INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

Proud chicken mama moment~! Poppy, my little 4-month-old Legbar from Brad, has decided she wants to perch with the big girls now!

All on her own, too! The babies have been perching in the addition, which is fine by me. Not sure why Poppy decided to change venues! This is her at 3 months old--I've really got to get out there and get updated pictures of them!

Skittles



Dolores


Your little Poppy looks like my Dolores. (2nd pic) She was the 1st chick hatched on my mom's birthday, so shares the name. Has yours started laying yet? Mine all sleep in the same coop, but the younger ones use the lower roost. At 17 weeks, the Olive Egger simply moved up to the big girls' roost & started hanging with them. A day or two later she started laying. Took me by surprise so young.

Like you, I tune into my daily chicken soap opera & enjoy watching who is getting along with whom. Lately, my hen group & pullet group are merging into one flock. (For most of the summer they free-ranged in 2 mini groups.) My pullets just turned 20 weeks earlier this week, so I'm hoping to see some blue eggs soon. Do you like the Legbar personality?

 

[LKShepherd]

I have been soooo busy, I haven't been around since my girls were delivered.... So far all my chicks are doing GREAT!!! All have survived!!! I have identified at least 1 rooster for SURE!!! Can't you all tell...

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LOL Now, as for the others.... I will take more photos of them tomorrow, but wanted to get these out there.... what do you all think these girls are..... I know that I been told this girl is a faverolles (which I have 2 of ).

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Then I realized that out of the 5 black ones I have 3 that are different.....This is one of them.

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and then this one... she has a white chest and a white butt!! LOL

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and then this one

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I know that right now, they aren't all that pretty or cute, but none of us are when we're going from baby to adult (remembering them weird teen years)...... These girls are just 3 weeks old!!

 

[sdetwiler333]

Congrats on your new Chicks.

 

[Faraday40]

LGD advice:
I suspect many people don't understand what it takes to get a fully dependable lgd on all forms of stock against a variety of predators. Many new puppy people make two assumptions that are frequently incorrect... A) that just because it's and lgd breed it has the natural instinct to guard, and B) that with that instinct comes instantaneous dependability. Because many do not have instinct the new owners get discouraged and switch to "training mode". If you have to train an lgd to guard then you have no instinct. If they have that instinct then some guidance should be all they need. However, none of that matters of the dog is not started correctly - and this is where most breeders fail miserably. They don't understand the necessity of the bond.
So... What do you look for? A dog with instinct (watch the parents work - and keep in mind that "they don't kill my chickens" is NOT an indication of instinct), who was started correctly (meaning never been in the house and been with livestock 24/7 since birth regardless of weather or excuses), and has been permitted to succeed for their age. What this last point means is that bad habits are easy to develop when owners think they bought a puppy with adult intuitiveness and experience.
Number 1 rule of raising an lgd... Never put babies with babies. Why? Because you are setting them up with an unfair stimulus. You want to develop confidence, so set them up to be successful. And... set them up to fail "under your control" with the help ofa good breeder.
What does this mean? It means an 18 month old lgd should be "next to" poultry but not with them. They should be "next to lambs" but not in with them. Unless you are there and have the timing and experience to efficiently prevent disaster. IF someone says they have an lgd who has been with poultry since day 1 and never played with one or killed one, then they don't have an lgd, they have a deterrent.
Now... Good thing to note... a deterrent is all many people really need. And many different dogs can be deterrents. But i assure you that if you have heavy predation pressure from turkey vultures, fox, hawks, coyotes and big cats, a deterrent will not be adequate long term. But many folks who feel the need for an lgd really need only a deterrent.
For those who need an lgd, they usually buy puppies and expect them to work immediately. Bad scenario. But... "I lost 8 chickens in the last 5 nights, I need protection now!" Well, easy to find, but you better be prepared to fork over some bucks. So, best advice? Find a good breeder and buy a finished dog, or buy a started teenager or even a pup from a breeder WHO WILL GUIDE YOU and be there for you for the life of the dog.
Ok... That's my lecture for the day. Lol
To give folks an idea about what to expect if they have a need for an lgd. A puppy well started at 12 weeks old well go for at least $650, a teenager $1000, and I have seen finished dogs for as much as $4000.
Now, you can find lgd pups on CL for $300... 83% end up in rescue. Who knows, you might get lucky and end up with one of the 17%. But if you do I assure you in 3 or 4 years you will begin to understands the value of what you received without knowing the time commitment involved. The biggest problem new owners gave is their inability to monitor a new pup 24/7. Most folks have a job "off the farm". Hard to have good timing with teenage lgd's if you aren't there and can't trust them with the livestock when you aren't.
So... Many things to think about.
I specifically raised 2 doz cockerels this year just to have poultry to live with the teenagers over the winter. By spring, the teenager here who spends the winter with them will be much more valuable to any poultry owner. Same goes for the dog who is going through lambing for the first time this year.

