INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[iamfivewire]

sorry the one didnt make it hogster , but glad the other one did

 

[Leahs Mom]

Good info on safety measures. I wanted to make note of something in addition here, though. I have heard that those ceramic bulbs can become loose and fall off, leaving exposed wires and such, so be careful with those!

Also, for those with clamp lamps in your brooders, be aware that the 250 watt bulbs are WAAAAY TOO HOT for either purpose!! I don't even know why they sell them with brooder clamp lamps!

Before I switched to EcoGlows for my brooder, I used a 70 - 100 watt bulb at the most in my clamp lamp and it was more than enough for the babies. However, if you plan to brood every year or have several broods in a year, the heat plates like the EcoGlows (and the Premier1 one whose name I don't remember) are well worth investing in! Just my two cents.

RE the ceramic heat emitters:
I got one of the ceramic heat emitters last year. I set it up and put a thermometer under it to see how it would do. I immediately knew that I couldn't use one for a few reasons.

1. The emitter itself is blazing hot. If a chick touched it it would certainly be burned and hurt very badly. Because there is no light or any way to even know to stay away from it, the chances are that they would touch it.

2. I had to put it very near the floor to even register anywhere near enough heat. The heat area was small. It would have had to be placed too close to the chicks for safety under any circumstance.

3. There is no indicator that it is running. I'd have to check on it by feel rather than looking across a room to be sure it was working properly.

Point 1 & 2 are really the main reasons. I had a lot of hope that they'd be a good alternative but unfortunately not so.

I got one of the Premier 1 heat plates. Would NEVER go back to bulbs again. Supposedly they will save enough in electricity use over bulbs to pay for themselves pretty quickly.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@hogster160
Good to hear about the new baby!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thanks everyone for silkie/bantam help. I think silkies might be okay for me, because even though they're small, they don't look like tiny chickens. They look like muppets. And no one is scared of muppets.

So now I really want to see one in person!

There is several of us that have them. You are welcome to visit sometime if it works out. There may be some closer to you that will make it easier tho.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

So here's today's update on the great vinegar weed killer experiment.

pic on left was about 2 hours or so after spraying -- pic on right 2 days later -- tops are still green since I didn't get the spray on them. I had only sprayed the right side of the path.




The grass is dying off -- I can't remember if I sprayed the tops or not since I had stuff laying right there



This is the side of the path & flower bed (under the windows) that I did not spray. I decided to see if mowing down the weeds and thistles first and then spraying would help kill the roots faster. The pic on the left shows before mowing and pic on right after mowing.


This is right after spraying. I was going to take a 2 hour later photo for comparison on the following pics, but my camera died when I went back to try & I had to recharge the battery. I'll have to get the pics tomorrow.


This is a really nasty creeping vine that is terribly invasive. It gets white flowers (kind of trumpet shaped) on it. It loves to try to get up under the siding. I'm really hoping the vinegar works on this. Again, I'll have the "after" pics tomorrow.





Here are the other spots after 2 days. Definitely seems to be that the vinegar works directly where it's sprayed, but not on other parts of the plant -- at least not yet. Theoretically, if the foliage of the plant dies off, the rest of the plant would indirectly die.






I know this is a bit hard to see, but this was some small clover growing. The leaves are all brown, but underneath it's still green. I think a second application would help, trying to make sure the stems, etc underneath all get the spray.


I spent too much time today pulling a lot of other weeds over 3 feet tall -- figured pulling was the best option. We cleaned rabbit trays tonight and decided this week we're kicking off Barn Clean Up Week -- gotta get a lot of things put back in order throughout the week & do some deep cleaning. It should all culminate next Saturday with power washing rabbit cages and the floor -- lots to do before we get to that point!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

RE the ceramic heat emitters:
I got one of the ceramic heat emitters last year.  I set it up and put a thermometer under it to see how it would do.  I immediately knew that I couldn't use one for a few reasons.

1.  The emitter itself is blazing hot.  If a chick touched it it would certainly be burned and hurt very badly.  Because there is no light or any way to even know to stay away from it, the chances are that they would touch it.

2.  I had to put it very near the floor to even register anywhere near enough heat.  The heat area was small.  It would have had to be placed too close to the chicks for safety under any circumstance.

3.  There is no indicator that it is running.  I'd have to check on it by feel rather than looking across a room to be sure it was working properly.

Point 1 & 2 are really the main reasons.  I had a lot of hope that they'd be a good alternative but unfortunately not so.

I got one of the Premier 1 heat plates.  Would NEVER go back to bulbs again.  Supposedly they will save enough in electricity use over bulbs to pay for themselves pretty quickly.

