INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Personally I feel that hawks and eagles are so protected that just maybe instead of migrating they more or less shift for the spring / winter migrations. During these times when the hawks or eagles are traveling, I tend to see more of the birds. I do not see hawks every day in the dead of winter here but I did see them before the flowers budded on our trees and well after the leaves fell.

And it has taken me more than a few sightings of eagles of varying ages to realize / believe that the giant bird above me was an eagle. Sure it is easy to spot a full grown adult male bald eagle but a 2 yr old female is easy for me to mistake for a full size hawk when the bird is way up high and almost just a shadow in the sun.

 

[Faraday40]

Wow! We took a drive down to St Louis and I kept spotting such large birds. I was positive some must have been eagles & wondered how a farm would protect chickens from such big predators. We're in a suburb of Chicago. I doubt I've seen many (if any) eagles, but I know there's a descent red-tailed hawk presence in a forest preserve 5 miles from here. I've also had a small hawk (or maybe falcon) terrorize my chickens. It doesn't fly away with a fear for humans. Only just out of reach like to the top of the swingset. That's why I'm always sending the dogs out. That particular hawk is smaller than most of my chickens, but I fear its determination.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

That would be awesome!!!!

Wouldn't it, though?

I got to meet a wonderful lady, Candy, from Missouri who delivered two gorgeous pairs of Ayam Cemani to me while she was on a chicken train. Here I am holding one of my handsome new roosters: Here is my favorite Serama, Caboose (and I really don't know if I'll be able to part with him ... *sigh): Hey -- is the weekend gone already???

That's pretty cool about the Cemanis!! Hoping for a good hatch! I have to say, though, I've adored Seramas since I first laid eyes on them--they're on my 'must' list. I would offer to take some of them in a heartbeat if I had the room. Caboose is such a handsome little guy! Ugh, don't get me started on the weekend being over... At least tomorrow is a relatively light day as far as classes go. Still, lots to do around here with winter prep, quarantine prep, and duck coop building. Oh, man, I'm really feeling all that work I did earlier, especially in the arms... Good night, folks!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I am looking hard at my flocks. Several ducks for sure that are raiding my chickens eggs

That's my breakfast, not yours! I kept seeing once of my scovy hens attacking the pekin. They were stealing her eggs, so that tells me that group needs to go. Now, they are hitting the chicken coop too!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 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
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[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!

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

Sounds great! I have said before, we can have more than one fest a year! The meet and swap is always so much fun.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hello all,

I am Candy, Iamfivewire's DW He constantly tells me how friendly everyone is here so I am subscribing. We are pretty busy gearing up for winter here in Mid MIchigan.

Nice to meet all!

I love Brown County, haven't been there since I used to spend the summers with my Gramma down in Indianapolis about 45 years ago

I am sure I could talk DH Brett into a trip if something is planned there!

Candy

Welcome to our thread!! We are actually hoping to hold a chickenfest @PeacefulWalls in Goshen for 2015. She has graciously offered to host next year! I am also really interested in more than one event a year, think it would be awesome

Love the swapping and seeing other members. It feels like a family reunion since so many of us get together fairly often! We have been able to have our first chickenfest at @racinchickins in 2013, this year was at my campground in Liberty, IN. LOVED it, look forward to many more.

Quote: I go by #1 attitude, aggression in the flock., #2 birds age and health over all. and #3 egg production. Hens usually don't stay long enough to make that choice here, but some of the egg flock will be 3 next year. If they are pet type birds, I will offer them free to rehome before I process to a family that needs them. I have processed a rehomed hen that was very aggressive even to people, worse than a roo! She was probably closer to 5 yrs old and uncontrollable. Sent a PM

Quote:
Layers sell really well almost anytime of year. I can sell started pullets (laying) for $15 each this time of year on the popular common breeds.

So this afternoon, I decided to work on the quarantine pen for the ducks that will hopefully coming home in less than 2 weeks now. I thought just fencing in the area under the deck, which is far out of the reach of the hens, would be easy and sturdy enough to reuse for future quarantines. Well, come to find out, the dogs had done a number on the area. Shredded plush, Styrofoam, cardboard, a broken down desk...

I don't know what happened down there, but I'm exhausted from cleaning it up! On top of that, I was 8 feet short on fence, so it's not even done yet.

I ended up saving a bunch of frogs and toads from the dogs while I was down there, though. Didn't think I would find so many frogs so far from the water!

Oh, well.

UGH! I am seeing a lot of toads moving, If I leave the garage door open for my pug, they hop right in

We have a 6ft fenced run for her, so if its warm out I leave the door open all day. Same for the lil treefrogs! Find them plastered on the door, shoo them away so Sadie won't be barking at them.

Quote: We are doing a lot of shifting this weekend. Quail and more pekin processed. Adding housing for the muscovy... covering the new turkey house, and introducing the new poults to the adult pair. Scovies and Guinea are sharing housing area since they comingle well, that may be next weekend to get it all set up.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: i call this carefully planning, as you should be. The big pole barn here, Dad has told me to use it... There's tons of raccoon in it. So will be a lot of cleaning, closing up and trapping before I can house animals in it. Raccoon harbor a lot of parasites, some are very dangerous to be exposed to, even humans.. trust me on that, I was very sick from a raccoon parasite for weeks when I trapped as Animal Control.. I would feel very cautious too.

