INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

I also have a leg issue with one of the Marans. It seems to walk fine and doesn't seem in pain when I touch it. Any thoughts?

If its walking ok, and not showing signs of pain it should be fine. If it was me I wouldn't add it as breeding stock tho. I had a guinea hen (named Loppy) with the same problem, she was pretty healthy for several months, and just suddenly turned up dead in a nest box one morning.

hoping for the best on the little chick.
Your babies are just beautiful!!!!!!

Made even more progress on the coop today. Framed the roof, and added some siding.

Fantastic

you are flat turning that out!!!

 

[animallover2202]

I also have a leg issue with one of the Marans. It seems to walk fine and doesn't seem in pain when I touch it. Any thoughts?

i think my silver laced cochin had that but on both feet when she was a baby(now shes in the big coop in the sky) i separated her from the others and put in my polish to keep her company it might be a vitamin deficiency but im not 100% positive

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Welllll, went to Tractor supply in Anderson.. they had bantams!

they had 16 BANTAMS!!! My DH kept walking back over there. Hmmm I am thinking, whats he doing? So the older gentleman we talk to often came over and they were chatting. I am flipping through a swine book, decided will just order Storys guide instead. Then he waves at me to come here, and told me I really ought to pick some lil banties. The guy said 6 minimum... I said, ok, I want whats left! So I finally have me some

It looks like silkies, and no clue, maybe 2 cochin? the rest are either seabright or seramas. Sooo tiny and precious! going to post pics soon. Do need advice on pasty butt, noticing 2 of the little silkies look like they may have it... ACV in the water, soak their little butts, anything else?

 

[Mother2Hens]

Subject: Wildlife predators

I am not a farmer, so I know that I don’t have the experience to understand dealing with the threat of wildlife on livestock. Personally, I love coyotes, possums, raccoons, and animals in general, so I can’t imagine killing one unless it was rabid or attacking. It seems like killing them doesn’t solve the problem since there are more out there, and wild animals are just trying to survive. I would be devastated if a wild animal killed one of my hens, but I wouldn’t take it personally and kill the predator as though it was evil. It’s just an animal that has just as much right to live on the land as we do. However, I understand Chic-n-farmer had no choice but to kill the possum that was already in the coop.

That being said, I have been concerned about the number of hawks flying over our yard checking out our chickens. There have been flocks of 10 - 20 circling around the backyard before departing. I assume the large flocks are migrating. Besides the flocks, I see at least a few hawks flying around daily. I have waved my arms and sounded an emergency alarm, but they haven’t seemed to care although they haven’t landed on the ground. I’ve read some posts on BYC about dealing with hawk problems, but I just wondered if anyone has any tips.

Please do not take my views regarding wild animals personally. As I mentioned, I don’t live the life of farmer who depends on income from livestock. No one can truly know what a person’s life is like, so I am not judging anyone. I’m just expressing my personal thoughts and practices since the wonderful opportunity of this thread/website is being able to learn from each other while respecting individual views. It would be a boring world if we all thought the same way. And, feeling increasingly threatened by hawks has led to me to understand the frustration of not being able to control nature.

 

[ellymayRans]

M2H...Hopefully you never have to experience your lovely girls being ravaged again and again by predators...but the thing with killing them is because once one kills; it then knows of a food source and will just keep coming back. I love all animals too...the most horrible one I've had to deal with is just neighborhood dogs, get loose and come kill, not for food but just because they can. I have a dog and love dogs but UGH .. I wanted to kill those dogs more than any other predators I've had issues with! Ok...so done with the rant! LOL

As for hawks, if they are a group flying together more than likely they are vulture type looking for or have found already dead animals, I don't believe they are anything you would need to be concerned with snatching up one of your chicks. Though the hawks and falcons you for sure have to watch out for! Luckily for the most part once any of my flock see one or a shadow of one flying overhead they hide in the bushes, woods, deck or whatever is closest. I've had one killed in the woods but it got her pinned against the fence line is my guess. Tips..I've seen several good tips on how to protect them while in the run but when free ranging the best things I've seen suggested are hanging aluminum pie pans around the most open areas they free range in most often. This is supposed to deter them. Even read on perching up a large fake owl. I personally haven't bothered doing anything about the ones around here yet! I say Yet!

Be sure to share with us if you do try something and how that seems to work for you.

 

[CluckAcres]

Have some pics of chicks in my homemade coolerbator. I couldnt get good pics of the chicks in my LG. Sorry there not the best quality pics.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Awesome pics Cluck! Looks like the hatch is going well

love all the babies we get to see, really warms your heart!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My take on predators, and I do not want to upset anyone, ever, but I won't be dishonest and not tell you how I feel.
Several years ago my parents moved here, like 2002. I Immediately found my Dad 2 bottle baby goats, as he loves to keep them. I did animal control several years, and have seen it all.. (NOT). We built a "predator proof" run we thought 14X25, onto a large shed 12x14, for them when they were old enough to be outdoors. We finally put them out in the run late spring. 2 large stray dogs came into the yard, pulled one of the babies thru the gateposts and killed him, left him lay. The poor baby had no reason to fear, and I am sure went right up to say hi to that dog. Dad had went out to get his newspaper in shorts and slippers, and heard the other baby crying, saw what was happening. the bigger dog then went after my Dad, and he had to hit them with rocks out of the driveway to drive them off. That day is the first time I have ever seen my Dad cry. I love critters, all of them, and did wildlife rehab several years before I went into animal control. I quit when I saw the other side of it. We owe it to our animals/livestock to protect them. If an animal attacks my birds, or any of my livestock I will dispatch it permanently. Stray dogs, I am sorry if it threatens my animals, I will not hesitate to dispose of it either.

 

[CluckAcres]

This is a video of my cabinet incubator i have been working on. Check it out and feel free to leave feed back. My voice in the video does not sound like me. I really dislike taking videos with my voice but did it just for you all! Oh and sorry video is sideways, I dont know why it did that and didnt realize it till i uploaded it. Just turn your monitor on its side.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

This is a video of my cabinet incubator i have been working on. Check it out and feel free to leave feed back. My voice in the video does not sound like me. I really dislike taking videos with my voice but did it just for you all! Oh and sorry video is sideways, I dont know why it did that and didnt realize it till i uploaded it. Just turn your monitor on its side.

Cluck, thats sooooo cool! if you get speed control on the turner you are good to go! I just love the cabinet idea, its sure going to give you a lot more hatching room.