Interesting. We got lucky with our dogs. (As deterrents, definitely not guarding anything) They were fairly well trained years before we got chickens. In the beginning they were curious, so the intros were highly supervised. They already knew the command, "Leave it, " so that's about all I said when the pullets & dogs were both in the yard together. After several months I was eventually able to leave the dogs & chickens outside together. They co-exist well, but that's about all I expect from our rescue dogs. The dogs chase (& sometimes catch) rabbits & squirrels. The chickens know enough to clear a path away from a full speed running dog. The funny part is that the hens are now chasing the squirrels away too. They patrol the fence perimeter & charge at any squirrel that dares set foot on the ground. It's rather funny to watch.

 

[iamfivewire]

@jchny2000 @PeacefulWalls Saw this on FB today and thought of you two talking about all your fabric LOL

That could be my wife in the chair with the sign "waiting on husband to get done at the guitar store"

 

[iamfivewire]

Just thinking / planning ahead for next spring : We would like to get a couple Black or blue copper marans pullets for the dark brown eggs to add to our existing flock. Also would like to add 1 or 2 blue egg layer also - EE or legbar - doesnt matter. Maybe a trade for some Iowa Blue pullets / chicks ? & from an NPIP certified flock

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

LGD advice:
I suspect many people don't understand what it takes to get a fully dependable lgd on all forms of stock against a variety of predators. Many new puppy people make two assumptions that are frequently incorrect... A) that just because it's and lgd breed it has the natural instinct to guard, and B) that with that instinct comes instantaneous dependability. Because many do not have instinct the new owners get discouraged and switch to "training mode". If you have to train an lgd to guard then you have no instinct. If they have that instinct then some guidance should be all they need. However, none of that matters of the dog is not started correctly - and this is where most breeders fail miserably. They don't understand the necessity of the bond.
So... What do you look for? A dog with instinct (watch the parents work - and keep in mind that "they don't kill my chickens" is NOT an indication of instinct), who was started correctly (meaning never been in the house and been with livestock 24/7 since birth regardless of weather or excuses), and has been permitted to succeed for their age. What this last point means is that bad habits are easy to develop when owners think they bought a puppy with adult intuitiveness and experience.
Number 1 rule of raising an lgd... Never put babies with babies. Why? Because you are setting them up with an unfair stimulus. You want to develop confidence, so set them up to be successful. And... set them up to fail "under your control" with the help ofa good breeder.
What does this mean? It means an 18 month old lgd should be "next to" poultry but not with them. They should be "next to lambs" but not in with them. Unless you are there and have the timing and experience to efficiently prevent disaster. IF someone says they have an lgd who has been with poultry since day 1 and never played with one or killed one, then they don't have an lgd, they have a deterrent.
Now... Good thing to note... a deterrent is all many people really need. And many different dogs can be deterrents. But i assure you that if you have heavy predation pressure from turkey vultures, fox, hawks, coyotes and big cats, a deterrent will not be adequate long term. But many folks who feel the need for an lgd really need only a deterrent.
For those who need an lgd, they usually buy puppies and expect them to work immediately. Bad scenario. But... "I lost 8 chickens in the last 5 nights, I need protection now!" Well, easy to find, but you better be prepared to fork over some bucks. So, best advice? Find a good breeder and buy a finished dog, or buy a started teenager or even a pup from a breeder WHO WILL GUIDE YOU and be there for you for the life of the dog.
Ok... That's my lecture for the day. Lol
To give folks an idea about what to expect if they have a need for an lgd. A puppy well started at 12 weeks old well go for at least $650, a teenager $1000, and I have seen finished dogs for as much as $4000.
Now, you can find lgd pups on CL for $300... 83% end up in rescue. Who knows, you might get lucky and end up with one of the 17%. But if you do I assure you in 3 or 4 years you will begin to understands the value of what you received without knowing the time commitment involved. The biggest problem new owners gave is their inability to monitor a new pup 24/7. Most folks have a job "off the farm". Hard to have good timing with teenage lgd's if you aren't there and can't trust them with the livestock when you aren't.
So... Many things to think about.
I specifically raised 2 doz cockerels this year just to have poultry to live with the teenagers over the winter. By spring, the teenager here who spends the winter with them will be much more valuable to any poultry owner. Same goes for the dog who is going through lambing for the first time this year.

