INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

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She looks so small! Here she is not too long ago: [/COLOR]




THAT GIRL IS HAVING A BAD HAIR DAY! AND YOU CAN HELP MAKE HER FUTURE HAIR DAYS BETTER

.

[COLOR=900000]Here's the full instructions Leahs mom posted last year.

[/COLOR] https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730582/indiana-bycers-here/16100#post_12204212

Thanks for remembering the post!

I did use those the last 2 years and still have them hanging around here. I may not use them this year. I haven't decided yet. Still working out experimentation in my mind...

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Posted this in the natural thread too but would like to hear from y'all: A "housing question" for those of you that may have experience.... I am wondering if anyone has ever used a dog house, inside a kennel that is fenced on all sides and top, to house birds in the current weather. Reason for the question is that I want to put the new boys out with the elders, but I don't want them in the same run quite yet and side 2 of my hen shed is currently occupied. I had "Mister" using that kennel with the dog house as his only shelter...and an outdoor roost...earlier this summer. I just don't know it it would be way to cold for just a dog house at this stage in the game. It isn't as secure as being locked into the hen shed either as something could presumably get under it at night - though it is enclosed by electric netting on 3 sides. There is always the 4th side. So... Opinions and experiences, please. Imagine this with a chicken plugged in.

I have an am currently using some dog houses. Mine will lay eggs inside, but that is it. They perch and sleep on the top of it

 

[Leahs Mom]

Are the dog houses in a kennel or pen or enclosure of some kind? Is there any wind break?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Are the dog houses in a kennel or pen or enclosure of some kind?  Is there any wind break?

The one I am currently using is in a pen that is made of chain link. There is also a hole in the roof because the tin of the roof got ripped off a little. So in a way it is almost outside, but I is technically inside a barn

 

[Indiana feather]

Indiana feather ~ Your ideas are good ones, but just make sure the grass isn't too long because it can cause an impacted crop. I do "yard work" with my flock everyday, and they love when I dig up some dirt where they can find grub worms and other delicacies. Since my chickens are pets, and I don't have a large flock--not a lot of beaks to feed, I give them a variety of treats: sunflower kernels (TSC apparently has tastier ones than RK), safflower seeds, freeze dried mealworms, chopped nuts, cut up grapes and cut up blueberries (whole can be choking hazard), and cut up salad greens (grass size). Yogurt is good for them-- I usually mix some seeds with it since they're not crazy about mushy things that cause them to wipe their beaks too much! They like bananas enough to put up with mushy mouth. haha Two favorites that I don't offer as much are Craisins and shredded mozzarella cheese. Mine never liked scratch grains/cracked corn. I don't give them our leftovers because I figure that the levels of salt or other seasoning is disproportionate for their size. They eat more healthfully than we do!

When it's cold outside, especially when it's miserable cold rainy weather, I make them scrambled eggs (their favorite) or oatmeal with raisins.

OOh I kinda like your ideas... I did buy some mealworms today when I went to RK .. Everyone was raving about scratch grains so i looked into those and it actually says not to feed them till birds at least 16 weeks old. I got a huge box of instant oatmeal too.. would you cook that or just feed it to them dry?? Anyway thanks for the ideas.. will try and see what they like.. tried popcorn today with mixed reviews .

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

$13.48

This is the same I used. Yes its perfect, does offer a little shade. My EEs are fliers, same with the leghorns so its great to keep a bird in, and a hawk out. Do watch for heady wet snow it can stick and pull it down. X2 on the leaves! I would just go shake the snow out. Mine was great for over a year til a big tree branch took it out

 

[Mother2Hens]

Originally Posted by atrueb00

I believe @BryLT3 is putting together the t-shirt orders. Is that correct, @Mother2Hens ?

She, jchny2000, and I were working on it, but we all became busy at the same time and had to prioritize. I will connect with both of them so we can post an order form soon-- great for Christmas presents, too!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hey everyone... just wondered what kind of treats do you give your chickens that would be good for pullets . I gave mine some grass i pulled up along with some Nasturitum leaves and some black oil sunflower seeds. They had fun picking through it but i couldn't tell if they ate any of it..lol

We raise mealworms, and this winter am adding mice (yes, you read that right

) but the domestic type without risk of disease, and fish (platies) for live treats. I have 2 large tanks 55 & 75 that housed my oscars who have since passed. I want to at least partially replace what natural proteins they won't find in the winter while foraging. Mealworms do that, but they can get more variety this way.

