INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kabhyper1]

So far I have 3 that are broody right now! I guess I better put eggs under them!

Its the easiest way to break them lol! Snow has a few pullet eggs under her. They are going to be super small.

[COLOR=A52A2A]kabhyper, bradselig, jchny, and silkie people[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ My son and his GF were over for the evening and as it started getting dark, my son said that something was wrong with my Splash Silkie. She frequently shook her head and at times her head was leaning forward a little like she was going to fall asleep. Of course, I panicked and brought her in, held her close and gave her some Sav-A-Chick electrolytes. I tried looking at her head to see if I saw any mites or anything, but I swear, it is so hard to see anything through Silkie fluff! She's always been kind of a loner and the most nervous one of the Silkies (I think my former Eng. Orp roo who always thought the sky was falling somewhat affected the Silkies natural easy-going nature. lol). So, I figured that I was probably stressing her more by holding her, so I brought her out and put her in the part of the coop where she, the other two silkies, and their surrogate mom, my Eng Orp Splash pullet had gathered for bed. Then it occurred to me that maybe the Splash Silkie was just tired!!! Duh. Do they shake their heads when they're tired, like they're trying to stay awake until they go in the coop for the night? Could that be a sign of something else?[/COLOR]

I would watch for respiratory issues. That doesnt seem normal to me. It may be you silkie is just silly. but keep an eye on her.

We went to the new rural king in fort wayne. We got a new coop for the bantys. Fun day! Jchny2000, I am so sorry about Bo. Hugs to you. If you need to chat you know where to find me. Im so sorry.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

This forum moves too fast! lol and to tell the truth is a bit intimidating bc it seems yall know each other rather well.
So dive in head first right?
Well I know this is the chicken section, but it's the right area- anyone selling guinea keets around northwest indiana?
Also I think I have a hawk problem, any suggestions to deal with those killers?
Thanks in advance!

HEY you made it! welcome to our thread. I have eggs in the bater now. 4 due may 6th, the following week a dozen.
Pearls, lavender and white, but the 2 white girls may not be fertile. Think I need to rehome them, or hatch some boys.

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I am going to be there also! But I am full up.. so no babies for me.

I only have guineas at the moment- and I had seven this morning and six when I got back from the post office! I have 5 acres that has a bunch of mature trees on it and where there aren't any, mostly the hill which we don't mow so long grass/hay the guineas don't even venture, other than that the area around our garage is fairly open. I let the birds free range all day they usually head into their coop around sunset. I usually open their run in the am but the gate rusted off the hinges this winter so it's open for now. No other seeming predators, there is the neighbors dog but we are new to the area and haven't properly introduced ourselves yet. I don't wanna be like oh hi I'm Michelle and is your dog killing my birds? If so can you stop it? Thanks and Have a a great day. lol I think I'll get one of those fake owls and invest in some flags, pirate flags!
I'm getting chicks in May so I want my yard safe when it's time for those fluff butts to go into the yard

The guinea are fantastic as alarms, the chickens definitely run for cover when they sound off.

It's my weekend and I'm ready to watch my newest batch of eggs hatch out!!!

god luck, hatching vibes!

I got a new tool that I'm hoping will help with my chain link fence work this summer. It's called a MANSAVER.

This MANSAVER is a pneumatic post driver that's painted bright pumpkin orange. Looks like any other post driver, only you hook up an air hose to the side of this one. I'm planning to drive my fence posts 3' into the ground instead of digging post holes.

I tried using it to drive the posts in my recently renovated raised bed, but the square posts didn't fit in the round hole.

Anyway, this pneumatic driver that's supposed to save the effort of hammering each post weighs 36 pounds, and is about 3' long. I'm imagining myself (5'5") holding an 8' tall post with a 3' 36lb machine on top of it, and trying to drive it into the ground straight.

I think my neighbors will enjoy watching me do this. Maybe as much as the time I was home alone, on the roof, and my ladder slid away from the side of the house, or the time I was bouncing on of the end of a branch a few feet off the ground to try to get the wood to break....or the time....(you get the idea.)

Has anybody used a MANSAVER that can give me some tips using this tool?

