls join the flock. My little indoor birds are almost ready to go out, all but the cochins and bantams. My little barred bantam must have hurt his fot, because he is favoring it. He has range of motion, but cries if I bend his leg. He must have landed hard playing around. Hopefully in a couple of days it will heal.
The little guys today









Bandits feathers are growing weird. I don't think they are frizzle, but they aren't smooth like the gold laced chick next to him.

Hope your little one is ok. The chicks are too precious!

Here it is 08:00 again and I'm beat!! My son was a HUGE help today! We got the roof done and another wall sided with the chicken door in place! I'm loving the weather for working outside. Thanks all for the complaments. I think y'all are encouraging me to work harder and get this done faster. Plus the fast growing chickens in the brooder lol!!

WOW, its going to be great to see it finished! I bet you are tuckered out.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Had the chickens outside today and realized these two were in the run cuddling. White pullet is my smallest silkie and the black one is my large rooster. Such an odd couple

Here is my broody hen, I have been trying to encourage her off the invisible nest and getting her to eat and enjoy the outdoors. In the past week I have had 3 go broody and I only get a couple eggs a day! Think I might just need to let them hatch some out to get over it!

Lovely birds!

DH spotted a hawk nest across the street from us. We hear the screech of the hawk but don't see them too much. Any ideas to help keep the chickens safe? I am thinking I will have to make some kind of baby gate with netting on top if I want them to be able to safely free range.

Thats what I would do. I don't free range my bantams unless I am right there with them.
My youngest tom turkey, Snoodles also helps stand guard over them.

Quote:

Here is the newest pic of Top Knot. Just this morning he decided to start doing a dance for the ladies. It involves shaking one foot like a cat with a wet foot would do. Hens so far are not impressed, hoping to get a video soon.

Aww! I bet its just too adorable.

Here are the Cornish rocks we got a couple days ago. Can't believe how huge they are compared to the silkies at the same age. And that they will be fully grown in 6 weeks, while the silkies won't be fully mature until they are a year old.

Oh my, they grow sooo fast! I have done 2 sets, one about 30+ years ago, and a set almost 2 years ago. I plan to do another round of them later this year, but in a tractor this time. They can sure be messy.

 

[Mother2Hens]

My coop/run has a dirt floor with rocks. I added fresh mulch (from my neighbor's tree that had to be removed), occasional pine shavings, and coarse sand.
As far as cleaning, it's not a big deal as long as you wear a mask and gloves. I do a complete cleaning in the fall and spring. I took a few photos as requested.

Originally Posted by Leahs Mom

Loved your detailed descriptions and photos!

I have 2 things that I want to mention.

I have read that using sand as a deep litter can be dangerous to both adult and chick health in several ways. The one that I wanted to mention is that they do eat things from the ground and the fine sand - like you think of at the beach - is supposed to be able to cause damage to the gizzard. The thought is that it is too fine to grind food and that it can irritate and actually cause damage to the lining of the gizzard. Of course that's not speaking of small rock sized gravel. Anyhow...I avoid using any sand in the litter myself.

I'm also concerned about sweet pdz getting into the litter where they will ingest it. I know some folks use it on poop boards but that isn't a typical place that they are scratching and eating from.

Of course, as always, these are things I am concerned about for me and just my opinion

Leahs Mom ~ I agree about NOT using fine sand, play sand, and even "medium" sand. Like everything chicken-related, there are so many options. CRSelvey loves using coarse sand in this method from the Chicken Chick (I also meant to post for leslea): Chicken Coop Bedding: Sand, the Litter Superstar
I like a mixture to add to my dirt coop floor. I feel like coarse sand or gravel helps break-up/aerate the dirt and poop.

Good point about Sweet PDZ mixed in deep litter, but from what I've read, Sweet PDZ is non-toxic to chickens and acts as a type grit if ingested. I don't use it that often since I clean the poop tray each day, but it's nice to have it on hand.

