INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Which kind of heat plate do you have - the Brinsea or the Premier?  I just ordered the Premier for my new kiddos... I think it will arrive today.  I decided I would NEVER brood again with a light if I could help it.  And prefer a broody always but this was a surprise arrival of chicks that I wasn't expecting.

Supposed to come in today.  Right now I only have a 74 watt red bulb (for lizzards) on them and it's more than hot enough.  But it's pretty close to them.  I've noticed that most my broody babies are out in 40 degree weather within a week with little time under mom except at night.  I'll be interested to see how quickly these non-brooded kiddos do.

I HATE brooding unnaturally.    These kids need a mamma.

I have two Brinseas now. I got my second one not too long ago because I got tired of waiting on positive or negative reviews of the Premier plate. I think I broke even in the price, though, because I got free shipping. Anyway, I loved my EcoGlow last year and am grateful for the lowered energy use, the lack of lighting, and the fact that it doesn't heat up the room at all compared to the clamp lamp! Those lamps turn the room into an oven! I'm with you--never using a lamp again if I can help it!

Seems like my babies quit really using the EcoGlow by 3 or 4 weeks old last year, but they were in the house still at that point. I left it on with them in the brooder until they were probably 6 weeks or so because they had stopped sleeping under it at all by then. It says not to use if the temperatures are 50 or lower, though, so I don't know if they'd work as well as a broody mama.

I had a bad experience the one and only time I let one of my hens hatch and raise chicks, so I can't say I'd prefer a hen to do the job for me anymore. But, then I can understand why you'd rather they be raised naturally (and not have so much work cleaning a brooder!).

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@SallyinIndiana
If I put up a fly strip anywhere near the birds I only use the ones that are sticky only with no pesticides just in case a piece falls, etc. I haven't had a fly issue in the last 2 years. Not sure if it is the ff or the deep litter doing the job. But I've been pleasantly pleased at the lack of flies inside.

http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Paper-Strips-Catcher-Victor/dp/B0043GD78O

You can get them at the hardware stores, farm stores, or anywhere that sells repellant products.

I get grossed out by the fly strips. The only places we get a fly problem is where we have young chicks. The thing is that we brood in our attached garage. I can't stand bugs in my house. I can't have fly traps in the house either. I have hung some of the fly strips out in the garage of course. But the dust makes them not the best. DH did the hanging jars last year but they smelt worse than a stink bomb from prank stores. The ducks eat the flys and other bugs but I haven't been letting them free range. They are too valuable in the sense that I don't have a male duck and have to order from the hatcheries in large groups.

Quote: I have been doing it both ways this year. I like the cartons but the wicking water can be an issue. he only downfall I have found is when a chick sits on an unhatched egg. That unhatched egg can't really roll out from under the chick.

I got a birchen marans from brad when he did the last chicken train. She's incredibly docile. I think she's 12 weeks old now and she was still in with all my chicks until last night. Since I was worried about over crowding I moved them into 3 separate brooders and put her out with the big girls. But she is so docile she's been picked on pretty bad. Both of her shoulders are picked bare and bloody. I don't know what to do. Should I leave her out there to try to find her own way? Should I put her back with the chicks? What do I do?

I thought you might find it interesting that the purple in the blu kote is the same gentian violet that gets used to treat infant thrush. It leaves the baby's face looking like a blueberry pie explosion. I agree with the others that posted saying you should use the blue stuff and separate the hurt chicken. I'm glad you moved her away from those pecking at her. But I am concerned that if the blue wears off the babies might start pecking. So my advice is to make sure yur chicken gets the blu kote at least every 3rd night if not every other night.

 

[goodb]

I think you have it right, just switched around. But for some reason the video was extremely fuzzy on my computer and all legs were whitish. I think my computer was distorting the color for some reason. Anyways I am fairly certain you just switched them around, despite the fuzzy screen issue

Thank you CCCCCCCCCHICKENS! That would explain why my "redstar" has gone broody. That's correct and now the door is open to a new set of problems!

How to deal with two broody hens? I have one that is on day 13 and a second just starting. She has two fake eggs under her now and tomorrow will be the test as I will move her to a different location (milk crate lined with straw) so she doesn't take up another nesting box.

