INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CRSelvey]

1 am. Full grown Lf Wyandotte rooster crowing in my house. Spectacular. Can't wait to not sleep.   Hope he feels good enough tomorrow to not be in here . Crowing really echos when you live in a relatively small house. So glad DH sleeps like the dead, or else I would feel really bad. 

Oh my gosh! I didn't think about that when you said he was coming in. Last year we had 4 of them in the basement until they were almost 5 months. It was horrible so we all slept with earplugs. I hope Gus is better soon and that you had a good time out!

Folks, I collected 27 eggs today. 27 eggs from 26 for sure laying hens, 5 hit-and-miss banties, and 3 retirees. I was shocked to see so many in the boxes! And there would have even been 28, but miss Frou-Frou squashed hers. But anyway, I do know for sure that Cubby laid an egg today! 9 years old and still laying! You go, girl!

That's pretty awesome! I hope our flock will still be laying a little when they are 9.

In less super news, we've got a light layer of snow on the ground.

Haha, that's funny, I've never bathed any of my chickens! I believe Margie was supposed to be a porcelain Silkie. I've compared pictures and she does look like one, but I usually just call her a Silkie because I don't have any intentions of showing or breeding her.
I added my educated guesses above each picture.

I really appreciate your guesses Pipd. I do not know enough about the breeds to be sure myself. The MFd was confusing me. I currently have one OEGB roo and 7 girls. I can't keep all four boys, so if I were going to keep one of them, which would be a good choice?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I used to like snow. this winter has ruined it for me.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Haha, that's funny, I've never bathed any of my chickens! I believe Margie was supposed to be a porcelain Silkie. I've compared pictures and she does look like one, but I usually just call her a Silkie because I don't have any intentions of showing or breeding her.
I added my educated guesses above each picture.

I second pipd's guesses

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I used to like snow. this winter has ruined it for me.

Me, too! I love snow, I really do. But I have had enough for two winters and I like taking it one at a time. I never thought I would complain about snow/winter, but I have this year. I wanted to turn the air conditioner on Saturday, but I knew it was suppose to snow. It really wouldn't surprise me if it snowed on my birthday this year lol

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Folks, I collected 27 eggs today.

27 eggs from 26 for sure laying hens, 5 hit-and-miss banties, and 3 retirees. I was shocked to see so many in the boxes! And there would have even been 28, but miss Frou-Frou squashed hers.

But anyway, I do know for sure that Cubby laid an egg today! 9 years old and still laying!

You go, girl!


In less super news, we've got a light layer of snow on the ground.

yeah for the eggs!! boo on the snow!! we have just a coating this morning as well. at least it's not going to last this time...

 

[PeacefulWalls]

My roaming broody girl's eggs are hatching after all! She had 9 eggs and last evening during chores the kids saw a couple of babies under her when they checked. Chloe thought there were at least 5. Later last night we tried to peek again & saw 1 part way out of the shell and another had broken through a small hole. She didn't have any babies out in the coop yet this morning so it's either too cold (my vote!) or they haven't finished hatching yet. I think I'm going to have too many chicks unless a bunch of them end up being roos for the freezer. I pick up my hatchery chicks today and our great guru enabler hatcher (yeah -- that would be Brad) just got lemon cuckoo & lavender orps to hatch for me (super excited about that!!)

 

[hoosiercheetah]

So, I've got more questions than answers. I thought I knew what I wanted, and why, but now I'm not so sure.

I'm in the search for chickens, and there are many different opinions about how to best conduct this search, I'm sure you know. I've had some people tell me that one should only buy from a reputable local breeder, yet it seems that most of the people on BYC buy chicks from hatcheries or feed stores. I've read about both good and bad experiences from every possible source.

I thought I wanted Australorps, because of the things I've read about the breed (egg production and heat tolerance, and a friendly disposition were the primary attractors), but the more I read stories about everyone's chickens, I'm coming to realized that chicken breeds are like dog breeds, or horse breeds - there are distinguishing physical features that run true, because there are breed standards, but the personality of an individual animal is it's own. I've heard that Orps 'tend' to be broody, but I've read posts from owners who say their BO's are never broody at all. Some RIRs are friendly like lapdogs, some are downright evil. Some leghorns are flighty, some are calm.

