INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Kassafrass]

Very disgusting question (and we are new to this, fyi)...while i was feeding watering the chickens, my five yr old was in the yard with me eating an apple. She called out to me, "Mommy, I'm sharing with the chickens! I take a bite, then et them peck at it, then i take a bite...it's fun!" I know she couldn't have done that more than once or twice, but is there anything i need to be looking for to make sure she doesn't come down with something? (Our daughter, not the chickens ;-). Or is there anything i need to do to prevent her from getting anything?

 

[ChickCrazed]

Planning for next spring...

Assuming all my birds are still around, I feel like I really only have room for two more chickens. There are more I want, though!

If you could only have two, which would you get:

A marans (any kind of marans)
an olive egger
a salmon favorelle
a cochin (any kind of cochin)
a buff silkie (we love our silkies)

DH and son are pulling for a buff silkie, but I've read that SFs are friendly and sweet, too. I've read the same about cochins.

I am pulling for colorful eggs, myself.

Which would you pick, and why?

I would vote for a Marans and a Cochin. Both are super friendly and a lot of fun.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have deduced that my Easter Egger, Gayle, started laying three days ago! Look what I found today!



I noticed she had made herself a little nest in the back of the coop, beneath the roost, but I kept checking and didn't see any eggs. It must have been a trick of the light. I think she got another girl to lay there, too, because I only had one egg yesterday and today in the normal spot, instead of two.

They are kind of dirty because of where she chose to lay. I washed them. They should still be safe, shouldn't they?

So excited to have blue eggs!

I found my first ever "hidden nest" hiding under a small saw horse that I use for a short roost the other day. I ended up putting a bucket under the sawhorse to keep them from going in there.

Your eggs will be fine. It's been relatively cool out so they probably never got above "room temperature". I keep my eggs on the counter in the house (only for my own family...if they are being sold they go in the fridge so that no one worries). I haven't ever refrigerated any of our own eggs. (I would if they came from the grocery as they are irradiated and also the conditions in which they are laid are not healthy.)

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Very disgusting question (and we are new to this, fyi)...while i was feeding watering the chickens, my five yr old was in the yard with me eating an apple. She called out to me, "Mommy, I'm sharing with the chickens! I take a bite, then et them peck at it, then i take a bite...it's fun!" I know she couldn't have done that more than once or twice, but is there anything i need to be looking for to make sure she doesn't come down with something? (Our daughter, not the chickens ;-). Or is there anything i need to do to prevent her from getting anything?

I would keep her hydrated. If she gets something it will mostly involve cramping strong enough to make her feel like puking or the runs or both. Maybe a fever too but the loss of fluids is what I would watch out for then of course do what you can to keep her not in pain if she does get the cramps.

Editing to add children put all kinds of things in their mouth, so don't feel too bad. My Dh says he ate a worm or two as a child.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I think that you won't have an issue at all if your chickens have space to run around on grass and they aren't confined in a dirty area... and if your daughter gets to play outside in the yard, dirt, etc. regularly.

It's a pretty good chance that she has exposure to things that would strengthen her immune system enough to handle the situation.


ETA: You could give her some yogurt and extra probiotics the next few days too

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Looks great! I can't wait for Lebanon! See you there.

[COLOR=900000] Me, too! See you there! :cd [/COLOR]

Planning for next spring...


Assuming all my birds are still around, I feel like I really only have room for two more chickens. There are more I want, though!

If you could only have two, which would you get:


A marans (any kind of marans)
an olive egger
a salmon favorelle
a cochin (any kind of cochin)
a buff silkie (we love our silkies)

DH and son are pulling for a buff silkie, but I've read that SFs are friendly and sweet, too. I've read the same about cochins.


I am pulling for colorful eggs, myself.


Which would you pick, and why?

[COLOR=13598B]That's a tough one... My Marans have all been sweet, but the younger two are not as cuddly as my beloved Frou-Frou, and I get from everything about Frou that she is not normal for a Marans (or chicken of any kind ). Olive eggers, like Easter-eggers, are not strictly pure bred and so their personality types can vary greatly, but their egg color is the big selling point for them. Faverolles are supposed to be sweet and cuddly, like you've read, but I have heard that they have a difficult time in mixed flocks. Having never owned one, I couldn't tell you how true that is. I love Cochins, they are definitely on my list any time I have space in my coop--looks and personality! My Silkie, Marge, is more of a sassy bird than super cuddly, but everyone here loves her.

