INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

@Leahs Mom is there a feed mill near you that would sell you a partial bag? It might not save you money though. I'm sure they would want to mark it up a bit to cover their time.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Leahs Mom is there a feed mill near you that would sell you a partial bag? It might not save you money though. I'm sure they would want to mark it up a bit to cover their time.

I have checked around for all options and haven't found a good one yet.

They do sell it in 10 lb bags at a much higher price. Unfortunately, the only dealer in the area that carries it has had the bags on his shelf (which is a hot barn) longer than shelf life so I won't purchase it from him. If I order from the company, the shipping for the weight is high enough that I might as well just get the 60 lb bag locally. I just hate for it to go to waste.

I did put a notice in the Michigan thread too in case someone there is interested.

The last bag I purchased (60 lbs) is longer than beyond shelf like and I probably have at least 30 lbs of it left. I'm probably going to put it in the spreader and put it out on the back half of the pasture as fertilizer (unless I find some reason that it wouldn't be a good move).

I'd just love to see it go to poultry use while it's in its prime!

 

[Leahs Mom]

@SallyinIndiana

On another topic... what kind of incubator do you use and/or recommend? (Not interested in styrofoam....)

I've just been reading about the incuview, but not knowing or having any experience with "unnatural incubation", I have nothing to go on.

 

[minmin1258]

 


have you thought about installing one of those sound devices.  I saw an ad today in a coupon flyer 3 sound devices for $20 including shipping.  I just updated the ones in my house less than a month ago.  Still I'm thinking of getting more as they have to be changed out every other year or so. 


I feel you on infestations.  When we moved here our pole barn was over run.  We had indoor cats at the time but no chickens.  I was so nervous to put out poison and the barn was over 100 feet behind the house.  The previous owner had left opened bags of dog food in the barn and had no concerns or fears of creatures that would help themselves.  It took us almost a year to clear out racoons, opossums, mice, and wild rabbits. 

I can tell you that my cats while they are killing machines don't kill 60 mice in a few days like poison can.  And yes my barn cats kill any nearby rodents they choose.  I just tell myself that at least that rodent did not make it to my place.  I did have to ask one of the neighbors not to feed my cat.  It can be hard mentally but really don't feed the barn cats every day, 2-3 times a week is fine if there are things they can kill.

The sound device is a great idea to keep them out once I get my population knocked down!!!  I hadn't thought of that idea!  I can't believe how many mice I've removed in the last 36 hours!!! As nerve wracking as it is, the stuff does work!!!  

I'm sure I'm over feeding my cats.  They were scary skinny when I got them and I wanted to fatten them up before it got cold.  Check......Herschel is now a sumo wrestler.....now they are used to the feedings and I have a lot of trouble saying no to the hungry face!!!! I need to drop the free loaders down to once a day feedings over the winter and stick to my guns.  I come by it honestly, my parents have always had very fat and happy animals as well.  

I have got to have 100-200 mice in the shed (i'm not even targeting the horse barn right now, i'm hoping the cats WILL help out in there since that is where the cats stay most of the time).  Every time I went in the shed I had them running across my feet, literally over my shoes.  When I'd go in there in the evening they would be climbing down the walls and the doors within a foot of me.  Going in at night it sounds like the entire shed is crawling with critters and it is scary.  I made the mistake of leaving a hammer and screwdriver on top of the nest box and the next morning they were 100% corroded from mouse urine, just ruined in 1 day.  It is just foul.  Every inch of the shed is covered in rodent poop.  It's gotten so bad I dread going in there.....I've been fighting putting the poison in there for a year, but it will be such a relief to have this done and over with.  Plus I imagine I will save some feed!

I use a Black n Decker Sonic critter deterrent. It works great, my chicks and ducklings were not affected by it at all. It's in my outbuilding where the brooder is. I've used those sonic devices for a while (4+ years) and have not seen a single mouse or had an issue with mice eating my Christmas decorations (which are stored in that building also). The good part is they seem to work for spiders, cockroaches, and beetles too I highly recommend them.

ETA they have to be replaced every couple years and I'd recommend you put them out there asap because they actually drive the mice away! Be sure you use the recommended number of them for the size of your room.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

@SallyinIndiana

On another topic... what kind of incubator do you use and/or recommend? (Not interested in styrofoam....)

