INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[PeacefulWalls]

Yes, heirloom ones. These tomatoes are Costoluto Genovese and this is the first year we've tried them. (http://www.rareseeds.com/costoluto-genovese-tomato/)
We love the Paul Robeson tomatoes and have found these to be a bit sweeter than them. They have been fruitful plants his year. Not sure they're the right fruits to blanch, peel, and can though. More for fresh eating.

I wondered if you got your seeds from Baker Creek. I love their seeds & they're about the only place I get seeds anymore. I have some Paul Robesons in the garden along with quite a few other black/purple varieties. Once I discovered the dark tomatoes I was hooked! I've never froze tomatoes before, though I've read about a lot of other people doing it. The skins are supposed to slip off pretty easily after being frozen -- maybe you could try that with these if you have an abundance. I've also done a quick tomato sauce by just washing & coring the tomatoes, then running them (with skins) in the food processor with onions, garlic, etc and cooking down to can. We don't really notice the skins in the sauce and it's so much quicker that way!

Off topic for chickens....

Anyone here know a breeder of Holland Lop rabbits? I'm interested in getting one, trying to avoid Craigslist for now. There aren't many advertised for sale currently anyway. I'm headed back to the fair this Friday so I will look for contacts there but thought I'd check here too. I was at the fair this past Sunday but the rabbits weren't there. Don't know if I was too early or too late.

I'm not looking to show in 4h, just a good natured pet. I'd love to get one as young as possible to socialize early on.

Thanks

Don't know when te 4-H show is, but the check in for open show is Friday and judging Saturday for rabbits

The youth 4-H rabbit show was the first weekend of state fair. Another option would be to come back to the State Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 6 or Sunday morning, September 7. This is the weekend of our ISRBA (Indiana State Rabbit Breeders Association) Convention. The show runs Saturday and concludes Sunday morning. There will be people there with rabbits for sale -- just have to look through the cages -- and there's a rabbit auction at the conclusion of the show -- the catalog auction list includes a holland lop. Not sure when the actual auction will start -- sometimes noonish -- all depends how many rabbits are left to judge Sunday morning and how long that takes. There's no entry fee to come to the rabbit show -- anyone can come -- just have to pay to park at the fairgrounds.


ETA: If you go to the www.ISRBA.com website you can pull up the list of Indiana Breeders. The people listed have paid a fee to be on the list (but you know they have good rabbits) -- there's lots more other breeders out there, too. They would be a good place to start or can probably recommend other breeders to you.

Oh -- and you can also pull up the list of upcoming rabbit shows (ISRBA sanctioned shows tab) to see if any are close to where you live. People always have rabbits for sale at shows!

ETA the ETA: Scratch that about shows on the ISRBA website -- don't know what's up but there's an old calendar on there. Go instead to www.arba.net (American Rabbit Breeders Assoc.) website. Click on the members resources tab and the 2nd menu item is Shows. Have it search for Indiana shows and you'll have a whole lot of options if you want to go that route!

 

[racinchickins]

I have room for a few more hens, or turkeys if anyone out there needs to lighten their load!

I have both chickens and turkeys for sale if you are interested. Trying to cut back on the flock this year.

Hey guys, need some advice/wisdom.

I have ten hens. They are 22 weeks last Saturday. One began laying Sunday before last. Everyday she would lay progressively later, and then today, nothing. Just went out in the dark to inspect the coop, run, etc. No egg. I feel like I'm doing something wrong. This obviously is my first flock.

They are fed well, organically, layer feed, supplements, frsh fruit and veg, the whole bit. They have grit and free choice oyster shells.

What, if anything, am I doing wrong or is this just normal? Please help put my mind at ease...

Absolutely normal. It is the rare chicken that lays every day for weeks on end. As was posted earlier. The laying cycle for a chicken is a little longer than a day, so the laying later each day is normal then they skip a day (or two). If you have been keeping a close enough eye on them to notice this, then you're chickens are in good hands.

Went to the State Fair tonight. Had a nice time in the poultry house. Seemed like the majority of the chickens were submitted by Brandi Powell. Is she one of us BYCrs? Her entry fees must've been CRAZY!

I was there last night too. Frankly, I was disappointed at what I saw. Although there were some very nice chickens, I also saw a lot of examples of birds I would never expect to see at a show. Lots of birds with missing feathers, frostbit combs, etc... I'm always impressed at how big some of the show quality breeds get. (The Rocks were enormous) It makes me excited for the fall chicken shows, where you see even more quality chickens.

