INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[chick rookie]

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.

ok I don't know what I keep doing wrong, but I think you know what I wanted to quote M2H. Thank you for the kind words and support ( everyone ) I guess I am just not 1 for suing, I will let the insurance co. handle it and be done with it I just don't like the added drama in my life I guess. And as an owner of dogs that go walk-about once in awhile, I know stuff happens... although everyone in my neighborhood knows and is in love with my boys ( they call them " the polar bears" ) if they were to cause any damage or stress or anything else I would take care of whatever need to be taken care of. Where as some people don't care. So as far as not being able to contain a dog when he/she really wants to run, I can relate... I have electric fencing, chain link, and wielded wire, in some places I even have cattle panels up to try and contain my " polar bears " if they want out... they get out. My biggest one actually ran his head through a section of privacy fence to get out. He did his visiting and them came home. My polar bears have helped farmers with coyotes, and finding lost sheep, ( all stories I have heard from the farmers they visit ) I guess they just don't have enough to do around here to keep them busy... lol Butt ... ALL 6 of my dogs shots are kept up to date and they are Pet Patrol tagged and Micro chipped. So its not like I am hiding who they belong to if they do a bad thing. So even though I cant keep my LGD's home sometimes, it don't mean I am an irresponsible pet owner. Not ranting, not saying any one said I was, just trying to explain why I'm not out to kill the owner of this dog. I totally understand some one that would be suing the pants off someone in a case like this, but it's just not in my nature I guess.
The owner sent his Son with money last night ( would not come himself ) to pay for the lost birds and a phone number in case the Silkie didn't make it or needed to go to the vet saying he would pay for it. I did take the money for the birds, and the phone number, but I truly don't think it was the owner that is trying to make things right... I think it is the son paying for the fathers sins kind of thing... IMO.
But the little Silkie is going to be fine I'm sure She (?) came out of her house last night and done some ranging with her sissters right before bed time. First time since the attack

I hope none of this came out wrong. Sometimes my wording is all wrong...

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!

I must have missed the ISPA testing post, didnt know anything about it, thanks, I think I will send some of my eggs in. Would be good to know. Thank you for posting about it and thanks for the link too.

I was able to get some pictures of my animals yesterday and decided i'd share some. Sorry there are so many

My new dog Thatcher. He is so sweet and guards all the chickens.

Mama my chicken watching cat.
.
Mr. Darcy the lovely lavender orpington roo (he is learning to crow).

My adorable little chocolate orpington bantams, junior and midge.

Pixie, my golden comet.

Elwood my brainless buff orpington roo.

Sheroo, my barred plymouth rock, (We were not sure if he was a boy or girl when he was little) is the best roo on the planet. He is so sweet!
Cecilia, my curious rhode island red.

I know this is not a chicken lol but just thought i'd share it. Yesterday, i sat under our humming bird feeders for about 30 minutes taking pics of them. It wasn't the easiest task because the chickens were trying to peck my arms off and the lens of the camera.

Joan jet black my jersey giant. She is the boss! This is one of the best pics I've ever gotten of her.

Mona, my sweet buff orpington.

Carmen, my bug catching pro easter egger.

One last pic of Thatcher being silly.

Nice pic's I think I can speak for everyone when I say we always like pic's so post away. No need to say sorry about it, even thou I do it to..... lol
and I love the last pic of Thatcher.... so cute

Get well soon! At least now you don't have to worry about that one anymore

Thanks, my grandmother is taking full advantage of my mobility problems... she has came and fed my critters every morning... I think she misses her chickens. She has always had chickens and ducks and just about anything with feathers... lol and I'm talking allot of them.

Yay! I'm all caught up

I can relate... Congrats...

I love my smartphone. I always have my camera. And camcorder. And gps. And stereo.

And pretty much everything else I'll ever want or need.

:-D

my smart phone is more of a dumb phone, and the pic's are really bad.

Oh and for a while we had an opossum (he still lived outside but we pet him and stuff) named Orlando.

I can honestly say that I have never had one of those as a pet...

Does anyone know if there is anyone in the southern part of the state ( I live near Bloomington) that can do npip testing to make sure a few of my birds are not carrying any diseases? I keep these 2 away from the rest of the flock, but would like to know how to get them tested? All their offspring have been dieing and I am trying to figure out why.

