INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[EurekaChic]

Our school system here in WV already have a peek program that children are required to b enrolled in prior to Kindergarten. They test 3yr olds and if they pass the testing they start at three if they don't pass at three they are retested at 4yrs if they don't pass at 4,some of the parents are required to take a parenting class and take a test to see if the parents are "at fault" for the inability of the child t pass this "basic" test. I'm not sure what happens if it is the parents intellect that has stimied the child, I don't think they can legally do anything about it. I'm telling you there are a LOT of inbred idiots in this state popping out kids like puppies!!!

Whoa. That sounds a bit crazy.

But it does bring up the question of home life. How can we blame teachers when parents can't earn enough to feed their kids or have to work multiple jobs to do so, and are so tired and stressed when they are home that they can't interact with their kids or help them with their school work, and people can't afford health care or dentistry or diapers, when there are no places to shop for healthy food in poor neighborhoods or rural areas. Argh. Sometimes I just get so frustrated with the status quo. Ok. Rant over for now.

 

[EurekaChic]

Prepare to get overloaded with cuteness!

Awwwww.... How sweet.

 

[EurekaChic]

I honestly could have done without some of the socialization aspects of public school! But I also went to a HUGE school so it was easy to get lost in the crowd.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I was a huge nerd, in a class of hundreds. .And I didn't mean to imply that my high school was perfect. Although it really worked out for me, it's the same high school my husband dropped out of (not because he was stupid - he's smarter than I am. But because the school did a horrible job dealing with challenging students).

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi guys, I have several unanswered pm's, Dads procedure didn't go so well yesterday.
He stayed in the hospital overnight. Will catch up tomorrow hopefully, and answer PMs also.
Positive note, My little Oberhasli goat Sophie blessed us with a doeling this afternoon, beautiful little girl!
I arrived home just in time to see the little head and front hooves out

Gramma Sugar, Sophie's mother assisted in the birthing and cleanup, I am so very proud of both my girls.
Nite guys

 

[Mother2Hens]

Thanks again to everyone for their support when I was freaking out about my missing Silkie, Ditzy. All I could picture was my Baby Fluffy being caring off and ripped apart by a hawk. I am stunned that she wondered so far away by herself although her name is Ditzy. However, she was pretty smart to make it through the night without a predator getting her, especially since she slipped in a fenced area where they have two large dogs! Geez. As I mentioned, it is invaluable to have our thread to go to when in need!
Originally Posted by pginsber

MY TOMATOES ARE TEASING ME!!! Why is it nearly August and they're STILL GREEN?!?!?!

We have a volunteer grape tomato plant that has one cluster of 4 tasteless red tomatoes, the main patch is all GREEN! In atrueb00's picture of the cosmo and bee, I see a tomato teasing red. Does anybody have lots of red tomatoes yet?

pginsber ~ I think we've had our best tomato crop ever. Don't ask me why. Talent not involved. Our tomato farm consists of four plants in a raised bed.

We bought large (maybe 2' tall plants) at a garden center and planted them the first week of May. We had red tomatoes by the 4th of July and we've been picking nice red ones almost daily. They're the classic Big Boy and Better Girl varieties. We've had little problems with any insects or fungus, etc., and haven't used any chemicals. And luckily, the chickens know to stay away from tomato plants.
Unfortunately, my mantra this summer has been, "I'm behind on the thread!" I am determined to catch up because there are so many great posts and photos each day--- pages and pages and pages of them.

 

[kittydoc]

Actually, I am an attorney--but not in practice and not licensed in Indiana (was licensed in Illinois another life ago). If anyone has a situation like this nightmare dog attack, the owner is entitled to compensation for any and all damages caused by the non-owned dog that can be proven (including the value of the birds, fixing damaged fence/coop), and especially human injuries. Even if you have insurance that pays most of all of your medical bills, you can sue the dog's owner for all of your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering. This is generally called a tort claim (as opposed to a criminal complaint). All of the different damages are calculated separately--what you can get for the loss of your birds will not be great, it will their fair market value. But the big bucks to be made are in the payment of medical bills (at least recovering your out of pocket expenses, and often the full amount--which your insurance company will want back in most cases), but your pain and suffering can be significant.

I would generally advise AGAINST using the attorneys or firms that advertise on television. Ask around--you never know who might know a good personal injury/tort attorney. You can also check on a website called www.avvo.com (which some attorneys hate, and I have personally tried it with mixed results for finding the occasional attorney for myself, when there is a matter beyond my skills). The state bar association of each state can make a list available to you, and if you check their website, if you see that someone is the chairperson of the personal injury bar committee, that might be a person/firm to at least sit down with.

Most personal injury attorneys will give you a free consultation.

If all you have lost is some birds, your best bet is to file a police report, remove but do not bury your birds until they come out and talk to you, and file against the dog owner in small claims court. Most attorneys wouldn't take a "dead chickien" case by itself, but they would probably add it in with a personal injury case.

Personal injury attorneys generally keep 1/3 of whatever you are ultimately awarded, and do not charge you more than costs (like filing fees, photocopies, etc.) even if you lose.

When you go to small claims court, you generally represent yourself, and show up with all the evidence you have (which will include receipts for the birds, fair value estimates for adult birds based on going prices at swaps, eBay, here, etc.), high resolution big photographs of all injuries, damage, and dead birds, veterinary bills for birds that died afterward from their injuries, etc.

Jeez, maybe I should write an article about this and submit it to one of the poultry magazines! I hope this helps. I tell people MY advice is worth what you pay for it sometimes, which is nothing, but I've had some luck walking my friends through some legal jams of various kinds.

(And yes, I know it is totally crazy that I am a veterinarian and inactive attorney, but it's the truth. There aren't many of us!)