I LOVED this post, and thanks very much for sharing this information! Every point you make is quite valid. There are way too many good dogs that are wasted, because the owner didn't realize the commitment involved. I sometimes blame that on a breeder educating them, and not being very choosy as to where the dog is going. Even then, it falls to the new owner not following thru with what the breeder has taught them. Terribly sad and what a waste of a valuable dog.
I was in law enforcement and married to a K9 officer also. Director of animal control, advised under a police dept. We bred dogs for police work as well, and worked, lived daily training involved managing their skills. I was often an attack dummy, a lost person, and the "druggie hiding in the weeds" as other officers were, all part of the daily job in working the dogs, keep them sharp.. I have assisted in drug, arson, cadaver, search and rescue as well as personal protection dog training. Loved the work.
My point is, there is a commitment to teach, and guide a dog to do the work you need. It does not happen over night! I am retired, so Its my intention to start with a pup, I have the time to commit, and experience to train. I commend you for your comments, we need more conscientious breeders like you.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

only a lot of leads that perish when they are supposed to deliver. If I get a cow, I am going to start breeding. Bull calves too! This has been crazy! Bottle calves $3 a pound is the best I am finding. Talked to my old neighbor in Anderson, he told me the same. There are no calves less than that out there. My neighbor just stopped in and asked too. He is even going to auctions! I told Mel if he sees a Jersey or Brown Swiss please bid on her if she looks healthy. Same for Jack my my neighbor here, that covers 2 county auctions. Its terrible to resort to auction cows.

Well Jewel is broody again. Wow I would think these broody hens would get tired of sitting. I am going to try to have her hatch some duck eggs this time since I need more hens.

My scovy duck Huey has eggs she is brooding too! Round 2 for her, and I really didn't want anymore this year. Checked all the hidey spots and found her with 6 eggs

She is the best mother Muscovy I have, so I am going to let her hatch.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Short video of cute fluffy butts learning how to find tasty morsels . . . Bonbon & five chicks

Loved this! What a good momma!

Its my last day at Lowes and was surprised with this cake! I busted up laughing. Really going to miss the coworkers. We always had a lot of fun!

no, they all loved you! So excited for you. Hope the new job is awesome and challenging.

I went out to put the chickens up since my lawn guy is here and heard quite the commotion from the coop. I went to check on Jewel and she had been kicked off the nest. My OEGB mix was raised in the air sitting on 13 eggs all fluffed up and screaming at any chicken that came near.

. I took some out of the nest and put it in the nest box next door. I then moved Twilight to the new location. Jewel went back to her nest and all was calm again. Twilight is only 5 months old, will she be ok to hatch and raise chicks this young. I have never seen her be mean to anything, it was quite surprising!!!

Here is pics of Twilight



I also found some Indian Runner hatching eggs for Jewel.

. I hope she hatches enough hens to give me a better hen/drake ratio. I will sell most of the drakes she hatches out.

She is just gorgeous! good luck on your hatch

Well, it's been a few weeks, and none of the other chickens has come down ill. Is it safe to find Bacon a new home yet?

If everyone seems ok I would do it. He is still welcome here! My BBW Puppy is doing ok with my older Bourbons, but the tom still pecks her if I go in the pen. She runs right over to me, he doesn't like it. I do free range all my flocks. So, every bird here is at risk of a predator. With my geese, guinea and turkey we normally have no losses.
I let everyone know up front I let my birds be birds and enjoy their freedom. They are out at least 8 hours every day.

Quote:
@SallyinIndiana thanks so much, I am still looking. I want to raise them here. Its sad that BYC limits our links

@jchny2000 @PeacefulWalls Saw this on FB today and thought of you two talking about all your fabric LOL

ROFL

 

[ernestrec]

Hello all.

I'm new from Bloomington area.

I've got a modest flock of a mix of birds. I've raised once and processed my first set of meat birds and getting ready to start another.

I don't know why, but I can't seem to figure out how I'm so fascinated with my chickens. ... but I am!

My wife doesn't understand...but she likes the meat.

Glad I've stumbled on tbis site, I'm sure I'll reap a lot of information.