The only thing that seems to run true in breeds is egg production. Some are bred to lay more than others. However, there seems to be a very large variety of breeds that are reputed to be great egg producers, so that doesn't really narrow it down.

I know if I just ask the question, "What's your fave?" I'll get a different answer from each individual, based on their personal experience. It's the same whether you're in a forum for cars or guns or home audio gear or video games or chickens. Those opinions are very interesting, and I love reading everyone's stories, but they can't help me choose one chicken over another.

My greatest limiting factor is that I'm in no position to raise chicks. I have to have birds that I can put straight in the coop. Beyond that, all I need is a little flock of 6 healthy, egg-laying chickens. So, in the end, I'll probably buy whatever is available from whomever happens to have birds for sale when I finally get the coop finished. I've been in touch with a few people, and I'll seek out more as I get closer.

I guess I'm not asking any questions in the post, or looking for any answers. I'm just thinking out loud. Thank you for indulging my observations! Have a great snow day!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I have one chick out so far and lots of pips. There are 2 other chicks that are close to being out. It kind of makes up for the snow.

 

[goodb]

I have one chick out so far and lots of pips. There are 2 other chicks that are close to being out. It kind of makes up for the snow.

Into day 21 here with no activity.

 

[ChickCrazed]

So, I've got more questions than answers. I thought I knew what I wanted, and why, but now I'm not so sure.

I'm in the search for chickens, and there are many different opinions about how to best conduct this search, I'm sure you know. I've had some people tell me that one should only buy from a reputable local breeder, yet it seems that most of the people on BYC buy chicks from hatcheries or feed stores. I've read about both good and bad experiences from every possible source.

I thought I wanted Australorps, because of the things I've read about the breed (egg production and heat tolerance, and a friendly disposition were the primary attractors), but the more I read stories about everyone's chickens, I'm coming to realized that chicken breeds are like dog breeds, or horse breeds - there are distinguishing physical features that run true, because there are breed standards, but the personality of an individual animal is it's own. I've heard that Orps 'tend' to be broody, but I've read posts from owners who say their BO's are never broody at all. Some RIRs are friendly like lapdogs, some are downright evil. Some leghorns are flighty, some are calm.

The only thing that seems to run true in breeds is egg production. Some are bred to lay more than others. However, there seems to be a very large variety of breeds that are reputed to be great egg producers, so that doesn't really narrow it down.

I know if I just ask the question, "What's your fave?" I'll get a different answer from each individual, based on their personal experience. It's the same whether you're in a forum for cars or guns or home audio gear or video games or chickens. Those opinions are very interesting, and I love reading everyone's stories, but they can't help me choose one chicken over another.

My greatest limiting factor is that I'm in no position to raise chicks. I have to have birds that I can put straight in the coop. Beyond that, all I need is a little flock of 6 healthy, egg-laying chickens. So, in the end, I'll probably buy whatever is available from whomever happens to have birds for sale when I finally get the coop finished. I've been in touch with a few people, and I'll seek out more as I get closer.

I guess I'm not asking any questions in the post, or looking for any answers. I'm just thinking out loud. Thank you for indulging my observations! Have a great snow day!

You are probably MORE likely to get closer to a breed personality type by going with a breeder over a hatchery. I think most people go through hatcheries because they can 1.) get access to many different breeds in one place and mix their order and 2.) get them "sexed" so they are more likely to get females and won't have to deal with the dilemma of what to do with 50% males. I would have a list of breeds whose personalities tend to be friendly (which the people here can absolutely help provide) and see what you can find from your list. I don't think chicks are as much work as you think they are. I checked on mine in the morning and in the evening - gave them food and water at those times. Some people are probably doting on theirs constantly, but it isn't necessary unless you get really unlucky and they are sickly. I bet your chicks could go right out in the coop with their heat source and as long as you check on them a couple times a day they would be fine. Or you can try to find someone that has slightly older chicks (4 + weeks). I'm sure many on here will in the next month.