I sure haven't, hope someone has advice.My idea would be climb up into a truck bed, work out of it. What type air compressor are you using, that makes a difference. DH is explaining, just asked him. He said it will take a lot of air to operate it. DH will be there tomorrow too for the shed unload, so talk to him

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My phone died earlier right when I was getting ready to send an update on ..... YOU GUESSED IT! LOL. CHICKS!

So RK in Martinsville had a new sign posted. .incoming...
OK hold onto your britches! !
Salmon Favs
Scicillian buttercups
Lakenvelders
? ?

I have totally spaced what the 4th one was but definitely not the norm! Another annoying thing is there was no date and no one close by to ask.
They will also have more of their common stock too.

Just thought I'd share.

Wow that is surprising!

Here are the BPR and RIR's snuggled for the night! They are getting big.

We were out finishing up some late chores and I thought I would snap a quick pic of them.

aww, i see one peeking at you too!

Update on my eggs in lock down. Day two nuthing

lol

Quote: I have the extra girls, if you are interested send me a PM. I can help you figure out what you have if you can get face shots. The waddles are the males are MUCH larger, almost comical! the males only make a tic sound one syllable. females make a 2 syllable buckwheat sound.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

How do nicely make family pay for eggs? I have told them yet they still stop by to pick them up and just walk out the door. I need to be more aggressive I guess. Annoying.

Raisinemright, that update sucks.

Let us know when the action starts!

I started telling them sorry, I sold them all! I then explain it helps me pay for the feed.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

I really feel if there was any issues that arose, personal conversation is always the best way to go. Honest feedback one on one answers all!
I think we all had a great time! But Racin made a good point too, bio-security should be stressed and followed at any house hosting an event.
A small flock, that rarely or never free ranges, could be at risk from a pair of shoes worn at a farm with a hundred free range birds, like mine.
I don't invite folks into the coops and runs. I also don't go into their coops and runs unless its shoes and clothes that either have never seen a coop, or can be disinfected thoroughly. My flock poses a risk to the average small backyard flock, absolutely! They eat worms, grubs, mice, frogs, snakes,and I have even seen them with a wild bird in their beak on occasion, really not a good thing...who knows what else out here! I respect others enough to make that known up front.

To newer members who may be confused about discussions about biosecurity and Indiana thread get-togethers ~
I just want to clarify that at the time of racinchickins' chicken fest get-together last July, our thread had not yet discussed biosecurity. I don't want newer people to think that members showed up at racinchickins' place without their "chicken shoes" and trampled all over his property totally disregarding his request for biosecurity measures. That wasn't the case at all; there was no mention of biosecurity in his posted invitation, and I know that jchny, racin, and others weren't implying that in recent posts, but I was afraid it might be misinterpreted. It was after last summer's event at racinchickens' place that the thread began discussing the concept of biosecurity. After much discussion it was determined by most of us that biosecurity is smart and necessary to avoid spreading poultry diseases.

So, when members began discussing plans for getting together this summer, racin explained that at the time of his event last summer, he hadn't been aware of the importance of biosecurity, but he urges everyone to follow biosecurity measures for future get-togethers.

Here's an informational link: biosecurity-for-the-rest-of-us - BackYard Chickens Community

Good post, I think we have all learned a lot more about bio-security this past year. There was a lot of good steps taken at the chickenfest too, and I think we have all learned a lot getting together and meeting one another!

Hmmm, as if I dont have enough babies already...I made an impromootu trip to TSC on Monday and picked up 6 Red Comet pullet chicks

. For my Grandchildren...lol...ya right! Unfortunately, when I went out to the brooder this morning there were four dead bitties.

Broke my heart and really p'd me off!
Called TSC and they gladly replaced them today. My Grandbabies went up and picked out the ones they wanted. Bad idea...they came home with two little ducklings of unknown breed (possibly Kahaki Cambell's) and two they thought were buff silkies ( because they had feathered legs).