Here is more info on them. Some stats. I will be building the screen type. Mine will look similar to the attached photo. It will be painted all flat black, and will be covered with corrugated polycarbonate.


http://www.n3fjp.com/solar/comparisonhotair/comparisonhotair.htm



They attach to the roof of the coop and have 4" duct work on coming off the back. One inlet and one outlet. I'm not sure how much heat they will make yet but have researched a lot and the screen type seems to heat the best. My first attempt will be an 2ft x 4ft design. I will build mine and give some test results.


I will post pics of the building process when done.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Fantastic idea! My modern and OEGB's will need some heat for winter if it gets severe again. I will check the link out!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Took a few chicken pictures today.

Bantam Chocolate Orp Bonbon and her three chicks roosting with my Jubilee Orp, Adeline.
Bantam Black Cochin chicks were hatched courtesy of @ellymayRans hatching eggs.


A closer view of Friday, Bonbon, little Tuesday, and Monday.
Looks like some bad hen pulled out a few of Bonbon's back feathers.


I crawled through the viburnam bush to get a better view, which caused Bonbon to alert.
The oldest chick, Friday, is on the right.


Here's Sunday on the left and Monday on the right.
Monday is the sweetest!

 

[Mother2Hens]

We raise mealworms, and this winter am adding mice (yes, you read that right

) but the domestic type without risk of disease, and fish (platies) for live treats. I have 2 large tanks 55 & 75 that housed my oscars who have since passed. I want to at least partially replace what natural proteins they won't find in the winter while foraging. Mealworms do that, but they can get more variety this way.

Janet, I realize you're not raising mice to this level, but your post reminded me of a controversy a couple years ago-- just a couple of miles away from me. (It didn't affect me, except I think mice are cute. lol seriously).


[2012] EVANSVILLE - The Area Plan Commission has denied a rezoning petition filed by a rodent-breeding facility in northern Vanderburgh County, but the facility's owner said he doesn't intend to shut down his business as a result.
The Darmstadt Road business, called The Mouse House, supplies feeder mice and rats that are sold to pet stores and zoos as food for other animals. The Mouse House breeds, kills and packages the mice on site.
Business owners Dennis and Deborah Bittner had sought to rezone 3.7 acres of their property from agricultural and commercial to industrial. That request was denied unanimously at Thursday's Area Plan Commission meeting.
The commission's vote is only advisory, and the issue will be decided by the Darmstadt Town Council at its Oct. 9 meeting.
The Mouse House has been in operation since 2001, but a dispute with neighbors is what landed the business in front of the commission this week.
In April, some employees at The Mouse House developed LCMV, a form of meningitis that people can contract from the common house mouse. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 52 current and former employees were tested, and 13 showed signs of recent infection. Of those, nine became ill, though all have since recovered.
Dennis Bittner was among those infected, and he said he ended up in the hospital as a result.
Bittner said he breeds lab mice, not house mice, and he believes the infection was introduced to his facility from a "sister colony" of lab mice he introduced to his colony.
To deal with the infection, Dennis Bittner said state health officials advised him to kill and bury all the rodents on site and burn the wood shavings that served as their bedding, as well as the animals' food.
That burning led to a complaint to county officials, which in turn led to a letter from the Area Plan Commission to Dennis Bittner.
In that letter, Bittner was advised that the "processing, slaughtering and/or packaging of food products" was not allowed in an agricultural district.
The Bittners' attorney, Maria Worthington, said her clients filed the rezoning request "under protest" because they believe The Mouse House's activities are allowed under agricultural zoning.
"We don't think euthanizing animals to create a food supply constitutes food processing," Worthington said at the commission meeting.
During the meeting, about 30 people in the audience identified themselves as in opposition to the rezoning request.
Among them was Jeff Hatfield, who lives near Bittner's operation.
Hatfield said odors and dust from The Mouse House have come onto his property, and he's observed open burning at the business on more than one occasion.
"This is not an agricultural activity. ... This is an industrial activity," Hatfield said.
Several other people who identified themselves as area residents said they had also seen open burnings taking place at The Mouse House.
Worthington said the business has occasionally burned pallets and feed bags as a means of disposal, but it doesn't do so any more because of the neighbors' objections.
Along with the rezoning request, Worthington offered a use and development commitment in which the Bittners and their business agreed to specific terms. Those terms include maintaining a company disaster plan and not doing any burial or open burns of animals or materials from the business on site. That commitment would not take effect unless rezoning is granted.
Speaking on behalf of her clients Worthington told the commission, "I know they're terribly apologetic for how badly all of this turned out. ... Having learned from this experience, we're willing to do it differently."
The Mouse House has not been in operation since the outbreak this spring. Dennis Bittner said he is not currently breeding rodents at his business, and he has laid off his employees until the zoning issue gets resolved.
Bittner said he intends to restart his operation. To comply with zoning rules, he said he intends to keep his breeding operation at its current site, then transport mice to another location for euthanasia and packaging.