INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Brrrr!! Its wicked cold out there this morning! Didnt get the plastic up around the runs so the girls are feeling it too. I just went out and cleaned all 6 coops and put extra pine chips in the runs so hopefully they are doing OK. Fresh bedding, food, water, meal worms, scratch grains and Boss for all of my babies. Spoiled birds!!! Lol

We put up venting as a summer wall for the south side of our layer coop. Now it is time to get the old wall back in place or cover the venting wall with a tarp. Thanks for the reminder.
I had been letting the grass grow high along the outer side of the run fence. DH went out and mowed it down Friday. He thought he was helping. I was hoping to use it as a nice wind block for most of fall until the snow came.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Can I just go to sleep an have someone wake me up when winter is done?

 

[browncow15]

Hello everyone! I haven't posted lately, we've been busy getting ready for a baby and winter here. Speaking of winter, Holy Cow it COLD!! I'm pretty sure we saw some snow while we were up north today!

And speaking of cows, we picked up a few more furry friends in Michigan City today.

Now if I could talk someone into the last few chickens I want to sell I'd be all set

Hope everyone is staying warm today!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Its 44 degrees dropping fast, and I am at our campground. FROZEN! We are winterizing tomorrow. My internet's terrible here. Put out about an extra 100# of whole corn for all the birds. I am concerned for the flock, this was such a fast jump. I loaded almost half a large round bale of hay into all my coops before we left. stay warm everyone!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Just got done setting up for the swap meet, I am tired.

 

[Mother2Hens]

I am over here across the street from the new Walmart. These are my first chickens. I am raising them non gmo eggs but already have won my heart over for pets with benefits.

So sorry that you're in an urban sprawl area. That's sad that Walmart chose to build in the country.

Chickens make great pets and are so funny and entertaining! They have unique personalities, and are a lot like cats and dogs as far as being able to train people to bring them treats. Several of mine know their names, and I love having my flock help me do yard work.

Originally Posted by Mother2Hens
[@SallyinIndiana ] Thanks for sharing your tip about seeing rabbit hutches for sale!
I recently converted our old rabbit hutch out of necessity when I needed more brooder space. It looks like the one pictured below. Since the wire was too large to be safe, I just added smaller sized hardware cloth to the outside of the cage, so it made two layers of wire. I initially used U-shaped galvanized staples to attach the new layers, but the wood was so hard that I finished the job using an electric staple gun. Afterwards, I went over them with a hammer to make sure they wouldn't fall out and cause hardware death! I put latches to lock the top and put a tarp over the top to keep rain off. For brooder privacy, I'd hang a beach towel over a side or part of the front depending on the weather. It's very handy to have an extra coop for brooding or quarantining.


Originally Posted by pipdzipdnreadytogo
Just be careful with staples--I've had raccoons pull staples right out trying to get at things.
We have three of these hutches around that I have been thinking about converting into smaller coops (although one is smaller and has thoroughly rotted on the top and back, so probably not going to be of any use). I was thinking of attaching wood to the outside for more shelter, leaving part of it open for ventilation, of course. We'll probably have enough leftover siding from the duck coop build that I could play around with...

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
(After stapling, I hammered in the staples flush to the wood). As far as your old rabbit hutches, you could probably replace sections with new boards. The top of mine was weather damaged, so I replaced it with a new board. There's a lumberyard not too far away where I've bought "damaged" (very minor) 4 x 8' plywood sheets for $5. They'll cut them to whatever sizes I need, and I'll waterproof them. In the past, I've used sections around 3' high that fit inside the base of my large coop during the winter-- just added protection against the weather. It's nice to be able to put in the wood panels when needed and also be able to remove them. I just use a few nails to hold them in place. I also cover larger areas of the outside of the coop with heavy clear plastic that lets light in (leaving open areas at the top for venting). I guess it's like having a screened-in porch that can be adapted to an all-season room.

