INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I've seen a chicken house that had "removable interior framed walls" that could be removed and hung on the wall when not in use. It's pretty sweet how that works as it can be configured into several different options. Of course, if you don't have an area for you to walk into, your nest boxes will take up some of your wall or floor space too.... just thinking out loud here.....

[COLOR=900000]I like the idea of removable walls. I have a similar setup, where I have this fence panel that I can use to split the coop into two enclosures. It's very convenient for introducing new birds! Edit: I should mention, this fence panel just covers a door-sized opening, not an entire wall! As for floor space, if the nests are mounted on the wall like mine are, they won't take up any floor space. My old setup took up floor space because they were too low to the ground and it was too hard to climb back and get the eggs the girls kept laying back there, so I ended up blocking it off. I really like how they are now, though. It isn't pretty because it's largely recycled wood, but it makes up for it with ease of use. [/COLOR]

My shed setup is similar to LM's, with the back section partitioned off into two breeding pens. I have added more windows since these pics were taken so it isn't too dark. When I had my broody I was able to put her in the "people" area away from everyone else. In the future I would like to go down to just two pens with the third being used as a grow out pen.

[COLOR=000090]Really loving all these coop plans being posted! Y'all are going to have to answer to my mom for all these ideas you're giving me! [/COLOR]

I've been lurking off and on. Been busy trying to get things ready for winter and trying to get some things done with the house. Sent you pm

Just wanted to take a minute to say hi all! I've been following but between my phone being stupid and now a new baby to cuddle I haven't been/won't be posting much for a bit. I hope everyone is close to set for winter. The forecast looks COLD next week! I still have a few to many birds but other than that I think DH has got things set up for the cold weather coming.

[COLOR=900000]Glad to hear from both of you! Congrats on the baby, browncow!![/COLOR]

 

[horseshubob]

Day one revisited

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

One of my blue Ameraucanas layed her first egg today. And of all places at the ohio nationals!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Hello everyone-- I was in Indy most of the week because my oldest DD was ill. I'm glad to be back home, and my chickens were so happy to see me because they didn't receive their usual daily several hours of attention and special treats. My DH held the fort down and luckily, I didn't have any missing chicks. As usual, I'm working on catching up with the thread.

 

[horseshubob]

[/IMG][/IMG][/IMG][/IMG]In progress

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Be sure to remove any feed for 12 hours a day. That's important, if you let them feed freely they park at the food dish and eat themselves to death, no kidding. My first round of meaties I raised in 1984 abouts. gave them all the food they wanted (big feeder) started with 3 dozen, ended with about 13. Most overate and flipped, (heart attacks) had no idea why without internet and google lol! My mom was a librarian so I read, a lot. Finally found enough info to understand what had happened. Moved into town, and didn't raise birds again till march 2012.
We do a large amount of meaties every year, I have 7 adult family members here and cook big meals. They do very well if you ferment the feed, and restrict the overeating. I kept LilX, a hen that stayed small from my batch we raised in 2012. She lays an xl double yolk egg usually, about 4x a week. The eggs hatch (GLW father) and I have a hen from her too I adore. So my point is, yep they will breed and lay eggs, and if you raise them naturally will be awesome for your table too.

Quote: You will love the goats! I adore mine. My Sugar is like a dog, she is an Oberhasli, its the only breed I keep. Sugar free ranges with me during the day. Will snuggle and sleep on my lap. gives kisses. Her daughter Sophie is less a little friendly.. my fault since I was not home much when she was growing up, But still adorable. I keep a buck also, Bo is a stinker but I can still manage him myself. They are an easy breed to keep, and I really enjoy their company. I can't keep large breed indoor dogs anymore due to my parents health. My goats fill that void, just love them.
DH and I are still discussing Boers, not sure I can do that yet.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: The millie hens are really sweet. The roosters think they are huge and can attack anything they see.

Quote: they will take your heart away for sure.

soaked food for the most part sometimes a bit of dry when they ate more than I had made up the night before.

editing to add that for the most part we use dry now. After not being able to get a good ferment going way back in 2012 and 2013 and some other issues with the fermentation smells, we just switched to dry full time during one of the arctic blasts last winter.

even wet feed is better. Dry feed causes dust. Can encourage respiratory problems

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

New incubator question: I have a new incubator with digital controls. I noticed that the sensor is on the incubator lid and I thought that temperature was supposed to be monitored at the level of the eggs? My digital read out will indicate incubator temp at 100 degrees and humidity at 43% - however, when I placed my small thermometer down by the eggs that I use in my Brinsea incubator, the readout was 97 degrees and humidity at 72% - a pretty significant difference. Not quite sure how to proceed other than just seeing how the hatch goes. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

New incubator question: I have a new incubator with digital controls. I noticed that the sensor is on the incubator lid and I thought that temperature was supposed to be monitored at the level of the eggs? My digital read out will indicate incubator temp at 100 degrees and humidity at 43% - however, when I placed my small thermometer down by the eggs that I use in my Brinsea incubator, the readout was 97 degrees and humidity at 72% - a pretty significant difference. Not quite sure how to proceed other than just seeing how the hatch goes. Any thoughts or ideas?

It has a fan right? The air should be moving in an effort to keep the air all the same temp and humidity making the placement of the sensor less important. For still airs the sensor is placed level with the top of the eggs but for the incubators with fans I thought it did not matter.

I would candle on day 7 and if it looks like they are growing slow then bump up the heat a bit. When I had my genesis 1588 my best results came with the temp set a hair cooler than the factory setting.

 

[CharlemagneRoost]

It has a fan right?  The air should be moving in an effort to keep the air all the same temp and humidity making the placement of the sensor less important.  For still airs the sensor is placed level with the top of the eggs but for the incubators with fans I thought it did not matter.


I would candle on day 7 and if it looks like they are growing slow then bump up the heat a bit.  When I had my genesis 1588 my best results came with the temp set a hair cooler than the factory setting. 

It does have a fan. I will see what I can see on day seven - thanks!