I am thinking the ducklings are Khakis because they are identicall to my little "Waddles"- black feet, brownish down and dark beaks- but the "silkies" um....dont think they are silkies, think they are Bantam Buff Cochins maybe...is there such a thing

? They really dont look like the Silkie babies I have had around here recently.
I have three precious little Silke fluff butts two partridge and one little blue pullet. Ellie (the blue) has a really bad deformed foot ( I think she was stepped on by the two yr old I babysit) she gets around pretty well but Im afraid to put her in the grow out pen with the other youngens her age because she is about half their size. So Ellie is my Brooder babysitter...she loves the little chicks and ducklings and helps them stay warmer at night. I'll post pics of the assorted youngens and babies as soon as I am able to get them settled enough to stand for pictures.

Oh my, am so sorry about the babies

At least they made good, and you got more too!

Well I was tending to the gardens today and UGH! I have an abundance of strawberry plants. I dug up about 50 to give my mom. Stood up and didn't even make a dent! So both my neighbors and a lady my mom works with will be coming to claim some.

If anyone here would like to start your own patch come on over! Lol. They are on their 3rd year and most of what I want removed will be their second year and should provide lots of fruit.

Just throwing it out there. .I'm going to start another bed of them but still have way more than I can put to use. I made quite a bit of jam..froze them after preparing them for pies..shortcakes. ..etc.

I would love to have some, I may take you up on it later this year. this next month is just crazy

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

O and I just was floored to see after this harsh winter I have Oregano, Sage, chives (expected) and random onions grown already from last year.!
I have got to get my cold crops out! So much to do! So little time!

awesome!

Phew, long day! I totally forgot to take another picture of the woods, so I guess it'll be tomorrow. I take a walk out there every evening, but this evening I was on my way out there when I heard a heck of a ruckus over the hill--sounded like raccoons fighting! Needless to say, I didn't have my walk this evening!

This morning, I cartoned the eggs (all 9 dozen or so) and sent them off with my dad to give to his coworkers. We already had two dozen white eggs (from Rangi and friends

) set aside, so I figured we wouldn't need the rest. Well, my sister, who does all the cooking, was sure we'd need more eggs than that and wanted to keep more. I told her no, we'd get more than enough eggs from the girls by Easter. She didn't look so sure, but I sent the eggs off anyway. Guess how many I brought in tonight. 20, of course! Do I know my girls or what?

Speaking of Rangi, I'm a bit worried about her. She acts fine and all, but she looks like she's getting bullied a bit by her flockmates. Her head has been picked bald and the feathers on her back are looking tattered. I'm not sure if Po is responsible for any of it, but I've never seen Rangi let him get close enough to her, so I'm thinking he's not the problem. She's always been the bottom of the pecking order in her little group, anyway. I think it's just in her nature to be less assertive than the others. She came over to me this morning and told me all about her problems while I crouched by her and stroked her feathers. I felt so bad to see her in such a state! Poor baby.

I wish there was something I could do.

Well, anyway, I'd better head to bed. I have a test in chemistry next Tuesday, so I'm gonna have to spend the weekend studying. I hope the weather's awful.

That's the only way I can see myself actually staying in to study.

So good night, everyone!

LOL I know spring thru fall I am always buried in eggs. I am starting to freeze up a bunch now so I don't have to bake so much with store eggs this winter. My DD does cakes for people as a side job, we use a lot of eggs. Poor Rangi! I have a lil EE girl that is bottom on the pecking order. I pretty much pick her up every day for extra attention. Sneak a handful of mealies to her too.
Good luck next tuesday!

Oh, yes, there was one last thing I wanted to mention, specifically to those of you that keep bees. Bearing in mind that they live in Fort Wayne in an area with a lot of residential houses, my harp teacher's neighbor got a hive last year apparently. She was concerned that with so many houses around, bees would be a danger and maybe didn't belong there. Having absolutely no experience with bees or hives (or any will to gain such experience--I'm a little bit phobic of the buggers!), I figured it was one of those things where if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. Am I right in thinking this..? It kind of brought to mind the whole anti-chicken-in-the-city thing to me, but I guess I can see where she's coming from with her concerns about bees.

More importantly, I wanted to ask about beekeeping habits. Okay. This woman (the neighbor, not my harp teacher) adorns one of those net mask/hat things and apparently sits for hours on end, just watching the bees come and go from their hive. Is this... normal?

I mean, is there some method to this woman's madness, or is she just a few eggs short of a dozen, so to speak? Again, no experience with bees here. That's why I wanted to ask.