I hadn't actually used one of those ceramic bulbs, so I was going off of what I had read about them. I've seen actually quite a few reports of the ceramic bulb falling off of those. Sounds like they aren't very safe even if they don't fall apart! :/


I also totally agree about never going back to bulbs! I love my EcoGlows! Less electricity used, less worry about the fire hazard, no transition to the day/night cycle, and my babies usually are not dependent on it as a heat source after 3 or so weeks, a lot earlier than with the heat lamp! Whether it pays for itself or not with its lower electricity use, it certainly is worth it to me just in how much better it is by comparison to those clamp lamps!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

as promised pic's of our new family members:


The extra is a Red Bielefelder is what I think he called her. Hope I spelled it right. Aint they so pretty, I'm so happy.

They are gorgeous!

Quote: I just love them! Congrats on the hatch. And BTW my eggs from chickenfest have begun hatching! I see one dark bantam chick out already

Hoping for more cochin, I am very interested in the breed. DH has taken an interest in them too.

Quote:
Where did you get the candy corn seed from? I got the bicolor sweet this year. Its very good, but I want bigger cobs.

I also have a slew of young boys that will probably end up at auction unless anyone is interested.
3 Marans/Ameraucana mix with single combs hatched March (1 has beard/tufts)
1 Silver Laced Wyandotte/Marans hatched April
2 white Silkies (hatchery March)
1 white Silkie with single comb but doesn't have a crest does have proper blue skin Not certain of sex (hatchery March)
1 Olive Egger hatched March

I'm sure I have a few more from the other brooder but I'm still waiting on them.

I will eventually have some Beautiful Black Copper Marans Roos as I have 4 from March but I'm still growing them out to pick the best type.
I'm so bummed though. .I have a BCM roo that I hatched last year and Wow he is really really looking good BUT he lost all..yes all of his toes this past winter and I watched him try mating yesterday and the poor thing couldn't get a grip. Maybe he'll have success if the girl submits but this one wasn't.
I'll post a pic of him after bit. He's much better looking than his father. I paired him nicely. Just wish he had his toes! Geez!

Quote:

Here he is. ..my poor baby with no toes!

Aww thats sad. My Red GLW lost 2 last winter. It was very hard on everyone's flocks I think.

I keep going back and forth if his tail angle is too high. Think I'm going to have to ask some more experienced folks about it. Other than that, his wide back, chest, comb, overall color and eye color seem right on track.

I don't know the standards, But I think he is stunning!

A few pics of chicks that need new homes. Here is the hatchery Silkie with the single comb and no crest I mentioned a few posts earlier. Not sure of it's sex.




This last pic is one of two that look very similar and it's the Birchen colored. I hatched some from a breeder for Black Copper Marans and because the Olive Egger I hatched from them has the same colors I wonder if either they are crosses also or a mistake and actually Birchen Marans. Either way not a part of my breeding program.

I like your last bird a lot. You are pretty far from me tho.

Quote:

Quote: My Australorps are very, very broody. Pretty disappointed at the egg production since they are plastered to nest boxes all summer

They may not be a breed I keep next year. When they are laying, its daily but they have been on the boxes most of the spring and summer, ugh.
My silkies are good layers, the OEGB are fantastic! They lay daily without question. But if you miss a day collecting eggs, forget it. Broody sets in fast!
My millies are not laying yet but am hopeful they will soon.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hello everyone. Long time since I've posted. Seems like the only time I post is when I have a problem. And boy do I have a problem!

Story goes like this.

Broody blrw. Sat on turkey eggs for 30 days. 2 hatched 1 killed. The last baby removed. I set her on some chicken eggs, she hatched 2, again 1 killed. I locked her up to break her.

2nd broody blrw. I put the last of broody 1 egg under her to finish hatching, while sitting on her own which are due tomorrow, brought that chick inside. Its 5 days old in the brooder. Well this morning 2 eggs pipped. I go out a couple of hours later, one egg smashed, chick still alive and moving, although I can see a lot of the chick, egg yolk and blood. I have her sitting in a bowl, with a damp paper towel, heated towel under a 250 watt red lamp. The other egg has a hole pipped in the shell and the membrane, it continues to chirp and peck at shell.

I put both eggs in their own bowl set up the same. I have no incubator, so I'm improvising. My indoor/outdoor thermometer reads 101 temp and 53% humidity. Is this close to helping those eggs hatch?

Thanks for any help, as I am truly lost

Deb

Hi, I saw you posted about losing the other. How old are the hens? May just be too immature to brood right now.

I s this Wry Neck???


Honey has come down with something. not eating well, drinking very little, legs spread apart wide and will not stand on her feet, she loses her ballance and falls over, is cold and still has that sneezing thing I posted a video on.
This is what I have done so far. brought her in the house, put her on a heating pad, gave her Poly-Vi-Sol without iron, and also put a full dropper full in her water, water bowel is a sm one, put game/showbird feed 18% in feed bowel.
Any help will you can give I will be so grateful. I already lost her mate don't want to lose her.
o and her head and neck stays in one of those 2 spots pictured.