 

[kittydoc]

July 29, 2014

​

Scientists make headway against poultry disease coccidiosis
Scientists have made a breakthrough in the fight against coccidiosis, an intestinal disease in poultry, by sequencing the full genomes of the seven species of Eimeria that cause the disease. "With poultry production expansion predicted to continue for at least the next 30 years, and with Africa and Asia accounting for most of this growth, developing a new generation of cheap effective vaccines against coccidiosis will be a major contribution to global food security," said parasitology researcher Fiona Tomley of the Royal Veterinary College, whose work will be published in the journal Genome Research. PhysOrg.com (7/28)​

This is good news for everyone. Here's the link to the full story: http://phys.org/news/2014-07-breakthrough-coccidiosis.html. As someone who recently was "gifted" with coccidiosis from some pullets purchased out of state, I'd love to know there is a really effective vaccine against it, even though I have a small flock (less than 30 birds), and it has not been a persistent problem. One round of Corid and it was done with no losses and only a couple of youngsters feeling a bit off for a day or two, but we are open to surprise diseases every time we pick up a new chick or adult bird from anyone, anywhere, whether they are our friends or total strangers. Once they have this new vaccine up and ready, it should be a godsend to large operators, as well as nice security for those of us who don't want to experience it either. Not every vaccine is a good idea for every flock, and you always have to evaluate the risk versus the benefit. However, these genomic vaccines have mostly been really awesome in multiple species.

 

[kittydoc]

Last but not least--and I am certain this has been posted before--please take advantage of the free avian influenza testing being conducted by ISPA. Any small flock owner can submit a dozen eggs in a prepaid container with lots of bubble wrap and a couple of little gel cooler packets for testing. To apply, go to http://inpoultry.org/documents/T-12.pdf.

It takes a few weeks to get your results, but not only did they test my eggs for avian influenza, but also for Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Salmonella pullorum/gallinarum (PT). All clean (and I sent little eggs from my younger pullets/hens.) You can't use it to say on your website that you are negative for all of these diseases, but it is a good screening test, and if you come up positive for ANY of these diseases, you have some grave decisions to make. Better to know, especially since avian influenza also affects people. The folks at ISPA are VERY helpful.

I am really happy the state offers this to us (a good use of tax dollars), and think everyone should take advantage, even if you have two chickens. Just my opinion as a veterinarian and chicken farmer!

 

[EurekaChic]

Actually, I am an attorney--but not in practice and not licensed in Indiana (was licensed in Illinois another life ago).  If anyone has a situation like this nightmare dog attack, the owner is entitled to compensation for any and all damages caused by the non-owned dog that can be proven (including the value of the birds, fixing damaged fence/coop), and especially human injuries.  Even if you have insurance that pays most of all of your medical bills, you can sue the dog's owner for all of your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering.  This is generally called a tort claim (as opposed to a criminal complaint).  All of the different damages are calculated separately--what you can get for the loss of your birds will not be great, it will their fair market value.  But the big bucks to be made are in the payment of medical bills (at least recovering your out of pocket expenses, and often the full amount--which your insurance company will want back in most cases), but your pain and suffering can be significant.

I would generally advise AGAINST using the attorneys or firms that advertise on television.  Ask around--you never know who might know a good personal injury/tort attorney.  You can also check on a website called www.avvo.com (which some attorneys hate, and I have personally tried it with mixed results for finding the occasional attorney for myself, when there is a matter beyond my skills).  The state bar association of each state can make a list available to you, and if you check their website, if you see that someone is the chairperson of the personal injury bar committee, that might be a person/firm to at least sit down with.


Most personal injury attorneys will give you a free consultation.

If all you have lost is some birds, your best bet is to file a police report, remove but do not bury your birds until they come out and talk to you, and file against the dog owner in small claims court.  Most attorneys wouldn't take a "dead chickien" case by itself, but they would probably add it in with a personal injury case.

Personal injury attorneys generally keep 1/3 of whatever you are ultimately awarded, and do not charge you more than costs (like filing fees, photocopies, etc.) even if you lose.

When you go to small claims court,  you generally represent yourself, and show up with all the evidence you have (which will include receipts for the birds, fair value estimates for adult birds based on going prices at swaps, eBay, here, etc.), high resolution big photographs of all injuries, damage, and dead birds, veterinary bills for birds that died afterward from their injuries, etc.

Jeez, maybe I should write an article about this and submit it to one of the poultry magazines!  I hope this helps.  I tell people MY advice is worth what you pay for it sometimes, which is nothing, but I've had some luck walking my friends through some legal jams of various kinds.

(And yes, I know it is totally crazy that I am a veterinarian and inactive attorney, but it's the truth.  There aren't many of us!)

Thanks for posting this great info. I'm more impressed that you're a vet - vet school is harder to get into, and harder to finish, than law school!

 

[EurekaChic]

[COLOR=008000]pginsber[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~ I think we've had our best tomato crop ever. Don't ask me why. Talent not involved. Our tomato farm consists of four plants in a raised bed.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]  We bought large (maybe 2' tall plants) at a garden center and planted them the first week of May. We had red tomatoes by the 4th of July and we've been picking nice red ones almost daily. They're the classic Big Boy and Better Girl varieties. We've had little problems with any insects or fungus, etc., and haven't used any chemicals. And luckily, the chickens know to stay away from tomato plants.[/COLOR]
[rule][COLOR=8B4513]Unfortunately, my mantra this summer has been, "I'm behind on the thread!" I am determined to catch up because there are so many great posts and photos each day--- pages and pages and pages of them. [/COLOR]

So glad you found Ditzy safe and sound!