I think I'll cut some mini boards for use in the little hutch coop since it's time to put beach towels away. ha

I've posted before that I bought a nice, two-story, handmade rabbit hutch on CL that I converted to a bantam coop (that's where Bonbon and chicks are currently residing since I relocated her first hatch to @jchny2000 ). So . . . my simple rabbit hutch is now open and waiting (since Ditzy failed to deliver), plus today I ran across a used medium (typical black metal) dog kennel for $10 ! I have an XL one that I've used for indoor quarantine/hospital/older chicks, but if I just need something for inside for one chicken, the medium size will be much more convenient.
As most of us have learned, it's helpful to have extra housing for emergencies, so it's good to keep our eyes open for deals.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Its 44 degrees dropping fast, and I am at our campground. FROZEN! We are winterizing tomorrow. My internet's terrible here. Put out about an extra 100# of whole corn for all the birds. I am concerned for the flock, this was such a fast jump. I loaded almost half a large round bale of hay into all my coops before we left. stay warm everyone!

And still I had chickens refusing to leave the outdoor roosting bars. While others were hiding in nesting boxes as if it were 20 below.

Processing a few birds today. I'll still have enough for another 2 maybe 3 processing days.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Anyone else up north going to the Kendallville Apple Festival today? It's not really chicken-related, but I'll probably be wearing my Indiana BYCer shirt there this afternoon, so if anyone sees me feel free to say hi! Can't wait for apple dumplings and fritters and hot chocolate and fudge!

Well, I didn't run into anyone yesterday, but the Apple Festival was fun! As mom put it, we ate our way around the festival. Apple dumplings, fudge, apple fritters... And I've brought some home to enjoy in the coming days! I love the Apple Festival!

Just got done setting up for the swap meet, I am tired.

Wow, you were up late working on that! I hope all goes well today!

[COLOR=800080]@pipdzipdnreadytogo
 [/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513](After stapling, I hammered in the staples flush to the wood).[/COLOR]

I saw where you said that, but it's been my experience that raccoons can be pretty darned strong when they want to. Just be careful!

[COLOR=8B4513]As far as your old rabbit hutches, you could probably replace sections with new boards. [/COLOR][COLOR=8B4513]The top of mine was weather damaged, so I replaced it with a new board. There's a lumberyard not too far away where I've bought "damaged" (very minor) 4 x 8' plywood sheets for $5. They'll cut them to whatever sizes I need, and I'll waterproof them. In the past, I've used sections around 3' high that fit inside the base of my large coop during the winter-- just added protection against the weather. It's nice to be able to put in the wood panels when needed and also be able to remove them. I just use a few nails to hold them in place.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I also cover larger areas of the outside of the coop with heavy clear plastic that lets light in (leaving open areas at the top for venting).[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I guess it's like having a screened-in porch that can be adapted to an all-season room. [/COLOR]   [COLOR=8B4513]I think I'll cut some mini boards for use in the little hutch coop since it's time to put beach towels away. ha[/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]I've posted before that I bought a nice, two-story, [/COLOR][COLOR=8B4513]handmade rabbit hutch on CL that I converted to a bantam coop (that's where Bonbon and chicks are currently residing since I relocated her first hatch to @jchny2000 ). So . . . my simple rabbit hutch is now open and waiting (since Ditzy failed to deliver), plus today I ran across a used medium (typical black metal) dog kennel for $10 ! I have an XL one that I've used for indoor quarantine/hospital/older chicks, but if I just need something for inside for one chicken, the medium size will be much more convenient.[/COLOR]
[rule][COLOR=8B4513]As most of us have learned, it's helpful to have extra housing for emergencies, so it's good to keep our eyes open for deals.[/COLOR][COLOR=8B4513] [/COLOR]

Well, luckily, the two that look like the picture you posted only have light damage on the top. The one that's rotting away is about 3 inches shorter than it started from the legs rotting, the back has pretty much rotted off altogether, and the top has this odd, mushy feeling to it from rotting. Not sure it's worth trying to fix up, but the cage wire might be useful for something some day. I was looking at the good ones this morning. Looks like some roofing to protect them, a solid floor to replace the wire, some new locks, and some siding, and that'd cover it. I have most of that in scraps, which means I potentially have two very cheap mini-coops.

I think I need to spend more time around Craigslist. Or maybe I shouldn't--too many temptations. Definitely, having dog crates and rabbit hutches available for separate housing makes it easier in an emergency! They also make good quarantine pens as long as they've been moved somewhere away from the flock, like a garage or basement.

 

[Campine]

Would people be interested in a meet-up/swap meet/party in Brown county next summer?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Would people be interested in a meet-up/swap meet/party in Brown county next summer?

It sounds like fun to me. Close too.