For different reasons, I'd pick different breeds. If you're going for egg colors, Marans will give you nice, dark brown eggs and Olive eggers will give you olive green eggs. For pets, I, personally, would go for a Cochin and either a Marans, a Silkie, or a Faverolles (leaning heavily toward Marans). For looks it would depend on the variety of each breed. Really, it's something you'll have to decide based on your own preferences. Good luck! [/COLOR]

 

[leslea]

I would vote for a Marans and a Cochin. Both are super friendly and a lot of fun.

Thanks for your input! Super friendly is definitely important to us!

I found my first ever "hidden nest" hiding under a small saw horse that I use for a short roost the other day. I ended up putting a bucket under the sawhorse to keep them from going in there.

Your eggs will be fine. It's been relatively cool out so they probably never got above "room temperature". I keep my eggs on the counter in the house (only for my own family...if they are being sold they go in the fridge so that no one worries). I haven't ever refrigerated any of our own eggs. (I would if they came from the grocery as they are irradiated and also the conditions in which they are laid are not healthy.)

Thanks. That's what I thought, but good to get confirmation.

I am really hoping she doesn't try to nest under the roost again. She is such a timid little thing. I guess she feels safe there. I just used a rake to pile up the bedding. We'll see how it goes.

I know guineas are infamous for hiding their nests. I had a dream this last week that I found a guinea egg and it was HUGE! So far my guineas think they are chickens so I predict Thelma will lay in the coop, but who knows?

 

[leslea]

[COLOR=900000]

Me, too! See you there!

[/COLOR]
[COLOR=13598B]That's a tough one... My Marans have all been sweet, but the younger two are not as cuddly as my beloved Frou-Frou, and I get from everything about Frou that she is not normal for a Marans (or chicken of any kind

). Olive eggers, like Easter-eggers, are not strictly pure bred and so their personality types can vary greatly, but their egg color is the big selling point for them. Faverolles are supposed to be sweet and cuddly, like you've read, but I have heard that they have a difficult time in mixed flocks. Having never owned one, I couldn't tell you how true that is. I love Cochins, they are definitely on my list any time I have space in my coop--looks and personality! My Silkie, Marge, is more of a sassy bird than super cuddly, but everyone here loves her.

For different reasons, I'd pick different breeds. If you're going for egg colors, Marans will give you nice, dark brown eggs and Olive eggers will give you olive green eggs. For pets, I, personally, would go for a Cochin and either a Marans, a Silkie, or a Faverolles (leaning heavily toward Marans). For looks it would depend on the variety of each breed. Really, it's something you'll have to decide based on your own preferences. Good luck!

[/COLOR]

Thanks! It IS a tough one, isn't it?

The hubby and one of my sons are pushing hard for a buff silkie so I feel like they are really whittling down my options. They love our two silkies. Based on your comments, looks like Marans made both your lists...that's a pretty good recommendation.

I'm also thinking about how last year I ended up losing one chick and having to get a refund for one being a male--then having to rehome him. I ended up with four hens instead of the planned six. That makes me wonder if maybe I shouldn't order extras just in case. But then which would we choose to part with if they all ended up healthy females?

Not really stressing over it. I have a few months to think about it...but right now the temptation is definitely to buy too many chicks and then figure it out later.

Hubby said, "We don't have a big enough coop!"

I said, "You're completely right."

Before I could add anything, he interjected, "Don't even say it! The answer is no! I am not building on to the coop!"

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

[COLOR=900000]Aww, he's no fun! That's how I ended up with 41 hens instead of 40 even. I got an extra Dorking because I wanted one so bad and didn't want something to happen to her if I only got one. No regrets, I absolutely adore my Dorking girls. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=900000]How big is your coop? Maybe if you have just one extra, it wouldn't be that big of a deal..? Enable, enable, enable. [/COLOR]

 

[Leahs Mom]

Not really stressing over it. I have a few months to think about it...but right now the temptation is definitely to buy too many chicks and then figure it out later.

Hubby said, "We don't have a big enough coop!"

I said, "You're completely right."

Before I could add anything, he interjected, "Don't even say it! The answer is no! I am not building on to the coop!"

How bout some Swedish Flower Hens? I should have some hatching eggs in the spring. And they are very curious, enjoyable personalities! They come in a wide variety of colors and they are really "yard candy"


Here are 2 of my new girls that will be laying for spring:






And my older girl...Queen Emma...



(Scepters and crowns not included with purchase.)