And I really gotta go to bed, so once again, good night, y'all!

The hive in my office trailer wall don't ever bother me, I barely notice them. She may be trying to familiarize the hive to her? Not sure either, my best guess.

Oboy, you may not want to watch me then, JK! I sit on a lawn chair and watch the birds sometimes, usually in between trips to coops. I have lap birds come visit, and sometimes just hang out with my geese in their pen lol or sit in the grass with them. My birds are my "fun thing" and gives me a lot of joy and helps me maintain a little (in)sanity

..

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

One out and four are externally peeped!!!

wooohooo!!!

 

[Mother2Hens]

My Broody
My chocolate English Orp, Bonbon, had been sitting on unfertilized eggs for three days. When I returned home from Indy last night, I replaced the eggs with 6 bantam eggs from jchny! 3 OEGB, 2 Mille Fleur, and 1 Silkie. Bonbon is taking her job very seriously, so hopefully she'll have a good hatch.

I'm using a little deduction here because I don't know the whole situation, but here's my impression.
Maybe the other family knows that Mom gets free eggs, so they have the mistaken impression that eggs are free to family?
Whether that's true or not, your next step is clear. It's the C word - conversation.

Tell them in clear, calm words that chickens cost money to feed and you simply can't afford to give away all your eggs. You can even tell then that you would give eggs away if you could, but it's not possible. They are then free to pay for eggs or leave them with you.

Where people usually get tripped up in these things is if the family reacts poorly to the new boundary. What you have to remember is that it is your right to set your boundary, and how they feel about it is their responsibility, not yours. If they want to have a hissy fit, that's on them. If it was all a misunderstanding and they're reasonable people, drama will probably not ensue. Either way, their feelings are their choice, and however mad or hurt they choose to be, it's not your job to heal their hurty feelings by changing your boundary.

(I may know little about chickens, but I know people pretty well.)

Although I loved everyone's creativity in helping kabhyper deal with family members feeling entitled to free eggs -- (especially Peaceful Wall's entertaining list of ideas -lol), it shouldn't become kabhyper's problem to scheme or negotiate a solution. hoosiercheetah has excellent advice that applies to everyday issues - communicate clearly, calmly, and set boundaries.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Thank you, every one of you!

This was painful, I really loved the lil guy. I treat everything here as a pet and after fighting scours and saving him, this was a horrible blow, More upsetting that I didn't pull 5 feet further forward and keep the trailer away from them. Just stupid.
I hope my ignorance helps save some one else's animal. I am in an argument with my dad over eradicating all of it from our property. There are many pretty bushes and trees out there that are harmless for animals to be exposed to.

My Dixie Rainbows came from Mt healthy. Growing like weeds, but so much more active than Cornish crosses.

Thanks!! I love Mt Healthy, will go thru them for sure! My BA flock came from them, and they were exceptionally healthy chicks.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I thought of you, @Leahs Mom today. I was checking I thought i saw wrong with a duckling today. While in the run I did a nice slide and somehow ended up surrounded by ducks / ducklings. I thought it is a good thing I did not totally fall or they would not have delayed trying to investigate me with their bills. And in case anyone is curious my 8 week old ducklings look as big as my adult ducks. They don't weigh as much but they have the full grown look. And the one I went in to look at had ripped a piece of bird netting down and was tangled in it just like the environmental ads

Oh boy! Hope you are ok!

Here are two of the mixes I held back from the tolbunt/legbar pen and the legbar/Marans pen (I believe, it has feathered shanks, but can't remember the exact egg it hatched from). The one with the large crest is the one from legbar pen obviously. I love the barring on the possible olive eggers chest.

They look so cute! be interesting to see them grow, love the crests!

Quote:
awesome!

wwwoohhhhoooo 2600 pages!!!!!!!! yeah!

Today my puppy turns 10 yrs old. It's hard to believe that I've had her for 8 yrs now. Even with tearing up several bags of hay through out the house, helping herself to a box of pancake mix, eating my parrots head off, and becoming the gimpy girl she is today from a herniated disc, I wouldn't have it any other way. Hoping for several more years with her!

Aww happy birthday to her!