INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

IMO a coop that has lots enough room in the winter for 11 chickens to play and not get cabin fever, is much to large for 11 chickens in the summer. Then again many people have smaller flocks in the winter compared to their summer flock size.

Agreed. I thought my hen shed was great until winter came in. In the summer they go outside and they aren't usually even confined in the 20x20. The 20x20 is just for times that I need to confine them like when I need to vary things during a heavy hawk infestation or when I go away and have someone else tending the chickens they stay in the run also.

It's hard to envision winter when you have a wonderful summer situation with birds freely roaming with lots of space and only using the house to lay an egg and sleep at night. But when the winter comes in you're sure glad you have more space!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Question:
Can chickens eat high quality dog food when they need extra protein? (I have a few molting & would like to make extra protein available.) I've heard about cooking up eggs, but we prefer to eat them ourselves. I'm looking for an easy source of protein that I may already have on hand. The "feather fixer" feed I've been buying is a lot more expensive, so I'm guessing there's a simple/cheaper way to add something to their diet at this time instead of buying the feather fixer formula. Any advice?

Even kitten food, but they need a meat based protein food IMO. Mealworms are a good choice, fish. I run a fish tank and raise platies (related to swordfish) during the winter months for my birds.I have a second one for breeding mice.. Using domestic, not wild mice that may carry disease. Some dog and cat feed are vegetable protein based and are not giving adequate protein type to my birds. This is just my opinion and what I do... but my birds do well over winter. Plans are for an earthworm farm also, to give them another choice! I want them to have natural options.
Those tanks work well as brooders in the spring too! I love multitasking my stuff

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
I swear that is a pullet! Get a close up like the pic you have, but show only the saddle. That is the wingtip to the tail. The pullet I had here was identical to yours.
They are a hard breed to raise.

The owner of one of my local liquor stores ordered this for me. I've never heard of it, but I saw the poster and thought "Well, it has a chicken on it, so it must be mine. MINE!!!" Anyone want to join me for a whiskey tasting tonight?

what a fun collectable!

update : the cockerel we thought got hit by a car yesterday was hiding in the coop & "magically appeared" this morning - something must have freaked him out yesterday, because he's the only one that didnt come running for evening treat time.

Thats great news. wonder what the feathers were? Maybe a hawk or buzzard, that would be a blessing~

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So a 32 sq ft coop and a 72 sq ft rum all large fowl should I expand my run or is that enough

I've got 11 so how much space do I need to add on I'm new to this chicken thing

Age of your birds means a lot too, breeds and sizes. Young birds can do that until they mature, and if you free range also. Lots of variables! I watch. Are they fighting at night, can everyone roost? Is there fighting during the day?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Free rooster to good home. Not big enough to butcher! Columbus/Seymour/greensburg area. His name is Bernie - Rhode island red x bantam Cochin cross. Beautiful bird. Pictures don't do him justice. I love him with all my heart but I can't have him fighting with his dad. So he is in need of a one roo kind of flock. Spunky and full of life. Not super loud for a rooster. Hatched mid November. He is the love of my life and I would like to see him happy. Pm me if interested.

Also have white rock roo. Free to do as you see fit. Handsome fellow, not too bright though. Hatch date is probably February or so. I have pictures if interested. Was going to go to freezer camp but he needs to go now. Pm me if interested.

He is flat gorgeous! Nice bronzed red color. He looks maran lol until I read your post! I am pretty full up here, hope someone can take him. If we were closer he would be here! Same for your rock roo. Just hard for me to make that trip. Good luck!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Busy weekend, so much to do before winter gets here. Tractor is back to normal and am so glad its fixed! Will be turning the garden over this week for next year. Adding a lot more space, will be growing more since our soil seems to be adequate for veges. Looking at varieties of blueberry bushes. Will be adding them this year too, and removing anything else poisonus planted here. Have cut almost all of the Japanese yew out, the burning bush is next. Anyone know about snowball bush> will be researching it next.

 

[jen214]

I just found this blog post and thought others may find it interesting. I may have to plan a trip to Bermuda!
http://www.happy-days-farm.com/2014/09/wild-feral-chickens-in-bermuda-yes.html

 

[wheezy50]

I just found this blog post and thought others may find it interesting.  I may have to plan a  trip to Bermuda!
http://www.happy-days-farm.com/2014/09/wild-feral-chickens-in-bermuda-yes.html

That's cool! I have also heard that Hawaii has a population of wild, feral chickens. I think I read it was from a hurricane 30-40 years ago that destroyed some coops and the chickens just survived on their own. Apparently no natural predators and good weather and the chickens have no trouble repopulating on their own.

 

[wabashchickens]

I just wanted to say this to keep others from making the same stupid mistake I was putting the waterer back in my brooder the water tank is a Mason jar and I didn't dry the outside it slipped out of my hand and injured a chick I had to put it down it was also my favorite. I feel horrible about it worst day of my life

 

[Leahs Mom]

I just wanted to say this to keep others from making the same stupid mistake I was putting the waterer back in my brooder the water tank is a Mason jar and I didn't dry the outside it slipped out of my hand and injured a chick I had to put it down it was also my favorite. I feel horrible about it worst day of my life

It's always hard when something like that happens. It was an accident so don't be to hard on yourself.

And thanks for cautioning the rest of us.