INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Surprise Chick Arrives 3 days early!!??
I looked in Bonbon's brooder coop around 4:00pm this afternoon to give her a snack and I saw some fuzz. My first thought was that it was some of her tummy feathers, but I did a double-take when I saw a chick's face! I wasn't expecting that until next week.

I picked up 5 Black Bantam Cochin hatching eggs from @ellymayRans on Wednesday, Aug. 20th. I put them under Bonbon that evening around 9:00pm, so today is the 16th day. I don't think any others have hatched, but I'm not going to risk messing something up by looking. What do you experienced broody owners think?

Last time for her first hatch, Bonbon hatched all four eggs on the 19th day. I'm hoping this hatch goes well . . .

Just precious! Bantam breeds do usually hatch earlier, my OEGB usually come at 19 days. Doesn't matter if I incubate or let a hen hatch them, either.
That's so exciting!
I am looking hard at ceramic heaters for the house, propane is really getting ridiculous, We have a natural gas line they dug our yard up for, and told us we can't patch into it??!!?? I am still pretty ticked over that one. That reminded me I need to make calls and stomp my feet over it.
I also want to have one set up in the barn, or the office trailer for hatching and my incubator. I still incubate in the house, and hope to keep all of it in one location, someday.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Not a lot happening today, it was terribly humid, and miserable. Spent a lot of time just making sure all my babies were comfortable and had cold water. Piglets are thriving! My lil boar is just adorable, and am so glad he is social, he flops on the ground as soon as he sees me walking up now. What a goof, he loves belly rubs! Added a trio of leghorn roos, and they seem to be mingling pretty fast. The owner and I swap birds regularly so I know the background of the birds.
Seeing some leaves changing this evening already. Really not ready for winter and time to cut flocks. I have sold off a lot of geese the last 2 weeks, and have 4 more leaving tomorrow

. Very pleased with the home they are going to, the fella is a vet.That puts us where we need to be on our goose flock. We will process pekin this weekend too, have 28 and will go down to 6. We are all set on the other breeds, so with the pekin gone we are ready for winter on our numbers.
Goodnite everyone!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@Mskayladog There are at least two really serious diseases that can be transmitted from hen to egg (then of course to the chick): pullorum and typhoid. If you buy from an NPIP certified breeder, you have reasonable assurance that those eggs are clear of those two diseases, since people have to have their flock (all birds if less than 30, otherwise 10% but at least 30) tested annually for it. These diseases are not common in commercial hatcheries, but the most likely place to find them is in backyard flocks because so few people test. @jchny2000 was referring to Marek's disease, for which there is a vaccine given on Day 1 for chicks at commercial hatcheries and some breeders (of various sizes). Marek's isn't in the eggs, but it's everywhere in the environment. If chicks are vaccinated on Day 1 (or close to it), they are much less likely to get it. All three diseases I have mentioned are killers.

That said, I have bought hatching eggs from both NPIP and non-NPIP certified breeders. I will be testing the non-NPIP chicks before they go into my flock, even though all 7 that hatched (out of 7) are very vigorous and healthy. Some diseases take time to show up, but most will affect at least some of the chicks in a hatch, which is why isolation is so important whenever adding new birds or chicks. Even something as common and simple as coccidiosis is a nuisance to deal with, and can make some individual birds quite ill.

As a veterinarian, I saw some kittens and puppies near death from blood loss and wasting due to nothing more than unchecked coccidiosis.

Wow, hopefully I haven't scared you off totally!!!!! I just think a little knowledge goes a long way. You can get lucky for a while, but if you don't educate yourself, sooner or later something bad is almost bound to happen.

We have been VERY lucky. When we bought chicks from TSC or two different commercial hatcheries by mail, we only lost one that I put down because it broke its femur (thigh bone) in shipment. It was an 'extra' chick. My attempt to treat it failed and it was starting to suffer, so I felt that had to be stopped. We have had no other chick losses ever, either from purchased chicks or ones we hatched ourselves. Do I expect to stay that lucky forever? Probably not, but I'm sure going to try! I feel terrible every time I read about folks who lose babies, since it only takes about two seconds to get attached.

Mareks scares people so much they decide not to keep chickens. It happens. I am not a vet, and just learn as I go! I do know wild birds carry it, and even a fort knox coop can be at risk if a wild bird decides to poop on/in it. I respect your input very much. I just want folks to realize its still possible for the birds to contract the diseases a wild bird could have.
Since I let my birds free range daily I am wide open for risk. I am ok with that, because I know they enjoy being able to just be chickens. Several of my flock are 2 to 3 years old now. Some that have been rehomed are much older. I let them enjoy being free, and watch them close. We have a lot of birds here, and I just let them have a full life.
We are a farm, and the poultry play a part in it. I still want them to be content.