Also I was wondering if any of my BYC friends are going to be at the State Fair next week

. I am going on Thursday and I would love to meet some of you and maybe get some hatching eggs. My birthday is Friday 8/1 and I want to get some new chickens( or hatching eggs) for my birthday from some people I can trust!!!!!

I really want some Cochin and frizzles, or a cochin/frizzle. Any body know of anyone I can get some from?????

We are going but we still don't know what day??? DH wants to catch some livestock shows I have went on the ISF web site but cant find the times and days for what is when.

Not me! I block the government's brain control rays with my tin foil hat! :-D

My micro pig is giving birth right now and I'm stoked! She's got 6 out so far.

So cute

Gnite happy chicken friends!

Gnite late shift, us early shift peeps will take it from here... lol

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

Wow I hope he is ok...

Congrats on the newest addition

 

[pginsber]

Would you guys mind checking out my vid? I know its not about chickens, but it would mean alot to me. Also any tips on how I can make this better is appreciated

Forgot to put the link in the 1st time

And fix the grammar

Birdlady3-Checked out your video and it looks great. Excellent song choice. Your birds look healthy and peaceful.

Is the video you're using to show off your stock, to encourage buyers? The pictures where the cage was freshly cleaned, and the ones where you see the birds directly without cage bars in-between, showed off your birds the best IMO.

How long did it take you to put that whole video together? That looked very professional.

Nicely done! Best of luck with your sale.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Good morning chicken friends!

 

[Birdylady3]

I think you did a good job on it. Very pretty birds.

Thank you!

 

[Birdylady3]

Birdlady3-Checked out your video and it looks great. Excellent song choice. Your birds look healthy and peaceful.

Is the video you're using to show off your stock, to encourage buyers? The pictures where the cage was freshly cleaned, and the ones where you see the birds directly without cage bars in-between, showed off your birds the best IMO.

How long did it take you to put that whole video together? That looked very professional.

Nicely done! Best of luck with your sale.

Yes, that's why I made the vid. To show them off. It took me 3 minutes to pick to the pictures, 5 minutes to find the song and about 5 minutes to put the whole thing together

 

[Minminme]

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.

We had neighbors growing up that homeschooled until they got to high school and then they went to the public school. As far as I know all 5 kids transitioned pretty smoothly. They were also heavily involved in swim teams though so the kids did know some people going into the public system.
Oh my, I can't imagine being required to send my 3 year old to school! I wonder if their program is working?

Most parents feel the same way you do but then there are the insignificant few who actually look forward to it! I'm not sure if the program has had the outcome that the State was hoping for, they are supposed t do a study of 2nd graders t see if there is a difference in the educational advancement since the program began. Personally the only change I see is lazier parents!

 

[Minminme]

Good morning chicken friends!

Morning fellow cluck addict!

 

[Birdylady3]

Oh! Forgot to say morning all!

 

[goatluver20]

My main concern with home schooling is the socializing aspect of school that gets missed - learning to interact with other children and adults, share, collaborate, etc. But I know some home-schoolers participate in school sports or 4H or boy scouts/girl scouts, etc, which can help. And my other concern is that although most of us can help with k-5 level work, once you get into specialized topics I worry that we get the blind teaching the blind (in other words, no parent can be an expert in all subjects, so if their child is struggling it can be tough to help). I mean, when I was in high school I took calculus and chemistry and physics and biology and creative writing and theatre arts and Spanish and Latin and Japanese and Shakespeare and science fiction and Latin American History and creative writing and illustration, etc., and I got so much more out of those courses (most of them, at least) because the teachers were experts in the subjects and were available to provide in depth answers to my questions and so on. Admittedly, I went to a great high school. All this said, I would consider home-schooling my kids, at least for the early years.

Yeah some kids don't have much socializing. However, I am in 4-H in two clubs, have been in plays at our local theater, have a Wednesday night bible study at our house, and played soccer for many years and hope to start back in the spring. I got to attend 4-H camp and roundup (roundup is at Purdue's campus and you take classes to learn about different types of careers). I have many close friends that go to public school. Also, my brother (who will be a sophomore this year took the AP calculus test and got a 5 (the highest score you can get, he is gifted in math I'm not). Some people do better in public school, some better in home school so I can understand your point.

 

[silkieaddictIN]

Before court...why not just tell the owners what happened and try to handle it out of court?