My big surprise was seeing a pair of Crested Cream Legbars. The first I'd ever seen at a show. The female was nice, good crest, ok color, and quite a bit larger than my birds. The male was not as nice. Too much off color and quite small. But kudos to whoever brought them and I'm glad to see them finally showing up.

 

[pginsber]

They don't charge per bird. It cost me $45 to enter but I also didn't buy a sales pen. Trust me I wouldn't over enter it if they did!

They looked like nice quality animals. I didn't count them, but there must've been at least 30 birds you entered. How many did you enter?
I have several questions about entering animals. Maybe if you have time, you can help me learn about it.

About my own chickens, I have thought "so-and-so is a beautiful bird, maybe I should enter her in the fair" but then I go to the fair and see the birds in cages. The cages are unlocked, fair-goers walking around, kids sticking fingers and straws in the cage--I would worry about the physical safety of the birds. Have you had any negative experiences with animal safety?

The fair is in charge of feeding and watering the birds while they're there, right? Have you had good experience with their care of your birds?

I've heard it said before that sometimes the birds people enter seem sickly. As a less-than-healthy bird may be in the cage next to yours, have you had any issues bringing home illnesses from the fair?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I told you about one evening when I was in the coop observing my hens' nightly bedtime quarrels, and I happened to be humming. I noticed that they responded with interest (off-key) and when I started blinking my eyes, they began closing their eyes like they were following my lead. Since then, I've been softly singing "Hush Little Baby" (Mockingbird) lullaby when they get in the coop. Each night, they get in their places and eagerly look at me waiting for their cue. Eliza, my English Splash Orp is the funniest because she has huge dark eyes and she scoots over closer to my Jubilee Orp, Adeline, to get a better look at me as though I'm the conductor. Then Adeline pecks Eliza for crowding her against the wall. I realize that singing to my chickens is not "normal," but it has greatly reduced their squabbling time. My chickens have always reminded me of Kindergarteners. Here they are after I started singing . . . they're probably thinking, "If we pretend we're asleep, she'll stop that horrible singing!"

I would love to see a YouTube video of this--can you arrange it?

I wondered if you got your seeds from Baker Creek. I love their seeds & they're about the only place I get seeds anymore. I have some Paul Robesons in the garden along with quite a few other black/purple varieties. Once I discovered the dark tomatoes I was hooked! I've never froze tomatoes before, though I've read about a lot of other people doing it. The skins are supposed to slip off pretty easily after being frozen -- maybe you could try that with these if you have an abundance. I've also done a quick tomato sauce by just washing & coring the tomatoes, then running them (with skins) in the food processor with onions, garlic, etc and cooking down to can. We don't really notice the skins in the sauce and it's so much quicker that way!

Good ideas! Thanks!
What other black/purple varieties do you grow?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Anyone up around the Tippecanoe County area? I am looking for some feedback from anyone hearing "local" weather forecasts up there for the weekend. The time has come to move DD up to Purdue this weekend and the forecast I get via weather.com has changed in the last 24 hours from looking like Saturday was a great day to be moving two trucks full of furniture to not so much (and stormy Sunday, Monday, Tuesday too -- she has to be there by Wednesday for "Zero Week" ROTC activities). I'd just say no biggy and take the day off Friday to move her (first day her apt. will be available) but I will be in Indy at a work meeting that I can miss that day. I just know sometimes the general forecasts and reports that are put out for where we live can be pretty different from what the "local" guys have to say............I'mnot even sure what the "local" news/weather channels, sources, etc up there are, lol

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You guys know how weird I am-- I told you about one evening when I was in the coop observing my hens' nightly bedtime quarrels, and I happened to be humming. I noticed that they responded with interest (off-key) and when I started blinking my eyes, they began closing their eyes like they were following my lead. Since then, I've been softly singing "Hush Little Baby" (Mockingbird) lullaby when they get in the coop. Each night, they get in their places and eagerly look at me waiting for their cue. Eliza, my English Splash Orp is the funniest because she has huge dark eyes and she scoots over closer to my Jubilee Orp, Adeline, to get a better look at me as though I'm the conductor. Then Adeline pecks Eliza for crowding her against the wall. I realize that singing to my chickens is not "normal," but it has greatly reduced their squabbling time. My chickens have always reminded me of Kindergarteners. Here they are after I started singing . . . they're probably thinking, "If we pretend we're asleep, she'll stop that horrible singing!"

 

[Birdylady3]

Morning guys!

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Good ideas! Thanks!
What other black/purple varieties do you grow?