 

[chick rookie]

Saturday, September 13-Sandcut Trader's Fair-Terre Haute, IN
Sunday, September 14-Sandcut Trader's Fair-Terre Haute, IN
Sunday, September 14-Golden Horseshoe Saddle Club-Knox Swap Meet
Saturday, September 20-Southern Indiana Poultry Show-Van Buren, Indiana
Saturday, September 20-Croy Creek Trader's Fair-Reelsville, Indiana
Sunday, September 21-Croy Creek Trader's Fair-Reelsville, Indiana

Was going today but it is raining

Does anyone know what these two could be mixed with they both lay a dark brown egg, much darker then my RSL's eggs. I guess I had to much time on my hands and looked up what color eggs BR's lay and their eggs are not even close to that color. They are hatchery quality from TSC.


Flash

Loki

Here are my eggs from everyone they laid the darkest ones.

I am ready to see leaves fall on the ground here. It is so hot and humid. I am still in keep chickens cool mode. I know once it is cold I will wish it were hot again.....lol. I am never happy with the weather. Fall is my favorite season but it seems so short.

Spring and Fall is my fav. If I could move to a place with weather like that all year round...... WOW I would be a happy camper

Bahaha, I suppose this summer did take it pretty easy on us, at least up here in the north. We didn't have too many overly hot days and for the most part it was quite pleasant. I'm sure I had my fair share of complaints about the heat in previous summers.

I guess I'm just put off by the thought that winter is coming and bringing with it the dreaded white plague!

looks like my place, did a whole lot of shoveling, NOT looking forward to that again!!

I'm going to just give up and put the chickens in the upstairs bedroom over the winter so I don't have to go outside to feed and water and shovel and feed and water and shovel and feed and water and shovel ........

great ideal

Welcome!!!!! I can't help with birds but it is a good time of year to look since many will be wanting to downsize before winter! You might consider a mix of breeds before you settle on one. Their temperaments vary quite a bit and it is fun to have different colors in your coop and egg basket! Good luck!!

x2 I love my variety

Well I had a bad day! Fell this morning while refilling waterers and bn achy for hours! Then decided to mow my yard and didn't change my shoes. I only had flip flops on. Yep you guessed it- while mowing a small hill in my front yard (and I mean. SMALL hill...) my foot slipped off the padded foot placement and my toes went into the belt pully (which should have bn covered but my son had just worked on tightening the belt) any way a trip t the hospital later and I still have my toes but the way they are hurting I'm not sure I want them! Lol those of you who are squeamish stop now! This is after getting the bleeding stopped and going through X-rays:


Two stitches in my baby toe, two in my fourth toe, two inside my big toe and five on the outside. It had a chip in the bone but seriously could have been LOTS worse!
Moral of the story- DONT wear flip flops while mowing not even on a riding mower!

Wow I'm so sorry, that looks very painful hope you heal fast.

In the winter I sleep in the coop with my chickens, and we share body heat on the colder nights. During the day they have the certainty of my love to keep them warm.

thats what DH says he will see me doing this year if we have another bad one...

I've said it before...do I have to repeat myself???? Sheesh..... UPSTAIRS BEDROOM. Neither of you have to go outside at all. If you don't have an upstairs bedroom, main floor or basement will do too.





DISCLAIMER: THIS IS TOTALLY IN JEST. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AS ANYTHING SERIOUS OR AS A SLAM ON ANYONE. JUST BEING SILLY.

Basements work... hey really do..

That's for sure!

Need I post the pictures again? At least my coop isn't too far from the house.

Oh, speaking of, if we have weather like last winter, one thing I do recommend is coveralls! Those things made my life so much easier in the bitter cold! No more frozen legs and snow-filled boots!

I love my coveralls!!

My DH fixed our AC!!!!!! I knew there was a reason I married a mechanic.... and it isn't all the old cars in the driveway. So, back to the plan for getting chickens.

Here is some new pics of my chicks.

I WILL NOT GET MORE BIRDS I WILL NOT GET MORE BIRDS I WILL NOT GET MORE BIRDS (till next year )
Love Love Love them

Definitely. It's been hotter than most of the rest of summer around here this week. Not only do I hate it, but our Great Pyrenees REALLY hates it. He's used to being able to cool off by resting atop the AC vent in the hallway.

My biggest of the two does the same thing, he will fight for his vent... lol

My Great Pyrenees would probably love to sleep in the coop in the winter. He falls asleep buried in snow in the back yard all the time. He does a happy dance every time it snows (which is way too infrequently in his opinion).