 

[darmaboysmom]

Im in Bourbon.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Anyone want a rooster? I have a few that will be going to the pot as soon as they are meaty enough. But if someone wanted a rooster to get fertile eggs, these would be a bargain as the rehoming fee is less than the food they have eaten.

Rooster choices are 3 different colorings of Easter Eggers, production reds with no white in the tail and production red with white in the tail.

 

[Mother2Hens]

I have a few more crops to get in the ground, but a large majority of my planting is done. If only the dang rabbits would stop chewing the tops off my newly planted shrubs!!! I am going to be seriously peeved if they kill them all!! I am going to be trying to figure out how to create chicken wire cages tonight until they get big enough to withstand stupid animals.

Chick Crazed ~ Did you mean smart animals that can figure out ways to surmount obstacles in the way of their salad?

I kept a file on this project that I saw last year on the site where I bought my Imported English Orps, Adeline and Bonbon. (Of course I never did the project-- chicken wire drives me crazy!)
They are really cool, though, so here's the link: chicken scratch poultry: Chicken Wire Cloches
This screenshot shows the final product. It has a removable top with an old spoon as a handle.

I also think I now have a broody oegb. She wasn't in her normal spot last night when I was counting chickens so I climbed up into the loft of the chicken coop and there she was sitting on a nest and when I asked her what she thought she was doing she growled at me and got all puffed up. This afternoon I went to check again on her and she was still there. If she stays I will probably mark a couple of the eggs she is sitting on and let her hatch them. I have chick overload here.

barb s ~ I was stressing out ready about your chick stuck in the egg in your incubator! After just experiencing my first broody's hatch, I'm going to stick with the broody method where the hen does all the work!

 

[pginsber]

[COLOR=800080]Chick Crazed[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ Did you mean smart animals that can figure out ways to surmount obstacles in the way of their salad?[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513] I kept a file on this project that I saw last year on the site where I bought my Imported English Orps, Adeline and Bonbon. (Of course I never did the project-- chicken wire drives me crazy!)[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]They are really cool, though, so here's the link: [/COLOR]chicken scratch poultry: Chicken Wire Cloches [COLOR=8B4513]This screenshot shows the final product. It has a removable top with an old spoon as a handle.[/COLOR] [rule][COLOR=000080]barb s[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ I was stressing out ready about your chick stuck in the egg in your incubator! After just experiencing my first broody's hatch, I'm going to stick with the broody method where the hen does all the work![/COLOR]

We can't grow cabbage to save our souls. Something about herbs/wildflowers and worms/butterflys that just don't do well with growing cabbage. Stupid cabbage worms get them every time! They would get through that fancy cage, too. When we had a broody hatch a few eggs, we loved her doing the work but HATED not seeing under her bum for the progress! Always a flip side to everything, isn't there?

 

[pginsber]

It means a lot to be able to read y'all's posts each night when I get dragged away from home for work.
I have to travel less now than I used to, but a hotel bed and airport is not as comfy as my own bed and animals.
We have 2 chicks that I'm missing their rapid growth being away, so the chick pictures you're sharing are terrible and sweet at the same time.
Be home on Sunday. In the meantime, your posts keep me grounded, thanks!
Having dinner now, while most of you are going to bed. Sweet dreams from the SanFrancisco area!

 

[raisinemright]

Finishing chores after 4H meeting tonight. All 13 adult chickens made it into the small coop inside the barn. They all found their own spot on the roost and I didn't see any pecking going on at all!! Is it a real life miracle???? Lol 13 chickens in a coop built for 6

(they free range during the day)

 

[barb s]

Chick Crazed ~ Did you mean smart animals that can figure out ways to surmount obstacles in the way of their salad?

I kept a file on this project that I saw last year on the site where I bought my Imported English Orps, Adeline and Bonbon. (Of course I never did the project-- chicken wire drives me crazy!)
They are really cool, though, so here's the link: chicken scratch poultry: Chicken Wire Cloches
This screenshot shows the final product. It has a removable top with an old spoon as a handle.

barb s ~ I was stressing out ready about your chick stuck in the egg in your incubator! After just experiencing my first broody's hatch, I'm going to stick with the broody method where the hen does all the work!

The chick is doing great so far. Can't hardly tell it ever had any problems. Its in with two chicks that hatched at the same time I was helping it out, they were all pretty weak but are all up running around like chicks do. I hope that I never have to do that again. But I know that if I do, there's a bunch of great people on here that will help me out.