INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[dogwoodlaine]

Today's projects:
Build frame and fence in half of the coop. Put up draft board on the bottom. Re-roof (down to the rafters) the back corner of the coop.
I'm probably not moving them (the 19 chicks) for a while, but I need to do this while the weather holds. Hopefully, I can get this all done before hubby comes home from hunting. Oh, and there's the normal house work and the never ending dining room furniture painting project that I started months ago and absolutely have to finish by Thanksgiving. Seems I was volunteered to host this year since we've got the most room...grrrrr
I need some ideas to partially enclose my run for the winter. Current situation: the run is pitched back toward the shed (got too lazy and tired to dig down any further to at least level it). My plans were to put that corrugated clear plastic roofing on it, but there is not enough clearance to raise it up high enough on the coop end to make it pitch away. Any ideas?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

The Mama Hen & her baby chick-ducks are precious.


Newbie questions:
Egg Production:
Is it normal for the egg numbers to slow way down? My 15 month olds were laying so well Feb-Sept & now slowed down to a few eggs per week. One had a hard molt & is still growing feathers. (She completely stopped about 3 weeks ago.) The others look a little shabby but not bald. They're laying, but not daily. Will they stop laying too?

My "Babies" are 25 weeks old. Will they start laying soon or wait until Jan/Feb when the days start getting longer? One EE mutt started laying at 17 weeks, & the Bantam Orpington started at 22 weeks. My Crested Cream Legbars & Orpingtons haven't started laying yet. (1 has pale comb; three have red combs for weeks now.)

Without supplimental lighting: Do most hens stop in the winter or just slow down? I read the Orpingtons lay in the winter, but I'm on the fence about adding light. Sounds complicated, so I'm leaning against it. Of course, that's IF they start laying.

Yes, daylight is dropping fast. Many hens will actually stop laying. My EE, silkies and polish already have. Your littles may lay a short time but you won't see real production until spring, depending on the breeds. I keep considering but have never added light yet. Its totally your decision, and if you do, folks recommend 14-16 hours of light and a timer..Many use the rope lights, its attractive, easy and the hens like it. January, and February I may have a dozen eggs total, and that's ok. I am seeing in the hatchery lines, I am lucky if my hens make 3 years old. So My feeling on them, I better leave it as is, to give them a longer life. I won't be adding hatchery to my flock anymore unless its a bird needing a home. Frankly feel they (hatcheries) are not breeding the birds to live past the 3 year mark, and that's horribly wrong. Many members this year have had losses from hatchery birds, unexpected and just heartbreaking. Many more friends not on our forum have too. A heritage breed hen can lay well past 5 and older. WHY would a hatchery do that? For profit of course. So I will pay the breeder that cares, and not buy the "hatchery" birds that die from egg binding and inbreeding, and break my heart losing them so young.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
both breeds are cold hardy! Try them after saturdays frost, but watch really close. Still having pins and not feathers is unnerving for me but if the porch is unheated, they are acclimated already.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I won't be going to the show again this year in Lebanon

. Pretty, well REALLY disappointed. DH has to work all weekend. We are still hoping to make Connersville in November, I think he is more disappointed than I am.. His work is seasonal so "you gotta make hay when the sun shines". And pour concrete and gravel before the ground freezes. He is honestly more disappointed than I was! DH wants to add a black japanese bantam to our OEGBs. No idea what the breed is, he said he will know when he sees it. I googled pics, so far I see a sebright or serema type tail. white earlobe. theres too many breeds to be sure. His cousin (I called him too!) calls them bantam japanese, its a tiny black bird, erect tail. quite cute and interesting if thats the breed.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Today's projects:
Build frame and fence in half of the coop. Put up draft board on the bottom. Re-roof (down to the rafters) the back corner of the coop.
I'm probably not moving them (the 19 chicks) for a while, but I need to do this while the weather holds. Hopefully, I can get this all done before hubby comes home from hunting. Oh, and there's the normal house work and the never ending dining room furniture painting project that I started months ago and absolutely have to finish by Thanksgiving. Seems I was volunteered to host this year since we've got the most room...grrrrr
I need some ideas to partially enclose my run for the winter. Current situation: the run is pitched back toward the shed (got too lazy and tired to dig down any further to at least level it). My plans were to put that corrugated clear plastic roofing on it, but there is not enough clearance to raise it up high enough on the coop end to make it pitch away. Any ideas?

consider a plastic or galvaised netting. I have also used soccer netting. main thing is to keep them in.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Good nite guys falling asleep

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Today's projects:
Build frame and fence in half of the coop. Put up draft board on the bottom. Re-roof (down to the rafters) the back corner of the coop.
I'm probably not moving them (the 19 chicks) for a while, but I need to do this while the weather holds. Hopefully, I can get this all done before hubby comes home from hunting. Oh, and there's the normal house work and the never ending dining room furniture painting project that I started months ago and absolutely have to finish by Thanksgiving. Seems I was volunteered to host this year since we've got the most room...grrrrr
I need some ideas to partially enclose my run for the winter. Current situation: the run is pitched back toward the shed (got too lazy and tired to dig down any further to at least level it). My plans were to put that corrugated clear plastic roofing on it, but there is not enough clearance to raise it up high enough on the coop end to make it pitch away. Any ideas?

Post pics if you can! There are some members that have awesome thoughts on coops. I am alway upgrading too.s

 

[dogwoodlaine]

consider a plastic or galvaised netting. I have also used soccer netting. main thing is to keep them in.

I will try and get some pictures up today. It's fully enclosed, but it's chicken wire all the way around. I want to put a weather proof top and enclose two sides for winter. I have hops plant starts on the two sides I want to enclose (that's for summer shade) that will hopefully come back up next year.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I won't be going to the show again this year in Lebanon . Pretty, well REALLY disappointed. DH has to work all weekend. We are still hoping to make Connersville in November, I think he is more disappointed than I am.. His work is seasonal so "you gotta make hay when the sun shines". And pour concrete and gravel before the ground freezes. He is honestly more disappointed than I was! DH wants to add a black japanese bantam to our OEGBs. No idea what the breed is, he said he will know when he sees it. I googled pics, so far I see a sebright or serema type tail. white earlobe. theres too many breeds to be sure. His cousin (I called him too!) calls them bantam japanese, its a tiny black bird, erect tail. quite cute and interesting if thats the breed.

Black tailed white Japanese. Cute little breed. Sorry you can't go!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I won't be going to the show again this year in Lebanon

. Pretty, well REALLY disappointed. DH has to work all weekend. We are still hoping to make Connersville in November, I think he is more disappointed than I am.. His work is seasonal so "you gotta make hay when the sun shines". And pour concrete and gravel before the ground freezes. He is honestly more disappointed than I was! DH wants to add a black japanese bantam to our OEGBs. No idea what the breed is, he said he will know when he sees it. I googled pics, so far I see a sebright or serema type tail. white earlobe. theres too many breeds to be sure. His cousin (I called him too!) calls them bantam japanese, its a tiny black bird, erect tail. quite cute and interesting if thats the breed.

We did not make it today either. Several things came up last night that just made it clear we could not go.

Anyone that does go, please if you can, get pictures of the blue Sumatra's, the RIR, the BLRW, and the Crested Cream Legbars. Those were the maim breeds I wanted to look at. The back ups were the buff orps and Barred rocks. I enjoy seeing how big the orps get compared the the hatchery orps I raised and sold off.

Editing to request Turkey and duck pictures too.

Maybe someone should just make a video of all of the birds as they walked through the show. That would be great for those of us that just could not make it.