Thank you! This is wonderful!
I have pinned the link to refresh my memory in the future. I don't know why I obsessively read about the same subjects repeatedly until I do them, but I do!

leslea ~ Please see the Chick Chick link (above). It's great that you've done so much reading/bookmarking in preparation for your new flock. Since it's a totally new adventure for you, it's smart to read and re-read! There is so much beneficial info on this thread that I'd like to save for our resources links. It's wonderful that our thread moves so fast, but it's difficult to keep on top of it.
That's so sweet that your little daughter is going to share your new family fun experience!


amwchicken ~ I love your striking little BR! I didn't get my BR until she was three months old, so I missed that cute stage. My Tweedy is a great chicken that lays nice, large brown eggs. Btw, please let us know about Einstein's egg.
Quote:
Originally Posted by raisinemright
Is anyone else tired of seeing my garden hose in the pics? Lol I know I am. I'm just never focused on it when I'm out working.
Originally Posted by chick rookie
My garden hose is always out, too much to roll and unroll every other day. I have a long way to get water to horses, goats and chickens... and my dogs when they are outside. Just less work if I just leave it out. I'm just lazy I guess.

Ugh-- I hate hoses! I bought two of those expanding "Pocket Hoses" last year, and they were great-- for about a week until they sprung leaks!! That lightweight material just didn't hold up.

 

[Mother2Hens]

OUR INDIANA BYC'ERS CHICKEN FEST 2014.. IMPORTANT!
PLEASE, seriously, take a second and think about what works for you!
I have been looking at ideas for a while now. What I can offer is what I can access with little cost.
The private campground we have a lot at opens next weekend, hoping to catch the owner and discuss a possible chicken fest there!
The tentative location is Liberty, IN (east central Indiana)
Now that the owner's grandson is selling brown eggs at camp, I betcha he might just go for it! On that note....
I am thinking of 2 topics if there is enough interest. Nothing is set in stone, and depends on the campground owner's reply.
Possibly a chicken train, or swap day also!
(I plan to possibly bribe Dave, the owner with Quail eggs too lol. A Lil birdie told me he loves them pickled

)
My ideas:
1. Processing Quail, different methods etc. and/or Quail egg taste test! The "city life" answer to fresh eggs daily!
2. Fermenting feed, if anyone hasn't tried it, why its so beneficial. Different methods and ideas!
3. Poultry swap/trade/etc! Prearranged only between members, owners will be responsible for their birds and their care.
Please, shout out your thoughts or PM me! We will probably be able to reserve the barn for a good part of the morning and afternoon.
Whats everyone's thoughts, ideas, really want to learn something hands on? Or do we just want to chat, laugh and get to know each other?
What month is better for everyone to avoid conflicting kid's sport events, racing (like Indy 500, brickyard) Colts events, more...
I like a pitch in idea, bring own drinks and a dish (no alcoholic beverages please, out of respect for the children)
There is a playground next to the barn also. I want children to feel welcome, and have a family event so everyone has a good time.
There are a few family friendly state park campgrounds very close by, and they rate from primitive tent camping to grade A septic and water on site.
Its a very rewarding experience to camp, hike, fish or just enjoy the quiet with your family. I have camped with just a sleeping bag up to a big motor home. its just awesome watching the critters at night, and Bald Eagles flying over the lake during the day.
DH and I visited the state parks there often when the kids were young. Fishing is fantastic, and really fun for the kids, lots of bluegills. The smile on the faces when they "got one!" makes it worth the effort.

jchny~ It all sounds great! Thank you for working on a plan! I suppose the next step is to find out about the reserving the barn/costs. I'm guessing that if we can reserve the barn, the owners will let you know what dates are available and we can get a consensus about a date that the majority of members will commit to, so we are sure that costs will be covered. Speaking of covered, if everyone "pitches in" a "covered dish" for a "pot luck" or "carry in" or whatever your area of the state calls it, the only added expense should be the barn rental.

chick rookie's idea of a Tshirt is great-- we've wished before that we had an Indiana thread Tshirt to wear to events like poultry shows, etc. where we could identify/meet other members. I'm not sure if it could be a fundraiser though since having a small number of shirts printed would make them more expensive to begin with. I can check into some pricing or if anyone has any connections with a screen printer, that would be helpful.

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

No they don't have actually Araucana. They get there chicks from a hatchery and no hatcheries have actual araucanas. They mislabel them, they are really Easter eggers. They just label them what the hatcheries tell them to label them as.

That upsets me so much. There are so many people taken in by that :/