I've just been reading about the incuview, but not knowing or having any experience with "unnatural incubation", I have nothing to go on.

If you will be hatching just a few eggs each year then the incuview is good. @racinchickins has one.

I started off with styro still airs no turners. That is not the way to go at all. While it is the cheapest, the styro is too hard to clean, and I need turners both to maintain the inside temp and humidity as well as to keep up with other things in my day. After the still airs, I got the fancy styro genesis one. It worked great but not for hatching due to clean up. At that point I was hatching in the still airs as clean up was a bit easier and I felt as if replacing the still air would be a bit cheaper should i not be able to get it clean.
I have a digital cabinet now and it is so much easier to clean then the styro. It has a great hatch rate too and I was able to keep the humidity where I wanted it for the most part. But cabinets are too costly for hatching a dozen eggs every year.

There are other plastic incubators out there but the incuview tends to be the most economical for smaller batches.

There are all kinds of hints out there for "unnatural incubating". I have found maintaining a constant room temp and humidity really help the incubating and hatch rates.



editing:
I wonder if you could make a mineral block or two using lard and the leftover bag.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I agree on Styrofoam 100%. If its a one time a year thing, they are "OK" but a real pain to clean. Humidity is difficult. Manual turning drops the hatch rate tremendously also. Since some of the birds here are meant for food, the cabinet was our choice. Its drastically improved hatch rates, cleaning, simplicity all around. Cabinets are also a big investment for just a few hatches a year. My only issue is our dry,drafty old house, and keeping humidity even. I will be adding the water reservoir next season, and the clear door to satisfy my worries checking on my hatches lol!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

It's time, again, for me to purchase a bag of Fertrell Poultry Nutribalancer. I mix my own feed and this is the mineral mix and it is rated for organic.

Problem...Right now my best shot to get it in a 60 lb bag which is enough for a ton (2000 lbs) of feed. So I will never go through all that before it is beyond shelf life.

If there is anyone in the Northern part of Indiana - or within driving distance - that may want to purchase some of my bag, send me a pm and I will give you price by the lb.

I am not trying to make money .... will sell at the same price per lb that I get it at. I just don't want it to go to waste and maybe someone wanted some and also doesn't want to have the whole large bag.



http://www.fertrell.com/poutrynurtibalancer.htm

I sincerely wish we lived closer. I average around 250lbs a week feeding the birds alone, I would sure use it! I have found it locally, and once we get our gravity wagon, we will start making our own feed, finally! I can obtain fish meal from the same elevator. Its incredible what the savings will be feeding our birds. I have also started researching the hogs, goats and looking at what we will need to do for them. Becoming a NON-GMO micro farm is my goal. Each year we get a little closer

 

[racinchickins]

@SallyinIndiana


On another topic... what kind of incubator do you use and/or recommend?  (Not interested in styrofoam....)

I've just been reading about the incuview, but not knowing or having any experience with "unnatural incubation", I have nothing to go on.

The incuview is great! Much more stable temps than the styros and the best view for hatching. I've never incubated all the way in one though. I have a cabinet, and I do the first 18 days there and just hatch in the incuview. I see no reason why it wouldn't work great. Humidity is much easier to control too.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

After careful consideration, and also getting the green light from my beautiful and talented wife to pull the trigger on a second run, I've decided to add pullets to my little flock.

I think, for me, chicks are a poor fit right now. As has been pointed out, they need more time and care, and I don't have it to give. Quarantine, on the other hand, I've got time and space for.

So, who's got chickens to sell? I'm primarily interested in egg production. I've had great luck with my RIRs and Gold Sex Links, and I'm very interested in Leghorns, but I'd consider almost any breed that lays lots of large eggs. I just need them to be feathered out and old enough to hang out in the garage for a month - you know the drill.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

@SallyinIndiana


On another topic... what kind of incubator do you use and/or recommend?  (Not interested in styrofoam....)

I've just been reading about the incuview, but not knowing or having any experience with "unnatural incubation", I have nothing to go on.

I have been pleased with my Brinsea 30. I got it through eBay at a responsible price. It will do until I can afford to invest in a cabinet incubator.