Wry neck is so sad. Their neck is fixed in a twisted position. they learn to eat with it, but its usually from birth from what I have seen here. I have had 2, one was an ee, and one goose born with it. They are otherwise lively and active.
This bird almost looks like cocci, or a respiratory infection. I would get tetracycline to add to her water. PM me if you need details but act fast. Once they are visibly ill, they go downhill quick.

Hi all - just wanted to post an update from our dog attack from july 09 that killed 3 hens & severely damaged our Iowa Blue Rooster :
Well, one month later he's still alive - we've had to hold him up 3~4 times a day to eat; had antibiotic shots for the first couple weeks; had been using triple antibiotic ointment on 1/3 of his body, then switched to a prescription cream after that for the bite/puncture wounds. He has lost alot of weight. He is able to hop around on his good leg, but his injured may not ever function again (but we hope it will eventually).
We started saving all the eggs we could after that to put into the incubator, thinking just in case he didnt make it or may never sire babies again . hatch is expected around aug 20th - also have some EEs & some of his son's added to fill it up. So depending on how many hatch, there's a good chance we'll have some IaB chicks (& EEs) available if anyone might be interested in some. we are due to candle tomorrow nite & then again before lockdown.

Here's his picture 2 days before the attack:


His son:

He is gorgeous, as is his son. I hope he continues to improve.

pipdzip : this young IaB boy looks similar to your Fayoumi (& mama in background):

Gorgeous!

The smashed chick died, the other egg was cracked so I placed it in my heater blanket on low with a warm washcloth. She just hatched!

Here she is! She is just chirping away! To cute!

Oh goodness too precious! She may be fine, you are doing all you can..

 

[hogster160]

Sorry about the one chick, but yaaa for the other! That will probably be the best chicken you have. The ones that need your help the most, always turn out the sweetest.

Thanks, hopefully things will go well for her.

sorry the one didnt make it hogster , but glad the other one did

Thanks, as soon as I saw it, I knew there was no chance. The egg was smashed and bleeding.

@hogster160
Good to hear about the new baby!

Thanks, I am over run with babies atm lol. They are everywhere!

Hi, I saw you posted about losing the other. How old are the hens? May just be too immature to brood right now.

Gorgeous!
Oh goodness too precious! She may be fine, you are doing all you can..

They are both going to be 2 in January, so over a year and a half.

She is drying up a bit, kicking back and chilling out. Lets out a few peeps now and again just to remind me I now have 2 babies in my bedroom again. Which of course gets the other baby chirping. Tomorrow, I will put them both in the same brood box with a divider, they are 5 days apart in age. And of course, I have Mama and 3 feral kittens who just got fixed in my big brooder outside They should be able to be let loose Monday, and 12 baby poults in my great dane cage in the dining room, but they are 3 weeks old, so too young to go outside yet. So I need to rig something up for them tomorrow.

Also have a family reunion tomorrow, busy day!

I just want to say I am so glad to read that your dad is doing better! You are so very blessed to have both of your parents still. Continued prayers.

Deb

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So guys.. whats your plan going into next year? I am looking at the species and breeds we have now.. Holler out what your plans are next year!

Sooooo it looks like my incubator is shutting off in 2 weeks. Actually 17 days, just set about 80 quail eggs.
Really..... Not kidding..... gonna do it

did i mention this is VERY painful?
I have hatched nonstop for about 17 months, and UGH its time for a break!
I plan to look at what I have, decide what breeds and species to keep working with.
Chickens: NNs, OEGBs, MGB, Cochin, Millies and polish.
Maybe still keeping silkies? dunno yet.
Legbar for sure. GLW/SLW, EE, OE, BA, RIR BR and maybe a few rares.
Turkeys, no doubts.
Quail YEP.
Pekin, uh, NO way. They are awesome for the table but eat a LOT too.
Muscovy

no question.
Geese.. Always, forever.. they stay. Brown/white chinese, maybe Embden but I have a daily visitor now. a very friendly Canadian goose hen.
I have actually picked her up, took her in to see Mom. She just showed up in the yard a few days ago.
The gander with her is fearful and won't visit, but at feeding time she is coming right in like all the other geese,
So, I won't confine her, but I welcome her visits. What a beautiful graceful goose too, I am wondering if she wasn't "relocated" at the park.
We usually see a large flock in the north pasture, but never have them close up begging food. My nephew took pics of her, will ask him to send them so I can post.
She is clearly imprinted on people. Who ever abandoned her gave her a good chance at the park. Just sad that she was, pretty obvious since she is not afraid of humans or other livestock.
Keeping and adding pigs, cows.. looking for more!
And of course keeping my goats