Quote:
Craigslist is scary. If I sell on there, I do not let folks come to my house, I meet them elsewhere. Facebook, I use to keep up with family and have pretty high security settings. I agree with you, internet is risky. Know who it is or keep them at arms length.

Hey BYC-Indiana friends! I hope you've all had a wonderful, if very chilly, weekend! My Saturday was absolutely wonderful --- a chicken adventure ... I got to meet a wonderful lady, Candy, from Missouri who delivered two gorgeous pairs of Ayam Cemani to me while she was on a chicken train. Here I am holding one of my handsome new roosters:



I am thrilled with this breed's size and disposition ... my first impression is that is it similar to my Jaerhon, and I am in love with that breed. They have been very calm and friendly. No one has put up a fuss or tried to bite me when I hold them. Their iridescent black feathers make me think of oil and I think they have very sweet faces! I have six Cemani eggs in my incubator that are due to hatch in one week. The last time I candled, there were embryos in all six. I haven't been handling them much at all and won't candle again until Wednesday when it is time for them to go into lock down:



After I picked up my new birds, the DH and I headed out to purchase a small coop that was listed on Craigslist, with two of our grown kids in tow. We've hauled it back home and the DH is going to put down a foundation for it, after which it will be home for the Cemani.

I have so enjoyed meeting other people in person who share my passion for raising poultry. I was wondering if any folks in Madison County might be interested in getting together over coffee or tea somewhere every other month or so?

Since I have added Cemani to my flock, I have been considering selling my Serama. They are pet quality and would make great 4-H birds. I have really enjoyed this breed of chicken and it will be hard for me to give them up, but I think I would like to concentrate on just two breeds. My chicken-raising space is at a minimum. Here is my favorite Serama, Caboose (and I really don't know if I'll be able to part with him ... *sigh):



I have four males and five females. All but one of them are under a year old. I also have two eggs in the incubator with my Cemani and Jaerhon eggs that are due in a week. If anyone might be interested in some Serama, please send me a private message.

Hey -- is the weekend gone already???

How exciting for you, they are a very rare heritage breed! Its a painful choice to let them go. I have cut 2 flocks here already, and will probably be cutting more.

Quote: LOL eyeball aprons do seem to help! I keep geese, guinea and turkey so the hawks and falcon will fly by, but not take my birds. Large geese and turkey frighten hawks, the guinea will attack them. My predator issues here are stray dogs, and coyotes if they settle here. Those 2 predators need an LGD, shotgun or donkey to stop attacks. Some of my misfit "wild bunch" birds will not coop at night and I worry about them.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

good nite all falling asleep

 

[ChickCrazed]

Good morning all! Hope everyone had a nice weekend! I didn't get much done outside due to the weather. I was inside hiding all weekend. I did get a second, larger pipe feeder in the layer coop and got all of my shade cloth taken down to make room for the tarps I will put up in the next few weeks as wind blocks. I also got most of my winter hay in the barn, which is a relief. I think I will have one more 100 bale load in December and I should be able to last until Spring.

I saw my first cat kill in the barn! A mouse corpse that is proof that my new barn cats are earning their keep! Woohoo barn cats! I hope they are killing at a higher rate than 1 every six weeks lol.

I had an Isbar go broody, she had been laying a secret stash of eggs in the horse barn. She was up to 6 or 7 eggs in her stash (that I had been meaning to move) . I saw her sitting on them and wasn't sure if she was broody, reached down to pick her up and got pecked hard! After another attempt and two more pecks to the hands I ended up scraping her off her nest with a plastic pitchfork. LOL whatever works. She really wanted to hatch some Isbar/Bielefelder babies. It was the hen that had the run in with No-No-Bad-Dog last week so her brush with death must have flipped a switch and she now wants to ensure her genetic survival. She was fairly easy to talk out of broodiness and was back out with the rest of the flock the rest of the weekend. So I guess Isbars go broody!

Rooster update, Harris the Isbar seems to have settled down a bit and is no longer being quite as mean to the Hedemora boy. They have settled into an uneasy truce of sorts. I could probably put the ladies back in that pen with them now but they are really enjoying free-ranging every day with everyone else so I am going to hold off until Spring and leave the boys separated. Hopefully the hormones will be completely under control by Spring!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

one of my 2 sumatra roosters showed up this morning. While he was not crowing, he was prancing around the yard like a little king. At least until he saw the food, then back into the pen he went. It almost gives me hope for the other one. The Sumatra breeds is known to like to roost in trees so maybe but highly unlikely for the other to show up.

 

[ChickCrazed]

one of my 2 sumatra roosters showed up this morning. While he was not crowing, he was prancing around the yard like a little king. At least until he saw the food, then back into the pen he went. It almost gives me hope for the other one. The Sumatra breeds is known to like to roost in trees so maybe but highly unlikely for the other to show up.

That is great news! It goes to show that you never really know... they do have an innate survival instinct.