Yep they love the snow..

Oh, golly, I haven't even thought about a winter checklist yet! Ugh! Let's see...

1. Implement the plan to prevent the addition from flooding! My thought was to bury some clear plastic around the base of it and staple the top edge to the bottom of the addition's wall. (ETA For clarity here, the addition is two layers of cinder blocks and then wooden walls. The water comes in between the cinder blocks because we only used enough cement to hold them firmly together.) Thoughts, anyone? I would use caulk or something, but I'm relatively sure the girls would just eat that off the bricks. They don't seem as interested in eating the plastic wrap, anyway, but who knows?

2. Replace the sand in the addition with shavings! I don't want to do this until I'm relatively sure the shavings won't get soaked from flooding.

3. Clean and check over the heated bucket!

4. Finish the duck coop and yard! Don't want to be building through frigid weather, or be stuck with ducks in quarantine until next spring...

I'm also going to put together a more permanent quarantine area, which should make it a little easier when / if I bring new birds in.

5. ...Uh... Oh, I know, make sure my coveralls, boots, gloves, hat, jackets, etc, are all clean and ready for the wintertime! Yeah!

I dunno, I can't think of much more than that. For the most part, I don't have much else to do to be prepared, I don't think. The girls are already on shavings except in the addition, which I think will be nicer for them than the sand has been the past few years. I saved the shower curtain from last year for the doorway, although I might try something different to try and prevent the wretched sparrows from getting in the coop again!

That's all that comes to my mind at the moment, anyway.

The sparrows drove me nuts last year and sent my feed bill threw the roof, I am Deer netting all my coops , and I'm talking TOP BOTTOM AND SIDES I will win this war!!!!!!

OMG!!!

He is Huge!!! He makes my two Great Pyrenees look tiny. Mine are still puppies but I do not think they will reach his size.


Bailey

Montana

Our Great Pyr, Darwin, is also usually low-energy. In fact, we call him 'the great white lump'.

Here he is waiting for it to snow:



He's 140 pounds, but looks bigger than that due to the fluff.

Ok you know I have got to get into this too... lol




dogs are back in from their 2 am poddy break, night all catch up some more latter...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Shop the Coop-- Not! (I still am catching up on old posts, so I hadn't seen that post/link) Last year I ordered the second radiant heat panel shown on Shop the Coop's site-- the no-name one. When it arrived, it turned out to be the "Cozy Legs" brand, which is made for underneath a desk(!) I turned it on just to check it out, and it barely emitted heat. Plus, it was a piece of junk so I returned it. I just checked the site out of curiosity and noticed that this model they listed is available for less at several places (I googled the name). ECO Heater T400U Wall Mounted Ceramic Convection … I don't know anything about it, but at least they have full disclosure! The Sweeter Heater looks interesting, and it states that it does not create a fire hazard when properly installed.

Are the radiant ceramic heat tiles you're referring to the kind for people's homes or are there some designed for pets? I've heard of using heat mats for chickens, but it seems like an odd method if they're perching, but I'm not familiar with them.

Thanks for the links!

So GLAD to hear a review on "Shop the Coop". I have wondered about them for the last several years but hadn't run into anyone that had used them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

For anyone needing tarps for their runs, I found these last year and worked great. I have 4ft tall fencing so the 4' tarp worked great! I love the length if them as well.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_tarps-canopies-shelters+tarps+wood-pile-tarps

How did the grommets hold up?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

AGREED! I love my old carharts! I have had the same pair, no kidding since 1985. I did replace the zipper. I use snowmobile boots, and have a full face type stocking cap. Did I mention I HATE cold and snow I rode snowmobiles and went out for hours as a kid. Cold makes my bones hurt now lol.

Wow!! I've had mine since late fall last year, I think? By the time I decided to invest in one, they were already selling out of them at TSC so I was lucky to find one that fit!

I think there was a point in my life that I liked the wintertime, but that was before having to break ice out of waterers and buckets on a regular basis.

Pipd, you could dig around the brick and add a drainage tile that would flow away from the addition. The plastic probably won't help a whole lot, if water puddles it will get in.  like this stuff:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_24139-124-0...36967&kpid=50163593&CAGPSPN=pla&kpid=50163593
It doesn't have to be that big tho.

Hey, thanks for the suggestion! I think that's what my mom keeps saying we should do. Water doesn't pool there, but it seeps in through the cracks between the cinder blocks as it's flowing by there. And then we had all that snow melt off at once this spring and it had nowhere to go.

(Your link just leads to a Lowe's page with an ad about 10% off of appliances..? But I got what you mean. )

She is growing to be so pretty! I hear ya, I am still drooling over a few breeds that greenfire has. I have too many wants and not enough coop space! So I need to decide on whats here, and move forward for next years plans.