I think I have at least one of each of these this year -- I started seeds for all of them anyhow. Between all my varieties (also have red, yellow, orange & pink ones) I started around 75 plants & I lost track of what all survived & didn't survive before transplanting!

black/purple varieties: vorlon, carbon, Paul Robeson, Japanese black trifele, black prince, southern night, sara black, black from Tula, black mauri, black giant, black cherry & chocolate pear

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

My little ducky has internally pipped!!
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Oh, gosh, I don't know what to do with myself!!

 

[browncow15]

I missed the color conversation the other night! I had some friends over. I know nothing about codes! Does this work?

We had a great day at the fair yesterday! Got a couple of comments about our shirts but didn't see anyone else with them. We left around 3:30 though. That was long enough for this pregnant lady to be on her feet! And my sister had to head home.

I too was surprised at the number of chickens with missing feathers! One roo even had a swollen foot! I missed the Legbars though I think we might try to make the Lebanon show this year especially since it's only about 20 mins from us. Anyone know when it is?

There were some really nice dairy cows there! DS was thrilled to walk up and down every isle with me DD and my sister not so much

Edited to correct my code and some grammar.

Also random thought but I wonder if fair attendance/ 4-H participation is down this year with so many schools starting SO early?!?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have both chickens and turkeys for sale if you are interested.  Trying to cut back on the flock this year.

Absolutely normal.  It is the rare chicken that lays every day for weeks on end.  As was posted earlier.  The laying cycle for a chicken is a little longer than a day, so the laying later each day is normal then they skip a day (or two).  If you have been keeping a close enough eye on them to notice this, then you're chickens are in good hands.   

I was there last night too.  Frankly, I was disappointed at what I saw.  Although there were some very nice chickens, I also saw a lot of examples of birds I would never expect to see at a show.  Lots of birds with missing feathers, frostbit combs, etc...  I'm always impressed at how big some of the show quality breeds get. (The Rocks were enormous) It makes me excited for the fall chicken shows, where you see even more quality chickens.

My big surprise was seeing a pair of Crested Cream Legbars.  The first I'd ever seen at a show.  The female was nice, good crest, ok color, and quite a bit larger than my birds.  The male was not as nice.  Too much off color and quite small.   But kudos to whoever brought them and I'm glad to see them finally showing up. 

I am glad you got to see the open show versus te 4-H. Much better competition at te open in my opinion. But there were a lot of people bringing birds that should never be there. Most of them are adults and you would think they would know better. I think most are just like well maybe no one else will have any or the won't be any good so they give it a shot. I am too tough in my birds. Missing a few feathers they stay at home. Slightly underweight they stay at home. Frostbite comb they sty at home. I can tell you I should of brought my Rosecomb bantam because there were only two there that didn't look pitiful.

And I have to agree very challenging birds in the rocks! I said Doug's birds could chew mine up and spit them out lol

An I was shocked to see the CCLs too! First time seeing them at a show.

They looked like nice quality animals. I didn't count them, but there must've been at least 30 birds you entered.  How many did you enter? 
I have several questions about entering animals. Maybe if you have time, you can help me learn about it.  

About my own chickens, I have thought "so-and-so is a beautiful bird, maybe I should enter her in the fair" but then I go to the fair and see the birds in cages. The cages are unlocked, fair-goers walking around, kids sticking fingers and straws in the cage--I would worry about the physical safety of the birds. Have you had any negative experiences with animal safety? 

The fair is in charge of feeding and watering the birds while they're there, right? Have you had good experience with their care of your birds?

I've heard it said before that sometimes the birds people enter seem sickly. As a less-than-healthy bird may be in the cage next to yours, have you had any issues bringing home illnesses from the fair?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I would love to see a YouTube video of this--can you arrange it?

Good ideas! Thanks!
What other black/purple varieties do you grow?

I entered 11 but only took 5. I kind of just guess entered not really knowing what would be ready an what wouldn't.

IMO a hatchery bird should never be shown. But that is just my opinion. Unless you are like in 4-H and showing a meat pen or pair of commercial egg layers.

You can put locks in you cage so people can't open them.

State fair does feed and water your birds and I believe you can even request special feed. Te only complaint I have is they don't hve food and water in there cage when you get there. So they have to go without until they make there next rounds. So I always give mine water as soon as they get there. Other that that they take great care of them.

I have seen sneezing birds at shows which I fid very unsettling, but if teu aren't really close to mine I just let it go. The only thing I hve ever brought home is mites. And hope thy is all I ever bring home. Most shows say they have a zero tolerance for sick birds r external parasites but thy never check them. I picked up that mites at county where they actually do check them lol, how weird. The thing you are most likely to bring home is live or mites which is an easy fix.

Ask more question if you want, I kind of started not knowing much an it is better to ask before you do.