She is, isn't she? And she's so BIG already! Gonna be a big girl when she's all grown up!

Haha, yeah, Greenfire Farms is the worst for me--I love autosexing breeds and landraces, and then there's those silver Barnevelders... They look almost unreal with that lacing!

Not a lot happening today, it was terribly humid, and miserable. Spent a lot of time just making sure all my babies were comfortable and had cold water. Piglets are thriving! My lil boar is just adorable, and am so glad he is social, he flops on the ground as soon as he sees me walking up now. What a goof, he loves belly rubs! Added a trio of leghorn roos, and they seem to be mingling pretty fast. The owner and I swap birds regularly so I know the background of the birds.
Seeing some leaves changing this evening already. Really not ready for winter and time to cut flocks. I have sold off a lot of geese the last 2 weeks, and have 4 more leaving tomorrow . Very pleased with the home they are going to, the fella is a vet.That puts us where we need to be on our goose flock. We will process pekin this weekend too, have 28 and will go down to 6. We are all set on the other breeds, so with the pekin gone we are ready for winter on our numbers.
Goodnite everyone!

Yeah, the humidity is what gets me. I can do dry heat, but add humidity... ugh! And then the mosquitoes have kicked up really badly since this rainy spell came on. Can't stand still for a second or you're covered with them! It's just miserable out there! Still better than trying to move 2 feet of snow, though!

It stinks that you have to rehome so many of your birds. But I totally understand the need to. Are you just keeping a few favorites, or are they a breeding flock?

looks like my place, did a whole lot of shoveling, NOT looking forward to that again!!   


The sparrows drove me nuts last year and sent my feed bill threw the roof, I am Deer netting all my coops , and I'm talking  TOP BOTTOM AND SIDES I will win this war!!!!!! 

Definitely not! I didn't have the strength to shovel that much snow!

The sparrows were worse than I'd ever had them. I usually have to fend off a few of them, but last winter, there were dozens of them and I was cleaning up more sparrow droppings than chicken droppings in the coop! The hens used to attack the sparrows that came within their reach, don't know what changed. Then there was a starling that got down at their level and they treated it almost like a lower-ranking hen, just pecked it on the head. Crazy birds.

I've heard that having strips of plastic in front of the door will stop them from going into the coop, so that's what I'm going with. Usually, I hang a shower curtain over the door so that there's a chicken-sized hole at the bottom, but I'm going to try cutting strips instead of a hole and see if that works better. My chicken yard doesn't have a roof, so I can't very well net it over, at least not easily with the number of trees out there.

 

[bradselig]

How did the grommets hold up?

Held up pretty well. I still have one up for shade on one pen, but I took most down this spring. I don't have any wind blocks where I'm at so they do get a beating but held up pretty well.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Just brought Adeline to the vet to have her bumblefoot bandages removed. Her foot looks great.

Yay! Adeline was also saying, "Yay!" because she was anxious to get back to her former life. This morning for the first time, she started making a racket as though she wanted me to get up and take her outside. She'd had enough of her hospital kennel. Now I get to clean up the area.

Still looks like Bonbon has one chick so far, but I don't want to mess anything up by looking. It's great that we finally got a cool break in the weather!

@bradselig @Leahs Mom Tarps and Wind Blocking Tarps I had my first visit to Harbor Freight Tools yesterday. haha It's one of those places, like RK and TSC, that I never thought I'd enter. It was fun! (Oh, how I've changed since having chickens!

) I noticed that they had tarps and wind blocking tarps. I mentioned a website I had recently run across that sold wind shields, but I didn't know that they could be purchased at a place like HFT. The quality looked good from what I could tell . . .
@atrueb00 Loved your photos! So is this little tiger what all guineafowl look like as chicks?? That would be so cool to have a chicken with tiger stripes.

Btw, I googled "keets," and ran across a perfect example of a Bad Website Design. (I'm referencing posts around a month ago when some of us discussed the effects of color, reversed type, animation, etc. for easy on the eyes reading). Raising Guinea Fowl & Keets - Gardening With Guineas

 

[Birdylady3]

Bahaha, I suppose this summer did take it pretty easy on us, at least up here in the north. We didn't have too many overly hot days and for the most part it was quite pleasant. I'm sure I had my fair share of complaints about the heat in previous summers.

I guess I'm just put off by the thought that winter is coming and bringing with it the dreaded white plague!

Is what my reaction was when I saw the pics. Please don't mention the s-n-o-w word! I really hate Winter. *Sigh* I don't mind Fall too much, But I could do without Winter